Ramp Etiquette Question

[Wimperdink]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

its a 2 lane ramp but people often park in the middle because they cant back up straight..

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

It is a pet peeve of mine when people pull their boats just out of the water but still on the ramp and then begin to unload and prep the boat which takes a lot longer that getting the boat out of the water. For heavens sake pull up to the parking lot and get out of the way. Another peeve, guys fishing (with a stool mind you) on the loading dock. Now I don't begrudge someone fishing, but at the end of the day when boats are coming in to the loading dock, I don't want to have ask fishermen to pull in their lines and get out of the way. A little common courtesy goes a long way, but then courtesy is not common these days.<br />Mr. Peevish

 

[DaveM]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Put me in with the crowd that would pull around the guy and take my own sweet time. <br /><br />I've also been know to drop my boat in within inches of someone who strayed too far into the other launch lane. Sometimes an offending dufus might give me a dirty look, but I always smile and am kind. I might have been heard saying, "Hmm, tight squeeze." And there was that one time that a guy actually appologized for his lack of backing skills.

 

[chugger]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I guess people are the same every where you go. From the squatters to the lollygaggers the ramps I use have them all. If they're launching or retrieving a boat I'll cut them some slack and offer to help if it looks like they're having trouble. But if they're fishing, picnicing, swimming, or just loitering I'll ask them to move. If they don't move I'll back up into whatever space is left. Usually as I get closer the space gets bigger. I backed up over a blanket one time and got yelled at but hey, they shouldn't have been on the ramp to begin with. Another time a guy had cast a couple of lines across the front of the ramp. He saw me coming, and I gave him plenty of time to reel them in, but he just sat there looking at me until I ran over the lines and pulled the poles into the pond. He was PO'd but there's a sign at the top of the ramp that says "No fishing, parking, swimming, or picnicing." I pointed to it and said that's why they made those rules. <br /><br />In your case I'd of just gone around and rev'ed the engine a little while doing it.

 

[Trailbum]

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..

Yup.... I live in a small community with a single lane ramp... Not all the households have their own dock, so some families will go down to swim at the "community dock"..... I've seen 'em with lawn chairs set up on the ramp!!!!

 

[mrloring]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

WHAT!! You mean that ISN'T a concrete beach and fishing pier they built at the lake.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Sorry Wimperdink, I misunderstood the question with my first answer. I thought the guy was in the parking lot prepping and your questions was "is it OK to go in front?" That's when I ask - "hey you're in front of me in the queue, but I'm ready to retrieve - can I go around you - I'll be out in a couple of minutes?"<br />However, if the guy is prepping on the ramp I would simply barge through and retrieve - and let the guy know there are prep areas away from the ramp.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Does this post, since we all pretty much agree, mean that we all have some level of "ramp rage"?

 

[inthesticksnow]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

Wow, I should consider myself fortunate indeed. We have a very nice 4-bay launch in Morris Il., along the Illinois river, with a few hundred at least, parking spots for trucks and trailers. I have never seen anything like the above, ever.<br /><br />Sometimes there will be a boat “prepping”, and only one of three bays open. I (and everyone else) will simply pull around the guy and launch if there is an open bay, period. It’s a first come, first serve, understanding. But I would not drive around the guy if I were going to retrieve, because I usually need to leave the truck after the trailer is in, and get the boat from the dock, etc., and that takes more time than launching. I’d either ask him if he would mind if I go around if it looks like he’s going to be awhile, or just wait if he’s almost done.<br /><br />As everyone else has said, prepping at the launch site is problem, but on weekends here, there are usually lines that back up even outside the park, so everyone “preps” while waiting in line. When the park isn’t so busy… we just pull around anyone dallying, and no offence is taken. <br /><br />Believe me, if there were someone next in line to pull around for the next open bay, but was pulling tarps and transferring coolers from truck to boat, etc., there’d be a lot of PO’ed people… but I’ve never seen that here. The only thing I have seen, and what I do frequently, and which is not an issue, is pull the transom straps after I have pulled around and positioned to back up. This is hardly “prepping”.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

we have a rather small 2 lane ramp but most folk cant back a trailer so usually its one at a time. I dont use it much as I keep one of my boats tied up at a cousins all the time. however sometimes the commercial kayak rental places will decide to hold training on the ramp with 10 or more novice tourists. last time I waited about 10 min and politly asked the tour guide to clear the ramp. he looked at me like I was either alien or stupid. I waited another 10 min or so and started backing down. I gave him the option. move or I would back over them. but most the time its a good experience at the ramp.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I've sometimes thought of composing a boat ramp guide and placing copies under the windshields of vehicles in the parking lot. Might get yelled at or shot, though.<br /><br />A lot of people have already decided what they are going to do and aren't likely to accept unsolicited advice.

 

[dtherrien]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

I posted a simalar topic about 2months ago.This happened about a month ago....Went fishing at a lake with a double wide ramp.The parking lot was almost full.I pulled way up from ramp to prep boat.while doing this somebody elsepulled up behind me...backed down the ramp and preped his boat there.He did this so he could get the last remaining parking place that was easy to get at.I had to wait after launching my boat for somebody else to leave.OK...on the way back in..3 guys in a 14' alum. boat pulled up to the ramp alittle ahead of me....i waited on the other side for somebody to launch...then pulled up to the open space and went to get truck and trailer.I pull up to back down and the alum. boat is smack in the middle of the ramp.So i back up alittle then wait...ease off the brake alittle then wait...they see i want to back in,but there boat is still in the middle.....i said the hell with them...i just backed down in pushing there boat out of my way...loaded my boat on....pulled up and was gone in about 5mins.They were still there with there boat not even loaded up.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

My regular ramp is a really nice free ramp with very limited parking. Lately, about nine times in ten, many of the parking spots are taken by cars w/no trailers. I'm assuming they are the vehicles of people who are guests on someone elses boats. What do ya do about these guys? The parking spots aren't labeled as truck/trailer only but it's pretty obvious what they're for... they're sixty feet long! Oh, and of course there's only one car in each spot when three would fit!<br /><br />I'm usually a nice guy at the ramp, what comes around goes around.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Ramp Etiquette Question

First, I'm retired so I boat mostly during the week and avoid weekends and holidays if possible.<br /><br />Second, I try to get to the ramp as early as possible, seven or eight o'clock in the morning sometimes earlier.<br /><br />Works for me! (usually)