Launch Ramp Shit Show

[ArizonaKevin]

What's the worst launch ramp experience you've ever had?

We took the boat out to Lake Pleasant this weekend with some of the wife's coworkers for a nice relaxing day on the water, had a great time bouncing from cove to cove to hang out and even got in a little wakeboarding before the day was over.

Around 530 we decide to call it a day and headed back to 10 lane. Wife backed down the trailer for one of the first times by herself and nailed it so I was super proud! When she went around the back of the trailer to get the strap ready she picked a bunk up out of the water and showed it to me. Shit, after 15 years it finally rotted enough for the screws to fall out. Shit, so I drop off the rest of the crew at the dock so they can help her tie the board to the brackets to keep it from floating away.

So we backed the trailer in really deep to keep pressure off the board as we winch it on, once pressure starts to build as the bow of the boat is climbing the roller we get a few cranks in and BOOM the winch strap breaks. Well when it rains it pours but we are able to get a good knot around the bow eye and start cranking it some more should be fine to get us home. Then, one of the girls that was on the other side of the boat called me over to look at something. Another bunk is floating away. WHAT THE HELL

So we get the boat cranked up to where it needs to be, one buddy is on the small outer bunk holding it in place, I am holding my breath underwater on the longer inner bunk holding it in place while my wife slowly pulls the boat out to get it's weight on the bunks. Miraculously we get it lined up and none of use lose any fingers between the bunks and the boat.

We pull the boat up until the transom is dry to get the rear straps on in case the knot on the front fails, drive up the wipe off area and my wife goes full girl scout knots with an extra set of rope I had in my truck on the bow eye and we were able to safely get it home. Now we need to get it fixed before my dad leaves for Powell om 8/7.

So, if we held you up getting off the water at Pleasant on Saturday afternoon I apologize, we are usually much more efficient at getting off the water than that. I know posting this probably makes me look dumb and unprepared but hopefully it will prompt someone to check their winch strap and bunks before their next trip so they don't have a similar nightmare on the ramp.

 

[wallnutz]

What's the worst launch ramp experience you've ever had?

We took the boat out to Lake Pleasant this weekend with some of the wife's coworkers for a nice relaxing day on the water, had a great time bouncing from cove to cove to hang out and even got in a little wakeboarding before the day was over.

Around 530 we decide to call it a day and headed back to 10 lane. Wife backed down the trailer for one of the first times by herself and nailed it so I was super proud! When she went around the back of the trailer to get the strap ready she picked a bunk up out of the water and showed it to me. Shit, after 15 years it finally rotted enough for the screws to fall out. Shit, so I drop off the rest of the crew at the dock so they can help her tie the board to the brackets to keep it from floating away.

So we backed the trailer in really deep to keep pressure off the board as we winch it on, once pressure starts to build as the bow of the boat is climbing the roller we get a few cranks in and BOOM the winch strap breaks. Well when it rains it pours but we are able to get a good knot around the bow eye and start cranking it some more should be fine to get us home. Then, one of the girls that was on the other side of the boat called me over to look at something. Another bunk is floating away. WHAT THE HELL

So we get the boat cranked up to where it needs to be, one buddy is on the small outer bunk holding it in place, I am holding my breath underwater on the longer inner bunk holding it in place while my wife slowly pulls the boat out to get it's weight on the bunks. Miraculously we get it lined up and none of use lose any fingers between the bunks and the boat.

We pull the boat up until the transom is dry to get the rear straps on in case the knot on the front fails, drive up the wipe off area and my wife goes full girl scout knots with an extra set of rope I had in my truck on the bow eye and we were able to safely get it home. Now we need to get it fixed before my dad leaves for Powell om 8/7.

So, if we held you up getting off the water at Pleasant on Saturday afternoon I apologize, we are usually much more efficient at getting off the water than that. I know posting this probably makes me look dumb and unprepared but hopefully it will prompt someone to check their winch strap and bunks before their next trip so they don't have a similar nightmare on the ramp.

View attachment 780802

View attachment 780804

View attachment 780805

It’s going to happen to the best of us sooner or later.

 

[Waterjunky]

Damm, now you are making me worry about my bunks. I should really inspect them one of these days when the boat is floating. I know the front strap is in poor condition but that is a winter project as the entire bow stop and everything needs to be replaced. I am fairly sure the strap that came with the boat is not designed to be on a boat. It looks more like it came off a 2" ratchet strap when they broke the one on the winch.

 

[WhatExit?]

Sucks but glad it wasn't worse. Brave of you to talk about it.

My only other comment is that rope is shit - hard to consider that stuff "rope"

 

[aj923]

Lake Pleasant is always good for a show on the launch ramp. It is a different crowd vs Havasu for sure. I am sure you were not the only one holding anyone up. I have watched people bust out the mask and flippers for who knows what on the 4 lane and block half the ramp for hours.

 

[RichL]

There's a big difference between chit happens and total lack of preparation. Given the way you guys pulled it together and got the boat safely out of the water gets a big thumbs up from me. BTW. Congrats to your Lady for handling the trailer duties. Another thumbs up.

 

[Icky]

My buddies floated off one day years ago, only thing I had was electrical tape. Taped it back on, and it stayed like that for probably a year before we got around to fixing it

 

[Trash]

Wow, at least you had help an people that caught the problem. I have my bunks thru-bolted with counter sunk heads on the top side so they won't come off (at least that's the theory).

 

[hallett21]

I swear bunks only float when you’re loading the boat. Never when you first launch lol.

I’m also convinced it can only happen if the sun has already set.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[outboardrick]

I launched my 21 Daytona once and tied it up to the dock while I parked the truck. Came back and started to untie the boat and noticed one of the bunks sticking out from under the bow (tunnel hull). Just the pressure of it trying to float kept it stuck to the bottom of the boat

 

[gqchris]

I have had this happen to me at the Nautical. Someone stole all my new stainless hardware from my bunks, because they probably needed more than me! My Buddy launched, and two of my newer bunks floated off. I was fucking hot!


So dont assume they rotted off. The theft of them happens more often than not.

 

[was thatguy]

I keep zip ties in the tow rig since I had a floater years ago.
Zip tie it down and back her in.

 

[DWC]

What's the worst launch ramp experience you've ever had?

We took the boat out to Lake Pleasant this weekend with some of the wife's coworkers for a nice relaxing day on the water, had a great time bouncing from cove to cove to hang out and even got in a little wakeboarding before the day was over.

Around 530 we decide to call it a day and headed back to 10 lane. Wife backed down the trailer for one of the first times by herself and nailed it so I was super proud! When she went around the back of the trailer to get the strap ready she picked a bunk up out of the water and showed it to me. Shit, after 15 years it finally rotted enough for the screws to fall out. Shit, so I drop off the rest of the crew at the dock so they can help her tie the board to the brackets to keep it from floating away.

So we backed the trailer in really deep to keep pressure off the board as we winch it on, once pressure starts to build as the bow of the boat is climbing the roller we get a few cranks in and BOOM the winch strap breaks. Well when it rains it pours but we are able to get a good knot around the bow eye and start cranking it some more should be fine to get us home. Then, one of the girls that was on the other side of the boat called me over to look at something. Another bunk is floating away. WHAT THE HELL

So we get the boat cranked up to where it needs to be, one buddy is on the small outer bunk holding it in place, I am holding my breath underwater on the longer inner bunk holding it in place while my wife slowly pulls the boat out to get it's weight on the bunks. Miraculously we get it lined up and none of use lose any fingers between the bunks and the boat.

We pull the boat up until the transom is dry to get the rear straps on in case the knot on the front fails, drive up the wipe off area and my wife goes full girl scout knots with an extra set of rope I had in my truck on the bow eye and we were able to safely get it home. Now we need to get it fixed before my dad leaves for Powell om 8/7.

So, if we held you up getting off the water at Pleasant on Saturday afternoon I apologize, we are usually much more efficient at getting off the water than that. I know posting this probably makes me look dumb and unprepared but hopefully it will prompt someone to check their winch strap and bunks before their next trip so they don't have a similar nightmare on the ramp.

View attachment 780802

View attachment 780804

View attachment 780805

Looks a little like Matt’s trailer.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

The bow rail on the boat in my avatar bends down towards the front of the boat..yah, it wasn't always that way.

I was loading the boat on the trailer at about 10 year old or so and the boat died when I gave it some gas to get it up on the trailer. "I don't remember why my pops didn't just back in further" I started it up without throwing it in neutral and the boat launches into the back of my dad's tailgate. I'm sure that was a shit show, but I can't remember anything after that. Luckily only the bow rail and tailgate were damaged.

 

[airchair.rider]

I learned that socks work good for tying bunk boards.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Looks a little like Matt’s trailer.

Nah that's ours. On another note, he was supposed to come to Powell with us but had to cancel for Dykes' funeral. It was interesting seeing young DWC pictures from Matt's weddding with the memorial pictures he posted of Mike.

 

[Lavey29]

Someone removed the bolts on a couple of my bunks while the trailer was parked. It was a brand new trailer and the bunks were just laying on the ground when I went to bring it around to the ramp. Luckily I was able to drive it a few miles to the boat shop for repairs. Smart idea you did using the bungee straps to hold yours in place.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Someone removed the bolts on a couple of my bunks while the trailer was parked. It was a brand new trailer and the bunks were just laying on the ground when I went to bring it around to the ramp. Luckily I was able to drive it a few miles to the boat shop for repairs. Smart idea you did using the bungee straps to hold yours in place.

All credit goes to my wife and her work friends for the bungees, I was floating around the no wake zone.

 

[Springfield]

I keep zip ties in the tow rig since I had a floater years ago.
Zip tie it down and back her in.

Same here, a few months back bunk floated off while getting ready to load. Zip tie!!
Got over to Debbie at Shadow Trailer rebunked, changed out lights to LED, bearings and tires, and was out the door, refurbished and ready for another 10 years..

 

[DWC]

Did some real stupid shit between 14 and early 20’s. Your uncle was a bad influence and there for most of it.

Almost lost one of my straps a few trips ago. Definitely an oh crap moment. Looks like my trailer tires are on their last leg... Time to put some money in the trailer. Bet we saw a dozen trailers with blown tires on the 40 Friday.

Nah that's ours. On another note, he was supposed to come to Powell with us but had to cancel for Dykes' funeral. It was interesting seeing young DWC pictures from Matt's weddding with the memorial pictures he posted of Mike.

 

[QC22]

Yeah.. I was my own shit show early this season. I launched at Windsor after getting some work done at Nordic/Hallett. I had one of my tires start to come apart so had just put the trailer's spare on. Wife backs me down and I back off the trailer. I'm just drifting back in neutral and I look over and there's a f'ng tire floating by the courtesy dock. Yes, it's my almost dead one, I had just set it in the spare rack, but didn't run the bolt through. Shit!, so I bump the boat in gear and back to neutral, one more bump and nobody home. Shifter handle is just loose. Shit!. Luckily, I'm drifting towards the dock and I can reach the tire with my boat hook. So the wife sees all this and hasn't left the ramp. I get boat back on the trailer, and drive back to Nordic. Luckily it was February, and only a couple of people at the ramp. It wasn't the shift cable as I expected, a little flange fell off the bottom of the handle that connects the cable. Easy fix, could've done myself at the dock, but I assumed cable. Never looked.

 

[ka0tyk]

worst? spinning wheels in my truck and being pulled backwards into the water by my boat. couldnt exit the truck as it would start to get pulled backwards. luckily had a strap and pulled it out. couldnt unhook the boat as there was so much load on the pin.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

worst? spinning wheels in my truck and being pulled backwards into the water by my boat. couldnt exit the truck as it would start to get pulled backwards. luckily had a strap and pulled it out. couldnt unhook the boat as there was so much load on the pin.

My worst nightmare is everything rolling back and not being able to do anything to stop it. Before my wife and I were together she was out with her family and someone stole the hitch pin while they were parked at Windsor but the hitch didn't pull out of the receiver until the boat was on and they were pulling it out. The momentum that the trailer was able to get as it rolled backwards before the chains got it caused the whole setup to roll backwards. Thankfully my brother in law was able to push on the truck enough to stop it.

 

[92562]

Thanks for posting. Mine will be delivered on Wednesday!

 

[2Driver]

worst? spinning wheels in my truck and being pulled backwards into the water by my boat. couldnt exit the truck as it would start to get pulled backwards. luckily had a strap and pulled it out. couldnt unhook the boat as there was so much load on the pin.

Take off point is a bitch sometimes. The ramp is pretty greasy too.

 

[Ladsm]

My wife had a fun time at the launch ramp at Princess Cove Saturday, I motored up to the dock and she stepped off the boat and slipped and went right in the water, cell phone, keys, shoes and hat but came back up with everything still in her hands. She was a trooper. I didnt yell at her for getting the truck seat wet LOL!!

 

[ka0tyk]

Take off point is a bitch sometimes. The ramp is pretty greasy too.

its a 50/50 shot. on one hand its steep so launching the boats are a breeze. on the other hand, its slick so its a pain. i feel like at havasu springs i have to put the truck halfway into the water before the boat floats off the bunks.

 

[River Runnin]

Might catch some shit! ...But! ... It looks like them bunks just got re-covered and the bolts not installed!??

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Might catch some shit! ...But! ... It looks like them bunks just got re-covered and the bolts not installed!??

That's what it looks like but they are the original bunks to the trailer. 2 of them have been turned around to get screws into fresh wood a couple years ago.

 

[NicPaus]

I find the lag bolts that fall out of old bunks often in the road in our park. Have a handful in my golf cart. Neighbor picked one up this weekend. Surprised more bunks don't go floating. I need to redo a few of mine.

 

[RiverDave]

Sucks but glad it wasn't worse. Brave of you to talk about it.

My only other comment is that rope is shit - hard to consider that stuff "rope"

I’d like to see the rope you keep in your truck in the off chance a bunk falls off your trailer or the winch breaks. .

They had more shit on hand than I would in that scenario.

 

[RiverDave]

Never really had any crazy launch ramp stories other than that one where the Mexicans were threatening that old man about a month and a half ago.


I have a story about going to get my buddies car out of a tow yard when I was a kid that turned into an epic cluster fuck. Lol

 

[ka0tyk]

I’d like to see the rope you keep in your truck in the off chance a bunk falls off your trailer or the winch breaks. .

They had more shit on hand than I would in that scenario.

Theres the kicker. You're at the ramp, you have the boat halfass hooked up. You cant leave to get supplies. Most of the time my truck is empty.

Do you bring the whole garage with you at that point? I've seen zip ties, rope, straps, bungee cords, etc in this thread so far.

 

[SoCalDave]

I have a story about going to get my buddies car out of a tow yard when I was a kid that turned into an epic cluster fuck. Lol

 

[mash on it]

At the ramp, I've had a flatbed town truck blocking both lanes, he said I could wait.
I told him I'll wait, but that woman it that Ford crew cab isn't gonna, and she's not very good backing up. My wife did the u-turn, and started backing down the ramp.

He quickly changed his mind and left.


Some guy had a Ford Maverick, towing a Harley Davidson on a trailer, back the trailer down the center of the two lane ramp. Asked if he was going to launch the Harley. It didn't go over to well with him either.

Both cases, can't fix stupid.

Dan'l

 

[4Waters]

I give a pull on my bunks every time I launch the boat and inspect the leaf springs

 

[Tpltrbl303]

I backed my trailer off the end of the ramp and got it hung up. After 30 minutes of work I got it free and pulled out the boat and went looking for the ahole who was responsible for poor ramp maintenance and realized it was my own ramp... I kicked my own ass so I'd learn my lesson.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

My wife had a fun time at the launch ramp at Princess Cove Saturday, I motored up to the dock and she stepped off the boat and slipped and went right in the water, cell phone, keys, shoes and hat but came back up with everything still in her hands. She was a trooper. I didnt yell at her for getting the truck seat wet LOL!!

Reminds me of another shit show I took part in and almost forgot about.

15 years old and I had finally saved enough of my life savings to buy a slightly used 2 seat Yamaha wave runner. Pops, sister, and I decided to keep the boat at home and took it to Lake Perris for a quick day trip. We loaded it up with a small cooler, folding chairs, and launched with me driving no problem. Dad parks the truck and all 3 of us try to get on....splash, EVERYTHING on the launch ramp. I was probably 120 lbs, sister was probably about the same, and dad was 260. Luckily we found everything and just walked it to the beach next to the ramp for the rest of the day.

 

[Andy B.]

Someone tried to steal my spare trailer tire Sunday does that count?

 

[cofooter]

In the early 80's I saw a woman's legs get chopped up by an outdrive after she slipped on the boat ramp while launching in Havasu. Saw a guy in Arkansas with his bass boat as he backed in the trailer, tied his boat to the dock, pulled out, and watched as his boat dropped high and dry on the launch ramp - ropes were way too long........ afternoon storms can get nasty here in Colorado. Used to go down the the public launch and watch everyone trying to get off the water when one blew in, pretty entertaining, not like site six shit, but a good end to the day sitting there with a cooler full of beer.

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

Well Played Sir!

I had a recent trip where we had to use a ramp that was a major incline, I would guess 25% grade. I love my truck but the old girl doesn't have much grunt left, we started to pull up and I told the family make sure the boat is lined up because I think we only have one shot at this, we creped up the ramp and I was expecting something to pop... she made it albeit slowly but every disastrous scenario ran thru my head. We get to the top and the dam boat is sitting on the fended pad !%@^... 60 gallons of fuel in it, skis etc....luckily I made the fender pads are beefy as hell, glassed and bolt to the trailer frame. No damage, 4 guys put a little booty to it and she dropped in. The boat is super tight on the trailer so not too far to go...I started to bark at my boys but thought better of it as I caused the issue to begin with.

 

[Carlson-jet]

Well, I guess I have to say the old California lowrider EZ-loader has never had this issue.
Rollers For the win.
When I took the trailer completely apart and repaired,rebuilt and repainted I located the rollers precisely for proper support.
19/20 foot boats make life easy.

 

[BajaMike]

What's the worst launch ramp experience you've ever had?

We took the boat out to Lake Pleasant this weekend with some of the wife's coworkers for a nice relaxing day on the water, had a great time bouncing from cove to cove to hang out and even got in a little wakeboarding before the day was over.

Around 530 we decide to call it a day and headed back to 10 lane. Wife backed down the trailer for one of the first times by herself and nailed it so I was super proud! When she went around the back of the trailer to get the strap ready she picked a bunk up out of the water and showed it to me. Shit, after 15 years it finally rotted enough for the screws to fall out. Shit, so I drop off the rest of the crew at the dock so they can help her tie the board to the brackets to keep it from floating away.

So we backed the trailer in really deep to keep pressure off the board as we winch it on, once pressure starts to build as the bow of the boat is climbing the roller we get a few cranks in and BOOM the winch strap breaks. Well when it rains it pours but we are able to get a good knot around the bow eye and start cranking it some more should be fine to get us home. Then, one of the girls that was on the other side of the boat called me over to look at something. Another bunk is floating away. WHAT THE HELL

So we get the boat cranked up to where it needs to be, one buddy is on the small outer bunk holding it in place, I am holding my breath underwater on the longer inner bunk holding it in place while my wife slowly pulls the boat out to get it's weight on the bunks. Miraculously we get it lined up and none of use lose any fingers between the bunks and the boat.

We pull the boat up until the transom is dry to get the rear straps on in case the knot on the front fails, drive up the wipe off area and my wife goes full girl scout knots with an extra set of rope I had in my truck on the bow eye and we were able to safely get it home. Now we need to get it fixed before my dad leaves for Powell om 8/7.

So, if we held you up getting off the water at Pleasant on Saturday afternoon I apologize, we are usually much more efficient at getting off the water than that. I know posting this probably makes me look dumb and unprepared but hopefully it will prompt someone to check their winch strap and bunks before their next trip so they don't have a similar nightmare on the ramp.

]

As you said, when it rains, it pours. You had the bunjees but not the bailing wire. Good rescue.

 

[Carlson-jet]

In the early 80's I saw a woman's legs get chopped up by an outdrive after she slipped on the boat ramp while launching in Havasu. Saw a guy in Arkansas with his bass boat as he backed in the trailer, tied his boat to the dock, pulled out, and watched as his boat dropped high and dry on the launch ramp - ropes were way too long........ afternoon storms can get nasty here in Colorado. Used to go down the the public launch and watch everyone trying to get off the water when one blew in, pretty entertaining, not like site six shit, but a good end to the day sitting there with a cooler full of beer.

Not many places to boat in CO. Would this be the Denver area?
Cherry Creek was a fun pond.

 

[WhatExit?]

Did some real stupid shit between 14 and early 20’s. Your uncle was a bad influence and there for most of it.

Almost lost one of my straps a few trips ago. Definitely an oh crap moment. Looks like my trailer tires are on their last leg... Time to put some money in the trailer. Bet we saw a dozen trailers with blown tires on the 40 Friday.
View attachment 780845 View attachment 780846

One thing I don't see talked about in regard to trailers is the extreme summer heat and its affect on all tires especially trailer tires. Obviously there are more blowouts during the high heat summer months than any other time. Gotta check all the tire pressures (and wear and age)

 

[cofooter]

Not many places to boat in CO. Would this be the Denver area?
Cherry Creek was a fun pond.

When I first came to Colorado. I lived in Co Springs and we boated on Pueblo or drove down to Navajo. Since about 2003, we've been on a couple of priviate ski lakes in No. Colorado. Only public water anymore is Parker, Az.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

My dad is notorious for dropping keys out of his pocket when going to get the truck. He did it once as my uncle's boat had a hole in the bottom and they had to keep it plowing to keep it from sinking (way before I was born), and he's done it 2 times since. One of which I watched him sit on the bow and the keys just slide right out of his pocket.

My uncle had a couple of times where he lost a bunk board. One of which was right after he replaced the bunks and he apparently didn't get it just right or something cause I had to hold my breath and hold the back of the board in place while he pulled it up.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

 

[cofooter]

My dad is notorious for dropping keys out of his pocket when going to get the truck. He did it once as my uncle's boat had a hole in the bottom and they had to keep it plowing to keep it from sinking (way before I was born), and he's done it 2 times since. One of which I watched him sit on the bow and the keys just slide right out of his pocket.

My uncle had a couple of times where he lost a bunk board. One of which was right after he replaced the bunks and he apparently didn't get it just right or something cause I had to hold my breath and hold the back of the board in place while he pulled it up.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

I bought a flatty to restore and taped up all the holes in it so I could float it off and put it on a different trailer and....... all the bunk boards floated down the river.

 

[mjc]

worst? spinning wheels in my truck and being pulled backwards into the water by my boat. couldnt exit the truck as it would start to get pulled backwards. luckily had a strap and pulled it out. couldnt unhook the boat as there was so much load on the pin.

My last truck was a 87 Chevy dually. I put new tires on and got a good highway tread. First time I took my 29 fountain to the water with it had no traction at all, just lucky I was lined up straight because it slid back until the boat was floating. From then on I had to put less than 25 psi in the rear to keep it from sliding. When I sold it it still had those tires on it.

 

[77charger]

In case you ever lose a bunk electrical tape works well(thats if you ever find that full roll when you really need it)Or duct tape does too