Ramp rules?

[oldjeep]

Re: Ramp rules?

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

In MN, we call those people pansies I mean really - how cold does the water get in TN? I'd be willing to bet that it is nothing like a MN lake in April - now that is good skiing

 

[oldjeep]

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.

Sounds different than what they do on Minnetonka at the ramp I use. They are very efficient and walk up the line of boats waiting to launch and check them while people are putting their plugs in and loading gear. Never seen it cause a delay on the way in.

On the way out it really depends on how many people are coming out, but again they check it on the "leaving" lane while people are pulling their plugs, unloading stuff, etc. Only delays are on days that they have the steam rig out there and I'm more than happy to wait for a free hull steam cleaning

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Ramp rules?

That's the way they do it here in Colorado to oldjeep or I should say that's the way they do it at the lakes I go to in Colorado...

Never seen the ANS inspection cause any issues unless the inspectors were unprepared but that only happened twice last year, the first time I gave in to an honest mistake, the second time I pressed the issue to their superiors and they gave in.

The issue for me specifically was they wanted to sanitize my boat which I am fine with to me its a good cleaning with a hotsy but they ran out of propane and wanted me to wait while they ran 20 miles for a couple more propane tanks....

Yep happened twice....

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Ramp rules?

Ramp rule's..that would take enforcement..that's a good ideal..then we can all sit and watch the enforcement hand out ticket's about another 10 minutes to the launch. Ahh and as we are such a reasonable socitey today...we shall have our day in court when challenged on our etiquette..another couple of hour's...Trying to stream line the system the state naturally hires more personal and of course to pay for the personal....fine's increase. Let's see... exceeded ramp time statue 122.0445.223.0 fine $275.00...

Becareful what you ask for

Rules of engagement smile and give yourself plenty of time....ohh and humor taken in the right perspective ramps are with out a doubt one of the most humorus event's in the world. Dont get me wrong i have had more than a few time's experinced a intense jealousness of law enforcement and tazar guns...:lol:

 

[agallant80]

Re: Ramp rules?

I have accepted that most everyone at the ramp is a total a-hole. Last year I had a guy get mad at me because I asked his small children (around 8-10) to not swim near my boat at the ramp and the should not be swimming at the ramp because there are spinning props and its not a swimming area. He was too busy trying to get his boat on the trailer to know what his kids were doing. He came over gave me a dirty look and told me that he can tell that I don't have kids. He was supprised when I told him that I don't blame his kids for being little a-holes I just blame him because of the example he sets.

Any ways, once you accept that people are incapable of being curious at the ramp it gets easier. I just wait for a lane to open back down and if someone sneaks in and docks up where I have backed down to I ask them to move so I can get my boat and get out of their way.

 

[gm280]

Re: Ramp rules?

I’ve read a few of these ramp stories and have sympathy with both sides of these interesting stories. Well to change up the mood a little, I have a really nice fishing friend that usually fishes with his wife. One day he was going fishing and got everything ready at the house and headed out to the lake for the Crappie Season that was going wild then and everybody knew about it too. He arrived at the lake with only two available ramp options and many folks wanting to launch and fish. So while waiting, he and his wife prepared their boat while waiting their turn at the ramp. However, he keep very good care of all his fishing gear to include the boat and trailer and knew he could launch his boat quickly in such demand. So he took off all safety straps and tie-downs and was read to back down the ramp. As he started down the ramp quickly he stopped just a few yards short of the water line to get into the boat so his wife could simply continue backing. BUT as he stopped, his boat didn’t. He sprayed his bunks with a can of silicon spray and the boat slid off the trailer and onto the ramp just shy of any water. You can imagine what all the other folks waiting their turn were thinking... He had to pull the wench strap out and hook it up to the boat and winch it back onto the trailer to continue to the water. WOW I just bet there were so many eyes rolling that day... It is pretty funny now, but I’m sure he was in total horror that day!

Lesson to learn...silicon spray deos work excellently on trailer bunks, but don't take that last strap off until you're in the water...

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Ramp rules?

well i will be going to the ramp owners where i launch my boat and i will ask them if i make a sign showing ramp etiquette rules if they would be willing to post it. another thing that bugs me is when vehicles with no trailers go and park in the trailer parking lot

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Ramp rules?

I dropped mine in yesterday for the season, and while waiting for 2 guys to get theirs running, I smelled the scent of starting fluid in the air. Looks like the spring folly's are just around the corner

 

[agallant80]

Re: Ramp rules?

The secret to happy ramp life is pull on and off at non peek hours. In NC I avoid the ramps from 4-6 and on Sunday after church gets out. If the ramp is busy I will just throw down anchor and wait it out.

 

[cribber]

Re: Ramp rules?

It takes my wife and I about 3-5 minutes from the time we hit the parking lot until we're pulling away from the ramp. The Mrs takes off the safety chain and jumps in the boat while I unclip the straps. That's the extent of our prep before launching... I dunk the boat, she starts it up while I'm parking, and we're off. Everything was done and the engine warmed on muffs in the driveway before we head down to the ramp about 5 miles from the house. My theory is why ruin a beautiful day out on the water because you can't get your boat started at the ramp.

 

[jkust]

Re: Ramp rules?

Sounds different than what they do on Minnetonka at the ramp I use. They are very efficient and walk up the line of boats waiting to launch and check them while people are putting their plugs in and loading gear. Never seen it cause a delay on the way in.

On the way out it really depends on how many people are coming out, but again they check it on the "leaving" lane while people are pulling their plugs, unloading stuff, etc. Only delays are on days that they have the steam rig out there and I'm more than happy to wait for a free hull steam cleaning

This tends to be at the higher end lakes where there are no cheap cabins or houses and property taxes and hence property owners are vocal. To add insult to injury the DNR will tell you directly when asked that their inspections are only to placate the vocal land owners and that they know they can't stop the spread. The lakes that I speak of as well are already infected so the logic of the land owners insisting on these inspections makes less sense. It's like DNR species mitigation theatre.