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Oh Well!!!
- Thread starter RoadKing
- Start date
There is nothing better to do, when there's nothing to do, then getting a folding lawn chair, a 6 pack of cold Red Stripe, going the public launch ramp on a busy weekend, sitting down and watching the show. Much cheaper and entertaining than the movie theater.
thcri
Gone But Not Forgotten
Oh you don't know how much I agree with you. Some of the people launching and picking up boats is something. A lawn chair or bale of straw, couple of beers and you can laugh more and cheaper than at a "Larry the Cable Guy" show.
Oh ya, that's gonna be fun! Bring a video camara and share!
thcri
Gone But Not Forgotten
Fred, I do have to tell you a story though. An incident that I was pretty proud of my wife and shocked the shit out of the neighbors. I don't know if we could pull it off again, well maybe.
It was our first year having our cabin on Lake Pepin. Fairly large lake and when the wind comes up or storm is coming in we can see 5 foot whales and the storms can come fast. My boat lift was broke so for the day I just had the boat tied to the dock. Well a storm come up pretty fast and I saw the boat beating against the dock. So our normal skeme when taking the boat out is my wife drives the boat to the ramp and I back the trailer in. The boat launch is an open launch not in wind breaks or anything and no dock.
Not a large boat a 18.5 run about. The waves were really coming and I got my wife in the boat and she put it in reverse and the waves kept her in so I had her speed up, dang the drive went down in our rocky bottom and I heard a big crunch but told her keep going. I also told her than when she comes into the trailer she better have the boat going at a good speed or the wind would take her off course and maybe even shove her into shore. I also told her don't take it out of gear until that boat is going up the trailer. Hit the trailer at about 20 miles per hour and hopefully I will have the trailer out enough to help slow it down. Fred, you had to be there. All the neighbors came running down to the ramp cause they knew trouble was coming. My wife hit that trailer just perfect, the boat ran right up to the stop and I don't think too fast. I hooked the chain on, got back in the suburban and drove out. Wife stayed right in the boat. All I could hear from the neighbors was, "Well You Can Tell She Has Done That Before" That day I was pretty proud of my wife. All in All we had to get a new prop and the bottom of drive about an inch up was broken off which we did not fix cause it was not leaking. I marked it off as a battle scar.
murph
thcri
Gone But Not Forgotten
My wife never have trouble. We are not on the ramp more than 3 minutes in or out. We have everything ready.
jwstewar
Active member
We don't boat, but along the same lines we go camping. I love to get there and set up before the weekend campers arrive. I just love to watch these guys with the new truck and rigs and watch them back into the campsites. I can't believe how many times it takes some of them to get into the spot. If the boat ramps are half as much fun as this, I would really enjoy it.
BTW, it usually takes me twice. Once to get it backed in and head in the appropriate direction and then just pull back up to put it in the exact position on the pad. Usually don't have to have anyone guiding me either unless it is a really tight spot.
BTW, it usually takes me twice. Once to get it backed in and head in the appropriate direction and then just pull back up to put it in the exact position on the pad. Usually don't have to have anyone guiding me either unless it is a really tight spot.
Good pics RK!!!!
So true.
Jim (jwstewar) if you are bored and looking for entertainment go up to one of Alum Creeks launch areas. You'll see some funny stuff and maybe a fight or two. I've seen a guy with the truck and trailer ready to pick up his boat arguing with the guy with his boat at the dock on the ramp over who is next on the ramp and it has ended up with fists flying. That was 10 years ago but boat ramps always have something going on.
So true.
Jim (jwstewar) if you are bored and looking for entertainment go up to one of Alum Creeks launch areas. You'll see some funny stuff and maybe a fight or two. I've seen a guy with the truck and trailer ready to pick up his boat arguing with the guy with his boat at the dock on the ramp over who is next on the ramp and it has ended up with fists flying. That was 10 years ago but boat ramps always have something going on.
Okay. I was a young strapping lad of about 10 at the time. (Late 70's) I spent most weekends in the summer with the family on the Mississippi boating out of LaCrosse, WI. This particular weekend dad was working on the boat so we never left the marina. Our slip was down near the ramp. Got the setting?
Well, I'm fartin' around on the dock watching the boats come and go when an older couple (60-ish?) pull up in their 18-22' small cuddy-cabin boat. Pa, a rather round fellow, waddles off to fetch the car-trailer while ma, an even rounder little lady, secures the boat and readies it for trailering.
Pa backs in the trailer with their lovely, yellow Cadillac Eldorado. Well for those who don't know, an Eldorado is a front wheel drive yacht of a car. Quickly and efficiently, the boat is on the trailer and everything is all set.
Pa starts to pull out of the water and gets the trailer to the little lip in the ramp with the boat about 1/2 way out, yup, you guessed it, the front wheels start spinning. With several tries, he backs down and tries to pull out, without success. Finally on the last try just as the tires start spinning ma hops on the hood and out pops the whole rig, slick as anything.
Needless to say, my dad had joined me to watch the festivities (squealing tires and so on), laughed our butts off over this. We would sit an laugh about that story until his untimely death in '95.
I still chuckle about it today as I'm typing this!
rback33
Hangin in Tornado Alley
While I don't officially boat, I grew up working on a farm and used to be a truck driver as well. I am not as practiced as I used to be, but I can still put a trailer just about anywhere. It just takes an extra try or two. Boat ramps are a riot. Horse shows can be fun too. Invariably some wife pulls up in her dually with a giant trailer and figures out she has to back in or out somewhere and can't simply pull through. I wish I had a dollar for every trailer I have parked at shows. Princess is in no way a great "backer" but she can if she has to. It will take a month and she will be a nervous wreck, but in pinch she will get it done.
rback33
Hangin in Tornado Alley
I can back the car hauler into the machine shed with 3" clearance on either side in one shot.
If you want a huge laugh, sit there and watch me try to back up the hay wagon.
Nope. No
from me. I don't want asked to do that. I could get it done, but it would take a bit. I know a couple people that can do that with their eyes closed it seems. Backing a hay trailer takes REAL talent.
rback33
Hangin in Tornado Alley
The front axle turns as well as pivoting at the hitch. Imagine backing a wagon hooked to your lawnmower. VERY difficult to do.
American Woman
Banned
I don't get it.....are those vehicles and RVs that deep in the water on purpose or by accident?
American Woman
Banned
With no soap suds?
rback33
Hangin in Tornado Alley
Sure... loaded with hay and trying to get it in JUST the right spot to make it the easiest to unload. I am not kidding... couple of older guys I worked with in high school lived to watch me struggle to park that damn trailer and then make me move and have it done on 2 minutes.
ddrane2115
Charter Member
uh, they dont wash them that way, and that ice was a bit warmer than they thought............and a few 3 to 6 ton vehicles dont help any either
as for the suv, the first pic is almost too far in..........after that, hope you have another vehicle, cause that one is toast
DaveNay
Klaatu barada nikto
Last time I had to back up the hay wagon, I un-hitched it, and five of us pushed it into position.
rback33
Hangin in Tornado Alley
Not the one we were head for!
Dave... I agree 100% with the pushing thing! Only way to do it.
