Ramp Etiquette Question

[Wimperdink]

Ok, picture this. I tie up to a courtesy dock on a double wide ramp. I go and retrieve the truck and trailer. Pull around to the staging area only to have an incoming truck and boat pull in ahead of me. There's an empty slot on the ramp and I'm tied to the dock.. Do I..<br /><br />A. Pull around the guy who just pulled in and is visibly taking his time prepping his rig. And back down the open side of the ramp?<br /><br />B. Cuss and whine but let him take his time prepping and wait my turn while I watch him let the other vehicle that is loading finish and pull up then park in the middle of the ramp. While I fume about his stupid slow butt.<br /><br />I always try to hurry while on the ramp and do all prep before I get to the ramp. My retrieve times are never more than a few minutes. Just curious if you get behind someone who is just beginning their prep routine while you have an empty trailor and there's an open spot, if its ok to go around them and hit the ramp.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Good question. I generally ask the prepper if it'd be OK to retrieve - if they're about done they'll generally say "no", but mostly folks just say "go ahead if you're going to be quick".

 

[arfaname]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I would be asking he guy if he can prep his boat elsewhere so that the ramp remains free for as long as possible. And then tell him you are ready to launch. <br /><br />If he is still being a halfwit then help him launch his boat.... onto the ramp.

 

[KM2]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

A. A give him a dirty or disapporving look so he knows you don't approve of him prepping his boat while at the ramp.

 

[AaronG]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

At the lake I take my canoe to, you aren't allowed to prep at the ramp. In fact, the rangers will ticket you if you are holding up other people. Then again, the rangers will ticket you for about anything. (Marsh Creek, PA)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I'd pull Around him,..............<br /><br />Then take My Good Olde Sweet Time retrieving.........

 

[Terry H]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

go around.

 

[dakk1]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Yeah, I got a good one for you. Talk about your ramp etiquette. Last time I went to the lake, 2 families were using the dock and ramp as their own personal swimming hole. And they were ticked off because I wanted to launch my boat. Man, the ignorance of some people..

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Originally posted by dakk1:<br /> Yeah, I got a good one for you. Talk about your ramp etiquette. Last time I went to the lake, 2 families were using the dock and ramp as their own personal swimming hole. And they were ticked off because I wanted to launch my boat. Man, the ignorance of some people..

That is ignorant. By the way I did go around the guy. He gave me a dirty look and pulled around and backed up to about 20' from the ramp so when I pulled up the ramp I had to go around him again. Considered stopping midramp and stow my gear etc right there on the ramp specially for him. There were others waiting by then so I just kept going and did my stowing as usual at the other end of the parking lot.

 

[magster65]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

My vote is to go around him and do your thing in his way. He may have thought you were parking and you'd just launched.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

This is what I do. In a real stern voice and say, hey guy! are you gonna launch? and look him straight in the eyes. Most of the time if they're not ready to go right away, they will let me go ahead. I always follow up with a simple thanks.

 

[mrloring]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I have had the same problem with people swimming at the ramp and the parnets will not tell the kids to move, so I am trying to keep the trailer straight and watch the five kids that are swimming and running around on the ramp. I have also had people use the dock as their personal picnic area and get upset when you go to use it.

 

[ramster]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I have in the past moved a truck that was in the way. If the key's are in it and it's in my way for more than a couple minutes I just move it myself.

 

[Baldguy]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Kids swimming at the dock....they usually move for me after I state that a four blade stainless steel prop tends to hurt and chew things up...

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

If they are prepping, then they are not ready to launch and shouldn't be there in the first place. I just go around. The ramp I use has a specific clearly marked prep area, so if someone objects I just point it out to them. Generally though the person prepping does not have a problem with others pulling around them.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Maybe I'm missing something here but I would just go around him. I don't know about that particular ramp but most of them in our area he doesn't have room to put his boat in the water until I get my out anyhow.

 

[bayman]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Many of the docks I have gone to have rather stern rules posted - in order to avoid these problems. It's still amazing that many people just ignore the rules. In some of the small towns I have been to I really don't mind the people using the ramp for their purposes. However, sometimes there are so many people and dogs running around that it's often difficult to navigate the ramp.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Originally posted by ramster:<br /> I have in the past moved a truck that was in the way. If the key's are in it and it's in my way for more than a couple minutes I just move it myself.

That could get you in trouble with the law. "Tampering with a motor vehicle" if not worse. Also, the vehicle's owner might take exception to you moving his vehicle without permission and you never know what type of person you would be dealing with. I wouldn't reccomend doing that.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I'd be upset if someone moved my vehicle... probably enough so to put my old rusty bumper through your door. If ya see an old blue ford with doors unlocked and lotsa rust... I reccomend not moving it unless your a friend of mine. <br /><br />I launch and retrieve at a free ramp maintained by TVA.. never had a problem with swimmers as its just a parking lot with a double wide boat ramp well hidden from a main road. Most people are decent but now an then you find one that wants to park in the middle of a double ramp pull his boat over to the courtesy dock and start loading his stuff from his vehicle parked in the middle of the ramp to his boat at the dock. I'll usually pull in beside him anyway and pull partway off the ramp to get by him. I'll back in fast and close to his rig so he gets the idea that it is indeed a double ramp and he is very much in the way of others.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

didn't you say it's a 2-lane ramp? heck, you take the open lane, he's got no beef.<br /><br />Even on a 1-lane ramp, go around 'im if he's prepping on the ramp. He needs to learn some manners.