Learning at the ramp

[jayhanig]

I know there's a funny boat ramp thread elsewhere but this wasn't funny... just illuminating. For the last few months I've been going down to the local boat ramp and watching others launch and recover their boats. Most of the time they make it look pretty easy with the occasional inexperienced boater mixed in. Today I saw something that gave me pause.

A woman in her 30s was attempting to launch a boat with the assistance of her small son... maybe 8-9 years old. She told me she'd just recently bought the boat (her first): maybe a 20 foot center console deep vee hull with an Evinrude outboard on it. She was trying to back a double axle trailer with one very soft tire down the ramp with her SUV. Back up a little, pivot, back up, pivot, pull forward, back up pivot, etc. Back and forth; back and forth. It's a double ramp and nobody was waiting so that was good.

The only dock line was about 6 feet long and tied to a cleat on the wrong side of the boat relative to the dock. She had a new dock line but it was still wrapped up and she didn't want to get it out yet. I asked her about fenders. She made a big deal about how she knew about them; she had them; but she made no effort to put them out. I watched as that nice looking hull scrapped across the pilings.

We got her son to move the line to the appropriate side of the boat and I hung on to it for them, telling her I wouldn't let go until she had the engine started. Good thing, too... because she never did get it to do anything. The motor had juice to tilt but when she turned the key, it'd chirp and that was it. She said the last owner had disabled the dead man's switch and she'd just had a guy at the place where she stores the boat start it up for her. Unfortunately, she didn't watch him do it so she didn't see what he did. Other boaters offered to help at this time but nobody could figure out how to get it to turn over. She was focused on the fuel bulb when she should have been concerned with the starter solenoid not firing. She told me the guy at the marina was going to fix it Monday. Anyway, it was obvious she wasn't going to go anywhere, which was probably a blessing in disguise.

Trying to back the trailer back into the water was worse than the first time. Coming from the parking area she managed to not swing far enough and her trailer smacked a fence piling. No apparent damage but it would have been different if the boat had been on it. Ultimately somebody volunteered to back the trailer for her and she accepted.

Pulling the boat back around the dock and up the trailer enough to attach the winch was easier than I thought it would be and nobody had to get wet. She wound the thing up and then got back in her SUV and pulled it out. I was mildly surprised to see the plug in place. She never did remove it that I saw. She also didn't have anything holding that boat to the trailer besides gravity and that winch strap.

She is taking a boat safety course from the CG Auxiliary next weekend. I think she put the cart in front of the horse. I also believe her reluctance to put out fenders and proper dock lines along with not understanding how to start her boat were all due to information overload.

That appeared to be a nice boat. I hope she learns enough before she tears it up.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Learning at the ramp

I'll give her credit for the attempt, but "cart before the horse" sums it up nicely.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Learning at the ramp

Yes, it is an annual ritual when the rookies hit the ramps. Everyone needs to learn and I usually suggest a big parking lot first (you know without water and slope).

I am a firm believer that there should be a road test and more stringent requirements for boating. Mistakes while launching you can walk away from but, in the middle of a pond errors can be fatal. I have taught many and met many that needed teaching however, were "too smart.....too proud or just plain stupid" to accept. It insult's the adulthood .........

My only advice to new people reading this..... learn, practice and do not be ashamed to ask for assistance.

Did you invite that young woman to iboats??

 

[1980Galaxy]

Re: Learning at the ramp

I'll second the notion that there should be some trailer training involved with a boating course... too many people don't know how to back up a trailer. how can you have a boat if you have no idea how to put it in the water? You have to start somewhere and an empty parking lot is about the best place to begin.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Learning at the ramp

Some people pay good money to see a show like that.

Frm the tone of your post, while cart before the horse may sum it up, she also appeared reluctant to consider any good advice. Of course, she may have been trying to appear competant or partially so or simply trying to save face. No matter what we say or do, it is very important to all of us to mentally be accepted. Very powerful emotion.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Learning at the ramp

^^^^^ agreed

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Learning at the ramp

The real issue is the fact she had her young son with her. She had more than she could handle with the boat much less risking the safety of her son. If you want to see pandemonium, take a cooler of adult beverages, a lawn chair with an attached umbrella to protect you from the sun, and plant the whole works on a nice observation point at a ramp on any holiday weekend. Memorial weekend is best because thats the first spring holiday and it brings out the first timers as well as the three or four times a year boaters. You might even take a video camera because you will see fist fights, hear cussing, poor trailer backing skills, ill prepared boats, ill prepared tow vehicles and most of all, ill prepared operators.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Learning at the ramp

Yes the festivities are about to begin. But that woman must be trying to show her independance obviously a single mother but safety is 1st and formost as we all know and if she can't grasp that she has no buisness owning a boat to try to show her son a good time fishing or whatever. Maybe the safety course will enlighten her but practice makes perfect n the towing department.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Learning at the ramp

Did you invite that young woman to iboats??

I did not. She struck me as on information overload. Even if I had she wouldn't have remembered when she got home. She bit off way more than she could chew. With any luck, she'll do what I do in similar situations: go home and think about what went wrong... and ways to avoid repeating them.

I don't have a lot of confidence in that CGA class helping her either. The mass of information is such that unless you prepare, you'll be unable to keep up. I got the feeling homework wasn't going to be her strong suit.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Learning at the ramp

I'll second the notion that there should be some trailer training involved with a boating course... too many people don't know how to back up a trailer. how can you have a boat if you have no idea how to put it in the water? You have to start somewhere and an empty parking lot is about the best place to begin.

I did recommend the Lowes parking lot after hours. I don't think it sank in.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Learning at the ramp

Some people pay good money to see a show like that.

From the tone of your post, while cart before the horse may sum it up, she also appeared reluctant to consider any good advice. Of course, she may have been trying to appear competent or partially so or simply trying to save face. No matter what we say or do, it is very important to all of us to mentally be accepted. Very powerful emotion.

I am well aware of that and went out of my way to be nonthreatening and nonjudgemental. I told her all about my own first trip out which ended in near disaster. What you suggested may very well be the reason she wasn't open to suggestion.

I am reminded of the Pilot's Prayer: "Dear Lord: Please don't let me screw up today. But if I do, don't let anybody see it."

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Learning at the ramp

I am well aware of that and went out of my way to be nonthreatening and nonjudgemental. I told her all about my own first trip out which ended in near disaster. What you suggested may very well be the reason she wasn't open to suggestion.

I am reminded of the Pilot's Prayer: "Dear Lord: Please don't let me screw up today. But if I do, don't let anybody see it."

Funny prayer. I have to amend that to "Dear Lord: Please don't let me screw up today. But if I do, please don't let it make it to tape."

My wife takes the boats out by herself, but when she has an audience she is easily frustrated.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Learning at the ramp

This event demonstrates how crucial it is for a new boater to have an experience boater along for the first few trips.

What may have been going on here is that she was experienced from back in the day with smaller boats, and did not appreciate the difference in what it takes to manage a larger one. I have seen this happen a lot, and often the ones with a little knowlege are worse than the ones with no knowlege--if they realize it. And I experienced it first hand when I moved from single axle lightweight boats under 20' to a 21' deep V CC on a tandem. It's a bigger step up than many realize.

Also what was probably going on here was a boater who assumed the operating systems were like a car: simple and reliable. Boats are neither, I don't care how well maintained. There's always some "trouble" to "shoot" even if it's a kill switch or loose battery connection.

She may have been one whose husband always did everything and she didn't realize how much she didn't know. Although I'm the one who usually does the trailer, my wife has done it several times, even with the big boat, so she knows what it's about and can handle it if she has to. She learned, of course, on an empty ramp. My parents were the same way and my mother (and sisters) had the knowledge and skills even though the guys usually took over. So ladies, watch and learn; guys, teach your mates and then you have a helper!

Thanks for being nice to her. Not to sound sexist, but the truth is, she'll get more assistance b/c of her gender, than would an equally unknowlegable male. And at least she tried on a day when it wasn't busy.