Bad Ramp Experience

['96 Charger]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

One time I blocked the ramp against my will. One of those courtesy boat inspectors cornered me and demanded to inspect my boat. They were on a mission to inspect every boat that went in and out of there that day. I was hot, had one of my mild fainting spells, and just wanted to get the hell out of there. He spent the next 20 mins telling me why I should have a first aid kit and hounding me about little stuff that 99% of the boats out there don't have (or need) either. Meanwhile There's a couple boats sitting there with their trolling motor down watching.

I wanted to tell the guy that I'm the definition of a "bubba" and know how to flag one down if I break down. Pull your cowl off, drop the trolling motor, and head for open water. You'll have a boat towing you within 15 mins if there's any amount of traffic at all on the water. Other things I just wanted to slap him. Had half a mind to tell him I needed to get out of the way and keep on going. They didn't have the authority to give a ticket so no skin off my back. Sounds harsh I know but remember I was fixing to hit the ground from heat and a respiratory issue that was about to hit me at full force.

As for the first aid kit, I have electrical tape and tp. Both get used occasionally for what they were meant to be used for. Guy said he gets a hook in his hand every time he goes fishing. My hands are so calloused even the sharpest hooks bounce right off most of the time.

 

[d.boat]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

One time I blocked the ramp against my will. One of those courtesy boat inspectors cornered me and demanded to inspect my boat. ...Had half a mind to tell him I needed to get out of the way and keep on going. They didn't have the authority to give a ticket so no skin off my back. ....

I just can't imagine why you wouldn't politely say: "no thanks, I'm in a hurry" or "no thanks, I don't want to block the ramp" or suggest he inspect your boat at the dock or wherever you could pull over w/o blocking the ramp.

No need to get pissed, just say thanks but no thanks and be on your way if it indeed was a courtesy inspection.

Was that not an option?

 

['96 Charger]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

It was the little things that ticked me off because he made such a big deal out of them. I don't think anyone had a choice about it. He was just stopping people with his clipboard not caring if they were blocking the ramp. He did point out that I had put the wrong numbers on my rig so he saved me a potential ticket there. The main things that made my gears grind were the first aid kit and the nav light supposedly not being up to snuff. ONE, he squatted way down on the ground where he knew he wouldn't be able to see it over the trolling motor and TWO, I'm never out at night unless I'm with someone else in their boat. I was actually playing "dodge the floating logs" yesterday and I've been on that lake at night with someone else! My buddy banged up a prop really bad one night on a random floating object that he couldn't see while putting in 120' of water.

In short, it was the heat of the moment and I did thank him for tearing my boat to pieces.

 

[HOLYSMOKES]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

I think the thing to remember is not everyone is as considerate as we are. It is unfortunately human nature now days. No one seems to care about the safety or the well being of the people or surroundings. I agree people need to be more considerate and use a great deal more common sense. BUT...this is boating. Its SUPPOSE to be a way to relax, enjoy time with family and friends, or to enjoy water sports or fishing. The lake isnt going anywhere, its been there for years. Why do people get so upset and irate because of something so small like having to wait? Is it worth ruining an entire day or weekend because someone was either having a brain fart or was just not raised with common sense? Personally, at the end of the day, its really not worth letting someone get the best of you.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

You are probably right, BUT, maybe if enough people point out to these clueless, inconsiderate morons that they aren't the only people on the planet, maybe they will catch on. I work with people like this everyday and they just have no thought about anything other than THEIR immediate needs. I can guarantee you that when NOBODY says anything about them holding up a line, because they are oblivious, they will NEVER figure it out on their own and maybe, MAYBE if enough people cuss them out for being brain dead, they will sell their boat and take up golf and hold up everyone over on the course!

 

[HOLYSMOKES]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

LOL very true. I should of point out, that is what the angle on my shoulder tells me. LOOK OUT when she gets knocked off by that devil! LOL

 

[Water logged]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

I used to live near Lake Castaic in So Cal., and would often drive up the road past the launch area above the damn. Well after hearing the attitudes here (which I don't actually disagree with), I just wonder about the attitudes of the people waiting in the half mile+ line just to off the hwy and into the park. I could never figure out how they handled that, but I would see the same boats waiting on many weekends.

Glenn

 

[RicMic]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

I have come to the conclusion that it is an evolution thing. It was for millions of years that the fastest, strongest, smartest were the ones that survived to pass along those traits. Now that human beings have destroyed the whole evolutionary process(lets make everything idiot proof, so the idiots can pass along their dna), the idiots have discovered, that they don't have to be fast or smart or strong, they just have to hold everybody else back and then they will always be at the front of the line!

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

I would bet that all those coolers contained beer. He had his pea brain on the soon to be drinking AND NOT his boat. I hope he gets caught.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

LOL very true. I should of point out, that is what the angle on my shoulder tells me. LOOK OUT when she gets knocked off by that devil! LOL

You have an ANGLE on your shoulder? is it 45 or 30 deg
(sorry could not resist..)


I saw a guy today at the ramp.. his wife was yelling at him to "do this do that your doing it wrong bla bla bla" what a B*&^% i'd have left her at home, how can you have any fun with someone you are supposed to love NAGGING at you..

I really felt for the guy, but I also felt like telling the BIG BLOB to shut up, put the potato chips and diet coke down and get the heck off her fat butt and help instead of naggin the poor boy..

I have come to the conclusion that it is an evolution thing. It was for millions of years that the fastest, strongest, smartest were the ones that survived to pass along those traits. Now that human beings have destroyed the whole evolutionary process(lets make everything idiot proof, so the idiots can pass along their dna), the idiots have discovered, that they don't have to be fast or smart or strong, they just have to hold everybody else back and then they will always be at the front of the line!

AMEN, AMEN... we need to STOP putting warnings on everything and making laws to protect the IDIOTS, just let natural selection take over again and all will be well (after a brief adjustment period)..

 

[DANZIG]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

I watched a guy at our local ramp back his trailer in by himself, and take off on the boat, leaving the trailer in the water and truck at the ramp.

We went out for 3 hours, came back, and his truck and trailer were STILL in the water!!!

On the way out, I informed the cops, just in case he was taking it for a quick test spin and got stalled out and stranded offshore. Nope. As they were ticketing his truck, he pulled back up, nearly 4 hours later, to load up and head home.

Luckily the ramp is easily big enough for 6 boats at a time. So he didn't tie up the only free ramp in the county.

What could possibly be going through his head when he thought that might be a good idea???


I couldn't imagine doing that if I had a private ramp. Talk about an engraved invitation for "Murphy".

Yep, parking a rig for hours on an incline that ends in deep water,, what could possibly go wrong??

 

[boltonranger]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

Guys. I agree completely that the guy shouldn't hold anyone up at all while he loads his stuff, and that what he did was inexcusable.
A cooler sitting on the dock next to the ramp, dropped into the boat the second the boat hits the water, does not delay anyone, but is necessary with a roller launch I described. That's my point: there are ways to launch without holding anyone up, as long as you are conscientious about it, make the effort and hustle.
Smoking crater: easy. a trailer that breaks is not broken. Aka a tilt trailer. It's what we salties grew up with; now all they sell are "float on's" so their cousin that sells hubs, axles, brakes and lights can send his children to college. I may have some old equipment but give me some credit!

Cooky - Would you mind to explain your launch and retrieval?
I've never seen a tilt trailer in action.
-br

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

"Yep, parking a rig for hours on an incline that ends in deep water,, what could possibly go wrong?? "

Around here in 3 hours he could very well be under 3metres (10 ft) of water. The local insurance company used to feature just such an event in their advertising

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

May I explain the tilt trailer? My old boat had one. The boat was a trihull 78 Glastron SSV 178 with a 115 Evinrude V4. In the fall when retrieving the ramp would be too shallow. So I'd run the boat as far as I could, then paddle or walk it in. My assumption is these trailers are for folks who launch at low tide or from unimproved shallow spots. Anyway I digress.
The tilt allows the center pivot of the trailer to bend upward with the weight of the boat at the rear of the trailer when the pivot lock is released. Conversely the rear of the trailer can reach way down low to get below the bow of the boat without being as deeply submerged as without the tilt. As you pull the boat onto the trailer the weight gradually shifts forward and the trailer comes back down flat where you can then re-lock the center pivot. It's really handy when the water is low and you don't want to back in too far.
The trailer was a Holsclaw brand and had a ton of tiny rollers lined up in two rows on either side of two straight rails, plus a set of bigger keel rollers down the middle.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bad Ramp Experience

well said