We must stop the MADNESS!!

[jamiewashere256]

Re: We must stop the MADNESS!!

I suppose. I'm not familiar with any flat ramps around here, my point is though that clowns around here will do this time and time again on Very steep ramps. I just don't get it.

 

[fishfearme]

Re: We must stop the MADNESS!!

Reminds me of the last time I got up early to go fishing in the Ocean. The ramp I use is wide enough for about 6 boats to launch at the same time. Right at Sun-up on Saturday Morning, its pandamonium. My brother backed the boat down to the water, and I'm in the boat. I had started the motor and was warming her up, when the guy launching next to us takes off the strap, bow winch and safety chains, As I am warming up my boat I am thinking, "hmmm wonder why he did that? And now i will try to replay the sounds heard that morning....truck engine reving....a few whaoooom backs (thats southern for come on back) then a zoooot (boat scooting off trailer) then a scrunchhhhhhhh (motor scraping on ramp)then a resounding "Oooooh shi*, then a statement i'll never forget, "I guess that spraying silicone on the bunks works better than I thought". So i look over and here is the boat halfway off the trailer, the only thing holding it on is the lower unit, which has now dug a 1 inch deep gouge in the ramp about 10 ft long. and he is still about 20 ft from the waters edge. So my brother goes over and puts the strap back on and cranks the boat back on the trailer. The 2 guys get out, survey the damamge to thier brand new, never even got wet yet yamaha 4 stroke, and they are both shaking thier head. For the life of me I will never figure out why people take off the safety strap and winch strap before they hit the water. Next week......Power Loading, AKA "Let me park 3/4 of the trailer out of the water while I try to run my boat all the way to the winch with my triple 250 hp motors, dredging the ramp out for a good 25 ft. Oh well, keeps life interesting.

 

[Bco128]

Re: We must stop the MADNESS!!

about 2 months ago afriend and i were out at the ramp with his bat as im having trouble with mine.ee an ldely getnlean there getting ready to brake launche it.ramps here are normally steep few flats.i warned aganst this and was told to mnd my own D***ed buisness as he has done it his way fo 30 some odd years.he was successfull.but about a week and a half later we met the same gentleman at thesame ramp.wasnt successful.we took our ime and lauchedour boat.smiled brightly and waved, then headed around the bend.we came back a fe minutes later to help out...i ued a cell phone to call him a tow truck.boat to big to ech up by hand like that.and as for the trailer out of the water 3/4 ad dredging he ramp? agree but here it is sometimes neccissary.as there s a straight drop of 2 to 3 feet at some of our ramps.that gets exiting someimes as well.

 

[jasonballard]

Re: We must stop the MADNESS!!

You all must be talking about bass boats and heavier boats, because I've launched my 14 ft jon boat at least 170 times with everything unhooked and the tow rope attached to the trailer. I simply Back the boat SLOWLY into the water and I've never had a problem. The people you all have seen reck thier boats musta been flyin' down the ramp.

 

[Scoop]

Re: We must stop the MADNESS!!

I used to have to do this. Espcially on some of the ramps we had. I could not push my boat off the bunks. I would unwind the winch rope, then back up and step on the brakes to get the boat off. If I would have backed any further in, I would not have gotten my car back up the ramp because the trailer wheels would be off the ramp.<br /><br />I have fixed this problem now. I just recarpeted my ramps. For the first launch, I kept the winch rope tight and connected just because of the stories I have read here. I backed in, and pushed my boat off the bunks with the greatest of ease. While I like to think I would have done this even without the stories here, they sure do remind you to make better decisions and not take shortcuts.<br /><br />Now if only we could get some rain so I would not have to back in so far.

 

[PDS]

Re: We must stop the MADNESS!!

A friend of mine has a 24 footer on bunks, this thing could go down a 45 degree ramp and not have a problem(rollers in the middle)P.D.S.

 

[chilifriedpork]

Re: We must stop the MADNESS!!

Got a 15' inflatable and never always un-hook before launch, but after reading these posts, I wouldn't hesitate to change my launching methods.<br /><br />I have never had a problem with the boat slipping, simply because it weighs about 700 lbs, and the carpeted bunks stick real good to the rubber of the tubes when dry. It's never moved an inch, when un-hooked.<br /><br />For the last 17 years, this has been the method and never failed. And the boat ramp angles vary from steep to almost flat.<br /><br />-Now I realise, just incase the boat ever does slip, maybe I'll keep the bow hooked up to the trailer until the trailer is in the water.