Association Forum - how NOT to launch a PWC.

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

how NOT to launch a PWC.

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

jm
Captain

Member Avatar

Canada
290 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/20/2003 : 12:40:35

http://www.garrigans.com/topfuel/pwclaunchingl.jpg

try this link.. same pics..

Edited by - jm on 01/20/2003 14:11:04

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2003 : 13:36:07

Hi JM,

Your photo didn't come through ... all we see is a red "X" ... bummer.

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df23b3127cce9306a9b3abad0000001010" border=0>

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1775 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2003 : 14:17:21

That's HILARIOUS! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df23b3127cce9306a9b3abad0000001010" border=0>

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2003 : 15:14:03

From the other boats in the background, it looks like somewhere in Mexico...

Funny I was just reading an web "cruise journal" last night... the same thing happened to a guy down in the Florida Keys trying to retrieve a Mac 25. One Jeep Cherokee in the drink.

I guess there's a VERY slippery algae that grows on the ramps in the warm tropical waters. If you get your rear tires even slightly in the water...the vehicle is lost.

AFTER his car went in, the people at the ramp in Florida said they lose and average of 5 cars a week!... you'd think they'd be smart enough to post signs.

Something to remember if you ever launch in a tropical ocean...

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2003 : 19:51:59

A similar thing happened a few years ago at the launch ramp at Richmond Municipal Marina (Richmond, Calif., near San Francisco). A Toyota 4WD pickup was trying to launch a Catalina 22 and the whole rig, truck and trailer, ended up completely submerged at the bottom of the ramp. The boat was okay, it lifted off the trailer and got tied up to the dock okay, but the truck and the trailer went for a swim. It was just about the bottom of low tide and the lower 20' of the ramp was pretty green with seaweed, and the driver couldn't pull out even in 4WD Low. Kept slipping backwards in that green muck every time he tried to pull forward, until the water was coming in over the door sills of the truck cab, at which time the driver jumped out and watched his his rig slowly back down until it was out of sight. I have always thought that the 4-cylinder mini-trucks (Ford Ranger, Chevy S-10, Datsun, Toyota, etc.), are not quite strong or heavy enough to tow and launch a sailboat the size of a Catlina 22, let alone anything bigger. Anyway, I have always been wary of all the SF Bay Area launch ramps, and especially Monterey's, which is quite steep, and I try to time my arrival so as to be launching at high tide if possible.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2003 : 20:24:48

If your vehicle is at risk of going into the drink at the ramp, then it may be prudent to rig a jackline to the vehicle to keep it on dry land or tie a float to it so it can be located. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Would a vehicle underwater at the ramp be subject to maritime salvage rights if it were a hazard to navigation? <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
Cradled on the hard, 200ft from Lake Erie

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2003 : 17:20:49

It works for me! <img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>

I'm going to send that url to my son, whose pwc is the back yard of our lake house.

It would be good warning for him!

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2003 : 18:16:24

With my fin keel I use a nice long tow strap and the truck is a good distance from the water.

I remember in 1977 or I was working at the local lake and saw a caddie launching a speed boat in San Luis Resiviour. The water was low and the ramp drop was about 1' every 75'. he had the car backed in till the water was in the middle of the grill. When he pulled out the water was pouring out the door. I didn't have the heart to charge him for the day use.

Matt/Brigitte Loeffler
E.C. Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK/SR _/)

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2003 : 05:21:38

As I've thought about these pictures, I've wondered about two things:

1. the environmental impact of a sunken suv

2. perhaps the guy wasn't launching the pwc, perhaps he was building a barrier wall to protect an ecologically endangered area.

Food for thought! <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

Dennis Pierce
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2003 : 09:02:04

I think that the owner of that SUV was trying to get in the good graces of Arianna Huffington by making sure that it would never hold another gallon of gas, thus supporting terriosts!

Dennis Pierce
Gypsy Witch #1719

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2003 : 16:20:16

Sent my son and a friend an e-mail asking them to check out the "How not to launch a PWC" site. John replied,

Oh, that is so funny! Thanks. I already sent it out to my gang. I can't help but like these new Submarine-Use Vehicles(SUVs): why bother with things above water when you can explore the world beneath the sea? Announcing the new Ford UnderwaterExcursion...

Is Ford missing something?

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - osmepneo on 01/22/2003 16:21:38

Edited by - on

capn rick
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2003 : 15:32:20

Launching off a ramp:

Used to trailer a '22 with a Ford Ranger PU-5 speed!
Had a coupla new clutches put in over the years due to wheel spin.
Never submerged the thing, though. Had a few snide comments from truckers on the CB about the boat pusing the truck down the highway.

The '25 will stay in the Marina!
Capn Rick Stieg
#2458

Edited by - on

FrankV
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2003 : 20:02:32

Several years ago I towed an out of gas PWC to shore when he ran out of gas. They backed the new BMW equipped with trailer hitch down a rough, unimprved beach. They kept dropping one wheel in a big rut, so the driver opened the door to see, dropped the wheel in the rut and ripped the door clean off. They tied it to the trailer, put on their seat belts, and left the seen.

Edited by - on

ssteakley
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2003 : 23:30:01

I have a friend who had a boyfriend who had a 25 at a Military Marina at Canyon Lake. He took her and his 25' to Corpus Christi to sail to Mexico. They spent the weekend provisioning and were ready to splash at the City Marina. To make a long story short he forgot to set the brakes and as he was releasing the boat from the trailor, his SUV sank to the roof, they spent the next three days drying it out and they returned home...end of the fantasy sail,
What is the moral of these stories?
Think and slow down
These pics turn her story to life!
Steve Steakley

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2003 : 13:06:51

I think that is hilarious...I refrain from comment however because there was a time back in my youthful days, that I took a rental out for a sail up in the eastern end of the Lake. Due to a bunch of circumstances, we would up on the breakwall with the sails down(don't ask....it happens) there was no way to get the boat around and the cheap outboard wouldn't start. A guy in PWC was kind enough to pull me off. Ever since then I think twice about making comments regarding their owners....I usually go ahead and make the comments anyway, but I do think twice.

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.