stupid people at the ramp

[rjlipscomb]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Can't seem to get away from the knuckleheads.

Last Friday, a jet skier decided to block half the ramp while he work on his ski. Apparently it had a dead battery, needed his truck to jump start it, let it run for a while, turned it off and tried again. No luck, kept working on the problem.

Coming back in, I tied up the boat away from the ramp, ran up the hill to get my trailer, come back down and wait while a boater decides to prep and load his boat on the ramp. He forgot to unstrap it, took sometime trying to figure out why it wouldn't come off the trailer (under power). He finally figured it out, pulled out of the water, unstrapped and back in and then blocked the ramp with his boat while he made the trek to the parking lot.

I finally get my trailer in the water, run over get boat, head for trailer and two jet skis decide to sit and wait for me to load my boat. Only problem was, they were between my boat and the trailer. Honking and hand signals didn't seem to work. Finally they moved. And, the cross wind coming from the port side did not help .

Knuckleheads!

 

[kamby]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I live in Puyallup next to Tacoma (Puget Sound Area). To go crabbing we put in at a little private single lane launch with 1-3 spots for boats depending on the tides. when the tide is out the launch is anything but level if you launch straight out. Needless to say every time we are there you have 8 people waiting to launch and 5 waiting to pull out (no room for anyone to launch, park the boat, ect. We grab a soda at the marina and clean the crab and fish we catch on the back of the boat while someone mans the motor keeping us away from the docks and the other boats jockeying in line. This launch is never smooth but always full of arguments and fights by people who feel that everyone needs to get in and out within 2 minutes besides themselves. I too like to be ready to go right when it is my turn and have everything in the boat, trim ready to go, ball pumped, ect and cannot stand it when willie and millie feel it is fine to get the straps off at the water's edge and grab fluffie and buffie the rat dogs from the truck and put them into the boat after it is in the water but before they drive the truck up to the lot and end up tying up the launch for 15 minutes. It is painful to say the least but if you let yourself get consumed with anger like I see every weekend day we use this launch I am pretty sure your heart attack will happen sooner than later.

Sounds like Day Island Harbor, single launch, steep on low tide no room..

Im from puyallup to, cool to see another iboat member from puyallup

 

[redeye1962]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

2 waverunners taking up the entire beach? must be a really small beach!

Sorry,
I forgot to mention the house boat next to them. Wait a minute I just checked and I did. Yes there was not much of a beach to land on and these guys were just lounging on the houseboat. I call it a house boat probably around 20-25 ft covered boat, it was nice but still they were taking alot of space.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I witness the usual guys that haven't use their rigs in the entire year and get to try it in a full busy access place. Taking the boat out was not much better as these same retards can't get their boat right in the trailer.

Wow, Nandy. What a relentless performance standard!

 

[Mark5150]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Was a great day on my favorite lake (Phantom lake, Muguanago, WI.) until some BTL (Boat launch idiot) had a dead battery and tied up the launch for almost two hours, this all started at about 6 pm the most hectic time at the launch on a Sunday. I waited for about 15 min. I was in line with four other people ahead of me and about six others behind me waiting to get their boats back in also. I realized this moron isn't going anywhere for awhile and fished for a few more. They drive their Minni van to the launch head first to try and jump the battery (hes doing all this while talking on his cell phone mind you, maybe he was getting step by step directions.) after that failed they just sat there, I'm not sure what they where waiting for, but they made no attempt to move the boat on the inside of the launch they have to hog the whole launch. like I said I just went and fished for a few more till they where done screwing around, almost two hours later 8 pm tired and hungry and getting grouchy, I finally get my turn to trailer my boat, this only took me less than 5 min to do all that once I actually got my boat to the dock, after I drove up to secure my boat, they finally decided it was time to put the boat back on the trailer and call it a day after I got mine up. Duh I would have just done that in the first place, as a matter of fact I wouldn't have had to because I always make sure I have a fully charged battery before I leave the house in the first place! Since I had been tied up there for so long already I decided to stay and see how long it would take to get their boat back on the trailer, we had bets going I said it would take them at least 30 or 35 min to get it back on. After 4 attempts to back the trailer on the launch they all stood there scratching their heads on what to do next It only took them 25 min to get that puppy back on the trailer.LMFAO

 

[Nandy]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Wow, Nandy. What a relentless performance standard!

Tell me about it, at least there was no dead battery boat incident at the ramp this year, not at least while I was there....

 

[axeslinger1957]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Tell me about it, at least there was no dead battery boat incident at the ramp this year, not at least while I was there....

I most emphatically did NOT agree with you. I do not approve of your unsympathetic approach to inexperience. And yes, I understand that this is a "stupid human tricks" subforum. Someone who is trying to learn how to safely pilot a boat, along with the infinite minutiae regarding transportation, maintenance, launching and recovery faces a vertical learning curve. The available resources are: practice, this forum, the boating safety course and asking everyone I can think of every question I can think of. I have pursued all these avenues assiduously. My point is that inexperience does not constitute a "stupid human trick"!

I qualify for MENSA. I have an advanced degree in Computer Science. I expertly develop software in more than ten programming languages. I almost have degrees in Biology and Spanish. I play multiple instruments. Do you think I'm stupid?

 

[DukesFin]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Stupid? NO

Ignorant? Possibly so!

IQ's and degrees have nothing to do with common sense (or what I consider should be common sense).

If you have a boat, it is your responsibility to learn the in's and out's of boating/launching/trailering your vessel. If you do not take time to learn, oh I don't know what you should call it... Stupidity? Ignorance?

I don't have much sympathy for those who obviously have no idea what they are doing around their boat and other boaters.

Example of how it should be done: I'm one of those who when boating with my wife, has to go up to the dock, get off the boat and go get the truck and trailer down the ramp. My wife will either keep the boat at the dock ONLY if nobody else needs it (nobody approaching/launching) or takes the boat out and away from the dock. Once I've got the trailer down the ramp, I get back on the boat and load it.

My wife said to me 2 days ago, "We need to come out here when it's not busy so I can practice backing up the trailer so it would be faster and easier."

If you don't have the common sense or courtesy to think this way, you're fair game in my book. You probably don't have the common sense or courtesy to boat safely in many situations either. Not ALL situations, but surely, many.

But this is just me and what do I know?

 

[david_r]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Stupid? NO

Ignorant? Possibly so!

IQ's and degrees have nothing to do with common sense (or what I consider should be common sense).

If you have a boat, it is your responsibility to learn the in's and out's of boating/launching/trailering your vessel. If you do not take time to learn, oh I don't know what you should call it... Stupidity? Ignorance?

I don't have much sympathy for those who obviously have no idea what they are doing around their boat and other boaters.

)

well put!!

what people do not realize is that these "inexperienced" boaters are DANGEROUS to say the least..................

do some research and you will find 90% of all accidents (not just boating mind you) are caused by inexperience.

now tell us we should have sympathy for someone putting our lives in danger ................... water is dangerous enough!!

 

[wicked]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

even before i leave the house i make sure the battery is good and the boat will start . my dad taught me this when i was young ,so now its common practice for me. nothing is worse then getting there only to find out the boat wont start or has a dead battery

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I always offer to help people at the launch that appear to be having trouble.
Most people will gladly accept help or advice from a more experienced boater.
I live near a 725 acre lake with a 4 place launch and it is the biggest lake in the area so it gets alot of ramp traffic.
A couple of weeks there is a pontoon trying to get the pontoon on a float on trailer but can't seem to line it up right there are about 6 people that got off the boat and are standing on the dock trying to direct him as he goes forward and reverse with no success.
After watching about 10 attemts I tell my son I can't take it any longer.
I jump in about 18" deep water and line up the toons.
You woulda thought I was Einstein to figure that one out.
They were however very thankful.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Just last year we went to our favorite lake. We stopped in at the boat dealership (it is on the lake), and was talking to the folks that run it, when a guy came in who had probably a 24-26' Chapparell. He told the salesman there that his battery was dead, and wanted to buy a battery, rather than tie up the ramp waiting on someone to jump start him. The salesman, said the mechanics/techs had went home about 20 minutes ago, and they had no batteries ready to go. I told the salesman, that I would be willing to jump start him, and that I was NOT trying to take business away from him. (I told him this quietly, so the guy couldn't hear). The salesman told me that it would be a good thing to help the guy out, and it was no problem.

I told the other boat owner that we would get my boat launched, and when the line to unload was clear, I'd jump him. He agreed. So, when all was clear, I did just that. I also told him to have his stuff ready to go, so as not to tie up the ramp etc. He did. When we got him started, and I backed away from him, and waited at the dock for my wife. In the mean time, he and his family came over to me and offered me some $$ for the start, and I refused it. It turns out that someone had left a switch on in his boat, and run the battery down. I told him to take the $$ and spend it on his kids having a good time. (Kids were small, and wanted to go boating.

I thought it all worked out good for everyone.

BUT, I can't stand it when someone:

1) Hogs the ramp loading their coolers up, etc.

2) Cuts the line when we have waited patiently for our turn to load up

3) Some jet flea cuts a doughnut at the ramp as a final move before he loads up on his trailer, and creates waves while trying to load up.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I qualify for MENSA. I have an advanced degree in Computer Science. I expertly develop software in more than ten programming languages. I almost have degrees in Biology and Spanish. I play multiple instruments. Do you think I'm stupid?

you are not stupid ...but maybe you have no experiance with boats. you can read about it all day long but the experiance/ practice is far better.

- lighten up-every one here is here for entertainment.

I have been boating for over 30 years but am mostly computer illiterate. Hell ,I can't even post photos Would you say I am stupid?

 

[DukesFin]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

Let me add to my post/reply... I may have sounded more "harsh" or un-caring than I am...

If I see someone having trouble, I ALWAYS offer help. If they refuse that help... Well "fair game" again.

If I see someone having trouble, cussing, acting like an idiot, I do NOT offer help. They will help themselves out of boating in due time!

 

[tal]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I have witnessed some of these events in the past. They seem to be pretty rare occurences depending on where you are. At the coast most people seem to know what they're doing and there are large ramps to serve a large line of launchers. I did witness someone back onto another person's trailer about 2 weeks ago, but it was early and still dark in the morning, obviously an accident. The two empty trailers were stuck together though, hehe.

Around the lakes it's a bit different. Usually 2 boats can launch at one time if you can back it good down the ramp. Sometimes you get the ramp hog and have to wait. On the 4th there were about 3 boats waiting to back down a looong ramp (since all the lakes are low) and there was a guy down at the bottom trying to get his boat off. I think he was having trouble with it so I was on my way walking to him to offer help. I guess he saw me coming down and just gave up. He looked frustrated as he passed and said something about it not starting. I felt sorry for him with his kid in the boat and trying to get it on the water. He knew the line was building up so he pulled up out of the way. I get impatient at these folks, but not mad. Once you've been the frustrated individual on the ramp having issues, you know how it feels.

 

[Zeeter]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I most emphatically did NOT agree with you. I do not approve of your unsympathetic approach to inexperience. And yes, I understand that this is a "stupid human tricks" subforum. Someone who is trying to learn how to safely pilot a boat, along with the infinite minutiae regarding transportation, maintenance, launching and recovery faces a vertical learning curve. The available resources are: practice, this forum, the boating safety course and asking everyone I can think of every question I can think of. I have pursued all these avenues assiduously. My point is that inexperience does not constitute a "stupid human trick"!

I qualify for MENSA. I have an advanced degree in Computer Science. I expertly develop software in more than ten programming languages. I almost have degrees in Biology and Spanish. I play multiple instruments. Do you think I'm stupid?

I become a little gunshy when I ask if I can help I get the response of,
*(&^ off.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I most emphatically did NOT agree with you. I do not approve of your unsympathetic approach to inexperience. And yes, I understand that this is a "stupid human tricks" subforum. Someone who is trying to learn how to safely pilot a boat, along with the infinite minutiae regarding transportation, maintenance, launching and recovery faces a vertical learning curve. The available resources are: practice, this forum, the boating safety course and asking everyone I can think of every question I can think of. I have pursued all these avenues assiduously. My point is that inexperience does not constitute a "stupid human trick"!

I qualify for MENSA. I have an advanced degree in Computer Science. I expertly develop software in more than ten programming languages. I almost have degrees in Biology and Spanish. I play multiple instruments. Do you think I'm stupid?

Does someone have their panties in a knot?
This is another fine example of why licenses should be mandatory. The mentality of I'm Richer than you, or smarter than you, or how hard can it be is far to prevalent.
Yes, I'm impressed by your accomplishments, but other than the boating safety course, none of it really qualifies you to operate watercraft.
IBOATS is a great forum and there are a lot of very knowledgeable people here, and being willing to admit what you don't know is at least half the process of education......for instance if the boat isn't sitting on the trailer properly, what might happen?

 

[walk-on]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

I know what you mean. A few weeks ago I was at the same ramp trying to get my boat out and there was a family doing just the same thing. The parents were sitting up under a tree in the shade as their kids were running around on the dock, jumping from it, and swimming right on the ramp. As I start to back down the ramp the two kids decided to run behind me I mean right behind me. Then as I start to load my boat the kids swim close to my turning prop. That was a very stressful day at the ramp.

Timdan - I saw your buddies swimming around the dock today when I was getting ready to launch my boat. They were long gone before I got my boat in the water though. My wife looks mean so they probably saw her looking in their direction.

When I pulled the boat out and was prepping for the trip home, I saw a big old inboard trying to pull a jetski maybe 100 yards from the dock. I don't know what that was all about, but the jetski was upside down in the water at one point...

 

[jakebrake]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

reading some of these....

some perspective. i'm a newbie, the boat was having a few mechanical propbles, and including the 1/4 mile run to get the tow vwhicle with my gigantic fat rear-end and having to physically pull the boat onto the trailer with a rope running it along the dock didn't take me 25 minutes (that includes waiting for the idiot in front of me to smoke a marlboro light, and screw with his depthfinder....at the dock....why he would do this remains a mystery.)

 

[HappierWet]

Re: stupid people at the ramp

reading some of these....

some perspective. i'm a newbie, the boat was having a few mechanical propbles, and including the 1/4 mile run to get the tow vwhicle with my gigantic fat rear-end and having to physically pull the boat onto the trailer with a rope running it along the dock didn't take me 25 minutes (that includes waiting for the idiot in front of me to smoke a marlboro light, and screw with his depthfinder....at the dock....why he would do this remains a mystery.)

Why....because he wanted to see if there were any fish at the dock, so he could save fuel and still say he was out on the boat.....or maybe so he could check to see if the depth finder was accurate.....or maybe it was just to give us IBOATERs something to make fun of.