Re: Ramp etiquette rules
I have made a hobby of going to our local boat ramp to watch the week end antics. It is cheaper than a movie, much more entertaining, and usually I learn something. I have a Ford Exploder SUV and trailer a 175 Aquasport. I am not the best backer-upper in the world, but I am getting better. One day I was watching a fellow boater, in an suv, he approached the ramp, opened the rear hatch on his SUV so he could have a unobstructed view of the boat and ramp. Now I do that and it has helped my backing allot. If I hadn't seen someone else do that, I probably would have never thought of that. Going to the local ramp to watch others is relaxing, and we now have 10 regular friends (ramp rats) who come to the ramp on Sunday evening to share boating stories, stupid boat tricks, and just talk and watch the show. I learn something new every time I go. Our ramp TOP TEN:..#10)..DON'T BE IN A HURRY.......Of all the things I watch people do wrong, thats the worst. #9) GET THE BOAT READY AT HOME, NOT ON THE RAMP. Have a mental checklist.<br />#8) DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE PLUG IN. My personal favorite. My point is sometimes the best way to learn is to quietly watch other idiots. #7) TIMING IS EVERYTHING. At our ramp, most weekdays are relatively calm. Saturday is mostly fisherman, Sunday is those folks who take the boat out 3 times a year, with the following items: wife (to hollar at) mother-in-law, 7 kids, inner tube, fishing poles, coolers, dog, neighbors, friends, usually with a vintage 1969 mercury outboard, or a brand spanking new regal I/O. #6) ITS ALWAYS THE WIND...... I have watched more people ignore the wind and get into trouble. One guy, after the wind pushed him sideways in the ramp area, rammed the bow of his brand new (maiden voyage) proline WA into the concrete dock, then franticly backing into opposite side of concrete dock and killing almost an entire population of barnicles, (after I jumped out of his way I tried to help) With his wife screaming at him, and fibergalss chips flying everywhere, the motor finaly died. So at elast he couldn't ram anything any more. My wife said to the guy....That north east wind is a killer today...he commented "It was the current that got me, its bad in here (there is no current), and as his wife was rolling her eyes and thanking us for helping fend off his boat and tie up his morring lines, he was trying to explain to her about the aledged current. She wasnt buying it. Some people just dont get it. #1 WATCHING OTHER IDIOTS MAKES YOUR MISTAKES SEEM BETTER. ENOUGH SAID.
