Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

[Subliminal]

So, yesterday afternoon I'm pulling my boat out of the water and something odd catches my eye. Over in the corner of the parking lot is a 27" Formula...looks pretty new, too...or at least in new condition. Anyway, it's tiled so far sideways you can see the entire interior. Maybe 40 degrees tilted.

So, I pull my boat away from the ramp to get her all roadworthy and I walk over to take a look. Yep, I have never seen a boat so crooked on a trailer.

So I laugh a little and shake my head and go back to strap down my own boat...

Then I see the police drive up. It's my buddy who helped me get my ramp pass the first day I brought out my boat. Great guy, always chats with me everytime I see him here. Anyway, turns out another boater called the police thinking this guy was intoxicated...apparently when he was trying to back his trailer into the water, he almost ran somebody over and then almost backed into another guy who was retrieving his boat.

So, I go back to strapping down my boat...and then I see another police car come in...this one says 'Supervisor' on the side.

Well, both police go over to talk to the guy, who happens to be sitting in his brand new F250.

They come back over by me and they're laughing and telling me all about the guy. Apparently he's owned the boat for 2 weeks and this is his 3rd time out. I can't imagine buying a boat like that for my first boat...and especially for a trailered first boat. So the guy has a $100k plus boat sitting on the back of a $40k brand new Diesel truck and...well, my predication is that this whole process is going to become such an ordeal for the guy that he's going to sell that boat and probably never boat again.

And the funny thing is the tide was in and pretty much slack...it was the easiest boat retrieval time of the day...

And while the cops are chatting it up, my buddy's radio blares out with 'what's your status...' and the guy picks up his microphone and laughs and says, 'Hey dispatch, turns out it wasn't an intoxicated boater after all...just a really BAD boater.'

Apparently the guy was waiting for the ramp to die down a bit to relaunch and retrailer his boat.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

At least he had the sense to wait until he wouldn't be as much of a hindrance to everyone else. I'll give him that.

 

[Thad]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

It just goes to show ya, we all start somewhere. Money can buy a bigger rig, but if you are new, that little 14 footer will give you just as hard of a time.

I'm with Incoop, he had the sense to wait till it died down.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

I forgot to mention...he told the police officer that the last time he was out with the boat, he backed it (and the trailer) into a tree.

LOL

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

some people just can't back a trailer, period. Yeah, I agree, he had enough sense to at least wait until it died down. For every one guy like this, there are 10 idiots who will tie up the ramp for hours trying to figure it out.

Watched a guy snake his way down the ramp with a LONG pontoon trailer this weekend. Absolute easiest trailer in the world to back up, you can see it, and huge wheelbase. I kind of felt bad embarrassing him when I zipped beside him with a single jetski trailer, empty. (aka extremely short wheel base, narrow, and very hard to see unloaded)

 

[alwims]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

"Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula" Gees, I believe I would just pick up a 27 inch boat and put it back on the trailer myself. I could probably do it by myself too........... All right, I'll go stand in the corner now.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

"Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula" Gees, I believe I would just pick up a 27 inch boat and put it back on the trailer myself. I could probably do it by myself too........... All right, I'll go stand in the corner now.

DOH!

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

some people just can't back a trailer, period. Yeah, I agree, he had enough sense to at least wait until it died down. For every one guy like this, there are 10 idiots who will tie up the ramp for hours trying to figure it out.

Watched a guy snake his way down the ramp with a LONG pontoon trailer this weekend. Absolute easiest trailer in the world to back up, you can see it, and huge wheelbase. I kind of felt bad embarrassing him when I zipped beside him with a single jetski trailer, empty. (aka extremely short wheel base, narrow, and very hard to see unloaded)

Our neighbor across the street has a real hard time backing up a trailer. He's got a 16 foot fishing boat. Said he's been fishing/boating for "longer then I've been around". But he can't seem to back a trailer up well.

Said he usually waits till the ramp is clear, or he sees someone that can back a trailer and doesn't look like their in a hurry, then asks them if they would launch his boat. Usually pays them a couple of bucks. He said most people are happy to help out like that..

When he comes home, he'll pull most of the way in my driveway so the trailer will straighten out and back straight into his driveway. Once the trailer is in the drive, he disconnects it and pushes it the rest of the way.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

You know, maybe it's just me sitting on my high horse.

I know that there's a general level of resentment in all of us who don't have boatloads (no pun) of money towards those that do. The guy has that boat and truck because he can afford it obviously. Now that does not mean he SHOULD have that boat or the truck for that matter, but he does. Now maybe, just maybe, do you think it might not have been such a bad idea to walk over there and introduce yourself to said "bad boater" and offer a little help? At the very least you might have done your part to protect a beautiful boat from its owner by educating him a little. At most you might have save a life or two by giving him a couple "how to's" on trailering and retrieving a boat so he didn't run anyone over in the future. Hell, you might have made a very good friend with a guy who has alot of money and a very cool boat.

Stepping down from horse now.

 

[suzhol76]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

When we started to boat there were many things my fiance and I didn't know how to do. But we met many great boaters who were more than kind to take their time to help us out.

We always make sure to remeber the help we did receive out at the ramps and on the water!

I know maybe with the price of the boat and the truck he should have thought a little more about his purchase and experience level.

Anyways what I am trying to say is that Boaters are some of the most helpful and friendly people out there and we are our own club of folks! Without many kind boaters we would never be as knowledgable as we are now!

We should try and teach him like we were taught and help a fellow boater out not ridicule.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

Lol...you guys are too much.

What section am I posting in again?

 

[smclear]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

When I was working at a Pier 66 marina in Ft. Lauderdale there was a couple (in their 30's) who had just purchased a 70' custom made express cruiser for their first boat. I think it was built by Denison but can't remember for sure. Anyway, they hired a captain for a week to show them the ropes. Good idea, but only 1 week, on a 70 foot boat? Needless to say, after the week they were still basically clueless. Should have seen the marina clear every time they decided to go out. They ended up doing a lot of damage to the boat and selling it within a month. When they did sell, they were very soured on the whole "boating" thing. It's too bad because they were really nice folks who would have loved boating had they started out more reasonably. Money can buy a lot of things. Unfortunately, common sense is not one of them.

 

[sph130]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

And nobody offered to help him? I hope someone helped him in the end.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

When I was working at a Pier 66 marina in Ft. Lauderdale there was a couple (in their 30's) who had just purchased a 70' custom made express cruiser for their first boat. I think it was built by Denison but can't remember for sure. Anyway, they hired a captain for a week to show them the ropes. Good idea, but only 1 week, on a 70 foot boat? Needless to say, after the week they were still basically clueless. Should have seen the marina clear every time they decided to go out. They ended up doing a lot of damage to the boat and selling it within a month. When they did sell, they were very soured on the whole "boating" thing. It's too bad because they were really nice folks who would have loved boating had they started out more reasonably. Money can buy a lot of things. Unfortunately, common sense is not one of them.

Exactly my thoughts...you don't start out with a boat like that...unless you've already some good boating experience. I started out with an 18 ft boat, and it was still a steep learning curve...and I've trailered and docked my buddy's boat.

And this was one of those crazy off shore cruiser looking boats..you know, 5 seats in the back and then a huge nose and a big old engine...maybe even two (didn't really look).

Ah well...hopefully he got it...wait for it...straightened out.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

Said he usually waits till the ramp is clear, or he sees someone that can back a trailer and doesn't look like their in a hurry, then asks them if they would launch his boat. Usually pays them a couple of bucks. He said most people are happy to help out like that..
.

I probably back up about a dozen random vehicles in a season. People having a very hard time backing, or helping out someone who is alone. I usually don't offer unless someone is REALLY struggling, people are just as likely to be offended as they are to accept help.

(never even thought of accepting cash, if they want to toss me a beer to put in my cooler, I won't turn that down though!)

 

[rshenowski]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

Sounds like the guy at the Bordentown ramp this past Sunday. Took him about a half hour to get it on the trailer that way. Funny thing was while i was fetching the trailer, my girlfriend was standing by my boat docked behind him. She told me that she offered to help them but just got some attitude instead of a pleasant "no thank you". Hopefully he?ll get the hang of it eventually.

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

You know, maybe it's just me sitting on my high horse.

I know that there's a general level of resentment in all of us who don't have boatloads (no pun) of money towards those that do. The guy has that boat and truck because he can afford it obviously. Now that does not mean he SHOULD have that boat or the truck for that matter, but he does. Now maybe, just maybe, do you think it might not have been such a bad idea to walk over there and introduce yourself to said "bad boater" and offer a little help? At the very least you might have done your part to protect a beautiful boat from its owner by educating him a little. At most you might have save a life or two by giving him a couple "how to's" on trailering and retrieving a boat so he didn't run anyone over in the future. Hell, you might have made a very good friend with a guy who has alot of money and a very cool boat.

Stepping down from horse now.

As I was reading down this thread I was thinking the exact same thing...well said....

 

[z284u2try]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

My buddies and I would have helped.
Probably could have atleast gotten a fun cruise out of it.

If he was alone I could only imaginge the unloading being a nightmare much less the loading.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

It's all about the attitude. A guy screwing up at the ramp or whatever, who doesn't care and doesn't want to know, deserves scorn. But the guy (like this one, it seems) who is new, learning, trying to be considerate and/or simply has too much to handle alone, deserves help. He gets a helping hand; the other type, just a finger.

At one of the ramps I use, granted a private ramp used mostly by experienced boaters, everyone says hi, almost all offer to help, anyone would stop and help if asked.

Once I came in to find my ramp blocked by a group of teenage boys who had just tied up; I asked them to move theirs and not only did they, they all scrambled all over my baot and trailer and got it winched up all the way for me. So I always give someone who is "in the way" so to speak, a chance to fix things. Usually they do. I don't envy those of you who have to deal with the "citizens" who don't.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Guy at the ramp: First boat...27" Formula

Sounds like the guy at the Bordentown ramp this past Sunday. Took him about a half hour to get it on the trailer that way. Funny thing was while i was fetching the trailer, my girlfriend was standing by my boat docked behind him. She told me that she offered to help them but just got some attitude instead of a pleasant "no thank you". Hopefully he?ll get the hang of it eventually.

That's the same one, then. Seems like we were at the same ramp at the same time.

Stick that in your high horses, guys...he scornfully refused help!