Busted!!!!

[Captain Steve]

July issue of Seaworthy magazine from BoatUS, page 5. Photo (mac 26X) and story of a claim filed in Las Vegas area. Mac mast caught on light post and ripped down. Was it a member of this forum???

[dlandersson]

I was alone in the middle of Lake Michigan at the time. You going to believe me or your lyin' physical evidence?

That's my story and I'm sitckin' to it.

[06HARLEYULTRA]

What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas......

[Tom Root]

I saw that pic too! People sometimes don't take that into account when at new launch places. I double check always before moving an inch!

[Steve K]

Was the incident itself recent or possibly more than a year ago

Reason I ask is in April 2011. someone did this, just about an hour after I launched my boat. Never saw the boat itself, just the mast going down (due to a hill between the guest dock and the launch ramp). It did look like an X boat rig.

This was a supplemental, low water ramp.
When they built it, they lined it with lamp posts that look like all the other ones in the marina parking lot........... except for one thing.
These new ones had a fixture that hung out over the roadway. Guess they forgot about sail boats when ordering the slightly different street lamps.
So, this ramp approach was marked in the center, like a two lane road......... right side, down to the ramp, launch your boat and stay to the right on the return to the parking area.
But if you had a sailboat, you had to drive right down the center of this approach road, if you wished to keep your mast.

I would have, likely lost mine, had a friend of mine, who launched about an hour before me hadn't warned me. Good thing he was paying attention......... for both of us.
I've been going there for 12 years and you can drive anywhere around the marina with your mast up. You can even drive up into the camp grounds. So, I don't think I would have even thought about it, until I heard the crash.

This low water ramp was closed, last time I was there (April this year), as the lake level was up quite a bit.

Filed a claim

I was once hit by one of those 65 foot, rental house boats, at the guest dock. That's a whole other story though.
I just wanted to say, I didn't have to file anything. The marina manager offered to have the boat picked up and repaired, right on the spot and I was also given the option to take the boat to any shop of my choice and they would gladly pay the bill. They were the most gracious, nice and helpful as they could possible be.

As it turned out, because our Macs are built so well all it cost was an old rag soaked in Acetone to wipe off the black rub rail mark and a little re-waxing. Did it myself..... guess I could've sent them a bill, but never did.

The next time I was there (which was several months later). The marina manager came to me and asked whether I got the boat repaired and why I didn't send them an invoice. (guess the had my boat reg # listed on their important things board or something)

When I told her I just had to clean off the black mark, she was surprised; 1.the boat wasn't damaged 2. I didn't try to get a paycheck from them.

'Course this was totally their fault and they new it. This light post thing could, perhaps, be argued that there is some responsibility going to the operator of the tow vehicle, I guess.

Anyway............

Best Breezes,
Steve K.

[Freedom77]

The old Lake Mead Marina has been moved due to the fact that it is now on dry ground. Years ago I witnessed an event which scared the H... out of me. A guy put the mast up on his V-17 and proceed to drive under a high voltage (4.8kv??) power line. It not only knocked down the mast it burned a hole in it. Our YC used to sponsor a Sea Scout symposium at the Long Beach, Ca Naval Base. Usually had about 50-60 trailerables show up and about 300 scouts. One of our members set the mast on his V-21 and drove across the road. OOPs. There is a power line running down the middle of the road. HIs boat came off the trailer and he dragged it a few yards. Luckily it was a dirt median. A group of us just picked it up and put it back on the trailer. From that day forward we referred to his yacht as the DRAG QUEEN. If you ever want to have a weekend day of entertainment and disaster just visit the launch ramp at Marina Del Rey, CA. It is one of the busiest in the world. It's scary to think that you may be out on the water with some of these folks or for that matter on the freeway. Fair Winds and Full Sails....Old Salt.

[Russ]

This can happen to the best of us. I read a story years ago about the frequency of boat ramp electric line accidents. MANY would result in death the instant the victim stepped out of the tow vehicle and contacted the ground. I'm amazed that any boat ramp would have power lines nearby, but apparently it's more common than you would think.

Good lesson to keep looking up. Especially in an unfamiliar ramp.