More boat launch sillyness.

[projo198]

Was out last weekend and saw an older couple launching at a busy marina. He was in the truck, her in the boat. They got her in the water and I am guessing she was trying to back up, but she went forward instead. Then instead of letting off the throttle she froze up and launched the boat up onto the floating dock, almost taking out 2 little girls and ruining one of the support posts. They passed us on their way out, she was smiling and taking pictures like nothing had happened...

A few minutes after that one some guy dragged his lower the ENTIRE WAY up the ramp, even though people were yelling, waving their hands and honking their horns. If you can't hear your lower screeching on cement then you either shouldn't have your windows up/radio on OR you shouldn't have been drinking!!!

Like many have said, you can literally make a day out of boat launch-watching.

 

[jkust]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

After a while, you see just about everything it seems at the ramps. I generally pop open the hatch of my suv when I back down with an empty trailer to get the boat. I suppose if you have a truck with windows up and your AC is on from when you parked it, you could possibly not hear the metal grinding. As for the old people shenanigans, I've seen some of the most frustrating, selfish acts at the ramps by the older crowd. I don't know why that is the case though.

 

[projo198]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

After a while, you see just about everything it seems at the ramps. I generally pop open the hatch of my suv when I back down with an empty trailer to get the boat. I suppose if you have a truck with windows up and your AC is on from when you parked it, you could possibly not hear the metal grinding. As for the old people shenanigans, I've seen some of the most frustrating, selfish acts at the ramps by the older crowd. I don't know why that is the case though.

Well I hate to say it, and someone will probably be mad at me for it. But as a biker I see a LOT of dangerous elderly drivers on the road. I imagine the same goes for boating...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

the old people can be problems on ramps and anywhere else for a number of reasons, but one of the main ones is that they have little patience. With that, they act like they shouldn't have to deal with crowds so they get pushy. They are used to things not being as crowded and they feel imposed upon. With that attitiude it goes downhill.

While they may have more experience (but not always) their skills have diminished--so they aren't as good at it but think they are. This is especially true driving.

They aren't as physically able or strong. A big factor at the ramp is not being able to turn their necks as far to back up the trailer. And they aren't as nimble scrambling in and out of the boat, around the trailer, etc.

Sprinkle in some forgetfullness and confusion.

Now you could make an equal list of young people's faults and deficiencies. At my age, with one foot on the platform and another on the train, I can criticize both groups!

 

[Water logged]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Why you young whippersnappers, I'll drive circles around you any day. I don't gotta turn my stiff neck, I back with my mirrors like a real driver. Why I oughta.....

Glenn

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

One of the great "left-handed compliments" was to say someone has all the wisdom of youth and the energy of old age....

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Yesterday I waiting on some folks who were having jetski trouble. Apparently a dead battery once it was in the water and the truck had pulled away. So instead of putting it back up on the trailer, they drove the truck forward down the ramp and turned so that the truck and trailer were at the water level, completely horizontal to the ramp, so that they could get some jumper cables and jump the jetski with the truck. Needless to say, a truck and trailer take up A LOT of ramps (4 lane ramp, they were occupying all 4). Someone approached them and asked to either help or have them move, and got the response "No Ingles" :facepalm: so everyone waited while they continued trouble shooting.

That kind of thing really brings out character in people. I realized I wasn't going to be able to do anything, so I shut my truck off, went back to the boat, hopped up on the swim platform with a beer and turned the radio on. Hey its a beautiful sunday, you're not working, you're outside at the lake, you might as well enjoy what you get. Of the 10 other boats waiting in line, 2 or 3 joined me and we had a great time joking and conversing and making friends. 4 or 5 were noticeably mad, yelling, upset, and ended up leaving. Big deal! Enjoy life!

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

A big factor at the ramp is not being able to turn their necks as far to back up the trailer.
............

Sprinkle in some forgetfullness and confusion.

Yep, that's why I compensate in a variety of ways, including staying away from the launch ramp on weekends (when I remember).

 

[oldjeep]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

A big factor at the ramp is not being able to turn their necks as far to back up the trailer.

Turn your neck?? There are 3 mirrors - use them. If you are turning around looking over your shoulder then you are blind to half of the stuff going on around you.

 

[geneseo1911]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Pontoons. None of the pontoons at my ramp can seem to grasp the concept of putting their crap in the boat BEFORE they launch it, so there's 10 people, each with a cooler or bag or toy, taking the WHOLE dock up while they stash everything in its place, put the top up, etc. Meanwhile 5 or 6 boats are waiting to pick up their trailer driver in what would be a 10 second pull up, jump on, back out operation.

Oh well. Someday I'll have a lakehouse with a boathouse and a lift. Someday. Of course then I'll be too old to enjoy it. Or turn around apparently.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Don't complain. I have to deal with their parents everyday. Welcome to Florida

 

[richard.prince]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Pontoons. None of the pontoons at my ramp can seem to grasp the concept of putting their crap in the boat BEFORE they launch it, so there's 10 people, each with a cooler or bag or toy, taking the WHOLE dock up while they stash everything in its place, put the top up, etc. Meanwhile 5 or 6 boats are waiting to pick up their trailer driver in what would be a 10 second pull up, jump on, back out operation.

Oh well. Someday I'll have a lakehouse with a boathouse and a lift. Someday. Of course then I'll be too old to enjoy it. Or turn around apparently.

I always put my stuff in the pontoon in the parking lot and do a bump and run to pick up my driver. The last time I was out 3 grown women decided it would be a good idea to sit on the dock with their feet in the water. Then they give me dirty looks when I nose the boat in between them to pick my brother up.

 

[bassman284]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Turn your neck?? There are 3 mirrors - use them. If you are turning around looking over your shoulder then you are blind to half of the stuff going on around you.

Yeah. If you have to turn your head to back a trailer, you shouldn't be backing trailers.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Around here I think I tend to be more comfortable around the older folks, they seem to take a bit more time but be more prepared, then you have the newbs.....


Oh my.....

 

[jkust]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Oh well. Someday I'll have a lakehouse with a boathouse and a lift. Someday. Of course then I'll be too old to enjoy it. Or turn around apparently.

That someday was last month for me. I couldn't stand to trailer the boat another day. Luckily I've got almost 30 years until retirement and the kiddos are still young.

 

[projo198]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Yeah. If you have to turn your head to back a trailer, you shouldn't be backing trailers.

Eh I dunno, I can do it with mirrors only but I always flip up the rear glass (Chevy Blazer) and turn around when backing up.

I just bought a Cebrity Calais this weekend however, and it TOWERS over the Blazer on the trailer. So I don't get away with looking back over the boat anymore lol.

 

[jmcrae]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Hey, it's almost free entertainment

 

[java230]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

There is a nice retired guy who literally sits at the launch by my house every day. I've only not seen him once. He brings his chair enjoys the lake and watches people launch all day. He will say hi, or ask about trouble starting but that's about it.

 

[projo198]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Why you young whippersnappers, I'll drive circles around you any day. I don't gotta turn my stiff neck, I back with my mirrors like a real driver. Why I oughta.....

Glenn

I hope you are at least shaking a cane around when you said that lol!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: More boat launch sillyness.

Their is a group of old guys who sit under a shade tree by the ramp and whittle and watch ours.