I was @ my local boat launch and I put my pontoon in the water to test to see if my gas leak was fixed,well I am on my boat still on the trailer but in the water enough to run the engine and here comes a new style dodge with a hemi and a stick,well he backed his boat in the water set the brake and got out,he was in his boat under the engine compartment and I saw his truck rolling in the drink,my wife jumps out and runs to his rescue,with water up to the doors she was able to jump in and slam on the brakes,she got soaked
It wasnt rolling fast just enough to were you would not notice if you were doing something on the boat,he jumps up,not knowing what was going on,boy was he a happy camper,he tryed to pay her but of course she wouldnt take anything,but it was quite funny were I was sitting

Just remember,be careful

 

I once sunk a '59 pontiac bonniville at Ocean Ave. launch ramp in Long Beach. Everybody except me though it was real funny.

 

 

I once knew this guy that use to launch his boat with his 1989 diesel truck a few years ago. My, er ah, this guys boat was a real cool Chaparell with a V6 Merc with a four barrel on it. He backed it in the water and went about the normal duties of launching it. About ten minutes later, as he parked the truck and trailer and was walking back to the dock to get in, he noticed the back of the boat was riding a little low. That was the first clue. When he stepped in and his feet hit water, that was the second clue.

Anyone guess what he forgot?

And then theres the time I, er ah, this guy tried to shake the boat off the trailer without undoing the winch cable but that's another story.

Hey, maybe we should seperate this into another "Funny experiences with my boat" thread.

 

How did you get it out? That was a BIG car. Once my wife and I watched as a Country Squire rolled slowly into the water while the Dad was in his boat screaming at his wife to stop the car, before she got the door open the rear of the station wagon began to float even though she managed to get inside she couldn't move it. Nat

 

And how many "accidents" occurred because the "Captain" was trying to launch by himself? Nat

 

I never go fishing by myself, beacuase im scared of this happening. When we launch a boat, there is always someone in the truck.

If i went fishing by myself, then I wouldnt have anyone to make up stories with..lol

 

Guess better explain how this happened, like was said, doing it alone. It was in 1963 so it was a fairly late model car also. Tied the boad up at the dock. Got the car and trailer, backed into the water, all is ok. load the boat, get into the car, start foreward, the winch rope breaks, boat takes off. Slam the car into park, run for the boat, car did not get into park, now I swim for the car. Caught it with the water at front seat level. You think a flood car has problems, salt water is a disaster.

 

ahhhh....'63 was a good year....lol...

 

Yeah I bet... Water levels at salt water landings often rise with the tide and some even have small waves. Was the wrecker operator able to get to the car on foot or by boat?

 

Dieseldude4x4,

I have,er, um, KNOW this guy, that is guilty of both of those launching sins


Jim

 

I am still laughing today when I think about it,funny though the wife dont seem to be laughing today

 

You want a really good laugh? Watched a fella pull his ferd truck (and boat trailer) into a lake. He was launching and forgot to unhook the rear of the boat from the trailer and backed it up, guess that little bit of resistance of the truck didn't mean nothing to him, pretty steep ramp, but levels out fast a the water, so what does he do, nails the boat throttle... drug the whole shooting match into the lake truck made lots of bubbles...for a few seconds anyhows. Tied the whole launch up for hours...traing to get that mess towed outta there. Guess not everyone looks forward and backward every now and again when backing up a boat.

Only time I laughed harder was when some dummy forgot the plug in his own boat two days in a row! (Now i keep several spares all over the boat and in the trucks).

 

Phew, I thought I, er ah, this guy was the only one that did that.
Fortunately, this was at a private launch with no one around on either ocassion to watch or so this guy tells me.

 

My boating buddies and I actually have a slick routine for launching and retrieving..... but if we decide to goof up, you can be assured it will be with a FULL ramp and plenty of spectators around

The secret to saving face when you...er, that GUY forgets his plug is to have a bilge pump that will out pump the hole left by the missing plug.... or so I am told


Jim