Weekend Fun & Not so Fun.

Had a former Co Worker contact me, wanted to see my boat up close and personal, and get a crash course in Salmon fishing.

Thought he was kind of nuts to drive 2.5 hours to my place to go, then another 1.5 to Muskegon, but ok. Even told him it has not been productive fishing.

So we get to Muskegon, launch, teach him how to set lines. He must have really wanted to learn, because when they were all set, he said "Can we pull them all up, and let me do it again?" Sure, so he did it 5 or 6 times.

Riggers, Divers, spoons, meat rigs, etc. He did not catch anything, Heck, after the first time i didn't do anything, and when we left, he pulled all rods. Was kind of weird, to me after fishing so long by myself.

Anyway, back at the Dock, a weekend warrior family was launching, and the boat drifts away form the dock with the daughter in the boat, floating away, and she does not know how to start the boat........

She ties a rope, takes off her clothes (Except Swim Suit) gets ready to jump in and someone in a bass boat was able to motor over and help.

In the mean time, I'm thinking, "Glad that's not me.........."

That was my mistake of the day...........

Cranking the boat onto the trailer, and look under the bow eye, it is not touching just yet, its about 5 clicks away from being in the proper position for travel, and after 2 of the 5 clicks.........

SNAP, Whoosh, SLAP, BBBSZZZZZZZZZZZZZBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTT

The snap was the Boat Winch Strap failing at the hook, the WHOOSH was the strap from the back lash, the SLAP was the strap, smacking against the metal shield from back lash, the BBBSZZZZZZZZZZZZZBBBBBBBTTTTTTTTT was the boat rolling off the rollers. (Roller Trailer) as the boat rolls off the rollers out towards the harbor.........

Co worker was thinking, "WTF? Is that normal, Hey Aaron your eyes are pretty big........, why is your boat going fishing without you?

Yelled at the Co worker GRAB THAT BOAT, and he was able to snag the rope I use for launching, and retrieving while alone, off the bow of the boat as it was floating past him.

Went to grab the spare winch strap that I keep in the boat for towing others if ever needed, and I realized, I don't have WRENCHES, with me.

SO, Trailer had to get backed in deeper, got the safety chain hooked up, and pulled it out sloooooooooolllllllyyyyyyyyyy.

Got it out, and Co worker was like, "Ill Push it" GGRRRUUNNNNNT,,,,, comes back to the front, how far did I move it? I busted up laughing............. Took BOTH of us to push it up, ratchet down in back, used the extra strap as best could, clipped to eye, and tied to trailer tongue, and a ratchet strap I had/keep in the boat if ever needed.

Got it home, found that it required 14 MM wrenches to swap out the whole strap. Quick trip to Ace Hardware, got two American made Craftsman Wrenches, both 14MM, both are in the truck now FOREVER if my boat is going to be hooked to my truck.
Getting the strap, and another extra just in case to put in the truck, or maybe in the boat again in case some one needs a tow ever, (Like ME) for the $10.00, its not a bad investment.

Like I said, fishing with me is an ADVENTURE, not for the weak of heart.......lol

The worst was the wind that pushed it sideways, after its escape., and subsequent retrieve, from the rope, and trying to miss other boats at the launch, which we did, and i got a few scratches on the Port side Bow in the front. I will see if I can buff them out later.


That was my weekend......... OH, went to "Il Divo" last night with Mrs OE. I'm in her good graces for a few weeks, or at least well into Hunting season.......


OE

Attachment 274344

Man, that sucks. At least you were able to cobble it together enough to get it home. I went up to the Portland dam on the Grand River yesterday and was surprised how many coho we saw. Mostly singles but did see one pod of 5 but nothing wanted our spinners. The river is VERY low and VERY clear.

I have a strap that is starting to get a little frayed. I need to get another one. Come to think of it, I need a new port side windshield seal as well. BOAT= Bring on another thousand!

BOAT

Bankruptcy
On
A
Trailer

[emoji23]


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I also broke a winch strap once, I was able to thread the end thru the eye and tied a knot in it, and used it like that. When I replaced the strap, it happened to come with a brand new, way nice 2-speed winch. :biggrin Highly recommended.

I'm glad I no longer have a roller trailer!

Ok,

I'll bite, why didn't you like your roller Trailer?

I like mine, especially when I am alone.

If had some one with me on a regular basis, I would re think that,

But as long as that boat never comes unhooked until its butt is in the water, I'm ok.




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For a big boat (by big I mean over 22 foot) it was great. For a small boat however, they can sometimes be a PITA. With mine and Kevin's boat (Steve too) you can back the trailer until the fender tops are just out of the water and drive the boat within 1 foot of the stantion. If you have another person, you can simply pull ahead and the boat will stay on. Or, you can get out and put two cranks on it and it is up. I really like it for one person as well. Not to mention the fact that I absolutly hate to have to pull out 10 feet of strap to hook on the boat and then crank (even if it is easy)! I've had my fair share of close calls trying to hook that latch on the front of the boat. I just don't want to have to kneel/lay on the dock anymore to do it. I've also used my launch rope to get my boat most of the way on but, again, I just don't want to have to struggle with it. The older I get, the less chances I seem to take that might result in me getting wet, pulling a muscle, or, with my luck, tearing my bicept tendion to within a strand of coming un rolled!

One thing I will tell everyone to do, get some of that grip tape and put it on your trailer. The tounge and down the sides. I have it all the way down to the fender on my drivers side (the side I most often use closest to the dock. What a difference it makes.

Got the new strap on, spare strap in the truck with the spare.

Was looking and shortened my Safety chain by 5.5 inches (4 links)

So if by chance in my adventures of fishing should an accident occur that I am not prepared for, it's not going to go to far before that chain engages.





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Only moves 2 inches vs 7.5,
Requires a 9/16th added to my truck tool box now as well........ lol



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Aaron,

The only issue that "might" happen is if you launch by yourself, back your boat all the way in the water, and the boat pinches up on the roller. This would seem to happen when the back of the boat starts to float up while the trailer is still on a downward angle. If that does happen, you might not be able to slide the boat far enough forward to provide enough slack for the chain. Obviously, you can pull out a little bit, but a time consuming effort. Might be worth making up a little longer chain and taking it with you on your first trip just in case something comes up that you didn't think of. I do like the shorter safety chain though. I might do the same thing to mine as well.

One thing I forgot to mention in regards to not liking the roller trailers. With the way we launch, I very rarely use a dock line anymore. For tournaments, the idea is speed. So, everything is unhooked, driver in the boat, and the truck driver puts it in the water. With a roller trailer, you just can't do it as quick. Even the glass boats have bunk trailers. When I'm by myself, my boat sits at the end of the dock, I put the trailer in the water then jump in the boat and idle it up on the trailer. Mine is probably the easiest boat trailer I have ever loaded and after owning several other trailer, I swear by the Eagle brand. Don't know what it is, but they have it right!

My bad......I should have explained it better,


I did not cut the links off, and actually make the chain physically shorter.

I just shortened the length, by placing the bolt through the 5th link, not the last link. if needed I can grab the 9/16th and add a link or two back to actual amount the chain that would be needed.

OE

Nice! And I was under the assumption that your polish roots caused you to simply cut the lengths and toss them on the floor in the garage! I see your Ginger beard Irish roots saved you on that one :biggrin