Would like to know how this happened?

[Wylie CC]

I had to share this story, from our road trip.
So we were on our way back from a vacation up north, and almost home. After a state trooper passes us, we come upon firetrucks and police blocking the lanes of traffic going the opposite direction. Right behind them was a minivan with an empty boat trailer, and about 50 yeards behind that, about a 22ft deck boat lying on it's hull, facing traffic.

Being someone who trailers our boat almost everyweekend during the summer, I could not figure out what this guy did. I told my wife, that seemed like a big boat for a minivan, but I feel I have more truck than i need, to tow our 20ft bowrider (V8 Tundra with tow package).

The only assumption I can come up with, is this guy was in a hurry leaving the boat ramp, and did not attach his safety chain, or any sort of transom tie-down. It got me thinking about the safety features they have on the trailers, and what this person had to neglect to get this to occur.

Or maybe this guy put his boat on the trailer, and it was just hanging off the back way too much. Hard to say, but regardless, I felt bad for someone, because their lake day ended, and probably boating season. Could you imagine either being this person and watching your boat fall off the trailer, or traveling down the road at 70-75mph, and having a boat fall off the trailer in-front of you. Again, this guy was in the left lane, so I assume he was traveling at a good pace.

 

[Snowfish]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

First, towing a 22ft deck boat with a mini van is probably not a good idea.

Second, it was a mini van. They seem to Always right the left lane. Doesn't mean they were going fast. Just in the left lane. Pass or move over!

Since it was a mini van mentality, & towing a boat too big, no doubt they either forgot to secure the boat, or "good enough" rigged it.

Now that's a scary image.......mini van.......towing a boat......left lane........

You can count on a truck drive to do what truck drivers do.

And you can count on a mini van to something incredibly stupid.

 

[V153]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Well Snowfish you've probly just pissed off anyone who's ever owned a minivan and or has towed a boat behind it. Before I go any further yes I agree the folks who lost the deck boat are probably morons. Had the boat been properly secured with a safety chain & tie-down straps that wouldn't have happened.

Having said that I loved my Voyager minivan. Hauled boats as long as 19' down to the Keys'n back several times. Probably one of the most reliable vehicles I've ever owned. Had 210k on it when it swallowed a lifter. Launching a boat with a minivan is a dream. Open the liftgate, fold the rear seat(s) down, turn your head around, and back down the ramp. Perfect vehicle for launching & retrieving smaller boats.

Assuming you're a Trucker I can imagine you've witnessed more than your share of aholes along the way. But some minivan pilots do know the rules of the road, and do their best to uphold them.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

whatever happened most likely wasn't from not securing it... There had to have been an accident of some sort, a boat doesn't just magically fly off the trailer on its own. (unless you have a roller trailer at least, but not common for a 22ft deck boat.)

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Actually it DIDN'T happen.... this boat falls under the "big boats don't need transom straps" rule so it couldn't have come off the trailer......................................................:facepalm:

 

[bigdee]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

I was driving behind someone pulling a bass boat and for whatever reason the motor was trimmed all the way down. Before I could alert him his prop dug into the pavement (bump in road) and jerked the boat off the trailer....poor guy,looked liked a new boat too. He was too angry and embarrassed to talk to.

 

[JB]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Actually it DIDN'T happen.... this boat falls under the "big boats don't need transom straps rule so it couldn't have come off the trailer......................................................:facepalm:

Right on. It is too heavy to fall off the trailer anyway.

 

[V153]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Right on. It is too heavy to fall off the trailer anyway.

Yup! Who needs tie downs! Can't tell you how many boats I see being trailered with no aft straps or tie downs. Duh!?

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Going to work one morning and just had cleared the interstate on-ramp when traffic stopped. There was a very nice 25-26ft cruiser blocking both lanes and no tow vehicle or trailer in sight. Never saw a news report on it either. It must have been that "heavy" thing!

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

whatever happened most likely wasn't from not securing it... There had to have been an accident of some sort, a boat doesn't just magically fly off the trailer on its own. (unless you have a roller trailer at least, but not common for a 22ft deck boat.)

This is completely untrue. I watched a guy driving down the road with an empty trailer driving the oposite direction on the interstate. The boat was being drug behind the trailer at about 75mph or so. Strong strap, weak winch latch??? Engine was about a mile further down the road. He had no clue he lost his crap. So yes, boats fall off if not secured properly. His was not a roller trailer.

I put a product on my bunks that made them very slick. It slid right off the trailer on a boat ramp. Luckily we had it secured and it did not damage anything. But it absolutely slid off without any accident.

I bet it wasnt secured properly, and was being towed by a vehicle that was too small. Maybe they jackknifed it? Maybe it was just not tied down. If they were towing that big of a boat with a minivan, then, well there wasnt much common sense to begin with. Probably had no tie downs. What does a 22ft deck boat weigh???? What do you suppose the tow rating on that minivan is????? I am guessing the boat weighed more than the tow rating. Anyone wanna take a guess on that one???????

 

[roscoe]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

You only think he was in the left lane, going the other direction.

In reality, he was in the right lane, traveling the same direction as you.

Just ended up facing the other way in the left lane. LOL


My cousin had something similar happen about 20 years back.

20' bass boat, got into some nasty wind on the highway. The bow went up and the boat went over. But the transom straps held long enough for him to slow it down some.

Nice boat and motor, completely ground to crop and busted up, from the top down.

Somehow his winch had let loose 4 hours into the trip. Didn't have a safety strap or chain.

 

[PS94]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

I had a boat sitting wrong on the trailer...no tongue weight. it fishtailed. BAD. Took the truck for a ride... it had a safety chain, winch straps and 2x boat buckles in the rear...nothing helped...

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

I had a boat sitting wrong on the trailer...no tongue weight. it fishtailed. BAD. Took the truck for a ride... it had a safety chain, winch straps and 2x boat buckles in the rear...nothing helped...

Seeing this, especially with the transom straps still attached, just makes me wince!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

This is completely untrue.

Your sarcasm meter is broken. Perhaps time for a recalibration?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

An Astro "minivan" could tow a 22' deckboat just fine.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Minivans are for men whose wives have their balls locked in the safe..

With that said, most folks who have had their boats come off the trailers are complete idiots.

Simple safety precautions are all it takes to travel and trailer safely.

 

[Hustler04]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Its really no telling!!!!! As i work for Fire/Rescue along an Interstate corridor. You wouldn't be-leave some of the accidents that we see, and the reasoning behind why they did what they did. I still can't understand why, As an Emergency Vehicle operator I have to have 10 Hours of on the road driver training each year in addition to 8 hours of class room, and i still have to acquire a class B drivers license from the state. However any old person or weekend warrior can hook a 30Ft boat behind a 30ft Rv or a mini-van and take off down the road w/o any training or knowledge of the same. NC now requires boating safety coarse before you can operate a boat on the waterways, but there is no requirement for towing a boat on the roadways. It's just silly that professional drivers are watched so hard and required so much training and re certification but the common moron can hook any thing behind his POV and take off.

 

[Wylie CC]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

PS94, your photos give me the chills.

And Jeeperman, i agree, we had an Astrovan with the Vortec 4.3, and that thing felt like it had more torque than my V8 Tundra. It had no problem at all towing a trailer.

My cousin towed his 21 ft about 10 miles with his Toyota Sienna, and he said it was the scariest drive. I think alot of people dont think about all the stuff in the boat. My boat is 2850 Dry. without the trailer, and fuel, and aditional anchor, etc. then add the trailer, andI am well over a 3500 lb trailer, which seams to be the max of most minivans and crossovers with a towing package. Being this boat larger than mine, I can only assume that he was probably close to 4,000 lb.

This guy was

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

Well i think that if the boat comes off the trailer the size of the tow vehicle is mote.Minivan or no minivan.I don't strap the back end of mine down but i only move it 15 miles. It weighs 10500lbs. If it comes off i have a whole lot more trouble then the boat coming off.Try and bounce that one off.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Would like to know how this happened?

so I guess that when I'm hauling a 50,000 lb excavator I can safely pull it w a geo and don't need any tiedowns at all....