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Stupid Boat Ramp Stories

Back in the 90's i had the first dock next to the ramp at a local marine and would often go down with beer and popcorn and just watch the shows. one time these two guys back their 25' with twins in the water one jumps in the boat while the other parks the truck. the boat driver decides to turn the boat around so they get a straight shot out to the river. backs up the ramp so fast that both props ripped up to the hub.
 
Several years ago my son and I were going to launch his 20' Baha from a local ramp. The boat had a fair amount of water in the bilge from being parked out in the rain for several days with the plug in it. We were backed up on the ramp and my son's girlfriend was in the boat. The ramp which was almost flat (I thought) didn't seem to have enough incline to drain the bilge quickly with the plug out, so I decided to put the jack down a little to raise the bow of the boat to get the water flowing out of the bilge a little quicker. About the time I got the bow up pretty good, which also had the back of the truck up pretty good as well, the ball lock apparently hadn't locked and the trailer came off the ball and in the river goes the boat and the trailer and the tide is going out fast. I manage to throw a rope on the trailer and get it tied to the dock, although it still went out and down about 20'. The boat seperated itself from the trailer and was heading downstream at a good clip with his then girlfriend in the boat with no plug in the bilge and she didn't know anything about operating a boat or anything else for that matter, but she was sitting up there looking real pretty. My son jumped on another boat and went to her rescue, got the boat back to the dock where we inserted the plug back into the bilge to stop that. While all this is going on, people are coming to the ramp and launching their boats over top the trailer that is submerged about 20' off the ramp. We manage to dive down to the trailer, following the rope that was tied to it and get a big rope around it, hook it to our truck and pull the trailer up out of the water, get hooked back up, and luckily live happily ever after. Anytime I tell my son he has done something stupid, he reminds me of that little trick that I pulled. I'll never live that one down.
 
If you want pics and video, live is the best way get a case of beer and go to the boat launch on gun lake michigan on a hot sunny saturday, you never know what you might see........
 
I was with another older member of OSO and had to get from Boston to NY with my boat for a run up the Hudson. We get to the ramp and it is backed up 20 or so boats deep. Every boat is taking for EVER to get out of the water. So we decide to head back to the marina and go to a ball game for his daughter. We get back after the game and it is getting dark now and there is STILL a huge line. I get in line and keep bumping the shifter and easing my way past everyone. They are all yelling at me there is a line there is a line. I keep telling them not to worry I will waite but that I am going to drop my anchore at the front and waite my turn. If I had waited for all the mental midgets to get their boats out it would have been midnight before I got on the road. I got Mark on the phone and told him to back down the ramp. Looked at everyone and said what do you want me to do and drove up on the trailer. People were freeking out yelling at me and I am PRAYING that I hit the trailer correctly on the first shot. Took us about a min to get the boat on the trailer and up the ramp. Two people came up to me later when I was preping for the 4 hour drive and said that they were pissed at me at first but then were amazed that a boat could come out of the water that fast. The next day was even worse I waited in line for ever and people on Jet Ski's kept cuting me off. I figured it was payback for the day before. One guy in a jet ski kept coming real close to the back of my boat so I trimmed up and slammed the throttles and flipped him over :D
 
AHHHH Memories!!!!

One of my many!
 

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off roading said:
Back in the 90's i had the first dock next to the ramp at a local marine and would often go down with beer and popcorn and just watch the shows. one time these two guys back their 25' with twins in the water one jumps in the boat while the other parks the truck. the boat driver decides to turn the boat around so they get a straight shot out to the river. backs up the ramp so fast that both props ripped up to the hub.
Click to expand...

Which Marina?
 
There was always a really strong current in front of my marina and watching people try to back in the slips to put the boats up for dry stack was always very entertaining. Even had one boat wind up ON TOP OF THE dock
 
I was riding with a friend of mine that isn't very sea worthy. He played hockey for the Maple Leafs but for some reason he just isn't a very good boat driver. He is the type that is either full sticks or off. We was pulling into the Horney Toad for some cocktails forward of course because thats how he parks and as you can guess he slows to square off with the dock and then all off a sudden it was full throttle and the nose goes up the dock. He pulls the sticks back and the boat slides back down and then he looks at us and say lets tie up like nothing happen. I was busy looking around and trying to see who was watching and trying top disappear. Last time I rode with him.
 
We are going to try something different next week.We will vote on the POTW nominations that close Sunday night but there wil be no POTW contest next week.We will instead pick four posts from this thread and then have a vote.Same deal prizes for the winner and one random voter so post away.
 
Mine is kinda boring but two years ago I was launching my boat with two of my kids (at the time they were 10) I did my usual check plug etc.backed down the ramp got it in the water unhooked the bow cleat backed up a little more then floated her off.I already had side lines on it so I told my kids to tie it up while I parked the truck.Well the did problem they left about 20 feet of slack the current was pushing away from the dock so it kinda floated away.No harm done we just pulled it in and left
 
This was at a race near Niagra falls. The current was serious. The trailer ride up from MD. broke a piece on the transom. Stoney couldn't get his life jacket on.

Art & Stoney.jpg

Some how after a little work and a lot of drinking they won the race. I backed the trailer in and expected a high speed hit. As it worked out my buddy Art read my mind and hit the trailer nearly on plane. I had time to take the picture then a quick click on the bow eye and we were done. I couldn't have taken 10 seconds total.

Niagara.jpg

We resumed drinking and watched everyone else struggle at the ramp.
The good old days racing. Art and Stoney, The Original Joker Racing Team
 
When I was in high school I worked summers at a ramp on the South River. The southern side is now Know as Edgerock. Anyway every week end the line would form to launch. The owner and his buddies sat and drank beer all day at the ramp house as the staff cared for the customers. They would crack another Bud every 30 minutes as the swing bridge would open.

On this day in line amid the trailer boats in line was a couple with a canoe on the roof of there station wagon. By the time their turn arrived the drinking people were taking bets among themselves as to how long the canoe ride would last.. The had a boat load of shiiit load in it.. The only reason anybody had any patience was she was stack wearing only a white t shirt and cut off shorts. I soon understood as everyone else did if the canoe goes over it will be quite a show.

The ride lasted less than 5 seconds. They only managed to clear the ramp and over it went.. Shiiit floating everywhere. The dude swam for all the floating stuff and handed it to the woman standing in knee deep water on the ramp. Everybody was more than willing to help her. I was 15 what a site to behold. I wish I had a pic of that moment.. I guess you can all imagine.
 
off roading said:
Back in the 90's i had the first dock next to the ramp at a local marine and would often go down with beer and popcorn and just watch the shows. one time these two guys back their 25' with twins in the water one jumps in the boat while the other parks the truck. the boat driver decides to turn the boat around so they get a straight shot out to the river. backs up the ramp so fast that both props ripped up to the hub.
Click to expand...

i think i may have had the same slip over at Rossford. I had the one right next to the ramp over there. One night a crew came down at about midnight to launch and go across the river to The Light House (A bar across the way) Dude backs the boat in and leaves his bow eye still connected and as soon as it floats he throws it in forward and pulls out. problem is he was still hooked to the boat. Everything comes up the ramp and the boat spools out and comes to rest at about a 45 degree angle on the back of the trailer about twenty feet from the water. Dude gets out of truck . . . surveys damage . . . . backs (skids) the whole mess back down the ramp into the water gets in and heads to the bar. . . . . i stayed in my slip that night. I dont wanna be out there while he was out there to. . . . that wasn't you was it?. :leaving::D
 
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I have two both I showed up a little late for.

First one I show up at the ramp and the firetruck is putting out a fire on what used to be oh probably a 18' boat of some kind with a i/o boat basically burnt to the water line couple guys standing there I guess the boat would not start so one of the bright guys decided to get in and arc the starter over he had some burns but lived everyone else was ok.

Next one I show up and the tow truck is fishing out a 2 or 3 year old truck with a trailer attached. Couple old guys and a fishing boat really wasn't their fault supposedly the ramp was slick. I'm sure that is Gino's excuse also

What I learned was I needed to start getting to the lake just a little earlier.
 
glassdave said:
i think i may have had the same slip over at Rossford. I had the one right next to the ramp over there. One night a crew came down at about midnight to launch and go across the river to The Light House (A bar across the way) Dude backs the boat in and leaves his bow eye still connected and as soon as it floats he throws it in forward and pulls out. problem is he was still hooked to the boat. Everything comes up the ramp and the boat spools out and comes to rest at about a 45 degree angle on the back of the trailer about twenty feet from the water. Dude gets out of truck . . . surveys damage . . . . backs (skids) the whole mess back down the ramp into the water gets in and heads to the bar. . . . . i stayed in my slip that night. I dont wanna be out there while he was out there to. . . . that wasn't you was it?. :leaving::D
Click to expand...


what where you worried about Dave?? 10 to 1 he went the wrong way around the little island and ran it aground and was stuck there for a long time.
 
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