Thanks For The Welcome

[Rob]

Good to meet you guys on Thursday - please forgive my remembering of names - with boat name, forum name and actual name I have my work cut out!

 

Got out on the water today on JoJo - met up with Paul D on Neo in the ledge carpark. Only fishing for a couple of hours and a lone mackerel for my efforts!

 

Saw a couple of fools on Wick slipway this morning - one guy trying to launch a big wake-style boat had a flat battery onboard so went to pull the craft on trailer back out of the water, I mentioned to him as he started up the slope he hadn't attached the boat to his trailer - not for the want of seeing a beached wake boat but I fancied retreiving my boat later so thought I would speak out.

 

Also the water skier in a little fletcher at the slip who was in such a hurry to retreive his boat he could no longer drive! No surprise he was in a hurry as his engine had stopped due to overheating and the boat was sinking! He got it out and removed the bung as I got in to JoJo, I attached my FFinder, GPS, attached all 5 seat cusions, filed away my lunch, fishing gear and everything else on board (must have been 6 or 7 minutes) and as I departed water was still pouring from his bung. I think this guy was luck to salvage it - I might have let it sink and claim on insurance!!

 

Also there was the guy who has to reverse had and hit the brakes to launch in an impressive and idiotic way, saw him retrieve with the same stlye and precision, I think he was showing off to his son, nice another idiot in training!!

 

I am thinking of a new TV show with footage from slipways, the nautical version of You've been framed could be called "Slipway Idiot Idol".

 

Oh well, a good day out and some nice weather, what more can I ask for.

 

 

 

 

[Paul D]

Glad you had a good day out. Wick slipway is that entertaining at times that myself and Helen used to go down to watch the days proceedings ( certainly beats TV ).

 

Only thing is to make sure that you are not starring in them at some time as it is easy for things to start going wrong.

 

In my time "spectating" I have seen the following :-

 

1) Trailer pulled down the slipway by hand and then let go, flies down slipway and sinks. Snorkel donned to find the winch strap and pull it out.

 

2) Boat being pulled up the slipway by rope only for passer bys to not see the rope and falling over it. ( This boat took around 30 mins to retrieve ).

 

3) Seagull outboard being held by some "responsible" parent's child who was wearing nothing on his feet and he had the propeller facing him. The parent then started the outboard while his son held it. - Myself and another person actually told him it was rather dangerous !

 

4) Wait until the summer and see the kids wading and leaping in the water whilst boats arrive and go - accident waiting to happen there.

 

5) Standing on the trailer whilst boat is reversed down the slipway. Someone lost their leg in another part of the country doing just that.

 

Plenty of others but easy to mock and end up starring in some sort of mishap - so be careful

 

PS: I've heard the slipway at Bridge Street also sees some interesting incidents.