Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › ramp follies
glen11.
Not Saturday, but launched today at the highway 400 ramp near the Narrows on Lay. When we got back, there was a boat (ski boat) that had the entire dock blocked. Sat out in the middle of the creek waiting. Finally noticed that there were 4 swimmers around the boat when suddenly it started moving. They were swimming to push it around and line it up with the trailer. Pulled up and as I walked up to my truck, asked one of the kids waiting around on their parents if they had broken down. Said “no, daddy backed up over the ski rope and jammed the propeller thingy.” OK, sort of explained the swimmer-load-assist. They finally got it winched on the trailer, and as they pulled it out there was a horrendous screeching and banging. Trailer refused to budge any further, blocking the ramp near the top. Got out to see what had happened. They had left double ski ropes (really stout ones apparently) hanging down off the prop. As they dinged around loading, apparently let it get wrapped around the rear trailer axle as well. Totally wrecked the rudder (this was some sort of Malibu ski boat) and yanked the prop/shaft off center as well. Who would do that? I thought about asking if they needed help wrapping the rope around the truck as well to get everything locked together (and down) but chose to not do so. Got son to drive my truck about 12 miles up to the beeswax ramp, I ran the classic up there, where we loaded and went home.I had began to think that I had “seen it all at the ramp.” Apparently I am not yet finished “seeing everything”.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
OT– Saw my own ramp follies Sunday afternoon at Mill Creek ramp on Sam Rayburn. My niece and I had come in from a lazy Sunday fishing trip and we noticed 2 young ( say around 18) boys and 2 ( around same age) girls loading a Phoenix. They had just backed down trailer when I walked to get truck. They were still trying to load it as I backed down. After they finally got it on the trailer and putting things away, I loaded mine and walked up to put the winch strap on. Thats when 1 of the boys told the other to pull out. Heard a scratching sound and then a loud thud. The Phoenix slid off the trailer and landed on the cement. He forgot to strap the bow down and didnt lift the motor up so the lower unit was dragging and the driver punched to Ford truck to get up the ramp. The 1 boy called his dad who was there in a few minutes. I pulled up to finish tying mine down when the dad came up and asked if I could help push the boat back into the water off the ramp. Didnt stick around to see damage to hull and motor, but could tell good Ole dad was sick to his stomach.
LOL!!thats funny stuff right there.unless of course I am the one having issues.
We all have our issues on occasion and most likely we all learned from the errors we made, and we will continue to do so as we are not any of us perfect.
Years ago I saw a bass club member with a new Ranger (back then Ranger didnt build the trailers and the local dealer put them on Holsclaw trailers) I dont know how many were familiar with the Holsclaw, but they had rollers instead of bunks. Anyway, before a tourney on Rayburn, he backed down, disconnected the tie downs and disconnected the bow strap as we all do. With the rollers on the trailer, the Ranger rolled backwards and landed with the motor on the ramp, half on/half off the trailer. Enough of us around to pick up the back and push it back on the trailer (rollers helped) and lesson learned.JohnJones Trolling Motor Services870 773 3474Motorguide/MinnKota/PowerPole/Lowrance/Humminbird
Although Im not an expert boater, I probably wouldve offered assistance. Too many variables, for example, he may have been a new boat owner. Doesnt sound like he was blocking the ramp intentionally, or operating the boat improperly in a no wake zone, he was having issues that Im sure was causing frustration. It happens to all forms of boats. I would be appreciative of any assistance if I was having issues and someone could give me guidance or assistance. Its a learning curve.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
I help people at the ramp all the time. I have backed other boats or trailers down the ramp about as many times as I have backed mine down. But this was a clear case of “alcohol + boats = trouble”. I avoid offering help there as the longer they are off the road, or off the water, the better (in general). IE if you are having trouble backing down the ramp to launch, and you are obviously drunk, Im probably NOT going to offer any help, as I really dont want to see you on the water in that condition. Sad state of affairs, but at least half of the ramp follies I see are alcohol related. About 1/3 are idiocy related. The final 1/6 is inexperience which I am always willing to help (i.e. cant back trailer, cant align boat with trailer to get it back on, etc.). Many that would not consider driving a car under the influence of alcohol dont see a thing wrong with driving a boat. Personally, I think a boat requires MORE attention since we are missing a brake pedal and are often a long way from immediate medical help if needed.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
I once watched a guy who was distracted by his three kids complaining about not catching fish hop in the car to go home, no boat in tow, completely empty lot minus my buddys truck, take off like a bat outta hell. Only problem was he musta been looking backwards at the kids because he made a B-line for the turn around median with the only light pole in the parking lot. Hit the curb, jumped the car up the median and hit the light pole square on the grille emblem. Light pole falls, bumper is hung on the stump of the pole, but just enough to where the tires still made contact, slams it in reverse, tears the bumper off the car, gets out screams at the kids saying look what you made me do, gets back in and high tails it out of the parking lot.My buddy and I are sitting in the boat and I say to him, “How much you bet those kids are gonna have a race to tell mom what happened when they get home?”The whole thing transpired in about 45 seconds as we were idling in to load the boat on the trailer.
oldtimer57 wrote:I help people at the ramp all the time. I have backed other boats or trailers down the ramp about as many times as I have backed mine down. But this was a clear case of “alcohol + boats = trouble”. I avoid offering help there as the longer they are off the road, or off the water, the better (in general). IE if you are having trouble backing down the ramp to launch, and you are obviously drunk, Im probably NOT going to offer any help, as I really dont want to see you on the water in that condition. An important part of this story left out in the original version. The complete version helps the reader., lol96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Everyone has a ramp story. One day I headed back to the ramp and on the dock was tied a vintage chris craft boat like on golden pond. No one was around. we sat for awhile amazed because there was nobody around. all of the sudden a vintage mint condition 50 something pink caddillac with a trailer pulls up and whips the trailer down the ramp like a pro to pick up this boat. All by herself an 80 year old lady gets out, walks down the dock and drives the boat on the trailer. She cranked up the winch got in the car and drove off. Not her first time out!
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats
