One of THOSE ramp stories from last night!

[Waterfoul]

Took the Triton over to Reeds Lake after work last night.  Backed down the ramp and was waiting for a couple guys to launch their 16' Tracker Pro V-bottom.  So I'm standing next to my truck after unhooking everything... just waiting and watching for my turn.  As the guy is backing down the ramp his winch breaks, unravels, and the boat tips on the trailer right onto the ramp and lands on the Mariner skeg!!!  OUCH!!!  I ran down there and a couple other by-standers and climb on the bow to tip it back down while the owner tries to winch it down with the busted winch.  We manage to tip it to a point where he can back it into the water and float it off the trailer.  Didn't appear to damage the Mariner at all.  LUCKY!!

He'll be in later today for a new winch.   

[dartag]

would love to have a camera at every boat launch and record footage for a reality show.

[djkimmel]

I'm actually surprised that someone hasn't already done that!! (cameraguy?!?)

[VinceR]

Harley Ensign, Crocker, and Selfridge get my vote. There is enough traffic in a day at Harley Ensign for a whole show.

But then, Fisherrman's landing has been know to provide a pretty good show, too. It was there that I had the opportunity to watch a guy drop a 24' Carver on the ramp. He missed the water by about 6'. Ouch!!!

[Manxfishing]

My vote goes for Elizabeth park
Best time is when the silvers are in the river
It's just like the scene from jaws

[Mike S.]

Harley Ensign, Crocker, and Selfridge get my vote. There is enough traffic in a day at Harley Ensign for a whole show.

But then, Fisherrman's landing has been know to provide a pretty good show, too. It was there that I had the opportunity to watch a guy drop a 24' Carver on the ramp. He missed the water by about 6'. Ouch!!!

I swear that Fisherman's has a quota of "special" permits to sell every year.  It is absolutely amazing what kind of dummies we have around here.

We were on Spring Lake, 2 summers ago, heading in for the day.  A guy, probably in his mid 40's, pulls up with a 28 foot SeaRay Sundeck.  It's a pretty new boat, and come to find out, he had just gotten it.  Anyways, he unhooks the boat, and backs it in the water.  He just can't seem to get this boat off the trailer, so he backs it in farther.  After standing around for a few minutes, I see his bilge pumps kick on, from both sides of the boat.  At this point, the boat has moved back on the trailer maybe 2 feet.  My buddy and his family are next to us in their boat, and we are laughing, and debating on whether or not to tell him.  Finally, I yelled at him that his boat was sinking.  He frantically tries to winch the boat back up on the trailer, but it's just not going.  He then has his wife back the trailer down in the water further, and he cranks the boat up and slams it in to the front of the trailer.  Then, it was a cloud of tire smoke on the ramp.  We are just rolling at this point.  He finally yells at his wife to stop, and he jumps in his Tahoe, hits the 4x4, and eventually gets the boat out.  It was really hard not to laugh at the guy as I walked by to get my truck.  Good times at the boat launch!

Hey Dan, how about a contest to see who can get the best boat launch fail video next summer?  That would be awesome!

[djkimmel]

It would be like a tragic comedy!

[cameraguy]

Re: reality show/contest

This would be far more complex than it appears on the surface. One of the biggest problems is obtaining releases from the participants. Another is getting permission from the state or local authority that controls the launch. There are various ways to do this but all would take a tremendous amount of time. And time costs money.
Sure, you can just sit at a ramp and record, but if you don't get a release, then air the footage anywhere, you are leaving yourself open to getting sued, especially if you are showing somebody being a nincompoop.
With all of that being said, it might be an entertaining show. So if someone wants to come up with $50,000 (cheap), you could fund a pilot and be an Executive Producer. Like i said, this would take a lot of time and there are other expenses, of course. Plus, unless you have a special connection, you have to pitch the show to a network/channel (probably many) who will try to avoid talking to you. Plan on flying to LA.
On the other hand, considering the subject matter, maybe The Outdoor Channel would be interested. A lot of their programming is brokered, meaning you buy the time, find your own sponsors, and sell your own commercial time. I haven't checked their rates in a long time, but it is not cheap.
Finally, obviously it can be done. I just wanted to point out a few things that make it a very difficult proposition. It takes a lot of time, determination, and money but if you believe in your idea, then give it try. Just be aware that it is not going to be easy.

[Durand Dan]

Lake Fenton one morning a gentleman was launching and somehow had forgotten to latch down the trailer on the ball and didn't have the safety chains attached. He got mad at me for screaming at him to stop! Until he realized he had launched the boat and the trailer. I never figured out how he actually was able to get to the lake!
DD

[djkimmel]

No one ever will figure it out either! I once drove around Lansing with a ceramic cup of coffee on the back bumper of pickup truck. Stop lights. Turned corners. You name it. When I finally remembered I had that cup somewhere, I pulled over and it was still sitting on the corner of the bumper?!? I'll never figure out that one either.

Did the guy have a Tennessee hat on by any chance?

[dartag]

This was one of my favorites.  Sitting on the deck hear screaming at the launch.  Grabbed the camera and headed over.  There was quite a crowd before they got it out.  The boat was keeping the truck floating

[djkimmel]

That could be convenient when it is time to go back in if you could figure out how to get the truck aimed right and started when you're done boating. Boat wouldn't run real fast but it appears to have good flotation!

[dartag]

I bet he was happy he had the passenger window up with the driver being down.   

[Bender]

I saw a similar one to that one evening at Woodland. Of course I told the wife I'd be home at a certain time so I run back to the ramp and find a line of about 8 boats waiting to get out. I go away and fish a little more then return to see a tow truck pulling a rig out of the water with a cable. It was completely submerged because I didn't see it at all the first time I went to the ramp.

I've also found some cars submerged on Ford Lake with the Side Imaging, but I imagine those were put there on purpose by somebody.

[djkimmel]

I saw a similar one to that one evening at Woodland. Of course I told the wife I'd be home at a certain time so I run back to the ramp and find a line of about 8 boats waiting to get out. I go away and fish a little more then return to see a tow truck pulling a rig out of the water with a cable. It was completely submerged because I didn't see it at all the first time I went to the ramp.

I've also found some cars submerged on Ford Lake with the Side Imaging, but I imagine those were put there on purpose by somebody.

Wonder if someone missing might be in one of those cars??

I remember seeing a really nice bright red corvette once underwater in the old blow hole at the Lobdell Lake ramp! They really aren't designed to haul big, heavy speed boats. At least, I was thinking that but didn't share my observation with the distraught owner.