I broke routine and took the wife fishing this morning. Put in at Lake Palestine Resort. I unhooked the boat from the trailer; the plan was to back the boat down just to where it started to float, then get in the boat and let the wife back it down the rest of the way. There was a truck parked in a way that made it difficult for me to get the angle right and see what I'm used to seeing at that ramp. Not anyone's fault, just changed my routine some. Ended up backing really close to the dock so I pulled up a little and backed down again. Wife was watching nervously afraid I was going to hit the dock, then I felt something bump, I assumed I had backed into the dock, so I pulled back up to straighten out. Except what I felt wasn't me hitting the dock, it was the boat coming off the "v" of the trailer. So when I started to pull up, I dumped the boat on the ramp. But here's the thing; I had made ANOTHER big mistake earlier. I didn't lock the hitch onto the ball. So when I started to pull up, the tongue of the trailer went in the air and dropped the boat in just enough water that the keel guard protected the boat. Then the trailer slammed on the ground.

So here's the picture. (Should have taken an actual photo.) Boat way up on the ramp deep onto the keel. Trailer disconnected from the ball, slammed on the tongue on the ground. Busted the lock on the break away tongue and can't get it off now. Was able to use the motor to get the boat off the ramp after some doing. Nothing appears to be hurt.

If I had locked the hitch on the ball, it probably would have been much worse.

I'm an idiot.

I know others have stories like this, and I know a bunch don't.

Still caught a bunch of fish with the wife and had a great day.

Any tips on how to get that lock off would be appreciated.

Sounds like something I would do. Thanks for sharing.

Sorry to hear your bad luck.. that ramp sux

We've all had those kinds of days. Atleast you got the boat in the water. Guarantee you won't unhook again.

That's a lot of business you had going on at the ramp.

It happens

Sorry you had issues. On a lighter note how muddy was the water?

Why is it that those kind of things happen when the wife is with you??

Some days you wish you'd just stayed in bed.

A lot of people have mishaps. We just dont say anything to our friends about it.

Not too bad mid lake. Never made north of 155. Caught several on main lake docks.

I think if you do this long enough, we all end up being "That Guy", or at least someone with mechanical issues, which is why we all should help each other. I know I have been helped before and look forward to helping someone in the future. Forrest Gump had it right, it happens.

At least the only thing hurt is your pride.

Yep but you would also lose power pole going 70 across the lake. If you= did not want it I would have taken it off your hands.

It was time for a new one...

at least the boats ok.it happens