I'd say the most amazing thing I saw as a kid was at the Ediz Hook boat launch in PA back in the 70's. A fishermen launched his 20' bayliner boat in the early a.m. dark. He left his running lights on the boat as he tied it off at the end of the pier. He then preceded up to the restaurant for breakfest. When he came out 30 min later his boat was 15' under the water . He forgot to put the plug in. I still remember launching our boat and seeing the sunken boat's running lights under the water.

Back in 93 I was fish checker at the Ft. Canby State Park boat launch and got to watch the launch circus daily.
It seemed like at least once a week someone would be launching a boat at low tide, when the angle of the launch was steep, and a boat would go flying off of the rollers and dry launch onto the ramp. Many of time resulting in bent props, kickers that were sheered off, or big motors that were in a world of hurt. Once I saw a poor guy at the port of Chinook lose his parking break as he was launching his boat by himself and sank his truck up to the cab.

No fish is worth not being careful and taking your time to prevent mental errors that get the best of you and your equipment no matter how long and impatient the launch line is behind you.

BD