Slight mishap at launch today...
04-16-2013 | 08:31 PM
#51
SORE MEMBER
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: 29°50'49.74"N 95° 5'17.55"W.......TEXAS
Used to have that problem at a local ramp I used. Took a bunch of bags of quickcrete (still in their bags), we set them out in the water at the end of the ramp on a Monday. They were like "concrete" by the next weekend and most are still there .
04-17-2013 | 01:52 PM
#53
Drive to arrive alive!!!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,087
Likes: 479
From: OK and LoTO
I've heard, yet not seen it done...
...That you can tie a line to the center of the aft end of the trailer, and then tie the other end off tight to the bow eye of the boat. Have someone in the boat put the boat in reverse to provide lift to the back end of the trailer while the driver of the truck pulls the trailer out in 4X4 Low Gear.
Granted, sounds like a nice way to pull the entire truck and trailer in the water though as well.
...That you can tie a line to the center of the aft end of the trailer, and then tie the other end off tight to the bow eye of the boat. Have someone in the boat put the boat in reverse to provide lift to the back end of the trailer while the driver of the truck pulls the trailer out in 4X4 Low Gear.
Granted, sounds like a nice way to pull the entire truck and trailer in the water though as well.
55 MTI trailer found the end of the ramp and they assisted the trailer with the boat and I assisted the truck with a F450 that had 500 miles on it. Not the best way to break in a new truck, but we got the semi and trailer out
It looked like a Ford commercial
04-17-2013 | 04:01 PM
#54
Were doomed!
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,095
Likes: 1,389
From: Chicago, IL
the Winnetka launch is not fairing very well after this winter 
****See attached - The effect of Lake Michigan water level dropping 18 inches this winter combined
with winter storms piling sand and gravel into the area. Last summer we had about 48 inches of
water at the launch ramp.
****See attached - The effect of Lake Michigan water level dropping 18 inches this winter combined
with winter storms piling sand and gravel into the area. Last summer we had about 48 inches of
water at the launch ramp.
__________________
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
04-17-2013 | 04:07 PM
#55
Were doomed!
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,095
Likes: 1,389
From: Chicago, IL
And if any locals here in Chicago have ever used the Wilson launch ramp years past....its now a Dog Park!!! Check this out! look at the distance between the 2nd and 3rd pic....how far back the shore line is!!! I launched my 30' scarab hout of here back in 2001ish....and my drives were bouncing off the sand floor!! and I love the last picture where it says no swimming! lol
__________________
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
Last edited by Wally; 04-17-2013 at 06:32 PM.
04-17-2013 | 04:35 PM
#56
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 24
From: medina ohio/ vermilion ohio
wow those pics really show how bad it has gotten over the years and even from last year to now. looks like there will be a lot of people loosing drives this year if they arnt paying attention.
04-17-2013 | 04:56 PM
#57
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 0
From: NORTHERN ILLINOIS
As you come south the ramps are just as messed up Wally. 2x last fall we launched 40+ footers at Diversey and the ramps slope to your boats starboard side. As a result the trailer slides that direction and easily gets hooked under the docks as you try to pull out. Both times we had to put a line on the trailer and 2 guys in the water to physically slide it out from under the pier-style docks. Thank god we had Ricky and some other big dudes. I'll be shocked if we can launch there at all this year.
