Ramp rules?

[bassman284]

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 :|

I'm a former tractor trailer driver myself. If you made that boat trailer 44 feet long you'd do just fine.

 

[belairbrian]

Re: Ramp rules?

I'm a former tractor trailer driver myself. If you made that boat trailer 44 feet long you'd do just fine.

Exactly,
I usually pull a 32 ft 5th wheel. Very used to how it backs. Then I go backing up a 15 ft bumper pull and that thing reacts so much quicker.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Ramp rules?

You all know of course that anyone that had taken the BoatUS boating safety course would have a completely different understanding of how ramp launching is supposed to go.

Paybacks come in many ways to those that don't play by the rules. One of the quickest paybacks comes from those that come in off the highway, fly down the ramp, prep the boat enough to launch and then dunk those hot wheel hubs in the water. You can almost hear them sucking in water. I guess if replacing bearings is your thing then that's o.k. but I know that the people that do that don't even have a clue it's happening. With any luck, you'll get your satisfaction someday when you see them on the side of the road or better yet, when they leave their boat along the side of the road and come back to nothing because someone has stolen it.

 

[cgibbo308]

Re: Ramp rules?

the length of the tow vehicle and distance between tow pivot point to the towed wheels makes a huge change to the way it all handles.
a mate of mine drove 86 wheel truck trailers for years and he can hardly drive a car lol

When i first looked into buying a boat, i started with sitting by the ramps and watching what people were doing and how things are being done. then i started on the forums. looking learning. I will ask others at a ramp how they do things, and wil learn from others mistakes (rarely from my own tho)..
I do have to have my trailer reset as its a pain to use. just about to crawl under my trailer now and change a roller to a self centering roller.
There is a big difference between a slow ramp user and the ones that dont know where to prep for launch. im still slow but i know where to do what needs to be done..

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ramp rules?

Road trains! I jousted with a few of them when I crossed the bush years ago.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Ramp rules?

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.

I hear ya good buddy! I am so "efficient" and I just know what to do that it's almost instinct. Load the boat in complete darkness and those instincts are great to have. My operation is just soo smooth, even if there is a circus going on around me.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Ramp rules?

I hear ya good buddy! I am so "efficient" and I just know what to do that it's almost instinct. Load the boat in complete darkness and those instincts are great to have. My operation is just soo smooth, even if there is a circus going on around me.

Mine too.. I'm in and out so fast I think others kind of get jealous. I guess it's because I've got mine down pat, I wait in the lines and put up with the BS. I didn't say I liked it but I do it just the same.

 

[cgibbo308]

Re: Ramp rules?

Road trains! I jousted with a few of them when I crossed the bush years ago.

Triple and AB-Quad road trains- 53.5 m (176 ft) max. you need lots of room to pass lol hard to reverse park i think lol
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I dont like govt regulating things as much as the next bloke. BUT.. im thinking its time to
start making set rules for ramps and making it law with fines. maybe then people will start doing the right thing.

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here ya go home, just found this bit of info..
On February 18, 2006, an Australian built Mack truck with 112 semi-trailers, 1,300 t (metric) and 1,474.3 metres (4,836 ft 11 in) long.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ramp rules?

I just remember the mile-high clouds of bull dust and how if you passed, you passed up wind. If one was coming at you, you pulled off upwind and waited an hour or so for the dust to clear so you could see to proceed.

Met a truckie who fell asleep and travelled about 2 KM off road at about 80; it was night and he had to follow his tracks back to the bitumin. (for those who haven't been there, the surface of the road and of the desert is not much different)

 

[daedge2]

Re: Ramp rules?

Yes people dont care about others. I was at the ramp it was crowded and there was a guy and his wife trying to get his boat out . some how he got his truck to close to ramp and could not get out. So I walked over to help him. He said this was this first time with there boat. I told him yes people are not helpful like they used to be . But the key was he was trying to hurry . I told his take your time and do it right until you learn how to back it in and out . It is not worth messing your truck and boat up . And yes you should get thing ready before pulling down and wait in line.

 

[leesumm]

Re: Ramp rules?

By the sounds of this rant and post , I am glad I live in Arkansas and fish on 3 lakes .On the busiest day there might be 3 boats on the lake at one time. That includes my boat.

 

[beardeddone]

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 also drove big rigs, retired now, but one big difference, we are taught how to drive 18 wheelers and how to back our rigs, at least I was and went to school to learn how to drive an 18 wheeler, most 4 wheelers are lucky to know how to drive moreless tow something and then try to back it up and keep it straight, and there is a lot of difference in backing a 53' trailer then a 17 to 19' trailer with a car or pickup, no comparison a lot harder in some cases although the techniques are the same people tend to over correct to much and loose control over their trailer when backing.

I love the entertainment at ramps and better then the TV and for every one out there there is as many ways of doing things, rudeness is every where and in all fazes of life some of the rudest was with truck drivers, to me it's not what happens, it is how we react to what happens, did we goto the lake to have fun and enjoy ourselves or are we going to try to outdo someones rudeness, it's just part of life and some people can't help being stupid it's not there fault it's natural and the way of life, as the quote goes, here's your sign and that is the way it is.

We are all on this big boat we call earth and some people seem to try to make it as miserable as they can on this trip through life on it...But some don't and enjoy it and try to help other people through it...

Have a good one and be safe out there

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Ramp rules?

You people for the most part have failed to see the point? That point is that it is discourteous to tie up the ramp doing the things you should have done while either waiting in line or in a parking spot. No one is saying that a person who is slow at backing down or getting their boat off is the problem. The problem is the idiots who wait till they are down on the ramp ,then decide to load the fishing gear. Or check the oil. Or the other million stupid things they should have done out of the way! They are the self centered ones!
Have a nice day!
Eddie

Right on the point. Dont launch till your totaly ready, and dont get in line till ready.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ramp rules?

while of course I agree 100% to be ready to go when there are people waiting, you all don't know the pleasure of being able to load, prep, work on or clean a boat or trailer right at the ramp. I sometimes have it all to myself for hours. One private ramp I use keeps hoses at the top of the ramp so you can at least wash the salt off the trailer parts. And with tilt trailers, you don't want that big heavy cooler in the stern on the launch! (of course no one should complain about loading one cooler after launching if it was all ready to go.)

 

[jkust]

Re: Ramp rules?

Well since here in MN the DNR has finally gone invasive species crazy over the top insane, nuts...it is the pre check and the post check of your boat and trailer that is now causing frustrations. They only check the single boat that is coming or going as it is pulled out or put in. They won't walk down the line of boats and keep checking them as they are going in...only the one in process. It is egregious. You are talking 10 minutes on both ends and they check you as you are on the ramp so nobody can even pull out or in. It is the absolute height of insanity where gov workers are concerned.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Ramp rules?

Prep the boat before going to the ramp and if it is busy crack a beer and wait.

 

[filthy]

Re: Ramp rules?

I'm an Aussie and have to say most of the public ramps are crowded most weekends but there is plenty of room for people to the loading and prep well away from the ramp and there are still plenty of folk out there willing to help anyone having trouble. It won't matter if they try to make rules and have someone try to enforce them. The people that are arrogant and want to block the lane for hours will always be there and no rules will stop this just think of the road rules for example, there a heaps of rules but a select few still believe the rules don't apply to them, however I really do believe in better education for those who are going to take part in any sort of boating activitys, after all if something goes wrong you can't just walk home, ah well that's about my rant done but I would like to agree with the other fellas about backing a big trailer as opposed to a little on, I have a 17 savage which is easy as pie to back but I also have an inflatable which I carry on a 6x4 trailer that I can't see behind my fourbie till it pokes out one side as im backing down, makes me feel like an idiot zig zagging down the ramp but I'm still quicker than most, all prep done is really all it takes!

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Ramp rules?

i returned from an afternoon of boating and the launch i use has two ramps most people practice ramp etiquette and what it means is do what you can to prepare your boat away from the launch before you back your boat in and vice versa now i was out for an afternoon and came back waited my turn patiently and quietly when my turn was up i docked and let my wife tend the boat this guy pulls up on the other side of the dock with a little aluminum fishing boat with a 15hp motor and runs to get his P.O.S. van and trailer backs up where my boat is i had a further walk then he did so by the time i back up he is already there he had the nerve to tell me to take my boat and move it to the other side i promptly told him to get in his van and move it or i will and that he would not like where i parked it IE: in the river and well he called me a whole bunch of names luckily there were three other boaters who over heard this heated exchange and the old man was not so politely told that the world did not revolve around him and that he had better watch his P's and Q's btw im a 200lbs 5'8" ironworker im built like a brick craphouse and was right in his face ready to put his elbows in his back pocket :mad-new:

 

[mclothier3]

Re: Ramp rules?

My first trip to Oklahoma last spring, I got to experience a very busy ramp right at the peak of Spoonbill season. What I mean by busy? think of a two lane launch ramp with a line of boats waiting to launch about a 1/4 mile long.

Things for the most part went pretty smooth, even though the line was long, everything kept moving right along, some guys were really fast, some not so fast, but as I was waiting in line to launch... it seemed as if one side of the ramp was clogged up by one guy.

Well, this guy was doing a one man launch, no big deal. but for some reason he left his vehicle on the ramp. After about 10 minutes of it just sitting there, I look down to the courtesy dock and the guy had docked his boat and tied it off, and he was deep in conversation with one of the local spoonbill guides.

By this time it seemed like everybody knew what was happening and tempers were starting to flare, one guy in line even started honking to no avail. The guy just didnt seem to care, he was one of those that felt it was all about him.

Eventually I took it upon myself to go talk to the guy, I walked down and asked if that was his vehicle on the ramp and he said it was, and I kindly asked him to move it to the parking area if he was finished launching, at which point we both started walking back to the ramp, and he mouthed off something about being rude, I pretty much put it back on him that he was the rude one by clogging up the ramp while he was BS'ing and pointed to the long line of people waiting and glaring.

Words were exchanged and I pretty much laughed at him, but I wasnt going to back down.... bottom line, I got the line moving again, and by the time I launched... I passed him up while he was STILL sitting at the courtesy dock. what a TOOL.

Later that afternoon when I pulled the boat, I noticed a park ranger was observing the still long line of people at the ramp, and I stopped and chatted with him a bit, and he explained that they have to make their presence known so that he can head off any Ramp Rage as it happens! lol I told him... gee you should have been here earlier! haha

My Dad raised me to be considerate of others, especially on the boat ramp.... get your stuff ready over on the side, out of the way, and when everything is good to go... dont mess around, back that sucker up and get it launched, and get out of the way. Especially if its a small ramp!

 

[Stachi]

Re: Ramp rules?

good God man ! Use punctuation !

i returned from an afternoon of boating and the launch i use has two ramps most people practice ramp etiquette and what it means is do what you can to prepare your boat away from the launch before you back your boat in and vice versa now i was out for an afternoon and came back waited my turn patiently and quietly when my turn was up i docked and let my wife tend the boat this guy pulls up on the other side of the dock with a little aluminum fishing boat with a 15hp motor and runs to get his P.O.S. van and trailer backs up where my boat is i had a further walk then he did so by the time i back up he is already there he had the nerve to tell me to take my boat and move it to the other side i promptly told him to get in his van and move it or i will and that he would not like where i parked it IE: in the river and well he called me a whole bunch of names luckily there were three other boaters who over heard this heated exchange and the old man was not so politely told that the world did not revolve around him and that he had better watch his P's and Q's btw im a 200lbs 5'8" ironworker im built like a brick craphouse and was right in his face ready to put his elbows in his back pocket :mad-new: