Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

[MainstreetUSA1]

Went to watch a Milwaukee Airshow last weekend from Lake Michigan. The line didn't seem to be moving very fast at the ramp so I went up to see what the hold up was. It seems that the backstraps on the boat were not removed during launching. The owner didn't know why the boat wouldn't float free from the trailer. The truck was pulled up parked and the e-brake or parking gear failed and the whole rig went into the lake. Harbor Patrol had 3 divers in the water to make sure the trailer could be pulled up the ramp by the wrecker! You can see how deep the truck was submerged from the scum line in the back window. YIKES<br /><br />

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[Twidget]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

Yikes. That was an expensive SHT.

 

[jinx]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

Looks like he had his windshield wipers going. Maybe he thought it was just heavy rain?<br /><br />I'm glad it wasn't me.<br /><br />Jinx

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

Ooops! And it doesn't look like there's launching room on the sides, either, so the ramp was shut down for quite a while, it seems. <br /><br />Looks like the truck got a little bruised back by the rear, too. <br /><br />Dunked truck...expensive.

 

[ColdFire]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

just curious why don't folks use wheel chocks at the ramp? parts fail or give out, tie a rope to the chock and you are all set.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

Looks like a rebuild job on the engine... and while he is at it might as well check out the parking brake.

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

Had a friend on the 4th of july weekend drop his keys into the lake at the boat ramp at the end of the day. He had a 1974 caddy with the telescoping steering a HUGE behemoth of a car...<br /><br />He was blocking 1 of 4 ramps - being the 4th they could not find a guy to come and unlock the steering wheel and apparently these telescoping models were very unique and it took the locksmith 4 hours to unlock it.<br /><br />He said NO ONE could budge his caddy, they hooked up 2 wreckers and they could not pull it out of the way...<br /><br />He has fond memories of that day...

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

OH one other question <br /><br />Why divers?<br /><br />I mean they could float the boat off and yank that trailer up with pretty much any wrecker.

 

[QC]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

Originally posted by tomatolord:<br /> Why divers?<br /><br />I mean they could float the boat off and yank that trailer up with pretty much any wrecker.

Yeah, I have the same question. Also, if the back straps were on, wouldn't the boat AND trailer be floating?

 

[DJ]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

The chances of a parking brake and a parking pawl failing are slim to none.<br /><br />I'll bet the slime at the edge of the water got to him. With only the back wheels held, they won't hold on slime.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

DJ, I have had that happen before in a 2-Wheel drive pickup before. The back wheels won't catch and you get closer the the water every time you try. Also depends on the tires.

 

[toomanyboats]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

heres whats happens,<br />boat starts floating,lifts rear wheels of truck up a little,rolls back,(E-brakes are on the back of that truck),

 

[RatFish]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

Another confirmation on why I use wheel chocks and a LAUNCH CHECK LIST (toomanyboats has a good point).

 

[brother chris]

Re: Parking Brake Failure at Boat Ramp!

I always grab a rock or something that is going to hold the truck from running me or my kid over. <br />Just makes sense. <br />What a shame about for that guy though. <br />Bet he did not like you taking pictures of his incident!