Craziest Boat Ramps
Submitted by Tom M on Sat, 2020-03-28 08:53
Travelling the Great Ocean Road last year and came across this boat ramp, whats the craziest ramp you have seen? Looked like all 4x4's in the carpark were well maintained and boats around 5 meter mark judging by trailers.
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Tom M
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Blackgold
Posts: 68
Date Joined: 11/06/15
Boat ramp
Did the same trip March last year looked at same ramp photo doesn't do it justice no trailers in car park when we stopped to look have to have your wits about you otherwise you could get in to big trouble
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
That's a hectic ramp! The
That's a hectic ramp!
The worst I've encountered was beach launching at Cervantes with a 3m swell. The beach is protected by waves but had a lot of surge running. I reversed down, got out and pushed the boat off into knee deep water, jumped in and drive up the beach as fast as possible, jump back out the car (30 seconds later) and the boat is sitting high and dry with water line 20m's behind it. Won't launch up there again with any decet swell running
carnarvonite
Posts: 8668
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Hamelin Bay
Hamelin Bay ramp is probably the worst in a swell I have had the misfortune to use. We were lucky and had a key to the gate and used to launch on the ramp and retrieve on the beach saving us the trouble of the trailer washing sideways off the ramp. Have seen broken arms and legs there , usually on the last day of Easter holidays when the needy and the greedy have to go fishing when even the pros stay onshore . Saw about a 24 foot glass boat sideways across a trailer minutes after he asked me the best way to get his boat out while doing a service on my moored fishing boat. He didn't like my advice that Flinders Bay was the best option.
Saw a steeper ramp than the one pictured above at Lake Pedder in Tassie, it involved reversing about 100 metres before you got to the ramp , all down a very steep hill
bsir
Posts: 574
Date Joined: 24/04/11
Agree
that Hamelin ramp can get interesting. It’s been a long time since I have launched there, but on that day we ended up skull dragging the boat up the ramp the first few meters, then backing down with the trailer. There was no way it was going on the trailer with the swell that had picked up.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18026
Date Joined: 11/03/08
That Hamlin bay one should
That Hamlin bay one should really be shut down or protect it somehow . Slippery as well not to mention the weed that builds up.
There is one down dunsboro way that's not so nice either but can't remember the name
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
carnarvonite
Posts: 8668
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Old Dunsborough
its the old Dunsborough ramp, the main one that is used is at Quindalup
Mulie
Posts: 546
Date Joined: 20/02/11
Canal Rocks
Not to be used in swell unless you have a practised crew.
Mulie
abrohlosorbust
Posts: 99
Date Joined: 08/06/12
Hamelin Bay ramp
Agree the ramp deserves respect and would enjoy an upgrade however would much rather have it as it is than loose it due to complaint or suggestion of shut down. I believe the Shire or whomever maintains this ramp do a pretty dam good job from year to year.
Slippery / weedy / sandy and exposed to swell means it deserves respect and sound decision making. If the weather is shit or the launching crew inexperienced then definately not the ramp for you, however having been going to Hamelin for in excess of twenty years i have seen it at its absolute best and worst. The other consideration deserving commentary is reading of weather patterns tide and swell. You need to have a window of opportunity to launch and planned retrieve. Seen plenty of stupid decision retrievals in less than ideal conditions mid arvo only to calm right off just before sunset, putting both life and boats at risk.
Its the ignorant or stupid decisions not the ramp that causes most of the issue.
Getting wet is part of the Fun
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest
timboon
Posts: 2957
Date Joined: 14/11/10
Fuck you dribble some shit
Fuck you dribble some shit Russ, saying on a public forum that a certain ramp should be shut down tells me you've got shit for brains...
I use it often and never have an issue,
If your some out of towner dickhead that uses any ramp because they feel as though they've travelled some distance so we didn't come all this way not to throw the boat in then you deserve to fuck your boat or break a leg....
Know the conditions, know what your doing or fuck off....
If you want to compare ramps there is another one 70kms further north that also needs respect, or shall we close this one too? We dont have many ramps down here so to come on a public forum when you dont know what your talking about stating any ramp needs shutting down is a fucking dumb cunt manouvre...
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18026
Date Joined: 11/03/08
No need for comments and
No need for comments and language like that at all. If you read my post properly i also said or protect it somehow. That ramp has been the cause of deaths and many injuries over the years
I have used that ramp and it does need respect but calling someone a dumb cunt or saying someone has shit for brains shows you have got a problem .
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Scotte
Posts: 1145
Date Joined: 07/12/06
Calm down silly
Calm down silly
timboon
Posts: 2957
Date Joined: 14/11/10
Tom is that ramp at the back
Tom is that ramp at the back of Peterborough?
timboon
Posts: 2957
Date Joined: 14/11/10
I stand by my comments.
I stand by my comments. Instead of fucking around with a ramp that's been the same for 50 years how about the people that can't pick the weather continue down the road and use the $25,000,000 Augusta ramp.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18026
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Everyone is allowed to have
Everyone is allowed to have their say in different discussions without copping the sort language that you have used directed at me . I was on the understanding members on here were generally respectful of others but obviously you aren't.
To be honest I am disgusted considering there is younger members on here and that sort of stuff doesn't set a good example .
It is quite easy to have your say without using foul language .
Also if you go back and read my comment you will see I also said or do something about it
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Pete F
Posts: 310
Date Joined: 07/01/18
100% agree there are people
100% agree there are people of all ages here, show respect to everyone here and keep it civil. It is not hard to disagree with someones comments without a spray of offence. Use some legitimate reasoning and people might consider your point of view.
Cheers
sea-kem
Posts: 14978
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Yep had fun times at old
Yep had fun times at old Dunsborough ramp, but as long as you watch the swell come through you can actually use it to your advantage. Just need some sucker on the arse end of the boat lol.
Love the West!
timboon
Posts: 2957
Date Joined: 14/11/10
It's been said before Rusty,
It's been said before Rusty, everyone is not entitled to their opinion.
Sometimes it's better to shut the trap rather than just dribble shit.
Next you'll want a dual lane straight from bogansville to Hamelin.
I say leave it just the way it is and hopefully Mandurah stays in Mandurah...
Jim
Posts: 1335
Date Joined: 05/05/06
Not a ramp as such but Boat
Not a ramp as such but Boat Harbour looks deceiving. Was fishing off the rocks there and the swell had been rising all day, some blokes launched early and came back in the bay mid arvo and spent the next few hours trying to get timing right to get the boat on. Big surge leaving a only a few metre of sand to work with and also decent set waves coming in. They got it sorted just as it got dark. Looked like hard work but they did it and to be honest I thought they weren't going to make it. Swell was huge the next day closing out the bay.
Bend over
Oldbull
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 21/09/15
Solo retrieve
at Port Gregory with a big swell running. It is a beach launch. The swell coming over the reef has to exit through the northern channels and current rips along the beach at about 10 knots. Combine that with wind while backing your trailer across the beach is near impossible.
timboon
Posts: 2957
Date Joined: 14/11/10
Anyone watched crew attempt
Anyone watched crew attempt to winch boats on at windy? It's a nightmare, even with a tractor that they don't mind drowning.
Any ramp that is basically beach launching you need the ability to drive the boat on.
Why crew with bigger boats don't set themselves up better to do this has got me fucked.
Pete F
Posts: 310
Date Joined: 07/01/18
Each to their own way.Most
Each to their own way.
Most locals in Lano & Ledge don't drive on, no crayfishermen do especially so when the swell is up, it can be pushing 15-20m up the beach. A lot of visitors do and get caught out even on flat calm days.
bring the boat into the beach and winch on whilst driving under. Low back to trailer and tractor with TPL helps but plenty don't use tractors and never get bogged.
Cheers
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
drive on
I'm with Pete F, Driving on at a beach launch along the west coast is asking for trouble due to side current/surge and water depth, winch on and move the car back and forward slowly if required. extendable drawbars and drop down wheels also good
Not all but most people with drive on setups struggle at metro ramps inside marina's with little water movement and light wind
carnarvonite
Posts: 8668
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Drive ons
My dinghy that I used when pro fishing was set up for drive on, with a rope secured in the back right hand corner and a post on the trailer on same corner. I'd drop my decky off to reverse the trailer down and judge the waves, when it was right I would go in on the back of a wave and once the decky saw me put a couple of turn of rope around the post he was off regardless of if the boat was on properly. Same deal in reverse when launching.
When you have a mountain of fish on board you cannot afford to wait around for the next wave to drown you and you can straighten the boat out later.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
big difference
big difference between an dingy and 6 metre plate boat, look at the depth of water required for a 150Hp to be pushing the hull up the trailer and not fouling on the sand
that's why people aren't driving on as per the original query
carnarvonite
Posts: 8668
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Dinghy
Dinghy was 4.2 metre with a 40hp on the back, and when you launch with up to 500 litres of diesel on board and retrieve sometimes with 800kg of fish plus gear.
Mind you I witnessed a crayfisherman who not only got his ute stuck on a boondy to the right of Hamelin ramp that took 2 utes to hold a snatch block holding a double/ treble set of blocks and another ute with as much strain as they could load on it till it finally popped out. To make matters worse, his fuel up dinghy was a plate ali and the diesel was stored in the bilge and they used an electic pump to supply the crayboat. The fuel pump failed leaving the bilge half full, they loaded half the previous days catch on and headed to the ramp to unload. Over she went when the diesel all slopped to one side, due to free surface effect, and there was about 400kg of crays in baskets floating around on a very cold windy June morning. Thank heavens we were already on my boat ready to drop the moorings when they went over.
Again, Hamelin ramp at its best
timboon
Posts: 2957
Date Joined: 14/11/10
I'm not talking about
I'm not talking about attempting anything in a big swell. Drive on or winch on if you don't know what you're doing you'll be in strife.
Down here when it is a proper big swell, the tow Surfers get the jet skis out. The trailers are set up for it.
Additional framework beefs up trailer and a grab rail comes over the top of the handle bars.
Ski trailer comes back, ski operator hits trailer at some speed until hits bump stop, grabs bars holds tight while driver moves forward until the ski out of water then connects chain and winch strap.
If you try winching on you'll have the ski half way up the trailer when a swell will pick it up kick sideways off trailer and then your fucked because you can't get winch strap off.
I'm not really sure how drive on trailers would be an issue when there is no swell or wind?
When the swell is pushing 20m up the beach then in a small boat of course you'd follow in on the back of a wave then muck around getting boat on but really if the swell is that big then makes you wonder why unless you're a pro you'd be going in the first place.
sea-kem
Posts: 14978
Date Joined: 30/11/09
The way I see it, trying to
The way I see it, trying to drive on a boat in sand situation you'll compromise the sand under the trailer wheels. At Gnaraloo we try and move as quick as possible as even the lapping water on a good day sinks the wheels. Saying that I use ali tracks under the rear wheels of my car that makes a massive difference.
Love the West!
hezzy
Posts: 1521
Date Joined: 27/11/09
most of my launching off
most of my launching off margs is beach with a 5.5metre alli , we have the trailer set up with IANS elctric winch , now matter the surge or tide , iv found the best way for retrieve is not to go too deep with the trailer , the surge or tide becomes less relevant and you us ethe trailer rollers to self align the keel on the trailer ...... you still need to be aware and know the beach conditions and pre plan before you hit the shore as to who is doing what and quickly ...
another key factor beach launching /retrieving , is lower tyre pressure , we usually run at around 15psi ..reduces issues getting stuck and getting the whole rig out quickly once fully loaded back on trailer
get a routine going and know your gear , talk it through before you hit the beach ., more than 2 metres of swell or high swell period up in the 14-16 range , dont go imo unless you have to
hezzy
OFW 11
evil flourishes when good men do nothing
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
What a classic ramp, I can
What a classic ramp, I can only imagine the odd newby regretting using it lol. Love the burnt rubber at the top of the ramp not to mention a few slipping clutches it's probably seen in it's time. Reminds me of the old ramp at Channel Island in Darwin, not particularly steep, but on the lower tides was slippery and really long, some people just do not know how to back a trailer down and certainly made for a few laughs while waiting to retrieve on occasions.
Brock O
Posts: 3224
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Channel Island...is it in the
Channel Island...is it in the attached ?...Croc signs at most ramps I believe.
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/quick-darwin-visit
dodgy
Posts: 4577
Date Joined: 01/02/10
The concrete walkway along
The concrete walkway along side it was perfect for its back eddy. Collected the box jellyfish and held them right in knee deep water.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Hey Brocko that's the one, I
Hey Brocko that's the one, I forgot about that bloody concrete wall down one side.
br3nno
Posts: 352
Date Joined: 25/12/12
Honestly I thought this was
Honestly I thought this was going to be a post about Hillarys.
BC
Pete F
Posts: 310
Date Joined: 07/01/18
The steep Dampier boat ramp
The steep Dampier boat ramp was always fun on a low tide, boat could drop off the end and super slippery. Many a time with a full load of seawater and aquarium fish on board I had trouble gaining traction to get out of the water.
Pulled plenty of people out using 2WD's and even saved a truck once that kept slipping further into the water each time he tried to go forward.
Best one was the brand new Haines hunter that undid the chain and winch before backing down the ramp. I was on the walkway at the water watching the boat ski down the concrete with his misses on board.
Cheers
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Hey Pete, did you use to live
Hey Pete, did you use to live just past the airport on the way into Karratha ? Opposite Rio rail facilities ?
Pete F
Posts: 310
Date Joined: 07/01/18
No that was not me, That was
No that was not me,
That was someone else who opperated in a very different way to what we did.
Cheers
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Ah ok, I only ever knew of
Ah ok, I only ever knew of one guy doing aquarium fish when I lived in Dampier. Cheers
sea-kem
Posts: 14978
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I know a fella who used to
I know a fella who used to dive for aquirium fish and then ended up skippering the True North.
Love the West!
Pete F
Posts: 310
Date Joined: 07/01/18
I based out of the LIA, kept
I based out of the LIA, kept a low profile at least as much as you can with a big yellow LFB on the side of the boat.
Cheers