Truck Stuck in the mud!

[vandy]

Just see what happened when todya we decided to launch the boat from a slip in Kew bridge. Neve try that! Never!

Had to call Coastguard, and PLA. They said they can not send any help as it is a commercial company so they can sort themselves! and sadly the driver was lacking common sense and so incompetent...


Eventually I managed to (yes the driver was just making random phone calls and swearing! ) ask a lorry to come and help us. The lory driver was a 5 start legend.

 

[byron]

That don't 'arf look like Ramsgate.

 

[vandy]

hehe! yeah but it is just next to Kew Bridge! We managed to entertain local residents for a while there!

 

[boatone]

hehe! yeah but it is just next to Kew Bridge! We managed to entertain local residents for a while there!

Good job you weren't advertising Boat Recovery

 

[Richard Shead]

Hmmm

I think Putney is a better bet for you.....

 

[Chris_d]

How were you going to launch it off the back of that lorry

 

[Richard Shead]

I am assuming

it lowers to allow the trailer (or car) to drive down the ramp

 

[vandy]

I think Putney is a better bet for you.....

Putney....! we did go to Putney at the end, but the driver refused to launch it there too as he was scared that he may get stuck there again. He was not experienced in launching/recovering boats so he just put the trailer on the ground and we asked a 4x4 car to launch it and then recover the old boat so it can be delivered to the new owner (the boat that I was going to dump!!!!)

Anyway, it was my first time talking on the radio to coastguard/PLA! and it was fun! once you call them on the radio they give you a working channel and keep talking/talking/ and talking!!!!!

AND! did you know even the coastguard has camera on all bridges?! they were watching us and giving advise! as really the driver's brain was locked!

 

[mlines]

That reminds me I never took my promised Thames trip last year, what the car/trailer parking possibilities at Putney? (
Apart from parking it in the mud !!

 

[vandy]

That reminds me I never took my promised Thames trip last year, what the car/trailer parking possibilities at Putney? (
Apart from parking it in the mud !!

Putney is fine, it has two wide concrete strips along the river bank. The parking is not difficult, I have seen people lock their trailers somwhere t here and then park the car in nearby carparks after launching the boat.

But the boat ramps get a bit wet, so a 4x4 car is desirable. Also, the good thing about Putney is that there are many boating clubs there so in case you have problem (like what we had yesterday) they come and help you.

Parkingwise, the best place would be River Lane in Richmond, but it is miles away from Central London and fuel availability could be a problem.

 

[newtothames]

I remember when I was trying to recover a jetski in Western Super Mare my car was stuck in the sands and the RNLI guys had some equipments to help us, but it was on a flat surface though....

 

[CJL]

Putney is fine, it has two wide concrete strips along the river bank. The parking is not difficult, I have seen people lock their trailers somwhere t here and then park the car in nearby carparks after launching the boat.

But the boat ramps get a bit wet, so a 4x4 car is desirable. Also, the good thing about Putney is that there are many boating clubs there so in case you have problem (like what we had yesterday) they come and help you.

Parkingwise, the best place would be River Lane in Richmond, but it is miles away from Central London and fuel availability could be a problem.

Don't forget that River Lane is still tidal and subject to flooding pretty much all the way to the garden centre!!!!
Chris

 

[colvic987]

your best buying him a new winch for his birthday, looks like he will be needing it soon enough...Don't recovery drivers know how to 'recover'......