Holding up the boat ramp!

[cbnoodles]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

"Hi, my name is Noodles and I am a first-time boat owner."<br /><br />"Welcome to Boat Ramps Anonymous, Noodles" the other members said.<br /><br />I have been fishing with my two best friends for many years but they have always been the boat owners, and, therefore, drivers. It's now my turn.<br /><br />I took my new-to-me boat out solo last week and was able to put in and take out on Wednesday and Thursday without mishap. I was fortunate to have the ramp nearly to myself so I felt no pressure other than a natural set of first-time jitters.<br /><br />The common theme here is that of courtesy. Had I encountered others waiting to use the ramp, I would have deferred to them so as to not inconvenience others. As long as everyone does all of their prepping and storage away from the ramp, there shouldn't be an issue.<br /><br />CATransplant has a good read on this mentioning that we all make mistakes and everyone has to start somewhere. It isn't fair to get all over someone because they aren't expert at backing down the ramp (were you perfect the first time you did it)?<br /><br />As to the honking bit ZMOZ, you reminded me of the story of the stranded motorist who is holding up traffic when her car breaks down. When the guy behind her persists in honking the horn while she is looking under the hood to find the problem, she goes back to his car and says "Look buster, I'll be glad to stay here and lay on your horn if you want to go and fix my car for me!"

 

[cbnoodles]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Oh, and NOS4R2, bear in mind that the term "common sense" is contradictory, or better stated: Common sense isn't.

 

[notarealone]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I just walk over to them and say "You need a hand getting your rig off the ramp or are you broke down?"<br />It always works, and without tempers flaring.

 

[imported_bjs]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

how about this trick at the boat ramp enough room for two trucksand boats a guy pulls up with his boat at the ramp to grt his truck.instead of using the dock.but puts his boat in the middle where no on can use the ramp.so he gets his truck i move the boat over.so i can unload my boat oh yea he thanked me. i dont think he even did anything wrong.

 

[tdanzer]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Glad I have mine in a slip and don't have to use the ramp

 

[KilroyJC]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I KNOW that I am not the best at backing up with the trailer, 'specially with my '85 Caprice wagon (the long overhang from the axle to the ball REALLY plays havoc with maneuvering), so I do everything I can to be at the ramp either BEFORE or AFTER the morning/afternoon rush. If it is a gated/chained ramp (limited hours) I'll get there 45minute to an hour ahead of time, so that I can disconnect/unstrap/connect/move stuff/PUT THE PLUG IN before anyone else shows up and then all I need to do is make sure I DO NOT RUSH THE JOB. If I try to hurry up I screw it up.<br /><br />Like Dirty Harry said: "A man's got to know his limitations."<br /><br />I have gotten better by watching the ramp idiots, though - I just do my best to not do what they do & learn from THEIR mistakes!

 

[heycods]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I just hate to tie up the ramp. Wife cant back up my trailer + she cant drive my truck with std. transmission. So the logical solution is to teach her how to drive the boat. We pull up to staging area I prepare the boat for launch , she is behind the wheel . I instruct her on what to do. I back down the ramp boat launches , she trims down and starts motor.Then moves boat to dock ,while I park truck and walk to dock and get in boat, were gone . Total time 2.5 min. Story is good so far. This went so good when its time to leave we drive by ramp, I jump in and swim to shore, I told her I was going to get truck to load boat. I could see the ramp was empty. I back down the ramp and get out to latch boat. she brings the boat in , right speed but thiers a little cross wind. I back her off she comes again , same thing, by the she is getting a little nervous, third time she comes in just right , maby a little fast. she reaches for throttle to slow down, she opens throttle wide open and turns wheel. Boat loads sideways right over the wheels on the trailer. My Brother in law and I wade in lift the boat off the trailer and load it by hand. we are lucky its a welded aluminum boat, few scrapes in paint is all the damage thier was. lwr

 

[steamboatwilly]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Where I fish there is a very few boats.Usually none.My wife cant drive the boat but she can back trailer as good as anybody.Except when there is a lot of people around,then I back truck in.

 

[heycods]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Wife drives a ford ranger with 5 speed but she is scared of the come out on the clutch pop the emergency brake and ease out on the clutch all at the same time thing. It is a pain in the b--- but her truck and my dodge diesel are paid for and im too stuborn to get into the payment thing again. So she is going to learn to drive the boat.<br /> have a goodun lwr

 

[phinsup]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Had the same problem trying to pull out about a week ago, guy was changing clothes, tieing the boat down, meanwhile the wife is waiting at the dock with the boat right behind him and I am sitting there with my truck in reverse.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

When others hold me up at the ramp goofing off or taking too much time because they're ill prepared or just plain stupid...I remind them that it's a shame they are spending so much money to launch their boat. Inevitably they ask what I'm talking about...then I explain that the ramp fee is $5 to launch, but that's for 5 minutes, then $25 for demurrage.

 

[Motor Boater Bill]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I've met some nice people at boat ramps, had some interesting conversations with people who share my interest in boats, old motors, and fishing. Learned a few things. I go to enjoy myself. If waiting a few minutes is too much to handle, I'm probably in the wrong state of mind. You can find idiots anywhere. You can be one, too. Or not. Wish I got to go fishing often enough to launch in 90 seconds every time. I'll let you go first.

 

[capedave]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Small little river ramp, limited parking. Single ramp that is narrow with drop offs on bolth sides and end. Ramp is normaly littered with trailer derbri,washers etc...You have to love the damb kayakers that park on the ramp, drain the damb things get undressed, load the kayaks on there roof racks, then tie them down , clean the trash out of the car, talk to whoever and don't understand why you want them to move?????<br />People just don't think nowadays.<br />FYI I do offer to help..... and have helped load a few of the damb things just to help them on their way.....

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

For all the people that practice patience and courtesy....Thank You ! While I know things can get annoying at the ramps, is an extra 5 or even 10 minutes going to kill you ? Are YOU that important ? I've boated and launched for 30 something years, and understand showing "newbies" how to do it. I can guarantee that offering help or advice in a friendly manner will solve the problem, getting angry, yelling or blowing your horn will only CAUSE a problem. Here is what really ticks me off. Once a year I have to retrieve my boat from the water, as it is docked all summer long. We always do this on an "off day" usually durring the working hours (mon-thurs 10-4) we wait for ANY boats to do their thing first and if we even see a boat or truck near the ramp.....they go first. Over the years,I have been trying to get a 34-40 foot boat onto a trailer in river currents and usually with some kind of crosswind. Since we're way over-width, once we start....we're there till finished. Most times, two passes and its on and we're up the ramp. Once or twice it took a while, and I cannot believe the hot headed moronic idiots that acted like children. I especially like the guy that can barely handle a 16 footer yell that I need to learn how to boat. I have no problem putting an 18 footer on and off of a trailer in one shot....this is sonmething else. I bet there are other guys that can do this better than me, and still others that would wreck the whole rig (boat, trailer and truck) if they tried it once. Still others would take out every boat within 100 feet as well as the dock. For the people that back off, use some patience and don't frustrate us further....thank you. That extra 5 minutes helps us a-lot. For the idiots, I would just love to show you what kind of wake twin 502's pushing 20,000 pounds of boat can do to your 16 footer....but i'm not that kind of guy. I'm still the guy that will throw you a line and tow you in when you run out of gas. Bottom line, some people are out of their element at the ramp or are having problems for one reason or another, how about showing them the real boaters spirit and fellowship, rather than giving them a hard time?

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I think the point is just not to block the ramp FOR NO REASON. It's really annoying if someone decides to kit up in the middle of the ramp and if they can't see that they are in the way then well....darwin.... If I did it there'd be fights breaking out because it takes me 30 minutes to get the RIB ready to use-even the fuel tanks have to be stowed before launching as I refuse to fill them in the boat and dock gas here is 15% more expensive than from a gas station. It does however take me less than a minute to launch and under 5 to retrieve and the rib is left anchored a few yards out of everyones way while I go and handball my trailer to the ramp.

 

[monkeyboi]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

i see the pleasure boat crowd taking longer at our local lakes. seems the fishermen already have gear stowed & are ready to go. <br /><br />is this a common theme?

 

[Rbsgfd578]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Ive been following this post since it started and now I think ill add my 2 cents worth. <br /> Im real glad here in SC we dont have the problem with rude rampers as we call them.Im sure there around here but luckily we dont run into the that often.Usually when you do run into one he is not being rude he just is either by himself and needs a hand or is new to boating and as such needs a hand. Im a firm believer that if waiting 5- 10 mins for somebody to clear the ramp is just gonna throw you into a frenzy and ruin your day maybee you should have left the house a little earlier.Usually its me and my 15 yo son out on the lake every weekend and we have no trouble getting in the water or out in anymore than 5 mins,but I can tell you what if we did have a little trouble and some SOB decided to start blowing the horn at me or cussin and acting foolish he might sit around and wait another five minutes for me to clear.<br /> Common courtesy goes a long way in this world.

 

[phantoms]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Originally posted by monkeyboi:<br /> i see the pleasure boat crowd taking longer at our local lakes. seems the fishermen already have gear stowed & are ready to go. is this a common theme?

I was taught not to carry the gear in the boat, but in the back of the truck. When I get to the ramp, I park out of the way and move all the gear and poles to the boat. Once it's loaded, the boat plugs in and the transom starps are off the back, then I go to the ramp. I've seen fisherman do it both ways and the same with the pleasure crowd. But I usually see them at different places. Fisherman at my Saltwater launch and Pleasure craft at a fresh water lanch.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Originally posted by phantoms:<br />

I was taught not to carry the gear in the boat, but in the back of the truck. When I get to the ramp, I park out of the way and move all the gear and poles to the boat. [/quote]<br /><br />Im really courious as to why you dont cary the gear in the boat?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Originally posted by monkeyboi:<br /> i see the pleasure boat crowd taking longer at our local lakes. seems the fishermen already have gear stowed & are ready to go. <br /><br />is this a common theme?

Yep...fishermen usually have fewer family members hanging around to deal with, also probably launch more often therefore have the routine down better.<br /><br />And if I could make one more sweeping generalization, TOTW (time on the water) is more important to us so not only do we want to get launched quicker, we're more sensitive to not holding up the ramp for others. Hey it's just a theory.<br /><br /><br />

Originally posted by Reel Poor:<br /> Im really courious as to why you dont cary the gear in the boat?<br />

Most bass boats have decks at or near gunwale height so nothing left on deck will still be there when you get to the lake. That's the only reason I can think of. I can see by your avatar you don't have that problem. Lot of times I stop for supplies & would rather my tackle be locked inside, but that don't help if it's in a pickup bed.