Ramp rules?

[salty87]

Re: Ramp rules?

^ ha, ya got me. i have bunks and you can see i'm inland. what else can you tell me about me? lol, nice explanation cookin'.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Ramp rules?

>Bonair, I guess that goes back to my statement having the condition of "the right equipment." You could have a proper rig and stay dry; you could keep what you have and get wet

I think it also depends on the ramp and water level. There are ramps I frequent that it is impossible to stay dry unless you have two people and want to drive onto your trailer. Then you need to back in until your exhaust tip is under water. The ramp slope and water level anytime after spring would require 6" tires to launch without getting the tires or your feet wet. Blanket statements don't work.

For those ramps, I'm usually in shorts and water shoes anyway. No biggie.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ramp rules?

right. Some ramps are built too flat, some too steep, to work for normal use. Some don't even have docks! So general processes presume proper equipment, both under the boat and in the ground! Where's there's a will, there's a way.

 

[gibletts]

Re: Ramp rules?

Ramp rule # 1 - Relax
Ramp rule # 2 - see #1

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Ramp rules?

Heck, many of the docks around here are essentially solid concrete piers. I don't care how many fenders you have out, approaching those rough concrete docks makes anyone with a glass boat nervous...

But my point was addressing your comment that if someone had the proper equipment, they wouldn't ever have to get wet. I can't change the ramp or the water level. I can't run around with 6" tires either. Sometimes, situations dictate that you're going to get wet. I don't disagree that that dual axle trailer is the wrong set up for that particular boat but applying a universal decree like that got me going.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Ramp rules?

That is the first tandem axle trailer I've ever seen for a 16' tinny!...ever considered a trailer upgrade?

Actually, I've seen a few tandem trailers w/ tinnies on them posted here(maybe the CL thread). I like the tandem for the safety factor....if I ever have a blowout/bearing failure, I won't be stuck on the side of the road.

There are a couple lanes at my local launch that are fairly steep so I can probably avoid getting wet with a little effort, but I'd rather just hop in the water cause it's faster. I can normally get the boat on the trailer and winched up in 30 seconds or so.

 

[DaveG55]

Re: Ramp rules?

Ramps around me can be a great source of entertainment, especially on holiday weekends...
I must admit that I too have been the source of great entertainment at the boat ramp... I managed to dump my first jet ski off the trailer onto the ramp the first trip to the lake - not my finest moment... Thank goodness it was small enough for a couple of us to get back onto the trailer.
So, now I really try to relax at the ramp, help who I can and stay out of the way of the others. But, I think I've finally figured out the best thing to do - I bought a lake house with my own personal ramp. So now the only fools I have to deal with are myself and any I happen to invite.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Ramp rules?

Ramps around me can be a great source of entertainment, especially on holiday weekends...

They are entertaining ANY weekend.

I watched a guy jackknife his trailer 3-4 times trying to back his boat down the ramp last week. He finally ended up getting it launched (on a 45 degree angle to the docks).

If they would just learn to back in slowly, they would have a much easier time. :facepalm:

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Ramp rules?

They are entertaining ANY weekend.

I watched a guy jackknife his trailer 3-4 times trying to back his boat down the ramp last week. He finally ended up getting it launched (on a 45 degree angle to the docks).

If they would just learn to back in slowly, they would have a much easier time. :facepalm:

Weeeeeeelll Some people just have no business driving much less backing a trailer, this is one reason why I jumped at the chance of my wife driving the boat, I have seen her back a trailer up and from the onset she had no hope...

It is ego boosting to see someone struggle with backing a trailer and then I show off my mad skills though....

 

[BonairII]

Re: Ramp rules?

I have seen her back a trailer up and from the onset she had no hope...

Anyone...even the "thick" ones....can back in a trailer, it just takes practice. Unfortunately, most people only launch their boats a handful of times a year so they never get enough experience to get good at it.

Pride and/or an "I can't be bothered to work on my backing up skills" mentality prevents most from practicing in a parking lot etc. An hour of practice would save them a lot of frustration/damage at the ramp.

 

[Shotgun_Luckey]

Re: Ramp rules?

I hope I don't become "that guy" I drive a semi for a living and back up 12-15 times a day or more and have to hit the spot +/- 3 inches.....but a bumper pull trailer reacts differently than a 5th wheel, but I don't think it will take much to adjust again.

 

[I Fish]

Re: Ramp rules?

After you see this pic....you'll realize that I have to back in quite a bit to get the boat to float.

Looks like maybe you coud undersling your axles to lower the trailer some, that woud help.

To anybody with a fishing partner/wife that doesn't know how to back a trailer, I have the solution: 2 way radios. I use them when I launch with anybody backing me in or pulling me out, especially my wife or father in law. I get lined up and stop at the top of the ramp, I get in the boat, they get in the drivers seat. As the are backing me in, can direct them as the which way to turn the steering wheel, how much, and when to stop. I usually have them back me in enough I can start the motor, then I have them back me in a little farther as I back off the trailer, then they go park. If the parking lot is full/tight, they can call me on the radio and I'll go park. My wifes got pretty good, as she can get the truck and trailer out of the parking lot, pull around to the ramp and I can "talk" her back. Never again will I go without the radios.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Ramp rules?

To anybody with a fishing partner/wife that doesn't know how to back a trailer, I have the solution: 2 way radios. I use them when I launch with anybody backing me in or pulling me out, especially my wife.

Obviously you don't have a Spanish wife, the last thing I want to do with my wife after she attempts to back my truck and trailer is talk to her!! Men have been known to die this way you know!!

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: Ramp rules?

Looks like maybe you coud undersling your axles to lower the trailer some, that woud help.

To anybody with a fishing partner/wife that doesn't know how to back a trailer, I have the solution: 2 way radios. I use them when I launch with anybody backing me in or pulling me out, especially my wife or father in law. I get lined up and stop at the top of the ramp, I get in the boat, they get in the drivers seat. As the are backing me in, can direct them as the which way to turn the steering wheel, how much, and when to stop. I usually have them back me in enough I can start the motor, then I have them back me in a little farther as I back off the trailer, then they go park. If the parking lot is full/tight, they can call me on the radio and I'll go park. My wifes got pretty good, as she can get the truck and trailer out of the parking lot, pull around to the ramp and I can "talk" her back. Never again will I go without the radios.

I have a little 'helpful tip' for anyone who is having trouble backing a trailer as far as which way to turn the wheel... my wife was having all kinds of problems remembering which way to turn the steering wheel vs. which way the trailer would go (actually to the point of jack-knifing our pull-behind camper one day in the middle of our field lol). I finally got the idea and told her that instead of having her hand on the top of the wheel, put it on the bottom. Doing it this way, if you want the trailer to go left, you turn your hand to the left, when your actually turning the wheel to the right. It takes the guess work out of the confusion of backing up. Since then, she has been a pro at getting the trailer in/out dead straight with the truck.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Ramp rules?

It appears to me that your bow eye is also on the WRONG side of your bow roller . To be safe , the bow eye should be UNDER the bow roller. Not much to stop your boat from climbing OVER and INTO your tow vehicle in a sudden stop !

After you see this pic....you'll realize that I have to back in quite a bit to get the boat to float.

 

[mandopickr]

Re: Ramp rules?

I was waiting in the right-side line for a 2 ramp setup to take my boat out, and as it becomes my turn, a bass boat with 2 guys pull around me. One of the guys say "We'll be faster than you, we'll be out of your way in just a minute." One guy jumps out at the dock, and as he's backing down the ramp, gets a phone call. He stops. The guy in the boat is idling beside me, and I keep glaring at him.

Finally, the left line clears. I back my trailer down beside the guy, go jump in my boat, back around the bass boat (while the guy in the boat is avoiding eye contact), load, and pull out past the guy still sitting talking on his phone. I actually thought the situation was hilarious.

I load solo almost all the time. I've been doing it for 40 yrs, and typically I'm as fast or faster than most I encounter, not so much that I'm super fast, but rather because most aren't fully prepared, have to think about what comes next, find the dock lines, straighten up the trailer and so forth (forget those older man and wife teams, nobody is as fast as them). Of course the first few times you try solo it would be best to go when it's not busy. Most of the pertinent stuff mentioned here applies: get the boat ready in line (including the dock lines and fenders), know how far you need to back the trailer in, etc. The only additional time you'll have is the short period of time to get your boat to the dock, and you back to the tow vehicle to pull out of the way.

 

[Ripfence]

Re: Ramp rules?

I HAVE to reply to this! : "Hey Mr. Arrogant!" I could have been that guy with NO regrets! I DO prep before backing down the ramp. I back the trailor in most of way into the water. I then turn the driving of the truck over to my wife while I get on board. I motion her the rest of the way down while I float off. She then drives the truck and trailor straight out and gets into a parking place. I wait at the courtesy dock holding a rope on cleat. That should cause you no problem so far.

She has bad knees and has to crawl backwards on her hands and knees to get into our 17ft SeaArk bass boat. It's humbling but she laughs about it. You're probably laughing AT her, right? When we finish for the day I pull up to the dock and leave her in the boat holding the rope while I go get the truck. My wife doesn't back a trailer or drive the boat up on it. We're in our early sixties and she's a good driver but never had experience with boats or trailors and frankly afraid to try it. I'm good at it. Owned a IH tractor and farmed some. This is our first boat just three years now. Maybe your wife or mommy can trailor but it's not a requirement. My dear wife of 46 years is a great lady, the mother of 4 and loving grandmother of 9. Past interpreter for the deaf (I still am). She's a great cook to boot! You should be so blessed.

Now the good part: I back down the ramp to right depth and leave the truck and trailor there and walk back to the boat to change places with her. She's slow getting out (hands and knees again). NOW you can fume jerk. An empty truck and trailor has sat there while I've walked back to the boat and she walks to the truck. We can't leave an empty boat tied to the courtesy dock. By the time she's walked to the truck and in the cab I've got the boat on trailor and I'm winching it up the few remaining feet. She then drives out with me in the bed of the pickup and parks us on the backside tie down area. The end.

But It's all about you huh? My wife's my best fishing partner and last time out she caught 9 white bass, one small largemouth (like YOU) and a Golden Horse bottom sucker (you again!) I wouldn't fish or boat with a self centered jerk like you on a bet.

BTW, if you need to block someone in to prove you're a smart alec, don't be surprised if you find yourself filleted and stuffed in someone's live well. I'm betting there are badder boys than you out there. I ain't scared to move you.

The way I see it, I've worked over 30 years in special education for the school system and I've paid enough taxes to have reasonable use of a public boat ramp without some toe tapping self centered immature idiot timing and criticising my efforts! Get over yourself. Do some community service and go on a field trip with a special ed team. After keeping up with autistic and other disabled children who may never know the "joys" of boat ownership you may learn to slow down and live right. Give the other guy a break. You WILL need it yourself someday I guarantee! Thank YOU for letting ME vent!

so... it sounds like you are advocating murder for someone who blocks a ramp for a few minutes... You have some serious issues.

 

[Ripfence]

Re: Ramp rules?

It amazes me at how many so-called "boaters" refuse to get wet at the ramp. They will do everything in their power NOT to walk in the water....even if getting a little wet makes loading/launching a lot easier.

some "boaters" go out in the dead of winter and probably have a good reason for not wanting to get wet.

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Ramp rules?

Well I'll tell this story just to show there is such a thing as launch ramp karma.

I was launching my 13ft 1959 runabout after work one day and a guy with a 18 footer with a 150 kind of cut me off. i let it go and pulled to the other side of the dock. His kid walked over and asked me if I really had a 35hp. It was a 63 model and the cowl was almost as big as his dad's 150. he laughed at it and went back to dad's boat. I hopped in started her up and noticed dad was wearing out a starter but no joy.

Spent a couple hours out and the sun was starting to set. Got back to the dock and while waiting to dock noticed the other boat off in the weeds next to the dock about 20 ft away dad still working on the motor and I'm talking dis-assembly at this point. After pulling out I asked someone in the area for securing your boat how they got over there. He said he refused to clear the ramp for a half hour so some guys pushed him away.

Now last Sunday I took my son fishing off an old dock on the base. It has a single ramp with L shaped docks down both sides. Several people launched and after watching the first (a jet boat) rubbed the sandbar at the end of the channel I mentioned the bar was very shallow today to others. Well except for one.

Some guy with a bass tracker ( he tapped over the 'B") puts in and rather than tie off to the other dock (completely vacant) he pulls in in front of us and starts his motor. Were breathing oil smoke while 4 of them sit there waiting for the 5th to park the truck. Boat was about an inch from swamping in the back. Off they went and you could see the motor kick up when it hit the bar.

And yes the dock is designated for both boating and fishing. The base even installed rod holders on the side we were on.

 

[cgibbo308]

Re: Ramp rules?

out here that put it in with the rules but its not a rule, if that makes sense.
All we do.. pull up in the staging area and prepare. move and back down the ramp, launch, tie off on pontoon/warf.
park the car. enjoy the day
we all have bad days. i drive truck trailers (well did b4 i lost me job) and could back a 44footer up a dogs rear end..
but i have problems backing a boat trailer :|