Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

Reading this thread (and others like it) makes me:
- want to be prepared when I hit the ramp. I started boating a little over a year ago, and I know I would not have known 90% of what constitutes good ramp etiquette;
- glad I don't frequent the ramps from which many of you launch. The places I go rarely have more than two or three waiting in line to launch or retrieve.
- relieved I didn't have to learn how to do this with some of you breathing down MY neck. It can be intimidating enough to figure out how get your boat in the water when you're starting, without having people glaring at you because you're not good at backing your trailer straight...
- wonder how many of you boat with people who are your guests for the first time. These folks are fun to take out, but they are little/no help in launching and they tend to be one more thing that I, as the responsible party, have to watch out for -- especially if the guests are kids.


Seems to me the big problem is a lack of consideration all around: people new to boating (or just generally clueless) are inconsiderate in taking up ramp space with activities that should have been done in the parking lot are no better or worse than people who don't remember how much there is to learn in launching a boat that they fuss and put everyone in a bad mood.

I guess I'm fortunate in that, no matter how much trouble I was having as a beginner, I almost always encountered folks who either waited patiently or perhaps offered a kind word of advice. I also found that explaining to folks that I was new to boating helped, too. I think if I had experienced the behavior from experienced boaters (described in this thread) very often, I would have sold my boat and found a new hobby...

Jim

 

[fishmasterinvt]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

This is why I fish on weekdays whenever possible. We have the same problems launching. Sometimes we wait and sometimes they wait. We've all had problems on the ramp. I get impatient and grumble. I try not to let it ruin a great day on the lake. Our launch was built with F&G funds and is supposed to be for fishing purposes. The signs specify that fishing vessels are allowed first access, but try explaining that to a Scarab owner. By the way, I feel filthy rich in my '01 StarCraft Fishmaster 176. The fish don't mind either. Play safe. The guy you swear at on the ramp may save your butt out on the lake.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

This is why I fish on weekdays whenever possible. We have the same problems launching. Sometimes we wait and sometimes they wait. We've all had problems on the ramp. I get impatient and grumble. I try not to let it ruin a great day on the lake. Our launch was built with F&G funds and is supposed to be for fishing purposes. The signs specify that fishing vessels are allowed first access, but try explaining that to a Scarab owner. By the way, I feel filthy rich in my '01 StarCraft Fishmaster 176. The fish don't mind either. Play safe. The guy you swear at on the ramp may save your butt out on the lake.

Or, maybe not.

 

[Chris_94_Sprint_TX]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

If you cuss me out at the ramp I'd attempt to help but if the same attitude still is present I'll motor off on my way and just wave.

Chris

 

[Geko45]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

I read threads like this and am so grateful to have my own slip.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

Ramps, yeah.....

Never mind.

 

[Taxus812]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

I have been reading this and I think I have it now.

Wait my turn
Unstrap my boat
Place wife and Kids in boat (Duct taped preferably)
Back down the ramp really fast and stop quick to launch the boat off the trailer. This way it doesn't take long to unload



Go park the truck quick but don't tie off to the dock. It makes people mad.




Enjoy the day




Did I forget anything?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

Heed warnings and instructions from authorities.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

I have an indoor dry slip and miss the ramp idiots... happily so. My neighbor said he was about # 8 or 9 in line and things were going smooth. One fisherman came in alone, ran to get his truck and off the ramp quickly. A couple more go though and he is #4 now--- then a boat comes off plane and runs straight to the dock. Someone asked him nicely to wait his turn. His reply was F--- you all, I'm alone. He tied off and while slowly walking to his truck someone yelled that his boat was floating down the ICW. No one saw how it got loose and no one would get out of line to take him to his boat... it idled to a sand bar just a few hundred yards away. The guy was swimming to his boat when my neighbor pulled away. My bet is he will not jump line again...

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

I have an indoor dry slip and miss the ramp idiots... happily so. My neighbor said he was about # 8 or 9 in line and things were going smooth. One fisherman came in alone, ran to get his truck and off the ramp quickly. A couple more go though and he is #4 now--- then a boat comes off plane and runs straight to the dock. Someone asked him nicely to wait his turn. His reply was F--- you all, I'm alone. He tied off and while slowly walking to his truck someone yelled that his boat was floating down the ICW. No one saw how it got loose and no one would get out of line to take him to his boat... it idled to a sand bar just a few hundred yards away. The guy was swimming to his boat when my neighbor pulled away. My bet is he will not jump line again...

Sounds like karma might have had some help.

Our launch has a dock that doesn't block the ramps, so the line is a truck/trailer line not a boat line.

 

[Chris_94_Sprint_TX]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

I have an indoor dry slip and miss the ramp idiots... happily so. My neighbor said he was about # 8 or 9 in line and things were going smooth. One fisherman came in alone, ran to get his truck and off the ramp quickly. A couple more go though and he is #4 now--- then a boat comes off plane and runs straight to the dock. Someone asked him nicely to wait his turn. His reply was F--- you all, I'm alone. He tied off and while slowly walking to his truck someone yelled that his boat was floating down the ICW. No one saw how it got loose and no one would get out of line to take him to his boat... it idled to a sand bar just a few hundred yards away. The guy was swimming to his boat when my neighbor pulled away. My bet is he will not jump line again...

I'm guessing he will some people just don't learn. But I can't blame anybody out there. Even the first time I launched I knew to wait my turn. Even now when loading my boat I generally will wait till everybody there has loaded theirs because I know I am slow at it and take a while. I just beach my boat and chill listen to the radio and have a smoke and watch the more experienced guys and take mental notes about ways to get faster. I watched a couple of guys one time load the bat and the operator forgot to lift the outdrive and just drug it up the ramp outdrive just bouncing all the way up the ramp.

Chris

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

Yes, the boat had some help. The helper was nice enough to toss the lines inside the boat. Must have been a ghost as when asked, no one at the ramp saw anything. My neighbor has told the story twice and it seemed he was laughing so hard both times he would wet himself! He said he did not even smile until the guy was running down the dock as he was thinking there may be a confrontation if the guy saw who helped his boat float and he would have to step in. Made me think the helper was small as my neighbor is a big young dude.

 

[Renken1]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

My wife and I work together. We get completely loaded up well away from the ramp. We tie a 50' rope to the bow and she walks beside the boat down to the water and out onto the dock. Once my boat lifts off the trailer I bump the brake, put it in drive, and up the hill I go as she pulls it over to the very end of the dock ( the dock is 60'+ with a fork on the end, plenty of space ). By doing it this way I have the lane back open in literally the time it takes to back down and drive up. She then lowers the drive and cranks it up to let it be warming. As soon as I get parked and back to the boat she's got it untied and we idle away from the dock.

We load in much the same way, as I'm backing down she pushes the boat off the dock and when I get the trailer in the water the boat is right there behind it. I jump out and step on the trailer, she tosses me the rope and i pull it up, hook the winch on it and crank it up tight. She is already in the truck waiting for my signal, and she pulls it up and out to the end of the parking lot away from everyone. Our loading process takes an average of about 3 minutes. We load faster than most people there because the boat goes on the trailer right the 1st time, no time lost trying to throttle it up the trailer runners, and its aligned properly and strait the 1st time.

Our lake's ramp is no where as busy as most that I've seen in the pics on this thread, and the comments I've read. The most I've ever had to wait for was 2 others in line before me.

 

[VE8EV]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

Ahhh, a chance to let off some pressure after a whole season of participating in boat ramp follies!!

We have a very nice paved launch on the riverbank with courtesy docks on each side and signs that clearly say "Do Not Leave Boats Unattended" and "For Recreational Use Only". I suspect that boat ramps are the same everywhere in the world and the Arctic is no different. Most folks have no clue about "etiquette" and either can't read or think the signs do not apply to them. People leave boats tied to the docks, sometimes for DAYS!! For two weeks in August someone had a freakin' BARGE beached right in the middle of the launch with welders and equipment working on it. Some guy left his trailer in the middle of the parking lot ALL SUMMER LONG!!

You just gotta take a deep breath, smile, and do the best you can to look like a pro and get in or out as fast and efficiently as possible. Boating is supposed to be fun so no point in letting people that don't know any better ruin your day.

Thanks, iboats, I feel much better now. See ya next year!

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

I would get there early and wait. You can watch other people "rage" on each other. Most people don't take "Constructive Criticism" very well. I saw a male earlier this year pull the trailer with the boat on it out of the water so fast, because he was mad at another boater taking too long, that he forgot to lift the lower unit on the boat. It scraped up the ramp and into the parking lot.

 

[Chris_94_Sprint_TX]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

I would get there early and wait. You can watch other people "rage" on each other. Most people don't take "Constructive Criticism" very well. I saw a male earlier this year pull the trailer with the boat on it out of the water so fast, because he was mad at another boater taking too long, that he forgot to lift the lower unit on the boat. It scraped up the ramp and into the parking lot.

I've seen this a few times but the guys I saw didn't have to wait on anybody and had nobody waiting, I guess they were in a hurry. As far as I saw, all summer saw it happen to the same guy and boat 3 times. I've done it once but I was still in the boat when my friend was pulling my truck up and as soon as I heard the dragging I hit the trailer button and raised the drive.


Chris

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Boat Ramp Etiquette - Am I being to pushy

People seem to think this is a somewhat new phenomena that is related to a changing mindset in the general public. It ain't new.

Not much different 50 years ago, just not as many people. As a kid I would hang out at the launch and assist people having problems or needing help, made money from the tips. This worked great because the faster you got the line going the faster you made money. I made more money per hour at 10 or 12 than I did when I got my first real job in high school.