Here are a couple of pics of the damage, click for a larger version.
Hull/Keel:
Trailer Side Guide...the support is supposed to be straight vertical:
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| First time for everything...(Ramp Story) https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6169 |
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| Author: | RotaryRacer [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Don't let this happen to you... It was a nice evening the other night and I had a friend in town that I hadn't seen in a long time so we decided to launch the boat and take a little spin. I decided to go to a ramp I had never been to before just to check it out. The ramp and dock looked ok. Nothing great, but good enough. I got the boat ready and checked and rechecked my normal items. I backed the boat into the water and realized that to float the boat at this ramp I would have to back in a bit more than normal, such that the boat would be a ways out past the end of the dock. No big deal. Once I backed in I brought my dock lines over to the dock and made one turn around a post at the bow and stern and handed the loose ends to my friend who was standing on the dock. I hopped in the boat and started it then went to the bow and realeased the boat from the trailer. All of this is normal procedure so far. Now with the boat floating I had to push it back a ways so that the trailer wouldn't catch the bow of the boat as I pulled it out. To push it back I got quite a bit of slack in the dock lines and just pushed it back and told my friend to hold it there while I pulled out. Well, I followed my normal procedure and slowly pulled out as I watched the water line to make sure the trailer didn't catch the hull of the boat. What I didn't notice is that the slack in the bow line was such that the rope drooped down and as the side guide at the rear of the trailer came up and out of the water it caught the rope. I had just turned my head and started to proceed out of the water when I felt a little tug/resistance and added just a touch of throttle. Pretty much as soon as I did that I knew something was wrong. I turned back, heard a yell and then saw the boat bounce up onto the concrete ramp. I had already back off the throttle and was applying the brake, but it was too late. So, I didn't forget the plug, the boat didn't slide of the trailer, I didn't forget to remove the tie downs. This is the first time I have heard/seen this particular issue. The keel is pretty gouged up (about 24" long) and the skeg has a slight little gouge also. The boat was mostly still floating when I stopped, so I was able to lift/push it back into the water pretty easily. The rear guide on the trailer is now about 30 degrees off vertical. My friend got a little rope burn on his hand. stuff happens. |
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| Author: | RotaryRacer [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Here are a couple of pics of the damage, click for a larger version. Hull/Keel: Trailer Side Guide...the support is supposed to be straight vertical:
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| Author: | BrentC5Z [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Holy Cow! The Rt side guide on my trailer looks EXACTLY like that. I did it creating a "lambo door" out of a Dodge pickup though. That stinks man, could always be worse I suppose.. |
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| Author: | nhprinter [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Wow! I can see how easy that could happen. At least your friend wasn't hurt bad. Did you end up going for the ride? |
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| Author: | Winns For Life [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
If you have boat insurance it should be covered. |
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| Author: | M3eater [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
That's unfortunate. Sorry for you! Certainly try your insurance. |
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| Author: | TX H210SS [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Not too bad - glad your bud only suffered some roap burn, since that could have been ugly. I also say get with the insurance company - while not real bad it does need to be repaired obviously. Those guides are useless in my opinion...don't do much guiding unless you are trying to trailer it sideways anyway....only advantage to them is they are a pretty good step. |
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| Author: | RotaryRacer [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
I'm bringing the boat in to get an estimate from a local fiberglass repair shop tomorrow. Depending on the cost and how it compares to my deductible I will certainly be considering making an insurance claim. I strongly considered just cutting the side guide(s) off the trailer. Instead I just bent it back. Unfortunately, the base plate is now a bit more deformed. |
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| Author: | Berger [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Out of curiosity, what lake/ramp were you at when this happened? |
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| Author: | RotaryRacer [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Berger wrote: Out of curiosity, what lake/ramp were you at when this happened? This was at the Union Street ramp in the City of Douglas. This is the ramp right next to the large ship/musuem that sits on the south end of the Kalamazoo Lake....Saugatuck. |
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| Author: | qweedqwag [ Mon Jul 19, 2010 9:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Me myself I dont understand your use of lines to launch the boat anyway, I am confused as to your whole procedure, why didnt you unhook the boat back out 30 40 feet pull the tow veicle away, have them park it, and come back to the dock and pick up your friend, your ay seems like a recipe for disaster and you got it. Mike |
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| Author: | RotaryRacer [ Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
qweedqwag wrote: Me myself I dont understand your use of lines to launch the boat anyway, I am confused as to your whole procedure, why didnt you unhook the boat back out 30 40 feet pull the tow veicle away, have them park it, and come back to the dock and pick up your friend, your ay seems like a recipe for disaster and you got it. Mike Recipe for disaster my ass. If you don't understand, don't assume I'm an idiot. This method of launching is pretty typical and is really they way I always launch. The only difference in this case was that the length of the ramp and the length of the dock required that I had to push the boat back out past the end of the dock. This required that I have some slack in the lines. The boat was floating and was clear of the trailer. The bow line just happened to be drooping down just a little bit too low and was totally by coincidence the trailer guide caught it while I pulled out the trailer. Assume I was launching solo. This friend isn't someone I would want to teach how to pull the truck out in one evening. He has never been around boats and he never pulls trailers. Honestly, trying to communicate the nuances of pulling a truck/trailer out of the water at a boat ramp could have ended with my truck in the water. Or he may have just gunned it and pulled the boat right up on dry land. I woudl have ust the ropes bsically the same way. Thanks for the empathy. |
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| Author: | aguyindallas [ Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
TX H210SS wrote: Not too bad - glad your bud only suffered some roap burn, since that could have been ugly. I also say get with the insurance company - while not real bad it does need to be repaired obviously. Those guides are useless in my opinion...don't do much guiding unless you are trying to trailer it sideways anyway....only advantage to them is they are a pretty good step. And they will eventually bend if you continue to use them as a step. |
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| Author: | RotaryRacer [ Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
Repair estimate in hand: 3/4 of B.O.A.T I'll be calling the insurance company in the morning. |
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| Author: | millhaven_nice_guy [ Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: First time for everything...(Ramp Story) |
RotaryRacer wrote: Repair estimate in hand: 3/4 of B.O.A.T I'll be calling the insurance company in the morning. Sorry to hear about your incident. Glad to haer nobody (or boat) got seriously hurt. Do you really think that $750 is worth making a claim for? What will be the ramifications to your premium over the next couple of years? i bet if you ask your agent they will say "minimal" until you get your renewal next year... Atleast that is how it would be in Canada. My house and car insurance went up $40 per month (never made a claim) this year "just because" 
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