Boat launching with TC?
I may be over thinking this. I "may" tow my GoDevil rig behind my TC. How much strain is it to launch a boat with a TC? The Godevil is a 18ft aluminum boat with a 35hp surface drive (35hp B&S lawn mow...
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Here's my ugly story.
2001 - had a meeting in Toronto and 4 days later had a meeting in Albany. This is back when flying to Toronto and Albany were extremely expensive. Decided I would take my truck camper and 20' aluminum duck boat. Fished the St. Lawrence before Toronto and stopped at Lake George before heading to Albany. I usually prefer to take the camper off before I launch the boat, particularly when I am by myself.
Dropped boat and trailer in lot at the ramp. Took camper to my campsite and took it off. Took pickup back to ramp and hooked up trailer and launched boat. Tied up boat along side dock and took trailer back to lot. In the few minutes I was gone, the wind changed directions and picked up. What was a calm lake was now a rough sea and blowing water right over the back of the transom. Jumped in the boat and turned the bilge on (not automatic). Clear I was not going to gain ground on the water so jumped out and flipped boat so bow was away from shore. I had a jet drive so pulled it right up to the rocks next to the dock. Decided I needed help to the bilge. Took a gallon milk jug that I had thrown into the boat but had not cut to bail with. Pulled out my Leatherman and opened up the serrated blade to cut the jug. Cut right thru the jug and into the thumb of my left hand. Bleeding like a stuck pig. No one else around. Found a roll of paper towels and wrapped my thumb up. Got the water out and decided I needed to run the boat to check it out. Ran OK. Tied up boat, got truck and trailer, loaded up boat, dropped trailer in lot, back to campsite to get camper, back to lot to hook up trailer. Still bleeding but not a lot. Knew I needed stitches. Drove to Albany looking for an emergency room. Pulled up in front and worried where I could park this long rig. Security guard took one look at me and said pulled it right over there and leave him the keys he would take care of it. 10 stitches later, I leave the hospital. Rig right where I left it. Decided no more camping. Checked into hotel in downtown Albany. For some reason, they let me park on the curb in front.
Lucky guy but was sick of telling the story everytime I saw someone who said "what happened to your thumb?"
Spent 4 months alone on the road to Alaska in 2005 and never had a problem but it makes you think what might happen and to think everyone through before you do it.
2001 - had a meeting in Toronto and 4 days later had a meeting in Albany. This is back when flying to Toronto and Albany were extremely expensive. Decided I would take my truck camper and 20' aluminum duck boat. Fished the St. Lawrence before Toronto and stopped at Lake George before heading to Albany. I usually prefer to take the camper off before I launch the boat, particularly when I am by myself.
Dropped boat and trailer in lot at the ramp. Took camper to my campsite and took it off. Took pickup back to ramp and hooked up trailer and launched boat. Tied up boat along side dock and took trailer back to lot. In the few minutes I was gone, the wind changed directions and picked up. What was a calm lake was now a rough sea and blowing water right over the back of the transom. Jumped in the boat and turned the bilge on (not automatic). Clear I was not going to gain ground on the water so jumped out and flipped boat so bow was away from shore. I had a jet drive so pulled it right up to the rocks next to the dock. Decided I needed help to the bilge. Took a gallon milk jug that I had thrown into the boat but had not cut to bail with. Pulled out my Leatherman and opened up the serrated blade to cut the jug. Cut right thru the jug and into the thumb of my left hand. Bleeding like a stuck pig. No one else around. Found a roll of paper towels and wrapped my thumb up. Got the water out and decided I needed to run the boat to check it out. Ran OK. Tied up boat, got truck and trailer, loaded up boat, dropped trailer in lot, back to campsite to get camper, back to lot to hook up trailer. Still bleeding but not a lot. Knew I needed stitches. Drove to Albany looking for an emergency room. Pulled up in front and worried where I could park this long rig. Security guard took one look at me and said pulled it right over there and leave him the keys he would take care of it. 10 stitches later, I leave the hospital. Rig right where I left it. Decided no more camping. Checked into hotel in downtown Albany. For some reason, they let me park on the curb in front.
Lucky guy but was sick of telling the story everytime I saw someone who said "what happened to your thumb?"
Spent 4 months alone on the road to Alaska in 2005 and never had a problem but it makes you think what might happen and to think everyone through before you do it.
