Here's a new twist on panhandling

[ufm82]

OK, it's not exactly a boating activity but it was at the ramp and I was in my boat. Put the boat in the water in front of the stadium as they were having fireworks after the game. (Large city location, lots of people, etc.) Watched the fireworks and went to pull the boat out. The ramp at the public landing is basic with two concrete piers that stick out 20' or so from the ramp. With current pushing the boat I've seen many people scrape against the concrete and damage their boats. I've got the bumpers out but still worry about scraping. Out of nowhere comes a guy ( obviously homeless) who grabs the edge of my boat as I slide up against the concrete. He tells me to get my truck and he'll hold the boat while I'm gone. I put the trailer in and jump back in the boat. Upon pulling up on the trailer, this guy wades out, grabs the bow strap, attaches it and proceeds to crank up my boat. I never did a thing. It was obvious he was looking for a "tip" for his work and I complied. At least the guy did something for the $3 I gave him. I had to hand it to him- this is a busy ramp- if half the people "tipped" him, he'd make a few bucks. Beats sitting on the corner begging I guess. Just wanted to share that.

UFM82

 

[Thad]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

I'd have given him a five and a beer.
Look at the time it saved you and you didn't even have to get wet.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

I've said before, there is a summer job for enterprising youth to work as ramp hands at the crazy public ramps you all describe.

Are there any enterprising youth left?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

The old-fashioned half of me says, "good for that guy for doing something useful to earn his money."

The newer, corrupted, California-litigious-society half of me says, "what if that guy hurts himself and hires a TV / Pennysaver ambulance chaser to sue you, the boat manufacturer, the Parks & Rec, the city, the county, and the state?"

At the end of the day, much as I hate to admit it, I could not allow the guy to help me unless I knew he had the blessing/OK of the Parks & Rec/ramp management...solely on liability grounds.

EDIT: I may have given the guy a buck or two for offering, though. Must say though, he would have had to offer first, rather than just jumping in and grabbing my boat...in that case I probably would have told him to get lost, like those guys back in Philly who squeegee your windows with a bucket of pi** at the stoplights

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

good thing he didnt hop in your boat and take off.... and tell the cops later, He gave me the boat!! ha ha

always wonder...which it will be....

bob

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

That's not a panhandler, he's an entrepreneur.

 

[cshyde]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

As a youth we would make soda money helping people launch their boats on the Susquahanna river in Williamsport. We swam on the boat club's ramp dock and some members would chase us off and others would gladly let us carry their stuff to the boat or car and keep their boats from hitting the dock since their were always wakes coming into the dock. The club finally went under when the unfortunate teenager that was working the gas pump was electrocuted because of a lack of ground on the pump's electrical wiring. You did a nice thing. Congratulations for being a human being.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

I gotta give the guy a hand. Yea, I know all about the "liability" aspect and all, but maybe if we all didn't think in those terms so often, we may be in better shape...

 

[Hdog412]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

Miami has one boat ramp (Dinner Key) that is know for that kind of panhandling, most of the time they ask for your boat ramp ticket so they can sell it. It was OK for a while, although I didn't like people grabbing my dock lines. But after a while the "Entrepreneurs" get a bit more creative and now that boat ramp has stories of missing cranks off your trailer, but one of the bums will sell you one for $10.

 

[roostonu]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

I gotta give the guy a hand. Yea, I know all about the "liability" aspect and all, but maybe if we all didn't think in those terms so often, we may be in better shape...

Amen to that. I wish I heard that more often. I'll take my chances in an effort to bring back the good ole days. So sue me.

 

[OJ_Simpson]

Re: Here's a new twist on panhandling

The homeless guy seriously made out good. Not only did he get 3 bucks, but he also took care of his bath and laundry.