I have the exact same truck....wow! I hope mine never looks that way.
Terry was expecting my blazer to end up in the Allegheny when I first put mine in, I tricked him though and got it in ok Us newbies make things exciting anyhow.
I saw that same thing happen at Walnut Creek in Erie and of course the husband blamed the wife! I launch at Hamerville often, I tell my son we have to set up a camcorder and just film the people load and unload their boats, it's quite entertaining. Last year there was a guy on a boat called "sick ***" last year he let his Friend off to back down his truck and the friend jack knifed the trailer and the guy driving the boat was screaming like a complete idiot. The very next weekend he had his wife back down the trailer, she had the trailer on its side and bent the tongue and once again he was screaming like and idiot, although it was a lip biting moment for all that where within earshot!
His wife or Friend should have told him to go pound salt and he should do it!!!
I watched a guy at Sharpsbug not long ago turn it into a circus. He had a lady backing his truck down the ramp that didn't know how to back a trailer. After 2 tries, she got it totally jackknifed. So the guy in the boat says, hold on, I'll do it. So he brings it into dock, and jumps out and tells a female passenger in the boat to drive it on the trailer once he gets the trailer in the water. I heard the lady reply, "But I don't know how to drive a boat". I looked at my wife and told her this would be painful to watch. I would have offered to help, but tensions were getting pretty high between this guy and his lady friends, and I didn't want to approach.
So anyhow, guy jumps on the dock and tell his other lady friend to take the boat back out in the water, then bring it to the trailer when he gets it in the water. He pushes the boat away from the dock. Lady says how do I make it go. Guy tells her to move the lever forward. She does, boat doesn't move. Guy says no, you have to push it forward MORE! What he didn't tell her was that it's not like a car, when you turn the back of the boat moves too. So she moves the throttle forward MORE with the wheel turned hard port. Back end of the boat smashes into the dock with that sickening sound. Guy is mad, and grumbling on the walk back to the truck. He gets in and backs the trailer into the water. ALL the way into the water, the bow stop was just barely poking up. So the lady comes in to the trailer, a little hot, but she didn't do too bad considering. But since the trailer was so deep, she pretty much ran the bottom of the boat up over the bow stop and you could hear the gelcoat gouging. It was sick.
I watched a guy at Sharpsbug not long ago turn it into a circus. He had a lady backing his truck down the ramp that didn't know how to back a trailer. After 2 tries, she got it totally jackknifed. So the guy in the boat says, hold on, I'll do it. So he brings it into dock, and jumps out and tells a female passenger in the boat to drive it on the trailer once he gets the trailer in the water. I heard the lady reply, "But I don't know how to drive a boat". I looked at my wife and told her this would be painful to watch. I would have offered to help, but tensions were getting pretty high between this guy and his lady friends, and I didn't want to approach.
So anyhow, guy jumps on the dock and tell his other lady friend to take the boat back out in the water, then bring it to the trailer when he gets it in the water. He pushes the boat away from the dock. Lady says how do I make it go. Guy tells her to move the lever forward. She does, boat doesn't move. Guy says no, you have to push it forward MORE! What he didn't tell her was that it's not like a car, when you turn the back of the boat moves too. So she moves the throttle forward MORE with the wheel turned hard port. Back end of the boat smashes into the dock with that sickening sound. Guy is mad, and grumbling on the walk back to the truck. He gets in and backs the trailer into the water. ALL the way into the water, the bow stop was just barely poking up. So the lady comes in to the trailer, a little hot, but she didn't do too bad considering. But since the trailer was so deep, she pretty much ran the bottom of the boat up over the bow stop and you could hear the gelcoat gouging. It was sick.
Sounds like he was a bit clueless himself. Especially in Sharpsburg, I think there is a sign there that the ramp ends in like 20 feet, guessing he was pretty close.
I am pretty lucky. My wife and I have it down (and were still pretty new) She backs in and and launch and load the boat. She gets self consciousabout her backing up ability, but let me tell you she does better then anyone I have seen on the ramps (better then me) and even on a crowded day with tons of traffic. As a couple I think the key is both involved and patience. I know she needs it with me as I have made my share of mistakes. Nothing more frustrating when you are at the ramp and you see the boat back in, the husband get out, of load/load the boat, then back to the truck while the wife/passenger sits there. Boating should be a team game.
The funny thing is the truck in the picture is a Chevy Avalanche with an automatic transmission they where not offered with a manual transmission (so i believe). I could see this happening with a manual transmission.
The avalanche is not offered with a manual.....only auto! I have a 2007 and would have liked a manual, but it's not an option. Maybe the guy left her in reverse or neutral, with out setting the parking brake fully, although I would have no idea why you would do that on a launch ramp. I have seen some interesting things at a launch ramp, but nothing that insane yet.
How not to launch a boat
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Originally Posted by Grant
2007 Rinker 246 cc
