Accidents ...not quite.

eupa · 11 September 2007, 15:29

This is a story that might serve somebody one day...

Normally I get the rib out onto the trailer single handed. Never had any problems until last Friday. I was waiting for high water when a pontoon neighbour asked if he could give me a hand. I normally would decline as prefer to do things myself.. Anway I had 50 minutes to wait and took him up on his offer so thar I could beach it on the trailer without waiting. His girl friend tagged along and I put her on back of the 4x4 to attach the rib and the boyfriend to drive the 4x4 whilst I would drive the rib up the trailer.

There was a little wind but in the right direction. I approached the trailer at about 10 kts as generally get up half way then winch it up the rest. This time the rib ran right up the trailer to the hitch, nearly crushed the girl at the front ( she dived into the water to get out of the way). This could have proved fatal. She ended up soaked to the skin, the boy friend laughed his head off and I felt extremely fortunate as there was no real harm done.

What it means is that you can take all the care in the world .. and still things can go wrong and never accept help from anybody..

jonathan

Jonny Fuller · 11 September 2007, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

I approached the trailer at about 10 kts as generally get up half way then winch it up the rest. This time the rib ran right up the trailer to the hitch, nearly crushed the girl at the front ( she dived into the water to get out of the way).

jonathan

I don't know what to say. ......except, that with mebbe 20 knts, you could dispose of the trailer, and park the boat in the car.....Are you mad?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

This is a story that might serve somebody one day...

jonathan

It sounds like you'd be a great bloke to have around the marina. be sure to let me know if you're visiting the UK with your battering ram and I'll leave my boat on it's cradle!

Cookee · 11 September 2007, 16:47

I'm with Jon on this one .......... 10 knots!!!!!!!!

jonmitch · 11 September 2007, 17:00

Bloody hell!! What launch and recovery book did you use? NASA?

eupa · 11 September 2007, 17:00

[B]I don't know what to say. ......except, that with mebbe 20 knts, you could dispose of the trailer, and park the boat in the car.....Are you mad?[/B

May be... but I am too use to doing it alone-- and the function is normally to get it up as far as it can go without using the winch. I have never in all my life had it go so far up at that speed.. To be honest I forgot the girl was there ...\\jonathan

eupa · 11 September 2007, 17:03

Bloody hell!! What launch and recovery book did you use? NASA

how did you gues!!

BogMonster · 11 September 2007, 17:07

I do much the same in terms of technique but I doubt it is more than 3 or 4 knots if I measured it ... 10 would probably have me parked on the 110's roof

codprawn · 11 September 2007, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

[B]I don't know what to say. ......except, that with mebbe 20 knts, you could dispose of the trailer, and park the boat in the car.....Are you mad?[/B

May be... but I am too use to doing it alone-- and the function is normally to get it up as far as it can go without using the winch. I have never in all my life had it go so far up at that speed.. To be honest I forgot the girl was there ...\\jonathan

A likely story - I reckon you were distracted and aimed for the wrong snubber/buffers!!!

eupa · 11 September 2007, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

A likely story - I reckon you were distracted and aimed for the wrong snubber/buffers!!!

Codders its the honest truth.I was in the cabin and she was crouched near the winch and I could not see her. And in perspective I aproached at 1some 10 knts when I was up half way it was probbaly at a sharp walking pace.This time it seem that the rollers were powered by some supernatural force and the rib went up like a knife thru butter.

regards

Jonathan

Tomas · 11 September 2007, 19:10

Some guys around here with two wheel drive pickups on the slippery ramp jam the boat up onto the bunks and then WOT both motors to get the trailer and truck going, up the ramp. I've never seen the teqnique go badly wrong but something about a roaring smoking old pickup with rear tire spinning wildly and twin 85 Yamahas screaming and throwing a rooster tail up behind qualifies as good ramp entertainment, at the very least.

The Grocer · 12 September 2007, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

I have never in all my life had it go so far up at that speed.. To be honest I forgot the girl was there ...\\jonathan

Err... we are still talking about boats, aren't we?

Stoo · 12 September 2007, 02:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Grocer

Err... we are still talking about boats, aren't we?

I was going to say that, but discretion got the better of me...

I generally recover by myself as well, but I gently slide onto the bunks and then power up the rest of the way once the positon is just right. No winching required...

pathalla · 12 September 2007, 05:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoo

I was going to say that, but discretion got the better of me...

I generally recover by myself as well, but I gently slide onto the bunks and then power up the rest of the way once the positon is just right. No winching required...

errr Stoo...gently sliding onto the bunk, powering up the rest of the way... getting the position just right...
And then ease her up into place and tie her down! Pull the plug out of her tail and hose her down real good, don't forget to give the port and starboard sponsons a good going over, it'll make her shine! Afterwards I always take time to inspect her top to bottom, make sure the rubber is clean for the next time...

eupa · 12 September 2007, 09:16

I dont want to sound condersending- but there is a mega difference when putting a 9 meter boat weighing over 2000 kgs on a trailer to a 5 meter one weighing about 800 kgs. The dynamics are completely different and the modus operandi is much more testing...

jonathan

ribraff · 12 September 2007, 09:47

'strange ... i use the same technique wether it be a 4 mtr or 9.5 mtr boat..... up to the trailer nice and slow and then floor it to get it as close to the winch as possible.

Jon Brooks · 12 September 2007, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

I dont want to sound condersending- but there is a mega difference when putting a 9 meter boat weighing over 2000 kgs on a trailer to a 5 meter one weighing about 800 kgs. The dynamics are completely different and the modus operandi is much more testing...

jonathan

With all due respect that is rubbish.
My boat is 9m and I have parked 10m boats on trailers and anything over tick over and a bit more is utter madness.

I put mine on the trailer this weekend with plenty of wind on a very narrow slip still did it without any drama and at just over tick over.

At 10-20 knts it can all go wrong very quickly as you nearly found out.

I would suggest maybe some slow speed practice with you recovery drills is needed IMHO.

Also you can see from the shock and dismay of the other members here that maybe something is wrong here!

Jonny Fuller · 12 September 2007, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

With all due respect that is rubbish.

Agreed, a 10 metre boat will most likely have the power/grunt to suit....it's all relative. I've always recovered by nudging in/onto the trailer very slowly, then powering up to the snubber as required, then just hooking the winch cable on and tightening it, just as many have already stated here. simple. 10+ knts!! keep well away from me!