I remember years ago while driving the crane truck heading for a jobsite.

I decided to take the scenic route and take the old highway around the lake. It was fairly early in the morning when I came up to the boat ramp situated just off the highway. There was an older couple sitting in a couple of lawn chairs right on the side of the road. The lady stood up and flagged me down as I came up to them.

That's when I noticed the boat in the water at the boat launch. Except all I saw was the back end of the boat standing straight up out of the water with a big outboard mounted to it. Right in front of that was the roof of the camper that was mounted on the back of the truck.

The old folks decided to spend the weekend out at the lake and do a little fishing. Backed the truck down the ramp. got out of the truck to unhook the boat. Proceeded to watch the entire rig back down into the water and submerge itself competely.

4 hours later, with the help of a tow truck and a local diver, we managed to get everything out of the water and onto dry land. Found out a few days later, the truck was back on the road, camper was totalled. Never heard what happened to the boat.

Could happen to anybody.

 

Ahhhh....nothing beats a good boat ramp story. I've got a few myself....for another day.

 

I had a bass boat back in the mid 80s. I had carried it to the shop, and decided to try it out @ a local ramp on the AR river before carring it home to make sure it was ok. My friend ask me "is the plug in". Oh yea I never take it out. We take off and the boat still not running too well. He After about 5 mins he says "we sure are setting low in the water". I raised the back hatch and saw water almost over the fuel tank . It had so much water in it I could't get it to plane out to suck the water out. Turned the belge pump on and headed for the bank. When I got to the bank, I drove up on the sand. Mech. had taken plug out. ALWAYS checked after that!

 

Those are funny stories One day I got to watch a neighbor unload a rented Bob Cat off his trailer. I'm sure he had never operated one before and only had one lesson from the rentall place. I never knew a Bob Cat could do all those acrobatics on top of a trailer and get off the trailer without flipping belly up!!!! Then after it was on the ground, his eyes were larger than I ever saw them while he ran to the house That was one of the best laughs I have ever had

 

CaughtinmyGrill
Thanks for the story, we have all been there!!! I think we all need to fess up once in awhile it helps the pain go away. Thanks again,,Rick

 

The best entertainment ever! I was the old guy that told you that!

 

Ya know, you might have something there! With all the reality shows around why not have a web cam on several boats docks around the country? Cold country is the best! Us yankees only get 3 months out of 12 to boat so by the time you get good at launching your boat it is time to winterize!

 

I'm still laughing! That reminds me of the first time I drove one of them things. I was black and blue for a month!

 

Here's a bit of a twist. Call this story,,, "After the Boat Ramp".

A friend of mine was bringing his clam boat back to the house. While driving home. He makes a left turn. The truck completes the left but the trailer breaks away and continues to go straight. Now the boat, and trailer are going down a slight downhill grade towards a "T" intersection. Sparks are flying off the hitch point scraping along the ground. The trailer finally enters the intersection, ( At least no cars were passing ) and hits the curb, propelling the boat off the trailer and right up the drive way and half way into an empty open garage of some local resident. It was amazing that no one was hurt and the only property damage was a skid mark on the drive way caused by the boat's 'One' point landing. Definitely one for the books!!!!

 

I recall a duck hunting trip a few years back... I was pulling my home made airboat into the cove where the boat ramp was located. A couple of Rambo types were in the process of loading their twin engine airboat on steroids onto the trailer. The one guy had backed the trailer off of the concrete ramp end and the guy throttling the airboat said "Just give er some gas and I'll push the trailer up with the boat". WRONG thing to do with a 600 horsepower fan. The guy on the boat throttled up, the front tie down strap snapped, and AIRBORNE went the boat.....Right on top of the truck that the other guy was now successfully pulling forward. There was not a dry eye anywhere on the parking lot, and most of us were bent in half with stomach cramps from laughing so hard. After our laugh fest, about 15 of us went over and helped these two lift the boat off of the truck and back onto the trailer. Total damage: one bent up crew cab dually & two totally nipped in the bud male psychees (sp). (The poly bottom on the boat saved it).

Never ever saw those two guys or that boat back out in the bay again after that soiree.

Gary

 

I never have any problems getting my boat out of th water, I keep forgettin th plug. I lauched 1 day and after walkin 200yds back to dock, see the boat's tailend down I figure no problem, i'll just just take her up on plane start the bilge,Hop in turn th key , click- click- DOH!! ran back to th truck and pull th thing out just in time. I didn't have an audience except th old lady that collects the ramp fee on her property. I figure she seen worse things happen

 

That's exactly what we did when I lived in Philadelphia. No better entertainment when you wanted to escape the hot neighborhood. I once saw 2 pickups with chains tied to a third pickup whose trailer had dropped off the end of the ramp. After about 2 hours, much tire smoke, a broken chain, and burning clutches, a bystander suggested that 4 guys get behind the trailer and lift so the centerline of the tire was above the ramp edge. The lone pickup pulled it out with ease.

 

Check this poor guys bad day out. A TDR member.

http://www.tdr1.com/forums/showthrea...oat+ramp+truck

 

Now that is what I call a bad day. Pretty much puts an end to boating for the day.

 

Okay, that guy takes the cake. What a shame, sorry to see that. Bet is was odd standing by and watching that go down!?
Sucks he ended up ALL the way in, good that he made it out okay though.