launching woes

[ziggy]

so i go out to the lake last sat. eve. 6pm or so. go to my second favorite ramp. was only a little busy. boats parked in 3 of the 4 day slips (4 slots including the ramp). so i get in line. it went fast. but as i'm waiting some feller with a old, spent, 65ish larson w/o a windshield and a spent looking johnson hanging off the back with some covers flapping pulls in and around the line and in ft. of the ramp, though far enough fwd. to allow the reg. line of launch routine. so i launch my boat. tie it up to the ramp side slot which was the only one left, at the back end of the ramp. dock length is for 2 boats. go park my van, come back down to find this feller with the larsen starting to back down the ramp. thought, ok, fine. he'll stop shy of launching as i'm walking out to my boat to start her up. down the ramp he comes. doing the speed launch thing. got his boy holding onto a side line. darn. the rollers on the trailer shriek a little bit and it don't come off the trailer. so before i can say anything, it's in a little deeper and launches. the spent johnson smashes right into the ft. of my boat. good greif. i push his garbage off my boat after a few choice words to him i can't print here. i kept his engine off my boat while the gf untied and we launched. this dude didn't even have the courtesy to come see what happened.... just sat in his car. well, i got his number while out on the lake. i think i read it right as the last number was so faded i couldn't hardly read it.
while going for a swim. i see slight damage to the ft of my keel, up above the bow eye. scraped off gel coat i'd assume. only reason i don't go after him is cause the scrape could have come from my last time out. while adj. the carb. in fwd. i was touching the dock.... i need to go see if i see any grey johnson paint on my boat. hard to see as it's under the top bow roller..... anyways. i thought the feller was a...... well, guess i can't print that either......

had a great time camping in my nineteen overnight again though.... to bad about the gel coat though. it'd be the first type of wound for it of that kind.....

 

[ezmobee]

Re: launching woes

wow, what a GIANT dirt bag. Had a guy with a similar sad boat cut in front of me in line at the ramp last weekend. The ramp was PACKED with people waiting. After cutting in, he proceeds to do a really bad job backing, requiring multiple re-straightnings, then his boat won't start. Instead of pulling it over to the courtesy dock out of the way, he proceeds to tinker with it right there on the ramp for like 15 minutes!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: launching woes

That's really awful. I'm always amazed at the stupidity of some people at the ramp. I'm also surprised a bunch of guys in the launch line didn't come out and read the guy the riot act over this.

That, to me, sounds like another job for my handy valve stem tool, the one that's always in my SUV's tool box. Hard to retrieve with two flat trailer tires with the valve cores sitting on the ground next to them and a little note about ramp etiquette taped to his trailer.

I'm a peaceful sort of guy, but that kind of ramp behavior needs a good reminder of the proper etiquette.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: launching woes

Sorry, dupe post.

 

[rndn]

Re: launching woes

If you ever want some free entertainment, take a lawn chair to any public boat launch on the weekend. You will be amazed at what you see.
In comment about the post, I would never suggest becoming a vandal just because someone doesn't know any better.

 

[sdilecce]

Re: launching woes

I had an interesting experience at a launch ramp this weekend. I relativly new to boating, so I'm always extra careful, and always try to be curtious. Well I was heading back into the harbur, and narrow channel that leads to the marina were th boat launch is. As I approched the channel markers I turned off the outboard and switched over to my trolling motor. The channel is narrow, and leads into a busy Marina with no wake signs everyware. This is on a Sunday of a long weekend. Well my wife nudges me on the sholder and says "I think that guy is going to pass us". Sure enough some Turkey decides he is more important than everyone else, and passes the boat behind me, and then me in the narrow channel no wake zone. He races to the ramp and ties his boat up. By the time he backs his trailer into the water there is a line up of boats waiting to get out. We wait patiently as he proceeds to ram his boat into the dock several times and into his trailer several times. After about ten minutes of this, he decides to turn off his motor and jump into the water wich comes up to his chest, and his family watches on. He the wades up to his trailer and hooks up his winch. At this point he is soaked, his boat is on the trailer and twenty minutes has gone by. He then gets in his van and pulls away with his boat.

Now I suppose all of us waiting in line that he rudely passed could have reminded him to trim up his drive ... Too late, Scrap, crunch, bang...... Looks like he is going to need a new skeg.

 

[ziggy]

Re: launching woes

GIANT dirt bag is kinda close to what i called him...

the valve stems seems like a great idea that is most deserveing. but i just can't bring myself to that. i'd really rather just have my boat back unscathed like it was... and

Now I suppose all of us waiting in line that he rudely passed could have reminded him to trim up his drive ... Too late, Scrap, crunch, bang...... Looks like he is going to need a new skeg.

that's just down right funny. what comes around goes around. to bad i likely won't get the enjoyment of being there to see my discourteous feller get his....

 

[Matrex]

Re: launching woes

Interested in the comment about cutting the line....

I bought my first boat this summer and leave it at my cottage, so have very little experience at launching. In fact I have used a public launch exactly once. I got to the launch and pulled in behind the other two vehicles. I waited 10 minutes for the first guy in line to take his cover off, stow it, put on his bumpers and buckle his kids into lifejackets. When he pulled out the tube and connected the air pump I thought the hell with this and went around him, backed my boat in and launched. He wasn't happy and had some words for me...but he was still getting ready when we parked the truck and left in the boat.

Seems to me HE was the one breaching etiquette. I would think proper etiquette is be ready, then join the line....

 

[tcindie]

Re: launching woes

Seems to me HE was the one breaching etiquette. I would think proper etiquette is be ready, then join the line....

I would agree to a point.. I don't see anything wrong necessarily with waiting to undo the transom straps and such until you're in line waiting to get on the ramp, but sitting in line strapping kids into vests and blowing up tubes is most certainly not the kind of activity that should be taking place in the line -- especially if that person IS the line.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: launching woes

Thank's CATransplant, I thought I was the only one out there with a VS tool. Sinking a land yacht is my favorite pay back. I've never actually laid the stems by the wheels, I just give them a couple slow leaks and call it good. But I'll try it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: launching woes

Seems to me HE was the one breaching etiquette. I would think proper etiquette is be ready, then join the line....

Yes, in this situation you'd be correct. In my situation I can KINDA see how this guy could maybe not see that he was cutting in line. Our ramp is on one side of a road and the parking area is on the other. There were a number of us waiting so we were scattered around the parking area. Now myself, being courteous, took complete stock of everyone that was waiting around with a boat as I drove in so I could figure out my place in the order. If there was someone that I wasn't sure if they were getting ready to launch or getting ready to leave I would have asked! This guy drives in on the road, doesn't take any notice to those of us in the parking area, and just backs right down the ramp. So maybe he's not an ***** and is just ignorant.

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: launching woes

So maybe he's not an ***** and is just ignorant.

I think many times those kinda guys are being given a free pass by saying maybe they're being ignorant. I think it comes down to common sense courtesy meaning not do get everything ready (load the boat, get kids ready, fix the engine, put on sun block, etc...) while at the ramp.

I can also see why you went around him but I think you're inviting trouble by doing so. Maybe you should have politely told him that "you're supposed to prepare your boat before you get to the ramp and I'm ready so I'm going to go around you."

I got to the launch and pulled in behind the other two vehicles.

I'm wondering though what was the reaction of the other guy you went around?

In the case of those cutting around an apparent line; that's not ignorant, that being discourteous and thinking they and their time is more important than everyone else.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: launching woes

I wasn't clear. By "behind" I meant behind in line, not behind literally. I didn't cut anyone off!

 

[Labman]

Re: launching woes

I very politely point out the offending parties breach of RAMP MANNERS. I have found most people respond in an appropriate fashion, both apologetic and understanding. I suppose it may have something to do with the fact that for the last 30+ years I have worked as a Const. Weldor and I am 6'3, 270lbs. with a 56" chest and 20" arms. Never had to make a threat, always just smile

 

[hubbard53]

Re: launching woes

Thank's CATransplant, I thought I was the only one out there with a VS tool. Sinking a land yacht is my favorite pay back. I've never actually laid the stems by the wheels, I just give them a couple slow leaks and call it good. But I'll try it.

sure, that's perfectly equal "punishment" for someone being discourteous or making you wait. . .

what a d-bag

 

[HappierWet]

Re: launching woes

If you ever want some free entertainment, take a lawn chair to any public boat launch on the weekend. You will be amazed at what you see.
In comment about the post, I would never suggest becoming a vandal just because someone doesn't know any better.

"That's really awful. I'm always amazed at the stupidity of some people at the ramp. I'm also surprised a bunch of guys in the launch line didn't come out and read the guy the riot act over this.

That, to me, sounds like another job for my handy valve stem tool, the one that's always in my SUV's tool box. Hard to retrieve with two flat trailer tires with the valve cores sitting on the ground next to them and a little note about ramp etiquette taped to his trailer.

I'm a peaceful sort of guy, but that kind of ramp behavior needs a good reminder of the proper etiquette."



Sorry, I don't read it as CAT suggesting anyone commit vandalism...Only what course of action he might take....I won't even pretend that I don't understand his frustration, or that of the fellow who's boat got struck to start this thread. Might be better than an assault charge. Frankly, I would do worse....much worse. But then again I usually put my two cents in where I see a potential problem, just to make sure I don't feel like I could have done something to prevent this and didn't.