Re: Going to pick up 1st "new to me" boat
Screw etiquette. The busy boat ramps will know a new person when they see one, and will expect you to be a little slow to exit the area. Just ignore the brow beating, and the stink eye.
Hell I stepped away from boating for 2 years, and now am getting back into it. I thought I was pretty good (fast) at unloading and loading the boat by myself 2 years ago. Not the story now. Different boat, different trailer, and I forgot some stuff (not the plug yet). Now I'm the one with all the problems at the boat ramp.
The boat class isn't going to tell you much about the boat ramp except to let you know that the volunteers periodically go around and inspect to make sure your papers and safety equipment is up to par. The boating class, was most helpful for navigating the local waterways, the signs, and what they mean, passing powered and non powered craft, and knowing the right aways. The class isn't required up here, but it was well worth it. I think it cost $40, and there was a test at the end.
Make sure you understand there is a line for everything. Meaning you have to wait your turn, to dock, to unload, to load, to fuel at a marina, etc., don't be the one to cut in line, and don't make wake in a no wake area. Also remember if you see boats in one area, but not another there is a reason, if you are not familiar with a particular area. That reason is usually old submerged dock pilings, sand bars, or weeds.
Also stay away from the big slow moving yachts under heavy power, especially when meeting in narrow channel. They can generate some enormous wake especially if meeting head on. I met a yacht that had not powered down in the channel (no wake) and my little 19ft bow rider took a deep wake induced wave over the bow. The bow actually dropped into the churn and the following wake washed over. Gave my wife and kids a good scare, we had probably a foot of water on the deck. We were going through the Orange Beach pass in Alabama. There are concrete walls on both sides, and nowhere for the wave action to go. We immediately whipped around and headed for the island to bale water. This was when I installed two bilge pumps, one on the deck (just for this emergency), and made an inspection hole underneath the floor, and installed a second bilge under the floor.
Pick and choose your battles. You're not going to win them all. So if you see someone violating an unwritten rule don't get too bent out of shape, but if it affects your boat or your safety, like wake in a no wake then feel free to vent. Or them dumb #$&^ that power on the trailers with their motors at full ahead, creating huge holes in the bottom of the ramps. That's something that irks me. Makes for loading trailers miserable, because one wheel is high on the trailer and the other is low so the trailer is twisted.
