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Safety When Launching


Paul D
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Whilst launching Maverick I nearly learnt the hard way how easy it is to have an accident whilst launching a boat.

 

I stood on top of the quay at Holes Bay holding the ropes tethered to Maverick at the front and the back and Martin reversed her off the trailer. I then stopped her floating away backwards. All OK so far.

 

Martin then drove forwards and then I realised my BIG mistake. In order to make sure I didnt lose the rope when she was launched I had wrapped the rope around my hand once. As Martin drove forward I noticed that Maverick was also moving forward..... The rope had become wrapped around the trailer - the same rope wrapped around my hand which also happens to be the hand with my wedding ring and another ring on.

 

I was nearly pulled over the side of the quay so had to let go of the rope which then ripped through my hand catching my ring on my small finger and fortunately coming away from it. I think my small finger was momentarily dislocated as it was very painful and I wass in slight shock realising how close I had come to losing my finger.

 

A lesson learnt thankfully at no cost ( apart from a bruised finger ).

 

So DO NOT wrap rope around your hand and be wary of rings on your fingers when rope is passing through them.

 

Now for lesson 2 - How not to pull your car down the quay with a boat smile.gif

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Lesson No 2

 

After recovering Maverick we saw this guy with his daughter trying to launch his boat, nothing wrong with that you might say and you would be right. This chap had tied a very long rope between the car and the trailer, so far so good. The boat is chocked off that is untill he removed the timber chock (lump of 4 by 4wood)

the boat starts to move down the slip as you might expect, but hang on who's in the car..you guessed it nobody, this guy then starts to panic and attemps to push his boat uphill so as to stop it pulling the car and also shouting at his 13/14 year old daughter to jump in the car and put the hand brake on.. well she hasn't got a clue poor girl, she trys to put on the hand brake but hasn't the strength. I quickly ran across the yard and jumped to the rescue put on the handbrake and all was well.

 

Alls well that ends well but the guy was really asking for trouble because

1 The trailer was a pile of c**p

2 he was using a vauxhaul corsa size car to tow a boat and trailer that must have gone 1000kg

3 his crew was not capable of helping other than hold the rope which I think she did quite well...what do you think Paul rolleyes.gif she never had a sore finger anyhow laugh.gif

 

Lesson 3

Don't refuel you petrol boat with diesel, I did and it hurts the wallet.

 

Martin

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You kept that one a bit quite Martin!!!

 

It is a tricky one and I now find myself physically checking whenever I fill Rach's car or the boat with fuel - driving a diesel it is easy done!!

 

Didi you extract the fuel yourself or was it a mechanics job??

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