Boat Ramp FUN II 7/21/2007

Post by **mjsigns** » July 21st, 2007, 8:17 pm

I thought I had seen and read it all about boat ramp accidents, but this is a first for me..

Shot at 2007-07-21 at 3:00pm at the St. Marks public boat ramp at the Fort.

I don't know all the details, but this guy had was launching a boat on low tide from his Jeep when the rear wheels of his trailer rolled off the end of the ramp, taking the jeep into the water. It caused an unbelievable snarl for everyone launching or landing.... Weekend Warriors

Post by **Redfin** » July 21st, 2007, 8:25 pm

I hate I missed that, I pulled my boat out from there at 2:45 today... dang!

Post by **mjsigns** » July 21st, 2007, 8:45 pm

Too bad, you could have joined the fun !

They disconnected the trailer from the Jeep, and pulled the jeep out. We didn't hang around long enough to get all the details, but I bet they had a heck of a time getting the trailer out of the river...

There were 8 boats waiting to be trailered, and three in line to launch when we decided to move on to another ramp...

Post by **Jumptrout51** » July 21st, 2007, 8:55 pm

Nice to know there were good samaritans there to help a fellow boater in distress.
Could happen to anybody.

Post by **Steve Stinson** » July 21st, 2007, 9:04 pm

Jeeps are not good tow vehicles. I am on my second CJ. Both of the ones I have owned had bad parking brakes and a tendency to pop out of gear if you shove the vehicle.

I towed an 18' center console with my first one in Tampa. One time loading the boat, I hit the trailer too hard and popped the Jeep out of gear. Fortunately my fishing buddy was standing by the trailer winch waiting to hook up the boat. I mashed the gas in the boat and slowed the Jeep down long enough for him to mash the brake pedal with his hand. Had he not been there and been quick about reacting, I would have watched my Jeep sink under the bow of my boat.

- Steve Stinson

Post by **Chalk** » July 21st, 2007, 9:15 pm

Jumptrout51 wrote:Nice to know there were good samaritans there to help a fellow boater in distress.
Could happen to anybody.

Ditto

You were really eyeing the pink chick and the one in black bent over, tell the truth

Post by **Redfin** » July 21st, 2007, 9:17 pm

On a side note - the ramp is slick as owl poo, i jumped out of the boat while loading, and wooomp, right to my arse.. the croc's didn't help on the slick algae... elbow hurts... more rum may help, we'll see...

we did manage 70-100 13 inch trout today! woo hooo

Post by RD » July 22nd, 2007, 2:43 pm

See sunk trucks 4 or 5 times a year,Seen one a year or 2 ago sitting on the cab with a piece of wire trying to get in because he had locked his keys in,tide rising and the water was in the bed and up to the bottom of the doors when I pulled up,he got it open just before time to break a window............The ramp ends even with the end of the floating docks,if you drop off get somebody on a boat to hook the trailor and lift up a little as you pull out,the trailor is light in the water and it don't take much to pick it up a few inches.