Friendly reminder, Help when you can

[NMplayer]

I don't know if this is the best place for this, so move if you need to.<br /><br />I fished Caballo lake (NM) this week and the fishing was great. Caught 150 white bass and a few walleye in just 3 days.<br /><br />Saturday the ramp was really busy. I finally got loaded and pulled out, but I noticed that the guy next to me was having a whole lot of trouble. He was trying to pull a huge pontoon boat out with his half ton ford with a small V6 and no four wheel drive.<br /><br />I went ahead and pulled out and saw he still wasn't making any head way and I could smell his clutch. His wife and kids were upset and everybody at the ramp was mad at him. I stopped and went back to talk to him, It was their first trip out and they couldn't pull out. <br /><br />I unhooked my boat and went back to pull him out. Keep in mind, I only have a half ton ford with a small V8 and no 4 wheel drive either. I burned a whole lot of rubber, but finally got him out.<br /><br />Here is the frustrating part. This young family had been there an hour before I got there with their boat on the trailer and their under powered truck half in the water. All around there were huge diesel trucks with four wheel drives pulling expensive boats, I must have counted 20. Nobody would help them. They were calling a tow truck when I got there. <br /><br />I didn't write this to brag on me and I'm sorry its long, but please guys, go out of your way to help somebody who needs it. Even if you have to take a few minutes to unhook your boat and be inconvenienced a little or lose a little time. <br /><br />I guess it just really bothered me that folks would just let others suffer and worry, when it's in their power to help.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Not enough of us "get involved" these days. Too much trouble and sometimes it's a setup for robbery....course in your case it's pretty obvious the guy needed help.<br /><br />Great job and maybe you'll influence someone else to do likewise. Funny how one act like that can affect all the people waiting to use the ramp......all of a sudden they aren't in that big of a hurry.<br /><br />Mark

 

[JRJ]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

From one do-good-er to another, a huge THANKYOU. I also can't understand people that stand around fuming and won't lend a hand. I will be curious if you see that toon behind that little pickup again though

 

[NMplayer]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

He offered to pay me. I told him to save his money for another truck.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

I have found that what goes around comes around and there will be a time when you need help and it will be there for you. Also those other people that didn't help will more than likely be calling the tow truck. Kind of a "pay it forward" and thanks for your reminder.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

had a similar problem years ago. 20' cobia cuddy, 79 Pontiac Grand Prix. 4th of july night after the fireworks on the river. had never had a problem pulling the boat. probably 100 boats to load, 4 ramps. got loaded no prob, put car in gear , pull the emergency brake release and it came out cable and all in my hand. no moving. after about 10 minutes of fiddling under the dash, a nice Mr Goodwrench came over, and with a screwdriver released the brake, when we move the boat he got a round of applause from everyone.. now i help anyone at the ramp.

 

[Jeff Quigley]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Good for you NM. I truly believe in karma and the what goes around rule. <br /><br />Last summer at the public launch ramp here 3 guys with all their flashy boats and trucks were hauling out from Lake Ontario. You all know they kind of boater I'm talking about. We had some windy weather and when that happens the weeds blow into the ramp area. Each of these guys pulled out fully weeded trailers and then each of them proceeded to clean them off the right on the ramp. I'm patient and had no problem waiting but what irked me was when I started to haul out and started spinning my wheels in all the seaweed and weeds, I could see them all getting a good laugh. I had to back down the ramp and move all the weeds by hand. Lake Ontario can really stink and this was a bad lot of smelly weeds. These guys cleaned off their boats in the parking lot while I cleaned up their mess. Thankfully, a couple other considerate boaters that came by later chipped in.<br /><br />Glad to hear there are others out there who have something going on between the ears.

 

[KRS]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

I've been helped before too, good reminder.

 

[QC]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Just a little related tip. In some of these cases a little throttle from the boat can help . . . Yes, I know this is the same as power loading, but it can and does work, and there are times you've gotta do what you've gotta do . . . Put her in gear and help take some of the load off the truck with a little push. Obviously you've got to shut down before the water intakes are dry, but it can really make the difference.<br /><br />BTW, jerks and good Samaritans come in all shapes, sizes, income levels, boat colors, boat ages etc. Some would call my boat "flashy", and I have helped a LOT of people on the water, on the beach and on the ramp

 

[Jeff Quigley]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Didn't mean to offend QC! <br /><br />I was trying to make the "we've got bigger toys and your boat is crap" attitude I've gotten from others. I'm glad to hear you help out alot as well.<br /><br />Jeff

 

[bandit86]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

I routinely stop and help people on the side of the road, wether its offer ing my cellphone or change a flat. <br /><br />2 years ago my alternator went on a trip, one hour to get home I see a guy with a desperate look on his face on the side of the road. My battery was so dead my car was threathening to stall just from using the brake (brake lights draw a bit), I still stopped, just downshifted and threw on the e-brake, told my friend to keep a foot on the gas while I changed this guys tire. We actually made it all the way home, I was surprised

 

[QC]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

I know JeffQ, just wanted to clarify as I saw it a couple of times in the thread . . . <br /><br />I even help jerks, but only if their family is suffering

 

[roscoe]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Good job NMplayer.<br /><br />I can't believe none of the others would pull him out.<br />Well, actually I do believe it, just disappointed that it happens.<br /><br /><br />I always try to help.<br />You have to be carefull with the approach and offer, some will get upset or offended. But once they accept your help, go for it.<br /><br />Last summer, I gave up (sold) my 3 day old battery to a family that was launching while I was loading up to go home. Saved them atleast 2+ hours and 45 miles of driving, and possibly getting stranded out on the lake.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

I'd like to say that helpers come in all ages, shapes and sizes.<br /><br />I once pulled up to a dock to refuel my jetski. There are no ropes on my bike (for obvious reasons) and there had always been ropes to tie my jetski to this dock on the dock itself. Well this was the first time I pulled up and there were no ropes. I let go of the bike several times to try to run and get the fuel nozzle and watched it try to float off, with me running back down the dock to catch it before retrieving it would involve a brief swim. After doing this several times a little girl about 7 walked up and asked if she could help. I said a grateful "YES!!" and she held my bike while I went and got the nozzle, the entire time I fueled (our bike fuels very slowly if someone isn't sitting on the back, I got to learn what she had for her summer plans) and while I went and paid for the gas. Several "grown ups" were there, watching me, hating jetski'ers as they all do, knowing my predicament and not offering to help. When her father came down the dock and said how proud he was of her for helping me, I complimented him on a very respectful and helpful child. She really was a godsend that day. I would have had to go all the way back across the lake to get a rope had she not come to help me.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Hey Water, It's not the jet that irritates others, It's the disrespectful morons that buzz you while you are chasing a school of bass, or do circles around you while you are anchored, or you are coming up to a shallow cove to fish and a couple of them blast past you and into the cove and pop a few wheelies then blast out.<br /><br />These nincompoops give the whole lot a bad name as I know there are responsible jet skiiers out there.<br /><br />Mark

 

[Jeff Quigley]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Honestly, I haven't had a bad run in with a jet skier. While cruising, I've had them buzzing my wake at a respectable distance and the kids just love it. Last summer as I sat in my slip, I even noticed one towing in a small bowrider that ran out of gas.<br /><br />Share the love.<br /><br />Jeff

 

[QC]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

I'm even nice to Jetskiers, but I have had them buzzing my wake at a very DISrespectful distance . . .<br /><br />I can see them on the beach when I am cruising by, their eyes get real big and here they come. Back, I say, back, you fools. I just pick-up my little air horn and blast it at them. I call it PWC repellant . . .

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

I agree with Mark, we boat on Lake Erie quite a lot. It seems that Erie has it's share of bozos but those are the ones you notice. There are many more courteous riders but you don't notice them while trying to avoid the others.

 

[tommays]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Helping people is kind of funny on the road they ALLWAYS like it <br /><br />When i try to help people at the ramp with a new boat disaster they tend to get we know what were doing attitude <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[bamadave]

Re: Friendly reminder, Help when you can

Kudos to anyone that has ever helped anyone, either on the water or road.I live on Logan Martin Lake in Alabama and have seen my share of people in distress, on the water, at the launch, and on the highway. I will always stop and offer assistance. Don't like preaching, but I believe in the Golden Rule, as I may be the one needing help one day. <br />It amazes me that more people aren't injured or killed being reckless on pwc's, but I have seen just as worse performed by boaters. There have been more people killed on this lake by bass boats running over pontoons at night than that are killed by anything else. The bass boats are the fastest thing on the lake and can't see a pontoon putting around.