Every year as we get prepared for spring break and many of the new boaters start out on their first endeavor to launch their boat for the first time the horror of holidays past start appearing in my thoughts. Holidays seem to bring out problems and as they approach their first outing something happens on the water that makes me think could have been avoided with just a little bit of thought and safety. A few short years ago carelessness and lack of preparation was evident, as I watched from my back deck a truck got backed too far into the water as someone was trying to put their pontoon boat in! Yes, it was a bad day for some poor gentleman; he failed to un-strap the back of his boat the truck was backed up to far and the pontoon boat lifted the rear end of the truck up. Well from there you can imagine the rest; the truck slid into the water with no rear wheel traction as the boat lifted the rear wheels and before he could react, the truck was covered to the top in water. All this pain could have been avoided with just a little preparation before pulling up into the boat ramp. Do not pull into the ramp back halfway down and start to prepare your boat for launch; trust me you will feel the pressure of the other boats in line waiting to launch and you will make a mistake.
Hard to do, maybe, careless for sure; but could have been prevented with just a little safety check before the boat was backed into the water. I cannot tell you how many times in as many years that someone gets in the launch position feels the pressure and fails to pay attention to the little things. Believe me this is just one of the many things that can go wrong.
First, never let anyone do your pre-launch safety checks for you; develop a routine of walking around the boat yourself away from the ramp and checking for the proper safety items. Is the plug in, straps removed, bow unhooked boat ready to be launched? Secondly and this I believe is what drives some of the many mistakes is do not get in a hurry!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry