This was the guy's first boat and he was taking it to the lake, but he
wasn't quite sure of the correct procedure for launching a boat off a ramp.
However, he figured it couldn't be that difficult to do, so he stopped by his
Union office for advice, and they just told him... "Don't let the trailer get
too deep in the water when you're launching your boat".
Well later on, he couldn't understand what they meant by that, as
he just could barely get his trailer in the water!
Here's a picture worth a "thousand" words! You're gonna love this guy!!!
Some people shouldn't be allowed to get married, have children or vote!
Sticker on back glass explains everything!!!

 

Yeah, I see whatcha mean

 

As a boater for many years and all trailered, I was going to comment that no one could be that stoopid. Must have been one of those "foot slipped off the brake pedal" or "forgot to set the E brake" or "didnt fully get the shifter into P". However------------after closer observation of the picture and paying attention to some details, I can fully understand why this driver is totally,completely, incurably----Stoopid!!! It is a great relief to me that that launch is nowhere in the central florida area----------.

 

> I can fully understand why this driver is totally,completely, incurably----Stoopid!

Well, I see a handicap sign? that says tie up and that big ship, but, what have I missed. I mean besides that not being a Ford.

 

Maybe he just wanted to rinse his engine off!

 

Some light skid marks behind the boat. I would love to hear this story. Boat trailer looks like an Arizona plate.

 

yeah that is a AZ plate. Sticker on the back window is just some of the problems.

 

unfortunately the "sticker" on the back window is a photoshop.

My guess is that he was on the ramp correctly, but slid in instead of going up. Once the truck went under it was easier to attach the tow rope (see the black rope pulling on the trailer) to the boat trailer and pull that direction, which turned the whole rig around underwater.

 

Now I know what I have been doing wrong all these years at the boat ramp, thanks for showing the proper way to launch a boat!

 

After a closer look, there may be more evidence of photoshop----. The hood appears to be open on the vehicle----underwater. It would not show with the normal level or downward slope of a hood. It should be on somewhat a straight line with the top sides of the bed. The ropes coming off the dock, one dark and one light. The light rope dosnt look natural as it shows between the legs of the guy in the dark shorts and shirt. The side guide on the trailer looks to have made a mark or was smudged on the side of the boat, dosnt look right (to me) the side board probably has carpet on it and would not leave a dirty mark. For some reason (again to me) the waterline on the vehicle and also on the trailer tire does not look just right to me.

Also, having seen nasty, ramps before, this ramp appears to be in really good shape, pulled my 26' aft cabin up much worse ramps with a 93 bronco.
For the vehicle to be in so far that a rope could not be hooked somewhere to the front area, if the rig were backed in means that the boat would have been way out there. Dont see a transom tie strap to hold the boat to the trailer, so I would think the boat would be floating several feet off the trailer, which would be pretty deep underwater and probably dropped off the ramp slab end underwater.

Anyway, enjoying this, the thought of photoshop really gets my imagination to going---unfortunately

 

Refraction angle due to looking through the water. It changes things like that, especially a light colored object against a dark background.
The rope enters the water just to the right of the guy's right leg.
That is the manufacturer's mark, common on those older boats especially Glastrons.

[/QUOTE]

Don't know about that tire mark, might just be reflection. From what I have heard before, the whole picture is actually right except every election cycle the name on the back window changes-

 

This one apparently has been around before--. Need more detail to tell some of the issues I have with it. I know about refraction, but this looks a little too much to me. The rope apparently goes into the water, is seen underwater between the guys legs and goes back up past him, looks like it goes to a rear cleat. Cant tell where the dark rope goes, maybe in his hands,---2nd look, its not a rope, its rigid, maybe a pipe/pole or something.

I had a Scatcraft (florida boat) with a plastic emblem on the sides at the rear, so yea, it definitely could be an emblem.

No telling how the thing wound up in the water unless you have first hand knowledge. I really dont see any way it could have gone in backwards and then been turned around underwater. Anyway, fun guessing, but dont misunderstand, I am not saying how it happened---dont know! Without a better detail, picking out the photoshop changes is difficult. From what you indicate, the rear window decal changes frequently----fancy that This decal makes the scene believeable!

I launched a boat ~2 ' from the waters edge at the Cape Canaveral boat ramps years ago, because I didnt know my brother had pulled the trailer tilt pin I didnt even have a decal in my window and sure as hell didnt take any pictures

 

I tried blowing up this pic on PhotoBucket but still couldn't read the trailer plate or boat reg #........FWIW, I don't believe it's an AZ plate.

Steve

 

Trailer Boats Bulletin Boards: did this guy do something wrong?

posted September 30, 2009 05:49 PM

Fanta Sea One link;
http://www.fantaseayachts.com/yachts/fantaseaone/

more on same:
http://captrichardrodriguez.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-guess-is-florida.html

and probably what really happened is here:
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?p=139420&sid=4fefa24ff897d342ec53594 3e8ae8317

Bob

--------------------
97 Celebrity 190 BR
w/ 350 TBI EFI
08 F350 DRW CC 4x4 6.4 PSD
07 Montego Bay 34RLB3 5th wheel
N5BUJ

 

It seems the "story" is that the boat & trailer lifted the rear of the truck because the boat/trailer strap had not been removed. I cant say what happened, but I can say that I absolutely dont believe that . Look at the physics involved it that happening.

The boat trailer will swivel on the ball (in this case, up relative to the truck) a large amount (30 - 45 deg?) . No way this rig has an equalizer hitch. With the force of the flotation, the hitch would probably uncouple. At this angle of the trailer caused by the boat floating, the truck would have to be well into the water. The bow of the boat, at this angle would most certainly be taking on water, provided it was still clipped to the trailer winch. If the truck weighs ~5000# with a 55/45 % weight distribution, then the rear end weighs ~2200 #. Thats the flotation required to take the rear wheels off the pavement. I have finally learned to "never say never" so I wont say it didnt, but the chances are slim and none.

My .02 is: The driver had pulled up close to the ramp (headed down), but a short distance above the ramp (picture does not show that part of the ramp/staging area). He/she got out to unhook the boat and prepare for launch (requiring a turn to back down the ramp). Forgot to put on the E brake and park (could have been a stick shift!). While back at the boat, the truck started to roll. Driver has to notice that (could have been talking to someone and not paying attention) the boat is launching itself! RUN for the cab, try to get the door open, jump in, jam on the brakes, but with the engine off, no power brake pedal and weak leg (small female/male) sufficent pedal pressure to lock brakes is not possible. OR try to crank and get into reverse. If it is a stick, crank, get on the clutch, get into reverse, synchronize the accelerator pedal and clutch and try to gain traction with out spinning wildly.

The rubber skid mark tells me it was an open rear end, no other mark obvious. Also indicates the tire started the reverse spin at the top end of the mark, but would not stop the truck. Maybe then the engine stalled thats why the skid mark stops, by then the front end is in the water. I suspect the light marks are from the front wheel braking, but not hard enough to lock the wheels, and only "polish" the ramp (I have seen that happen). I'll bet a lot of people are familiar with the senario of trying to jump into a rolling vehicle and get it stopped, thankfully not at a boat ramp

My .02 anyway, yours is as good as mine maybe not worth all this analyzation, its just a funny picture---but a bit of fun. Besides, nothing but re-runs and Haiti events on T.V.