What’d You See At The Boat Launch Today?
08-24-2019, 08:33 PM
#1
Admirals Club 
Thread Starter
What’d You See At The Boat Launch Today?
Dedicated thread for boat launch stories.
On Thursday I went out with a co-worker after work. Weekdays on our lake are quiet - there were probably a dozen vehicles in the parking lot, if that.
So I’m backing the boat down the ramp and see this guy idling in. It looks like he’s about to take the right dock, so I back down the left. I then see him drifting towards the left side, and finally back to the right. Captain indecisive.
I get out of the truck and this guy is now perpendicular to the ramp. I start unwinching my boat and see he’s an older guy in his 80’s, and there’s smoke pouring from his engine. He couldn’t get his boat tied up to the dock and was now drifting away.
I hopped out of my boat and had him throw me a line. I got him situated and tied up to the dock. Engine was an I/O and was COOKING. I went to park my truck and could smell it from the parking lot.
I felt bad for the guy. He was by himself and seemed pretty bummed out. Maybe he’ll get lucky and only have to replace the exhaust.
On Thursday I went out with a co-worker after work. Weekdays on our lake are quiet - there were probably a dozen vehicles in the parking lot, if that.
So I’m backing the boat down the ramp and see this guy idling in. It looks like he’s about to take the right dock, so I back down the left. I then see him drifting towards the left side, and finally back to the right. Captain indecisive.
I get out of the truck and this guy is now perpendicular to the ramp. I start unwinching my boat and see he’s an older guy in his 80’s, and there’s smoke pouring from his engine. He couldn’t get his boat tied up to the dock and was now drifting away.
I hopped out of my boat and had him throw me a line. I got him situated and tied up to the dock. Engine was an I/O and was COOKING. I went to park my truck and could smell it from the parking lot.
I felt bad for the guy. He was by himself and seemed pretty bummed out. Maybe he’ll get lucky and only have to replace the exhaust.
Last edited by Misterfu02; 08-28-2019 at 07:50 AM.
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08-31-2019, 01:15 PM
Senior Member
Guy launched his brand new boat and tried to start it for 10 minutes. Onlooker walked over and said "do you have your kill switch on?"
Guy forgot to raise his engine and drug his skeg all the way up the ramp.
Guy was in a rush to leave, got on interstate, looked in rear view mirror and realized bimini was still up.
Guy launched his boat, sat for 15 minutes while he prepped to pull away, then realized he had forgotten to put drain plug in. Bilge pump didn't kick in because float switch was inop. Swim platform was 6 inches submerged. Had to jump into water to put plug in.
Oh wait, those guys were all me.
Guy forgot to raise his engine and drug his skeg all the way up the ramp.
Guy was in a rush to leave, got on interstate, looked in rear view mirror and realized bimini was still up.
Guy launched his boat, sat for 15 minutes while he prepped to pull away, then realized he had forgotten to put drain plug in. Bilge pump didn't kick in because float switch was inop. Swim platform was 6 inches submerged. Had to jump into water to put plug in.
Oh wait, those guys were all me.
08-24-2019, 09:39 PM
#2
Admirals Club
Last weekend I saw a dude dump a 15 whaler off his trailer in the middle of the road, blocking access to landing. I helped him instead of videoing him, but was happy to see somehow it still wound up on qualified captain.
Today, I saw four guys using the ramp to load instead of idling over to finger pier. As in they dropped boat in water then all just climbed in as keel ground on the ramp.
Private ramp, shenanigans are usually at a minimum.
Today, I saw four guys using the ramp to load instead of idling over to finger pier. As in they dropped boat in water then all just climbed in as keel ground on the ramp.
Private ramp, shenanigans are usually at a minimum.
08-25-2019, 12:57 AM
#3
Ahh the boat ramp. So I was backing down my boat, I launch it, get it in the water, tie it up and start it to let it warm up. A old guy was trying to solo launch his boat so I told him to just give me the bow line and I'd hold it for him while he backed up to get it off and that I'd tie it up while he went and parked. He was very grateful and was as nice as can be. I get his tied up, I jump in my truck and go park real quick. Keep in mind all this was in a span of 5 minutes give or take. And this ramp is never busy. Anyway im walking back and another guy is back down next to me. Hes in his boat yelling to the guy driving the truck that hes going to go park the boat at a separate dock off by itself "like your supposed to do" while he went and parked. He said it 5 times in a row even after the guy had pulled off to the parking lot. Trying to make sure I heard it I guess while also mumbing curse words and throwing thing around in his boat. These was no line of people waiting, it was just us 3, both me and the old guy were solo'ing it and the only rule at the ramp is a sign that reads 1 hour ramp limit. Anyway I politely told the guy that he could go f himself as he pulled away. I thought about backing up to him after he tied up and trimming the motor up to give him a bath but I didnt want to mess any of his gear up. That sums up the ramp though, you've got a 50/50 chance of meeting the nicest person you've ever met or a unhinged a hole.
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08-25-2019, 02:28 AM
#4
Junior Member
I saw a husband and wife screaming at each other trying to back down the boat into the water. Then I thought to myself, me and my wife have been at each other all week at home and clearly there is no escape even if I took my boat out.
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08-25-2019, 05:33 AM
#5
Senior Member
WatchEd a guy back his newer f 350 so far into the water other people started yelling at him and said I do this all the time. After his tailgate was 2 or 3 inches under water his drove his jet ski into the bed???? It was salt water also,
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08-25-2019, 07:06 AM
#6
Admirals Club
Last week I get back to the ramp and tie up and I notice a boat on a trailer up on the adjacent ramp with engine idling. They proceed to back down into the water and the engine stalls. I'm thinking this is a different way to launch a boat, start the engine first.
They pull the boat out again, unhook the truck and put the truck in position to jump start the boat engine. They get it started and then hook the truck back up to the trailer. You can imagine how long this took. And apparently they had done this before when I first noticed the engine running out of water.
This time the engine remains running. They park the truck and trailer and they take off on the boat. I think what amazed me the most was that they went off on the boat with an apparent dead battery.
They pull the boat out again, unhook the truck and put the truck in position to jump start the boat engine. They get it started and then hook the truck back up to the trailer. You can imagine how long this took. And apparently they had done this before when I first noticed the engine running out of water.
This time the engine remains running. They park the truck and trailer and they take off on the boat. I think what amazed me the most was that they went off on the boat with an apparent dead battery.
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08-27-2019, 12:08 PM
#7
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by cbritt
WatchEd a guy back his newer f 350 so far into the water other people started yelling at him and said I do this all the time. After his tailgate was 2 or 3 inches under water his drove his jet ski into the bed???? It was salt water also,
08-27-2019, 09:30 PM
#8
Oh God, don't get me started on boat ramp shenanigans.
Best one I have seen this year was a guy power loading a 32 Edgewater with 350s. The bow stop bolts broke and the boat ended up in the back of his F350 Platinum. They were stuck tying up the ramp for 3hrs waiting on a heavy lift wrecker with a rotator arm to separate boat and truck. Surprisingly little damage to the boat, mostly cosmetic. The truck wasn't so lucky. Probably $8-10k in damage. I "loaned" the guy a couple 20k LB ratchet straps and stuff to secure the trailer/boat enough to get it home, but never heard back from the guy.
Another one this year was when a friend of mine was on one side of a floating dock and a bowrider/inboard was on the other idling. The other boat had a leaking carb or some kind of gas leak and caught on fire while the other guy went to get his truck/trailer. The friend of mine cut the boat off, and put the fire out and cleared everyone away from the area. The guy gets back from the parking lot and starts cussing him for "getting extinguisher stuff" all over his boat and he needs to "pay to detail it". It actually got pretty heated and law enforcement got involved rather quickly. Turns out the guy was DUI and had 2 outstanding warrants for felony charges in another State. Not the best and brightest.
T2E
Best one I have seen this year was a guy power loading a 32 Edgewater with 350s. The bow stop bolts broke and the boat ended up in the back of his F350 Platinum. They were stuck tying up the ramp for 3hrs waiting on a heavy lift wrecker with a rotator arm to separate boat and truck. Surprisingly little damage to the boat, mostly cosmetic. The truck wasn't so lucky. Probably $8-10k in damage. I "loaned" the guy a couple 20k LB ratchet straps and stuff to secure the trailer/boat enough to get it home, but never heard back from the guy.
Another one this year was when a friend of mine was on one side of a floating dock and a bowrider/inboard was on the other idling. The other boat had a leaking carb or some kind of gas leak and caught on fire while the other guy went to get his truck/trailer. The friend of mine cut the boat off, and put the fire out and cleared everyone away from the area. The guy gets back from the parking lot and starts cussing him for "getting extinguisher stuff" all over his boat and he needs to "pay to detail it". It actually got pretty heated and law enforcement got involved rather quickly. Turns out the guy was DUI and had 2 outstanding warrants for felony charges in another State. Not the best and brightest.
T2E
08-28-2019, 07:47 AM
#9
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
I'd say the best one this year was some guy launching a pontoon boat with an older Dually. Guy blows the transmission line and the truck pisses trans fluid ALL over the ramp. It's early but his truck and boat are now stuck on the ramp.
Guy comes over and asks for a ride to his house 1/4 mile up the road. We give him a lift and he returns with some clapped out Chevy van.
Guy hooks up a tow strap to the dually and flat tows the dually and pontoon down the highway using the single tow strap. Seemed safe.
Guy comes over and asks for a ride to his house 1/4 mile up the road. We give him a lift and he returns with some clapped out Chevy van.
Guy hooks up a tow strap to the dually and flat tows the dually and pontoon down the highway using the single tow strap. Seemed safe.
08-28-2019, 09:14 AM
#10
Senior Member
I'll play. We are fortunate enough to have a public ramp adjacent to our favorite watering hole, so we see many close calls. I missed the initial action, but my gf told me that the boat pictured below had about 4 people on it when they attempted to pull the loaded trailer/boat from the water.
I heard the winch blew up and left the boat behind. It was probably on the concrete for 30 minutes or so as they worked to re-secure the trailer to the truck, then eventually lift the boat and slide it back down into the water, and then successfully load it. The result seemed good as my concern the whole time was that one of them were going to get hurt.
I heard the winch blew up and left the boat behind. It was probably on the concrete for 30 minutes or so as they worked to re-secure the trailer to the truck, then eventually lift the boat and slide it back down into the water, and then successfully load it. The result seemed good as my concern the whole time was that one of them were going to get hurt.
08-28-2019, 01:40 PM
#13
Admirals Club
Mine for this year - we have a public ramp - lots of use but rarely a line.
It's a double ramp so 2 boats can launch/retrieve at the same time. Guy in a jeep with a john boat doing "The Curly Shuffle" trying to back his trailer. Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle - finally gets it in the water & I back in beside him. As I'm climbing into my boat I notice his trailer is floating under the john boat. Guy is standing in waste deep water trying to unhook when I tell him his strap is still on the middle of the boat. "Oh - thanks" he says & then unhooks the strap. No change - trailer still floating.
As I slide off of my trailer I yell to him that he has 2 more straps on the back of the boat & he gets kinda angry yelling "I know". Of course he did - that's why he left them on.
Well - I run out for an hour or so - it was REALLY ROUGH out - not rough like you big water guys see - but 3ft swells on the river will bang you around pretty good in a little john boat. As I'm running back to the dock I see him with his oar out rowing for shore & 4 or so friends or family on the shore yelling at him.
GOOD TIMES!
It's a double ramp so 2 boats can launch/retrieve at the same time. Guy in a jeep with a john boat doing "The Curly Shuffle" trying to back his trailer. Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle - finally gets it in the water & I back in beside him. As I'm climbing into my boat I notice his trailer is floating under the john boat. Guy is standing in waste deep water trying to unhook when I tell him his strap is still on the middle of the boat. "Oh - thanks" he says & then unhooks the strap. No change - trailer still floating.
As I slide off of my trailer I yell to him that he has 2 more straps on the back of the boat & he gets kinda angry yelling "I know". Of course he did - that's why he left them on.
Well - I run out for an hour or so - it was REALLY ROUGH out - not rough like you big water guys see - but 3ft swells on the river will bang you around pretty good in a little john boat. As I'm running back to the dock I see him with his oar out rowing for shore & 4 or so friends or family on the shore yelling at him.
GOOD TIMES!
08-29-2019, 11:01 AM
#14
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by brass monkey
mine for this year - we have a public ramp - lots of use but rarely a line.
It's a double ramp so 2 boats can launch/retrieve at the same time. Guy in a jeep with a john boat doing "the curly shuffle" trying to back his trailer. Wiggle wiggle wiggle - finally gets it in the water & i back in beside him. As i'm climbing into my boat i notice his trailer is floating under the john boat. Guy is standing in waste deep water trying to unhook when i tell him his strap is still on the middle of the boat. "oh - thanks" he says & then unhooks the strap. No change - trailer still floating.
As i slide off of my trailer i yell to him that he has 2 more straps on the back of the boat & he gets kinda angry yelling "i know". Of course he did - that's why he left them on.
Well - i run out for an hour or so - it was really rough out - not rough like you big water guys see - but 3ft swells on the river will bang you around pretty good in a little john boat. As i'm running back to the dock i see him with his oar out rowing for shore & 4 or so friends or family on the shore yelling at him.
Good times!
It's a double ramp so 2 boats can launch/retrieve at the same time. Guy in a jeep with a john boat doing "the curly shuffle" trying to back his trailer. Wiggle wiggle wiggle - finally gets it in the water & i back in beside him. As i'm climbing into my boat i notice his trailer is floating under the john boat. Guy is standing in waste deep water trying to unhook when i tell him his strap is still on the middle of the boat. "oh - thanks" he says & then unhooks the strap. No change - trailer still floating.
As i slide off of my trailer i yell to him that he has 2 more straps on the back of the boat & he gets kinda angry yelling "i know". Of course he did - that's why he left them on.
Well - i run out for an hour or so - it was really rough out - not rough like you big water guys see - but 3ft swells on the river will bang you around pretty good in a little john boat. As i'm running back to the dock i see him with his oar out rowing for shore & 4 or so friends or family on the shore yelling at him.
Good times!
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08-29-2019, 11:04 AM
#16
Admirals Club
I once had a guy have his kids jump off of the dock right as I was unloading into the water. I told the kids to get out of there and don’t swim at the ramp. He went ape sh!t on me for “yelling” at his kids. That was interesting. By the way he was too busy loading his boat at the ramp to notice what his kids were doing.
08-29-2019, 11:06 AM
#17
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Misterfu02
LOL
That reminds me, I saw a boat being towed down the highway at 65+ mph with the bimini top deployed exactly like in the photo above.
That reminds me, I saw a boat being towed down the highway at 65+ mph with the bimini top deployed exactly like in the photo above.
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08-29-2019, 11:33 AM
#19
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Cobia 217
What'd I see at the ramp today?? Lots of empty trailers and none of them were mine. It's torture having the local ramp on my preferred route to work.
08-29-2019, 11:37 AM
#20
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Okay a story from dad involving my dad from a time when I was too young to remember...
Back in the 70s my dad had Bayliner bow rider with a 2 stroke evinrude outboard. It was 17 or 18'. He used to take us kids out in the river and lakes to water ski. The boat sat on a magic tilt trailer that would operate as designed and tilt up with a pull of a pin to allow the boat to slide off the trailer easier.
Well early on in his ownership, he was backing the boat down the ramp, my sister was sitting in the bow of the boat while he was doing this, she was maybe 13 at the time... With the back of the boat in the water my dad proceeds to loosen and unclip the wench strap from the bow eye... Nothing... The boat doesnt move. Standing on the tongue of the trailer while holding on to the bow rail, he proceed to pull the pin on the magic tilt trailer. In doing so, the bow immediately points to the sky and the boat shoots off the trailer,,, pulling my dad along with it, over the trailer cross bars and axle and into the water...
All of the while my sister is taking all of this in from the bow seat. With the boat now adrift and my dad dangling from the bow, my sister looks down at him and says, "I am so embarrassed..."
It's only funny now because other than a few bumps and bruises to include to his ego, he was ok.
Good times!
Back in the 70s my dad had Bayliner bow rider with a 2 stroke evinrude outboard. It was 17 or 18'. He used to take us kids out in the river and lakes to water ski. The boat sat on a magic tilt trailer that would operate as designed and tilt up with a pull of a pin to allow the boat to slide off the trailer easier.
Well early on in his ownership, he was backing the boat down the ramp, my sister was sitting in the bow of the boat while he was doing this, she was maybe 13 at the time... With the back of the boat in the water my dad proceeds to loosen and unclip the wench strap from the bow eye... Nothing... The boat doesnt move. Standing on the tongue of the trailer while holding on to the bow rail, he proceed to pull the pin on the magic tilt trailer. In doing so, the bow immediately points to the sky and the boat shoots off the trailer,,, pulling my dad along with it, over the trailer cross bars and axle and into the water...
All of the while my sister is taking all of this in from the bow seat. With the boat now adrift and my dad dangling from the bow, my sister looks down at him and says, "I am so embarrassed..."
It's only funny now because other than a few bumps and bruises to include to his ego, he was ok.
Good times!
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