[deadriver]

Just a heads up to save someone else the trouble.

Be careful when launching at the ramps with the water this high. Any ramps with metal framework catwalks that lead down the floating dock might have you loading and unloading beside bare ends of angle iron....


In a hurry to get to work this moring, I let a friend load the boat since he could not back a trailer. My trailer is pretty easy, so I did not hesitate.

Long story short. I have a gelcoat repair job to undertake on a new boat. In the end, it would not have happened if two situations were different. 1- i loaded the boat 2- and just as important, the ramp configuration at Ebenezer.

The ramp- with the water so high, the metal framework catwalk that leads down the the floating dock is almost level with the floating dock. The structural steel frame is below the gunwale of my boat when loading right now so trailering on any one of the 4 main ramps means loading within 2' of the bare steel. I noticed it as a hazard as i steped out of the truck to help the friend come on the trailer. To late... he let the back end come out at the bow came on the guides and the back end caught the steel.

I realized while driving home after gouging a 1' long gouge in the boat that the mistake was not just letting him load it, he was not that far off. It is just risky to load the boat there right now! Who knows, I might have hit it myself in a high wind. Anyone how has loaded or unloaded large boats has had a boat bump the dock, but with the water this high your bumping into raw steel!

My friend was more shook up about it than I was. I kept telling him that it was ultimately on me and it wa my choice, but i hated to see him that worried about it. 15 seconds after it happened, that reality hit that you can't take it back, so just learn from it and move on....

It is repairable, and will look like new after the dealer repairs the gel coat, but it is easier to take note of the hazards as water conditions change. A high ramp may be just a hazardous....

Last point, when the water gets this high, and it is very high, I will just use the side ramps without courtesy docks. LOL.

Be safe.

 

[Topsail Angler]

Sorry to hear about the damage to your boat but we appreciate you sharing the experience and possibly saving someone else from a similar experience.

 

[lefty]

15 seconds after it happened, that reality hit that you can't take it back, so just learn from it and move on....

That sure sounds like wisdom right there...


So -- the boat just scraped against the side of the dock, right? But since the water was so high, it scraped along the catwalk, not the dock proper. The catwalk doesn't have fenders since it's not intended to be this high, and the rub-rail (is that the right term?) on your boat was at the wrong altitude to protect it. Is that the gist of what happened?

That's one good thing about having a kayak -- when the water's this high, if the ramp's under water, we'll just launch from the parking lot or the driveway.

 

[Scott Hobbs]

10-4 .........also exercise extreme caution when putting in on river ramps the extra currents created by the flooding waters make it harder to load and unload while trying to wash the boat down river.

tight lines <*)))))>{

 

[sundrop]

Went down to havens garden ramp today to set the boat off and replace 2 rollers. Water was high, ramp isnt steep so I have to back the bumper slap into the water just to get the boat off of my float on trailer. Which in turn means I had to wade up to my thighs to load it too...LOL!!! Just to find out I bought the wrong rollers...DUH!!

 

[Fishingbear]

I use a line twice as long as the boat plus trailer length. Tie one end to the bow and the other to the stern on the windward side of the boat. The wind will blow your boat to the trailer and you can use the line as a bridle to walk the boat on your trailer while you wench your boat up. If you are by yourself use the pier to slide the line around. The wind will be your friend.

 

[Topsail Angler]

Drop - sounds like me when I do plumbing. I never can complete the job on just one trip to the store

 

[sundrop]

yeah I hear ya TA. I pride myself in being "Handy" but I admit I'm not always properly prepared..LOL! I have however fixed by new/used/busted trolling motor...LOL!!! That JB WATERWELD Putty seems like some good stuff!!

 

[capefearfly]

I put in at the wildlife ramp at Tar Heel on the Cape Fear and the water was so high that I had all four tires of my Jeep in the water to float of the boat and load it. In hindsight it wasn't the smartest thing to do with all the mud covering the ramp. I could have easily lost jeep and all from sliding on the slick river mud but the water was calling and my good sense had checked out for the moment.

 

[Topsail Angler]

Amazing how quick we went from severe drought to almost overflowing. Praise the Lord for the rain! We'll need the water as summer is a comin' as we say around here.

 

[lefty]

I put in at the wildlife ramp at Tar Heel on the Cape Fear and the water was so high that I had all four tires of my Jeep in the water to float of the boat and load it. In hindsight it wasn't the smartest thing to do with all the mud covering the ramp. I could have easily lost jeep and all from sliding on the slick river mud but the water was calling and my good sense had checked out for the moment.

Man, there are times I LOVE my kayak!!

 

[flyakker]

Yeah......when gas gets to be $5+ a gallon, there will be a lot more people wishing they had a kayak for fishing too.

 

[puppydrum48]

Yeah......when gas gets to be $5+ a gallon, there will be a lot more people wishing they had a kayak for fishing too.

Yea, then the prices will probably go up on those things to. i had better go ahead and purchase one.

 

[sundrop]

I'm thinking Jon boat, good trolling motor and several batteries! I wish they would get the price of the electric outboards down.... Might have to rig a sail too!!..LOL!

 

[deadriver]

That sure sounds like wisdom right there...


So -- the boat just scraped against the side of the dock, right? But since the water was so high, it scraped along the catwalk, not the dock proper. The catwalk doesn't have fenders since it's not intended to be this high, and the rub-rail (is that the right term?) on your boat was at the wrong altitude to protect it. Is that the gist of what happened?

That is exactly what happened and why.

 

[deadriver]

Amazing how quick we went from severe drought to almost overflowing. Praise the Lord for the rain! We'll need the water as summer is a comin' as we say around here.

I farmed through the worst drought in 40 yrs in SC, prior to last years drought, and was running irrigation. ,99 was rough, 38 days without rain, then .2 inch, then 30+ days, then about 1.5 inch, then 30+ days. With irrigation, you just keep fighting to make it happen, its worse than giving in and collecting the insurance. You go broke on the electric bill, and barely make a difference on the yeild. Check irrigation it at 12:00 a.m. before bed, get the first hose reel out by 6:00 a.m. after 4.5 hrs sleep. All day, crackers for lunch, put hose reels out at 7:00 p.m. eat and back at it...every day, no way out till the grey layer forms on the kernal.

I truely prayed for rain, and I said it out loud. Lord, I will never complain of rain again, if you will just give me one shower. It rained the next day, 2.5 inches and I slept for just under 2 days.

9 years later, i have kept the agreement. Water gives life, so bring it on!!

 

[Topsail Angler]

Great testimony, Deadriver, thanks. If you are still farming, I hope you have a bummer crop this year!

 

[deadriver]

Nah man. I went back to clemson to create other opportunities and ended up here after I got done.

But, every March, i wish i was makeing a turn and dropping the planter beside the last 8 rows....

Kidney stone might keep me in this weekend. If not, I am gonna hit Weldon. I will post what we find..

B