First Nice Weekend

[agallant80]

Ahhh, First really nice weekend down in NC, went out to the lake it was fun. Reading this sight over the winter I took a page from some of you folks, threw down anchor outside of the docks and watched the show. First weekend included the following crazyness

1. About 4 boats run aground
2. One boat burning oil so bad everyone thought it was on fire
3. Typical backing down the ramp issues, One guy we counted 13 attempts before he got it right
4. Two people hogging lanes at the ramp to work on their boat
5. One boat dead in the water
6. Lost count of the amount of times I saw people cut each other off
7. Watched one guy loose his cool at the fuel dock because he had to wait in line
8. Many trailers that the driver made no effort to pull in to the space properly and were half way in the the space next to them.

All of these things would have annoyed me to no end last year but after channeling my inner zen and reading this foruim all last winter I was just happy that I woke up on the right side of the grass, sat back and watched the show. Only mistake I made was not having a bottle of wine with us when we watched the show '


So what crazyness did you folks see at the lake this weekend?

Also just a reminder to be safe. It looks like we lost a fellow boater down at the lake that I go to ont he weekends.
http://www.wral.com/search-to-continue-for-man-believed-drowned-in-jordan-lake/12438006/

Disclamer: Bottle of wine would have been consumed we would have stayd put and spent the night on the boat at anchor.

 

[Geko45]

Re: First Nice Weekend

I probably would not be in boating if I had to deal with the crazyness and hassle of public ramps. A rented slip at the neighborhood marina is a wonderful thing.

 

[BonairII]

Re: First Nice Weekend

I do all of my boating/fishing on weekdays....so I don't have to deal with the "weekend warriors".

 

[emilsr]

Re: First Nice Weekend

Georgeous weather in the high desert and we didn't see much silliness. That'll happen at the unofficial start of boating season in 2 weeks. :facepalm:

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: First Nice Weekend

Opening weekend of Halibut in Washington and it's a very popular event with serious fishermen. Launch/recovery and navigation was a joy, I'm happy to report. Everyone had a system and it was amazing to see how many boats can be launched/recovered on a double ramp when everyone knows what they are doing and has crews that know how to assist. Everyone has proper safety gear and knows how to use it. Maybe once did I see even questionable boating etiquette and even that wasn't that bad.
Fast forward to opening weekend at a popular lake that we like to fish before THEY show up. Absolute mayhem and only enjoyable if I'd followed agallant80's plan (with wine) at anchor, a safe distance from the launch. Hundreds of clueless idiots trying to get boats in and out of the water, driving like they are the only boat on the lake. Come to think of it, I would prefer to watch from shore. Or work in the garden.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: First Nice Weekend

Surely you enjoyed yourself. I was at the marina visiting friends. I bought an inside dry slip and no longer miss the dock frustration. Better -- I only go out on weekdays in the ICW but any day on the ocean. There was one that would not start and towed in and another pulled in later with the same problem he had before leaving the dock. He needed to fix, not rig his problem.

 

[saumon]

Re: First Nice Weekend

I do all of my boating/fishing on weekdays....so I don't have to deal with the "weekend warriors".

x2 (but I understand it's not everybody who have the luxury of going out during weekdays)

 

[dvtran]

Re: First Nice Weekend

I hear so many horror stories from busy boat ramps that it makes me nervous to launch at one of em. And I am a seasoned vet when it comes to backing in a boat trailer. On any given hot day on our lake, there may be a dozen boats out. And maybe one guy ahead of you on the ramp. Crowded lakes are no fun at all. Stay as far away from Shuswap lake in July and August

 

[agallant80]

Re: First Nice Weekend

I am with you but the GF has expressed interest in being able to backthe boat down the ramp, take it off and put it back on. If I could teach her one of those things it would make things be so much more faster. As for right now I back it down, take the boat off and she pulls away and I pick her up at the dock when she comes back. As for getting it back on the trailer I have to dock the boat, grab the truck drive it on and pull it away. She will get some lessons when we go and the ramp is quiet

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First Nice Weekend

I am with you but the GF has expressed interest in being able to backthe boat down the ramp, take it off and put it back on. If I could teach her one of those things it would make things be so much more faster. As for right now I back it down, take the boat off and she pulls away and I pick her up at the dock when she comes back. As for getting it back on the trailer I have to dock the boat, grab the truck drive it on and pull it away. She will get some lessons when we go and the ramp is quiet

teach her. if people are waiting, it's selfish if an adult on board doesn't help and you are basically solo.

But do it first in parking lot, best with an empty trailer at first, and then to the ramp on a weekday--take the time off from work--and let her try without your "help." Husbands/boyfriends notoriously cannot teach a wife/girlfriend anything, from golf to boating; get someone else to go with her while you go with his--one time wife-swapping is wise.

The most intimidating thing for women is getting in gear and driving up the ramp. Even with an automatic!

 

[emilsr]

Re: First Nice Weekend

I am with you but the GF has expressed interest in being able to backthe boat down the ramp, take it off and put it back on. If I could teach her one of those things it would make things be so much more faster. As for right now I back it down, take the boat off and she pulls away and I pick her up at the dock when she comes back. As for getting it back on the trailer I have to dock the boat, grab the truck drive it on and pull it away. She will get some lessons when we go and the ramp is quiet

Good luck with that.

I found it easier to teach the wife how to drive the boat off and on the trailer than teaching her to back the trailer down the ramp. That was more fun/interesting to her. I'd rather be in the boat of course, but you take what you can get sometimes. Your mileage may vary....

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: First Nice Weekend

Not as great as you think sometimes. Now 10 years 3 months since I was 55 and retired-- so it means getting older...

x2 (but I understand it's not everybody who have the luxury of going out during weekdays)

 

[Opnine99]

Re: First Nice Weekend

the $300/month I pay for a slip at the marina is well worth not having to deal with ramp antics...........in fact there is not even a ramp at the marina that I rent from.

 

[saumon]

Re: First Nice Weekend

Not as great as you think sometimes. Now 10 years 3 months since I was 55 and retired-- so it means getting older...

Not there yet, I'm just working on 12 hours shifts, so having to work every other weekend equal some weekdays off. Those are perfect for fishing.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: First Nice Weekend

I do all of my boating/fishing on weekdays....so I don't have to deal with the "weekend warriors".

That's me as well. It's just so much nicer.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: First Nice Weekend

found it easier to teach the wife how to drive the boat off and on the trailer than teaching her to back the trailer down the ramp.

This is true. The biggest compliment I ever go was when at a busy and windy ramp (Ebeneezer Church on Jordan!) my wife expertly guided the boat right on to the trailer and, and I winched her in and was up the ramp in less than a minute. The family next to me was visibly impressed, and the wife says "I want it to be like that!"

 

[agallant80]

Re: First Nice Weekend

This is true. The biggest compliment I ever go was when at a busy and windy ramp (Ebeneezer Church on Jordan!) my wife expertly guided the boat right on to the trailer and, and I winched her in and was up the ramp in less than a minute. The family next to me was visibly impressed, and the wife says "I want it to be like that!"

Thats the same ramp I go to. If you ever see a guy in a black Chevy 2500 with a black Bayliner cruiser come over and say hi.

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: First Nice Weekend

So, I live here in Durham and heard about the story of the older gentleman tubing and went under and never surfaced at Jordan Lake.
He wasn't wearing a PFD while tubing! Please people I really hate to hear these stories. Wear the PFD's!!!!!