Boat Haul-Out with Case Backhoe

Comments: 4
Posted on: September 20th, 2009

My 96 year old ‘Pop’ and I pulled my boat out of the water this evening, without a problem.

I think we were both a little concerned with only the two of us, but he showed me how the hitch on the trailer worked before he got on the backhoe to hook up. Everything was good until I tried to push down the doomahickey lever which locks the trailer hitch onto the ball. It was stronger than me but with the aid of a BIG stick I was able to give it a good hard whack and it locked down – LOL – it may never come off. After lifting the wheel and hooking up the safety chain we were ready to go.

Pop backed the trailer down the boat launch ramp while I went to get the boat. This sounds easy, but remember he’s 96 and the Case backhoe is about the same vintage – and I’m a weak woman! We were all good though and I gently ran the boat up on the trailer then hooked up the strap & winched it up until I could attach the safety chain.

Pop backed the backhoe up the boat launching ramp, lowered the front and back buckets and we were back in the house in 25 minutes. Okay, one successful pull-out. Tomorrow I’ll pressure wash the hull and will learn all about flushing the motor, WD40′ing everything and putting the boat away for the winter.

Next up is Pop’s boat – and we’ll do that tomorrow night at high tide.

4 Comments! What do you think? Leave a comment below...

ConnieFoggles (28 comments.) said on September 20th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

I never thought about having to take a boat out of water. Looks like a tough job, but glad you accomplished it.
.-= ConnieFoggles´s last blog ..Favorite Five Fall Fashions =-.
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Christine (7 comments.) said on September 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm

Seriously Heather … you ROCK woman! You AND your Pop Driving a backhoe and everything – sheesh. Hear you roar
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Getting Ready for IzeaFest! =-.
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Heather in BC (208 comments.) said on September 21st, 2009 at 4:07 pm

@ConnieFoggles (17 comments.):
That was the easy part actually. The pressure washing today was long, boring and cold – and my right arm is aching now. Luckily the joy of owning and operating a boat outweighs the work
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Heather in BC (208 comments.) said on September 21st, 2009 at 4:12 pm

@Christine (6 comments.):
LOL Christine! I guess I’m going to have to learn to run the backhoe soon too. Pop is getting weaker every year and he has trouble holding the brake because his knees are shot. Roaaaaarrrrrrrrr!

Actually you’d laugh if you could see the 96 year old and the weak woman trying to do things like start a chain saw or move a heavy boat trailer. At least we can laugh at our weaknesses
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