Taking the term "Beach launch" literally....

[achris]

One of our favorite diving/fishing places can only be reached from a town with no 'formal' launching ramp. It's off the beach. Being a fairly big (and heavy) boat the launch has to be right. I also maintain the rollers on the trailer in tip-top condition. Picture the scene, 4wd and boat about 50 feet from waters edge, all tie-downs off and winch released. 100 foot rope attached to bow bollard. Girl-friend leaves a small loop of rope on the ground I am just about to reverse over. So I do the natural thing - hit the brake to stop the 4wd to clear the rope. Boat didn't stop! Boat now launched, 30 feet from the nearest water.

 

[Link]

Re: Taking the term "Beach launch" literally....

OUCH hope you didnt do too much damage. Bet you dont release the winch again before seeing water under boat. Bet that winch made a awfull racket to How hard was it to get back on the trailer?

 

[Jacques Nel]

Re: Taking the term "Beach launch" literally....

Beach launching when waves are breaking is tricky at the best of times even with break-neck trailers etc. Hope the only damage was to your dignity.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Taking the term "Beach launch" literally....

AChris60 - Don't feel bad, a lot of boats are launched while driving down the road, miles from the water. Some at speed too! You were pretty close to the water. Maybe the tide went out fast or something. Yea - That could be your story!

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: Taking the term "Beach launch" literally....

Had an 18 ft Crestliner on a Shorlandr trailer with a 90 HP Johnson. Backing down to a crummy launch and my buddy was holding the rope. I had the safety chain and the tie downs off. Got sdonw near the water and wnated to jig the trailer over juts a bit. I barely touched the brake and all of a sudden all Iould see in my rearview mirror was the bottom of my boat. IT landed right on the seam between the bottom and the transom, busted my transducer all to dog poop, scuffed up my skeg a little bit and stove my pride all to hell. My buddy's eyes were so big I could see white around the outside of his glasses. We kind of stood around it for a minute going hmmm, how the heck did that happen. Then we winched it back onto the trailer, backed it into the water, and went fishing. I have never takne the safety chain or winch strap off again unless I was standing at the edge of the water.

 

[achris]

Re: Taking the term "Beach launch" literally....

The follow up for those interested is that we winched the boat back onto the trailer and pretended it didn't happen. Only damage was to my ego. (Thank the lord for Bertrams). We then proceeded to launch the boat into the water. A perfect launch!!! into 3 inches of water! I had neglected to check the beach as it was about 6 months since we'd been here and the 'deep spot' had moved. So, winch it back onto the trailer, move up the beach a bit and try again. After all that we ended up having a great weekend of diving. Just marked it down as 'a learning experience'.<br /><br />Chris.........