As I was prepping for my first launch, I decided to move the boat around and make it easier to get the CIY out. I moved Anago out to the road and moved Disciple Ship away from the side of the house so that I could get here out without moving either of the other two trailers. I want to make it as accessible, easy and quick to taker her out. The easier, the more she'll get wet.
When it was time to put the Hunter back in the yard, I re-hitched her and started backing down the drive and over toward the side of the house. Suddenly I heard/felt something (it's a bit of a blur). I looked behind me and the trailer had come off the hitch! What?!!!
I quickly got out of the SUV and went to see. The first thing I thought was that I may have forgotten to secure the latch on the hitch. No. It was down and in the locked position. Had I not gotten the hitch down onto the ball far enough? I really don't know. That's possible. It's also possible the adjustment on the hitch needs tightening. One thing is for sure - I'll have to check it all out before towing her again.
The worst thing that happened was the outboard broke in two! Yep, looks like it's ruined. Someone said that I might be able to get parts. We'll see. In any case, it's going to cost some money, whether in repair, replace or reduced selling price.
What a sad sight! It turned out it was quite the chore getting the tongue back down. I attached my hitch extender to the hitch, back it under the tongue, backed my neighbors truck down to the boat, looped a heavy rope around the tongue, under the hitch and attached to the truck and then slowly pulled the truck out. The hitch came down readily.
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