A bit of a whoops at Vanier launch

[Pippen]

This was from yesterday. It's not the most friendly launch at a low tide.

 

[Pippen]

Not the first, nor will be it the last with the state of the ramp that makes a low tide launch or retrieval a challenge.

 

[Dogbreath]

If he'd walked the ramp all the way to the end he would have seen that the cement ends and then it's gooey mud now he knows all about it.

 

[Pineapple Express]

Did you see it happen? Wondering if the vehicle rolled in to the water or just got stuck in the muck while the tide was rising? Either way a crappy day for them. Sucks

 

[SpringVelocity]

So easy to do..That sucks.

 

[Pippen]

Did you see it happen? Wondering if the vehicle rolled in to the water or just got stuck in the muck while the tide was rising? Either way a crappy day for them. Sucks

Nope.....didn't see it happen. But the tide was rising at the time....it was a couple hours after the low slack but not sure how long it had been there.

 

[RossP]

That stinks, I retrieved the boat at low slack last week and it was iffy at best, floats right out of the water, walked the ramp and decided to go for it, glad my boat is only a 15ft Whaler and I don't need to have my trailer submerged. I feel for anyone that this happens to and I never back my truck into the water off the ramp.

 

[finaddict]

Launch at Vanier Park - $18.00

Boat gas, truck gas and bait - $126.00

Destroying your vehicle AND getting your picture posted on a fishing forum for all to see.................priceless.................

Comes with the territory and it IS a good reminder of how bad that launch can be even with a small boat.

Retrieving from Fair Harbour last Monday, (gravel launch, 6500 lb. striper, F350 diesel 4x4) I got stuck pulling boat out. Fortunately I have 12,000 lb. winch and we hooked up to another truck at the top of the ramp. A 10 minute delay. Boy scout motto made all the difference.

In this poor guys case a winch would have saved his truck

 

[Clint r]

Happened to me one time. Fresh water fortunately. Had an old ford at the time with a bad ebrake. Had to block the tires when at the ramp. My weight in the boat at the back was able to lift the butt end of the truck enough that it started to roll over the block. Stupid me forgot to put it in First. By the time I scrambled into the cab, the water was up to the seat. Still started though. Couldn't get it out as I was in the mud. Luckily, a guy was on his way in and pulled me out with his Dodge diesel. Sometimes a hard lesson is the best lesson.

 

[daddystoy]

There's no doubt that ramp sucks balls big time!! Unless the tide is around 7' or higher it's a useless a tits on a bull. In saying all that, how does he get his car in the position it's in?

 

[Hookin'up]

I think I would have stuck someone in the boat, drove it on the trailer and hammered the throttle with him in the car it probably would have been enough to push him out
worth a try whats to lose?, cars going down anyway, looks like a diver already there to assist

 

[Time]

Know your ramp.
My local. I avoid anything under 1.5m.
Think they could lay a pre-fab slab where it is impossible to pour a ramp at low tide.

 

[Daveroo]

Did you see it happen? Wondering if the vehicle rolled in to the water or just got stuck in the muck while the tide was rising? Either way a crappy day for them. Sucks

I didn't see it happen, but my fishing buddy did. They were trying to pull the boat out. When they backed the car down it got stuck. My boat was temporarily tied up at the very end of the dock with my fishing buddy waiting on board because I had to go ashore briefly. When I got back to the boat I saw them stuck, but the water had not yet reached the front of the car. They were trying to dig out the front wheels, but it was just spinning in mud and the car had bottomed out in the front driver side already. Myself and a couple of other bystanders told them they need to call a tow ASAP if they had not done so already because this happened just as the tide had turned and the water was starting to rise. The photo here was taken probably a half hour after less after I had left the scene. I thought about taking a photo myself, but I felt bad for the guys so I didn't.

 

[Pippen]

Daveroo....just to clarify, I wasn't meaning to mock but rather to show what can happen at a very low tide. Best to wait for the tide to come up so your vehicle is on the pavement still than risk something like this happening.

 

[terrin]

I was going on the Ferry from Couperville to Port Townsend on the weekend and just like in San Diego they have a ramp that is excellent in any tide. This is Vancouver and we should be able to expect at least one ramp that is good on all tides. Keep emailing the person listed on the sign at Vanier maybe it will get through to city hall. By the way the sign says new ramp completed by summer 2015 but havn't seen any action yet.

 

[Pippen]

Keep emailing the person listed on the sign at Vanier maybe it will get through to city hall. By the way the sign says new ramp completed by summer 2015 but havn't seen any action yet.

I will walk over, get the email and send this image as an illustration.

I sure hope they mean ramp....and not just the docks which has begun.

***EDIT

Just had a look at this; click on the documents tab below. The first one states in the upper right of the drawings "east boat launch REPAIRS" and "west boat launch UPGRADES". Also looks like the west dock is being modified but not replaced.

http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/vanier-dock.aspx