The boy's first time pulling boat and trailer out of the water.

[cwenbass]

My 17 year old just got his license a little more than a month ago. The other day, he asks me to go fishing, which is a huge surprise because he doesn't love it so I am pretty excited. We go out for a couple hours and the wind kicks up so we decide to head back. Back the truck and trailer down the ramp, load the boat on the trailer, my on winches it up, and I tell him to pull me out. He had a huge smile on his face. The boat is alumnium so not super heavy. I tell him to just pull out slow.
I am sitting in the boat's driver seat, and the next thing I know I am flying backwards and I hear the truck's engine rev. NEUTRAL?! I scream and he hears me in time to slam on the brakes, but now water has washed over the transom and I am waste deep, every compartment has water and the boat...yep is sinking. I jump out of the boat into the lakeafter the bilge on becasue it is windy and despite the boat being hooked at the bow, it is off the right of the trailer and still sinking, slowly, but sinking. I push the boat slowly, because well... it's much heavier now over the trailer thinking "At least if it sinks over the trailer, I can still get it out. I get this done then convince him to SLOWLY pull the boat and trailer out a little slowly so the boat will sit on the trailer. Way too much weight for the trailer, but it holds up. As soon as I realize the boat is not going to sick anyplace other than over the trailer if it does sink. I start laughing because I know every piece of tackle will need to be dried out and fir sure the carpet detailed (side note. My son does car detailing as a side job so that's free). My house is about 1 minute and 37 seconds away from the ramp so as we pull in the driveway, he says "Well this will be a core memory." He heard me call a few fishing buddy's to re-tell the tale to and wasn't too happy about that part.

[188Musky]

You better teach him how to pull out soon, or you’ll be a grandpa before you know it.

[cwenbass]

[ECobb91]

Bet he won’t do it again though..

I’ve done the same thing as a coangler in the BFL.. my boater was a kid (23) who borrowed his dad’s boat because his was in the shop. He forgot to tell me the shifter slips so you have to hold it in drive for it to stay in gear at first. He put it on the trailer, hopped in the bed and gave me the “go ahead” taps. I went to pull him out and the truck slipped into neutral so the truck started going backwards.. He screams to stop, so I did abruptly, which broke the winch strap and the boat goes drifting into the marina. He also forgot to mention the winch strap had a rip in it too.. now I’m the laughing stock at the ramp after an already sucky tourney finish. He was a good sport about it though, tried giving him $100 extra to pay for the strap and he refused.. we parted ways and 10miles down the road called asking if I had his keys.. they were still in my pocket.. so that added to the embarrassment.

[basshammerwannabe]

Bet he won’t do it again though..

I’ve done the same thing as a coangler in the BFL.. my boater was a kid (23) who borrowed his dad’s boat because his was in the shop. He forgot to tell me the shifter slips so you have to hold it in drive for it to stay in gear at first. He put it on the trailer, hopped in the bed and gave me the “go ahead” taps. I went to pull him out and the truck slipped into neutral so the truck started going backwards.. He screams to stop, so I did abruptly, which broke the winch strap and the boat goes drifting into the marina. He also forgot to mention the winch strap had a rip in it too.. now I’m the laughing stock at the ramp after an already sucky tourney finish. He was a good sport about it though, tried giving him $100 extra to pay for the strap and he refused.. we parted ways and 10miles down the road called asking if I had his keys.. they were still in my pocket.. so that added to the embarrassment.

yep he will be EXTRA careful now, probably anytime he goes to put a vehicle in drive

[250bassFL]

[yatesville88fan]

You better teach him how to pull out soon, or you’ll be a grandpa before you know it.

That’s funny right there. Thanks for the laugh musky

[bayouXpress]

Dont feel bad, a few weeks ago a grown man put his dully completely in the water.

[Highcentered]

One time I accidentally had the truck in reverse when I went to pull my buddy out of the water. He had me inch back a little more and well...luckily he knew what was about to happen and prepared for it. Scared the shit out of me and now if I'm pulling someone out of the water the truck goes in drive while sitting still EVERY TIME.

[jimsch]

These could happen to anyone once and hopefully only once.

[Transom]

At least the truck did not end up in the water.

[Rider99XX]

That has happened to a lot of very experienced drivers before. I'm sure he won't do that again. Lesson learned.

[rboren]

It’s going to be okay dad ! He knows how to do it now and just be thankful you have a great kid and he is healthy. I worried every time my sons pulled me out. Try teaching 3 boys to do this. You will gray some and your hair will start to go away but it is well worth every minute! Everyone has to learn and if you do it without hurting yourself or anything else you are doing great!

[Rangerdeepv]

Main reason I do my own backing and launching/loading unless the other person is or has been a trailer boat owner for a few years. Both brothers are useless when messing with the boat. Step son-in-law, brother-in-law and two fishing buddies are on the 'allowed to' list but no others. Tried teaching wife................'nuff said.

[juice780]

I used to have a 6 speed f250. I fished a bfl and my coangler said I got it I’m a truck driver. Instead of pulling out he had it in reverse and about dumped the whole truck in the lake. Last time I let a coangler drive my truck.

[cwenbass]

I am fortunate enough he was able to put all the pieces together quickly enough of what was happening and step on the brakes before the truck wen in.

[fisherman1111]

You better teach him how to pull out soon, or you’ll be a grandpa before you know it.

or at least have plenty of rod Sox’s on hand.

[WarEagle24]

You better teach him how to pull out soon, or you’ll be a grandpa before you know it.

[havacman]

My son turned 16 got his license but I already had him pulling the boat out of the water at ramps before that. I would back it in and let him drive it forward. We bought him a single cab stick, I bought a small trailer and told him to pull it whenever he was just driving. Told him if he learned to back that little short trailer especially with standard shift he could back anything. He has told me numerous times “thanks dad for that it was one of the best things you taught me “.

[cripplesnake]

LOL My son was 11 or 12 years old. We used a public ramp at the river and I would back the trailer in and load the boat. He would then pull the truck up far enough to get it out of the water. So we do our thing one day and the usual group of guys were hanging out drinking a few afternoon beers and I'm BSing with them. A sheriffs deputy pulls up and joins in at about the same time another truck with a boat pulls up. Not thinking much about it I told my son to hop in the truck and pull out of the way for the other guy to use the single ramp. Oh my gosh did this deputy get excited. LOL He said "That kid can't move that truck!!!! LOL One of the regulars says "Like hell he can't, That boys been pulling that boat and trailer for 2 years now". The deputy said No way in front of him.. Good times back then