Timely Reminder For New Boaties

[slinkymalinky]

Here's a boat ramp tip that some new boat owners seem to forget or not know...

DO NOT UNHOOK YOUR BOAT FROM THE TRAILER UNTIL IT IS IN THE WATER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP READY TO LAUNCH.

I got to see someone with a sexy glass 5.5m bowrider drop it on the road at Appletree Bay on Saturday. Obviously had it unclipped thinking to save time at the bottom of the ramp or something. Went to move off in his car and CRUNCH... griiiiind, griiiind. Next news the boat's trying to float on bitumen.

A very small mistake leading to a very expensive call to the insurance company I'm sure.

We all take it for granted that this sort of thing seems obvious, but if you've never had a boat before it's easy to not be aware of the consequences. I won't even unhook the safety chain until I'm at the bottom of the ramp.

Cheers, Slinky

[glennmreid]

Very costly mistake, ouch! Very good advice Slinky.

[Bojan]

I would also like to add something.

Do not launch your boat unless you are sure it will start or better yet it has been started on the trailer.

Nothing worse then waiting for someone to retrive their boat because it isn't starting.

[scotty d]

seen someone drop his boat at port kembla the other day , its hard not to laugh and i couldnt help myself.

[pauljm]

I have seen that happen 3 times in the last 10 years..... always with near new boats/boaties..... shattering trying to skull drag a new boat like that up the concrete.....the last thing on the trailer that we ever touch while launching is always the winch!

[Flightmanager]

While we are on the subject , most trailers have a safety chain as well as the winch. USE BOTH , if one fails , you still have the other as backup.

Ross

[whi7eindustries]

Did anyone see the two guys WITHOUT a trailer at all at Rosebay boatramp on saturday. Somehow managed to fill their tinny with water so couldn't lift it into the back of the ute, which they'd parked on the ramp, so instead of turning it over (sensible option) they took the bung plug out, (not so sensible) it took over 35mins for it to drain, at which point they had been shouted at by virtually every single boatie waiting to get in and out of the water.

Its utterly astounding sometimes just how dimwitted some people are, I for one can't wait for the new boat licence laws to kick in.

Cheers, Tobe

[domza]

saw this happen to a new new 3 seater jetski at the cooks river ramp, can't imagine the noise of the thump of the 1t+ fiberglass onto the concrete boat ramp.

[Buster and co]

Saw a guy a couple of years ago have a similar experience at Parsley Bay, again with a new boat. In his case one piece of inexperience countered the other as he not only had the winch and safety chain disconnected but also the leg of the motor down. The boat just slid halfway off the trailer and sat propped up on the leg in the middle of the ramp. Myself and a couple of other guys gave him a hand to take the weight off the back while he winched it back onto the trailer. Could have been a lot uglier than it turned out. I don't expect he has made the same mistake again.

Cheers,

Rick

[volitans]

I don't know.... all you spoil sports. That used to be a special treat for Dick & myself after a w/end fishing.

We used to sit at the ramp at Nelson's Bay and watch the fun as (not always new) dumbo's did this.

We once watched a bloke drop a beautiful Haines f'glass boat heavily and split it from stem to stern along the keel (a fine hairline crack developed). We went over (sarcastically applauding) to offer our help and through his tears he accepted. We asked him what he thought he was doing and he said he always launched like that. By unhooking before descending the ramp he reckoned he could just hit the brakes at the bottom and the boat would effortlessly glide off. Trouble is if, as happened to him, you need to touch your brakes to adjust your direction before you get to the bottom then BOOM

So the message is don't unhook till your boat's actually at the bottom of the ramp in the launching position unless of course your aim is to entertain Dick & I as we sit and watch the fun & games.

[dangles]

I would also like to add something.

Do not launch your boat unless you are sure it will start or better yet it has been started on the trailer.

Nothing worse then waiting for someone to retrive their boat because it isn't starting.

I start mine at home the night before, when i get to the ramp i WONT try to start it till its in the water, running an engine dry will cause damage to the impeller, not to mention the excessive exhaust noise to the surrounding neighbours of the ramp. The boat is started whilst still on the trailer then backed into the water, so if it wont start its just a matter of reconnecting winch/safety chain so no more than 5 mins total on the ramp

[abiasin]

I would also like to add something.

Do not launch your boat unless you are sure it will start or better yet it has been started on the trailer.

Nothing worse then waiting for someone to retrive their boat because it isn't starting.

mate my motor dropped spark from the time i tested it the night before and the sunday morning at the ramp at botany. if you relise there is a problem pull the boat out and attempt to fix it away from the ramp as i did. not everyone wants to start there motor before it is in the the drink.

i was there for 2mins and relised something was up and pulled the boat out without any delays to others around.

Edited February 4, 2009 by The Mistress

[Big dog]

I dont what to admit this, but once i drop a boat by not straping the boat to the trailer.

I had to travel 250m from the boat ramp, WHAT AN IDIOT

Always strap the old girl down and the boat as well

[bisso]

i remember a great days fishing with the kids and heading back to the ramp, i saw a guy sitting on his butt with his head hanging down. i looked behind him to see his brand new outboard firmly wedged between the bitumen and the edge of the concrete ramp.... i offered assistance but this guy didnt want a bar of it. i sat patiently at the wharf while watching him try to manually lift the engine that was embedded 3 inches into bitumen. this went on for twenty minutes before i had had enough and suggested he might like to drive forward a few feet rather than trying to lift up his motor along with the concrete ramp which it was firmly beded against. after coping a few verbal sprays from him, he reluctantly shifted his vehicle forward. much to his amazement, he was now able to lift up his brand new motor !!!! kellog's would be proud of supplying this one with a licence!!!!! common sense is something you are born with, not attached to a plastic token...

Cheers

[pa'stime]

I dont what to admit this, but once i drop a boat by not straping the boat to the trailer.

I had to travel 250m from the boat ramp, WHAT AN IDIOT

Always strap the old girl down and the boat as well

Well you won't be the last, the number of boats not tied to trailers at the impoundments in Qld especially, would be greater than 95%, just accidents waiting to happen. The seem to think that the winch can't let go.

Life will tell them that eventually it will.

Bloody annoying when they drive through camp with the boat bouncing around on the trailer before daylight.

[pjbink]

I would also like to add something.

Do not launch your boat unless you are sure it will start or better yet it has been started on the trailer.

Nothing worse then waiting for someone to retrive their boat because it isn't starting.

I don't bother and haven't had a problem. Well I did once on my 1st boat when the 6hp motor wouldn't start. We just rowed out to a spot and I caught a 9lb flathead! On other occassions when I have had motor problems the motor would start and idle but not have any power. So I think it's a waste of time test running it before any outing. I see a lot of people potentially do damage dry starting their outboards at boat ramps.

I do check the battery charge and that the steering is free. Also draining the water seperating fuel filter bowl is a good precaution.

Edited February 8, 2009 by billfisher