Tractor Drivers
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Dave C
Tractor Drivers
Hi my name is Dave Crowther and this is the first time I,ve used the Forum,I am one of twenty tractor drivers on the list and over the years I,ve launched and recovered countless boats,however in the last 12 months it has been obvious that only the usual suspects are doing this.From late last summer Mick Clough and I were working on our respective boats to get them ready for this season, we were frequently asked to launch/recover boats,move boats about the park or put them in the hoist,most of this being done in mid week.Now it seems that some members think we work for GSC and are on call 24/7,yesterday afternoon I was informed that Dave off Esmarelda had arrived back and wanted to get his boat out and finded nobody there was told where I lived in the village and called fortunately I was out,in the evening I was on My boat at Galgate and when I got back home at 2300 hours found a message off Dave on my phone,This I can do with out,why did he not ring the club on Sunday when he must have known he would be back on Mon.I think there has to be a roster system for all the drivers to do weekends, anyone coming out mid week shuld have to give some days notice.If things carry on like this I will resign from the list.
One of the best things for the GSC is the time put in by volunteers, for Little Hog it is the tractor drivers who have made our lives so easy at GSC. We do hope we have not put on you and we are thanksul for your time. We have trained to be a driver to become less burdensome and become self reliant, It is a shame I live so far away to help out more often.
Those in charge could consider using this forum or other electronic method to book tractor drivers and allow for listed tractor drivers to arrange their diaries around demand, hopefully sharing out some of the work etc. This would certainly help me schedule my time and travel. This could have rules & guidelines for booking etc
Dave & Mick your kind nature is a wonderful thing, GSC lets hear their shouts and come up with something a little bit more workable.
For those who lauch regularly perhaps consider becoming self reliant and become a driver????
Those in charge could consider using this forum or other electronic method to book tractor drivers and allow for listed tractor drivers to arrange their diaries around demand, hopefully sharing out some of the work etc. This would certainly help me schedule my time and travel. This could have rules & guidelines for booking etc
Dave & Mick your kind nature is a wonderful thing, GSC lets hear their shouts and come up with something a little bit more workable.
For those who lauch regularly perhaps consider becoming self reliant and become a driver????
tin hitches
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I went to help Dave get a trailer off the JCB on Sunday and i don't blame him for getting exasperated.
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The trailer concerned had one of those pressed - steel hitches which most caravans have these days, unfortunately there are a lot around the park which came from those american motorboat trailers a few years ago.
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On Sunday he recovered a boat during a huge downpour of rain at about HW.
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Half an hour later it was still pouring down and a boat was seen coming up the river, hoping to recover ( the dock gate was already shut ) so I went out to get a tractor for his trailer and found Dave still struggling to get the first boat off the JCB.
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When we finally wrenched the thing off, the trailer drawbar reared up into the air ! It had been tail - heavy all along, which is DANGEROUS. ( especially for the outboard which smacked the ground).
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A few boat owners are fitting agricultural ring hitches to their trailers. These are a much better proposition for boat launching trailers - you can see at a glance that they are secure and which way the forces are acting.
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We know a man who can get them for about £20 each, Also, the club has its own welder on site. so no excuse there!
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Please use the noticeboard facing the outside door in the foyer to say when you hope to launch / recover and contact your driver at least the day before so that no-one is put out.
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cheers, David
I went to help Dave get a trailer off the JCB on Sunday and i don't blame him for getting exasperated.
-
The trailer concerned had one of those pressed - steel hitches which most caravans have these days, unfortunately there are a lot around the park which came from those american motorboat trailers a few years ago.
-
On Sunday he recovered a boat during a huge downpour of rain at about HW.
=
Half an hour later it was still pouring down and a boat was seen coming up the river, hoping to recover ( the dock gate was already shut ) so I went out to get a tractor for his trailer and found Dave still struggling to get the first boat off the JCB.
-
When we finally wrenched the thing off, the trailer drawbar reared up into the air ! It had been tail - heavy all along, which is DANGEROUS. ( especially for the outboard which smacked the ground).
=
A few boat owners are fitting agricultural ring hitches to their trailers. These are a much better proposition for boat launching trailers - you can see at a glance that they are secure and which way the forces are acting.
-
We know a man who can get them for about £20 each, Also, the club has its own welder on site. so no excuse there!
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Please use the noticeboard facing the outside door in the foyer to say when you hope to launch / recover and contact your driver at least the day before so that no-one is put out.
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cheers, David
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EsmereldaII
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:01 am
- Location: Middleton, Manchester
EsmereldaII and tractor use
Sorry that I upset you Dave,
I left Kirkcudbright at 11:00 on Sundayand I was not sure that i could make it to Piel on the sunday . But I was fortunate and arrived in Piel at midnight. On my return to Glasson , I knew that I had no chance of recovery to my trailer so I went for the sea lock.
Then when I went to the clubhouse, Ii picked up on the fact that you were local so I naively left a message. I can see your point as you are so local. Sorry mate, I did not want to put on you. I'll ask on this forum for assistance . Friday if possible.
I left Kirkcudbright at 11:00 on Sundayand I was not sure that i could make it to Piel on the sunday . But I was fortunate and arrived in Piel at midnight. On my return to Glasson , I knew that I had no chance of recovery to my trailer so I went for the sea lock.
Then when I went to the clubhouse, Ii picked up on the fact that you were local so I naively left a message. I can see your point as you are so local. Sorry mate, I did not want to put on you. I'll ask on this forum for assistance . Friday if possible.
Dave Burton