Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

[JimKW]

Had some fun out on the boat with my wife, daughter and grandson yesterday. We were only out about 1.5 hours, and got hungry. So we put the boat up on the trailer and decide to go get a pizza. The pizza place was packed so I stayed at the loading ramp while my wife and duaghter took her car to get the pizza. I pull out my fold up chair and go over to the loading ramp.

No sooner sat down and I hear "it's rolling, it's rolling". The guy in the boat is yelling at the guy in the truck. By the time he gets it stopped the front wheels are about halfway covered with water. I figure oh well he caught in time to just pull out. I never new the Chevy Avalance came in a non 4WD model. All he did was spin his wheels trying to pull out.

Some guys were going to try to pull him out, but could not find a chain. So after some time and the rangers come in on their boat and nobody is doing anything. So finally a woman comes over from her boat at the courtesy dock and hands them what looks like a pretty beat up rope. A guy in a Silverrado ties the rope up to the Avalance and the front of his truck and starts pulling with this beat up rope. By this time there are at least 15 of us just watching, and we are taking bets on whether or not the rope will hold. The rope broke the first time, but they hooked the same rope up again and a bunch of other young guys get in the back of the truck in the water. They actually managed to pull it out just as a tow truck shows up.

Then it took the two guys and the two rangers about 20 minutes to load the boat on the trailer. When this started there was no line at the ramp. By the time they got going there was about 10 trucks lined up. When the ranger pulled up he actually docked at the loading ramp dock blocking the other side and nobody would use that side with their boat sitting there. I would have, but the guy first in line would not.

Think I will go buy a new tow strap today just to have in my truck just in case I see something like this again. I probably would not have tried to pull him out with my Envoy though, but at least I could have offered a tow strap. I have one, but it's already been broke twice and tied in knots and I didn't think it would hold. Probabaly would have been better than the rope they ended up using though.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

Why not try to help instead of taking bets on other people helping?

I kind of get frustrated at these threads about accidents & problems at the ramps where the emphasis ends up being on the line of people backed up rather than others helping someone who is inexperienced or made a mistake. I live quite a ways from water so we don't get out as often as I would like & my biggest intimidation to boating is worrying about the ramp watchers criticizing my performance at the ramp. My wife & I are actually pretty quick and usually I come away from the day wondering why I worried about it at all, but I hate having to worry about it. Some poor guy almost lost his truck in the drink. Sure it was a mistake, but who cares if it ties up the ramp for awhile? I'd be more worried about helping the guy out than the line forming. In fact, if I were in that line waiting, I would have been out of my truck trying to find out how I could help, not worrying about how long it was going to be before I got to launch.

Anyhow, sorry if this wasn't relevant to your thread - just something that popped into my head when reading it.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

Why not try to help instead of taking bets on other people helping?

I kind of get frustrated at these threads about accidents & problems at the ramps where the emphasis ends up being on the line of people backed up rather than others helping someone who is inexperienced or made a mistake. I live quite a ways from water so we don't get out as often as I would like & my biggest intimidation to boating is worrying about the ramp watchers criticizing my performance at the ramp. My wife & I are actually pretty quick and usually I come away from the day wondering why I worried about it at all, but I hate having to worry about it. Some poor guy almost lost his truck in the drink. Sure it was a mistake, but who cares if it ties up the ramp for awhile? I'd be more worried about helping the guy out than the line forming. In fact, if I were in that line waiting, I would have been out of my truck trying to find out how I could help, not worrying about how long it was going to be before I got to launch.

Anyhow, sorry if this wasn't relevant to your thread - just something that popped into my head when reading it.

As they say "X2"

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

A few years back the same thing happened at the local ramp. No rope to speak of and nobody with a remedy to the situation. I was my turn in line to lauch my buddies boat. So I backed the boat down the ramp in front of the submerged truck. I unhooked the wench strap from the wench tower and fed it underneath the boat trailer to his truck. Got him pulled out without any problem. However I did have to go to the end of the line to launch again. Then a guy came running up to me and said I could bypass his rig which was ready to launch. I guess doing a good deed paid off as I didn't have to wait again to launch.

 

[199675hpforce]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

Carry a fire extinguisher and real tow strap you might need it or someone else. My tow strap is one from 4wheelparts.com heavy duty. Who knows you might need it to pull your swamped boat from lake.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

I was going over to help the guy, but like I said my tow strap has broke more than once and I didn't think it would hold up. After several other guys came over and the rangers were there, I didn't think they needed my help. By the way I just got back from shopping and got a new tow strap so I will be able to help next time.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

I was going over to help the guy, but like I said my tow strap has broke more than once and I didn't think it would hold up. After several other guys came over and the rangers were there, I didn't think they needed my help. By the way I just got back from shopping and got a new tow strap so I will be able to help next time.

Yea, sometimes too many people try to help ,but only get in the way.

Was the owner thankful?

This reminds me of a story a couple of years ago. We had a bunch of unusual snow here in the PNW. I was heading out and was in stopped in traffic at near a light. There's a strip mall next to me with a car trying to get on the road. So I left the spot open in front of me to allow the car to get out. The car was stuck on a little snow hump, kept spinning the tires. I see it's some lady and a couple of kids in the car. After 30 secs of her trying to go back and forth, she's still stuck and I dont see anyone attempting to help her.

So i get out and pushed her car. Got it out with the 1st push. She speds off without a thank you or even a wave. Ungrateful *****. No wonder nobody would help her.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

I have a "trunk box" in the back of my 89 jeep cherokee. It has a basic tool set, tow strap, jumper cables, antifreeze, extra belt, a jack, 2 jack stands, duct tape, and a few other odd's and ends. I like being prepared for the unknown. Even with my jeep, i would of thrown it in 4x4 low and helped pull him out.

It is always good to be prepared.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

I was going over to help the guy, but like I said my tow strap has broke more than once and I didn't think it would hold up. After several other guys came over and the rangers were there, I didn't think they needed my help. By the way I just got back from shopping and got a new tow strap so I will be able to help next time.

Sorry, JimKW, wasn't really trying to point fingers at you, just taking the opportunity to rant about "what happened at the ramp" stories that turn into criticisms of inexperienced boaters (remember, we all start somewhere).

Yesterday when we were at the lake getting ready to pull out, we had the trailer in the water & I was idling the boat up to it when this other guy in the other lane couldn't get his outboard to start. The current was pulling him sideways right across my path to the point where he could have easy gone right up on my trailer instead of his own! He finally ended up jumping over the side of the boat & towing it over to the side dock apologizing to me the whole time. I just popped my boat into reverse for a second and stayed out of the way telling him to take his time. No biggie. He got out of the way as fast as he could and I finished loading and was on my way. I felt bad for the poor guy. I think just hanging back a second and letting the guy do what he needed to do ended up saving a lot more time and energy than getting frustrated about it.

Ok, I'm done going on about that Bottom line, take it easy & have fun out there - lend a hand when you can.

 

[K.Reeb]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

And then there are the "inexperienced" launchers and use the whole launch.
The other day a Van was puttinga 16' in the water, we have a really nice launch in town, 3-4 wide and nice stonework, however the guy started sideways from the very beginning, ended up using the entire launch and putting his entire Van in the water because his boat "is really deep" Again, he had about half of his front tires in the water when I told him to pull out straight, ended up getting him striaghtened out and launched his boat with the top of the fender wells out of the water and his van half out of water, got it launched and he couldn't beliebe it was possible, thought the boat needed to be floating independantly before he could put his leg down and back off. This guy also didn't realize that you didn't need to have the motor trimmed right down when unloading and loading. I also threw in a tidbit about the marker bouys on the river and he had zero clue about what I was talking about, but passed his boating licence! After that, he didn't head my warnings about the marker bouys and a few hours later saw him on a rockbar.......I declined to help since I didn't get so much as a thank you for my previous attempt to be nice.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

And then there are the "inexperienced" launchers and use the whole launch.
The other day a Van was puttinga 16' in the water, we have a really nice launch in town, 3-4 wide and nice stonework, however the guy started sideways from the very beginning, ended up using the entire launch and putting his entire Van in the water because his boat "is really deep" Again, he had about half of hisf ront tires in the water when I told him to pull out straight, ended up getting him striaghtened out and launched his boat with the top of the fender wells out of the water and his van half out of water, got it launched and he couldn't beliebe it was possible, thought the boat needed to be floating independantly before he could put his leg down and back off. This guy also didn't realize that you didn't need to have the motor trimmed right down when unloading and loading. I also threw in a tidbit about the marker bouys on the river and he had zero clue about what I was talking about, but passed his boating licence! After that, he didn't head my warnings about the marker bouys and a few hours later saw him on a rockbar.......I declined to help since I didn't get so much as a thank you for my previous attempt to be nice.

Well, K.Reeb, I'd be on your side in that case. You helped the guy out & he should have learned something. Obviously he chose to ignore what you told him and paid for it. I probably would have helped him out again and used the opportunity to drive the importance of understanding bouys home, but that's just me.

 

[nofuss]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

Just my two cents.
When u do a good deed it gives u a good feeling. try not to let the lack of the second good feeling when the person shows gratitude take away from the first.
Dont Fuss about it. Some people are just plain stupid. However when we do our part we are some how rewarded in the bigger picture. and sometimes helping out gets them out of the way and allows us to move on. if we leave them there they keep getting in our way.
so do your part and dont look for thanks. if it comes be grateful if it does not, then another stupid one but u did your part.

No Fuss

 

[K.Reeb]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

And I probably would have if he had a family onboard, or wasn't so rude when all we were trying to do was help him out. The guy and his buddy were much more interested in their beers than boating. They paid for it and I wasn't going to put my family in dangers way just to help a couple dolts out of another cluster.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

x2 on that nofuss

 

[Purecarnagge]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

If your assistance will not make or break the situation, sit down an enjoy the entertainment.

Everything is a blessing in disguise a buddy would tell me.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Watched A Guy Put His Truck In The Water

Just want to make it clear that nobody was laughing at this guy or making fun of him. As a matter of fact he was getting more assistance than he needed. Nobody got on his case at all. Those of us who were not helping betting (not money or anything) on whether or not the rope would break was not being unhelpful or rude at all.

I have to say today was THE MOST CROWDED I have ever seen it at this ramp. Trucks withe trailers were lined up all the way out to the main street. I had my duaghters and their kids with us and my one daughter and her son needed to leave at about 5:00 and the ramp and courtesy dock was a zoo. I came in to just drop her off at the courtesy dock and could not get in. I ended up watching the ramp dock and saw a boat come in and go on the trailer and figured I had enough time to make a quick stop to drop them off, and that worked fine.

But when I was trying to get to the courtesy dock a boat came in towing another boat and there was several of us waiting for the dock. Well as soon as I saw somebody was getting towed in I backed off while others just totally ignored them and made them wait. I finally just said something to one of them to let them go because they are being towed. When I came back about an hour later the towed boat was still at the courtesy dock. I told the lady when your being towed, I think you have every right to cut in front of people and they shoudl give way to you.

All in all though even as busy as it was, I didn't see any incidents worth mentioning. Other than the fact that my wife thought the guy next to us backed in too close to our trailer when I was getting the boat from the courtesy dock when we were leaving. I loaded it straight on though, and to be honest I didn't even notice he was that close until I got in my truck.

I am living proof that practice make you better. Afraid to say practice makes perfect cause I am far from that.