Re: Packard takes a swim

Posted by Fish'n Jim On 2024/4/11 16:27:52

Water and vehicles don't mix. I'd be vary wary of the wiring and anything you can't see or take for granted, as OK, when this happens. Recall capillary action. They generally total 'flood cars', if that's any indication of the cost - don't take it lightly.
There's always someone shady trying to pass them off, too. Beware of that P for sale soon! One way to tell is take the door panel off and look at the back for water damage/marks.

All for the vanity of a few pix? Pick a shady flat spot next time - you say? Not necessarily!
I was fishn competition in NY state. After 4 AM, pulled into a paved gas station lot (dry land) to pick up my partner for the day. There was just a slight down slope to shed water away from the building and was aimed for the exit. I shut the truck off, left in gear, put the E-brake on(stick), and went into the boat to get ready. Some guy arrives unexpectedly, with all that room, picks to pull up in front of and in line with me, maybe 50-75 foot away. For lack of a better explanation, the gravity between the two vehicles and me wiggling in the boat started my truck to roll. They eventually recalled those E-brakes. I replaced 3 mechanisms before they straightened them out. The guy had opened his hatchback and was standing there. I yelled and jumped down and before I could get in and stop it, we collided. Not much brake travel without it running and one leg out on the ground while moving. Explain that to your insurance man! I leave it running with the door open at all time at or near launch since. I'm automatic now.
I witnessed one while friend went to get trailer, I waited on the lake. Someone forgot to tether his rather sizeble runabout to the trailer on a very steep ramp. I think it was one of those easy-launch types with the rollers, not bunks. He pulled up, got it out of the water, but the boat slid off as he continued up the ramp and landed high and dry on the concrete. Talk about an expensive day...
There's an internet video of a guy launching his bass boat behind a Class A motorhome($400K?). I have it on the other computer. His dog was left inside. He got out to launch and the motorhome and boat rolls back and almost completely submerge. Apparently did something wrong, but blamed his dog! How low will humans go?
I had to help a guy one day, the water was low and he rolled in deep to float off and his trailer wheels went off the end of ramp in the "wash" hole and his pick up wasn't powerful enuff, tires were in water, to pull it out. But I didn't arrive until he was completely soaked, exhausted, and cold from trying to push it. One reason, I towed w/ a diesel 4x4 while living on the big river. Snow was second.
Same ramp, an older gent (now my age) launched with his rear open, so he could see better, missed his stop, panicked, hit the gas(in R) and went in over the bumper and got a wave of water inside his suburban. He didn't fish that day. Never saw him again.