Boat ramp etiquette

[Stachi]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

Thats fine with me I am respectfull to get people the time they need to get in and out, its all the unnessary time people take when others are waiting.

I have done the launch and dock and run thing to...always with the intent of clearing the ramp as fast as I can... so others may use it...I boat alone sometimes...

 

[cr2k]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

Sometimes I just get tired of waiting and back down. They usually get the hint.
Especially the PWCs blocking the ramp waiting for the trailer.

Other time I am glad I have four wheel drive and I just pull over to the beach and launch from there.

I have been know to inform people of their transgressions. If I think they will learn it is polite, if not, well it makes the entertainment x rated.

I guess I just have no use for people who take up ramp doing BS stuff and think their time is more important then the rest of us trying to launch.

I have even been known to move a boat once in a while if it is blocking the ramp and unattended.

No I'm not really quite that bad but it did feel good venting. Thanks for the post!

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

I'll back up "seabob" as well. I'm new to boating this year & do it the exact same way seabob does it. I learned that here. One of my biggest fears was the loading & unloading in front of others waiting. Kind of like the feeling I get at a local golf course. There is always a huge line waiting at the 1st tee & everyone is watching you tee it up waiting for that "wiff", I know I can crush it straight down that fairway, done it a thousand times, but always get that feeling when there's a line. Anyway, my first few launch & retrieve's went very well, had a slight- trailer in too deep the first time I was retrieving & had a hard time lining it up & keeping it there, but then again, that only took 5 min.'s to do. First timer mistake & got some help in the form of advice from a seasoned boater & have never had that problem again. I can't even imagine what I would have been like if I had not read so much about this procedure here. I learned the "seabob" right way, here. I made my little check list on what I need to do & when to do it, & now I have it in my head. I even practiced putting in & retrieving by myself on a rainy day when I was sure no one would be at the ramp. I know for a fact that I'll be fishing & doing other boat stuff alone from time to time so I need to be able to take care of this alone. I like fishing by myself sometimes, gives me time to think & unwind. OK, Sorry to dribble on here.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

Maxxie, Where about are you launching?

 

[JimKW]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

I'm getting a kick out of this thread for 2 reasons:

1: We launched on Sunday, and had a similar boat ramp etiquette issue. Myself and a friend, each with a boat, each in a seperate vehicle, at a ramp with 2 launch spots. We pull into the parking lot, get out and put in the plug and take off the straps (not the front winch/safety chain you safety nazis!), and get ready to launch.

This guy comes flying past both of us, whips around, and backs down the ramp. Parks half way down the ramp, gets out, and starts putting in his plug, undoing straps, etc etc. We just had this dumbfounded expression on our faces when we looked at eachother. He did his thing (took a good 10-15 minutes), and we had both boats launched on the other side by the time he was done plugging up the other.

2: The guy was in an aluminum river jet-boat, unloading his poles and other fishing equipement from the back of his truck into his boat.

My problem here is that I would probably have said something to the jerk. Which is fine if I have my son or at least one of my son in laws with me, but most of the time I am alone. One guy mouthed off to me after I said something and another guy just paid not attention to me. But when somebody is obviously being a jerk, I think he deserves to be told. I am older and wiser, but also greyer and out of shape so I'm betting nobody is going to really come at me. If they do they better bring it, cause I'm pretty sure I can still take care of myself if I have to.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

Most important: develop a routine and never vary from it for any reason. Refuse help if offered.

Myself, I have a rule: once I have a stern tie-down strap in my hand, I can't set it down *for any reason* until the plug is IN. That way, if I try to launch without the plug, the boat can't leave the trailer.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

Thats fine with me I am respectfull to give people the time they need to get in and out, its all the unnessary time people take when others are waiting.

Exactly. We use the staging lanes to prep, if we havent allready prepped at the grocery store or gas station around the corner. If I have a helper, I can put the boat in as fast as it takes me to back down, switch from reverse to drive, and pull back out. Maybe 45 seconds. If I dont have a helper it takes less than 5 minutes if I have to park the trailer. It is a sight watching my fat *** jogging across the parking lot though.

That is another peeve of mine too. People that use the gas pumps on a busy morning to prep their boats. Pisses me off to no end when I am waiting to fuel up and some jerk is putting ice in his coolers, cleaning his seats etc etc, I have seen it all. And as you all know, once you choose a lane it isnt all that easy to change up and go to a differant pump. GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY people. There is plenty of room in the parking lot to pull out of the way to prep your boat.


For the most part, these situations only arrise when you get what I call the "3 timers" I call them that because they are the people that take their boats out 3 times a year. Memorial day, 4th of July and Labor day.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

All this talk has me remembering a time about 10 years ago. Velocity powerboats is based in Sanford FL. We were trying to put in at a local ramp on the St Johns just north of Lake Monroe. We pull the parking lot and they have left their rig sitting there with the trailer in the water on the ramp, and they were nowhere to be found. About 30 minutes later they arrived back at the ramp and pulled the boat out of the water.

I was like WTF????? That was about the most inconsiderate I have ever seen anyone act. And you would think they knew better.

I had a situation once when my trim wouldnt go down after I launched. I untied from the dock and took our paddle(yes I keep a paddle in the boat) and paddled over to the shoreline to work on it.

I guess that those of us that are the most considerate, get the most pissed when someone else is not.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

My new favorite pet peeve is the guy who retrieves his boat, then pulls the truck and trailer out and parks as soon as he's on level ground, blocking the ramp approach, while he checks everything out before driving home.

I see that one a lot here also. After many, many years of backing every type of trailer on the planet, I can back close enough they can't even walk around their own boat. They generally get the hint and pull forward to where they should be.

Saw one person loading last week that was just SLIGHTLY frustrating. They were backing in until the winch was almost wet. Then pulling out, stopping, realizing the boat was crooked, and trying again. They did this AT LEAST 5 times. A more experienced person on the dock did offer the advice of maybe not backing in so far. They came back with 'No, this it the correct way to load a boat this large." (It was maybe an 18-19 ft bass boat)

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

It sounds as if someone should write a book, complete with pictures, about this topic. It would make for entertaining light reading.

Usually, I'm the impatient sort that has little tolerance for people who violate the unwritten rules at the launches. Other times, when I'm in no hurry and feeling great, it really doesn't matter. One can enjoy the fiascos that develop just as well when waiting in line as from a lawn chair nearby.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

some of you guys are on the opposite side of the spectrum, I think you're hurrying so much that you'll forget things, I know I've done it and I've put a boat in the water twice a week for way too many years. The guy won't die if he has to wait for another minute or so.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

Why do people stop at the top of the ramp to square away their boat?
Although I would never do this at a ramp if others needed to use it, it is quite natural to stop at the top of the ramp to square things away for trailering. You remove the plug and the water drains down the ramp. You hose off your trailer especially if you have dunked in salt water (I have a hose connection on my brakes; the ramp I use has hoses right there) and secure the straps--a boat can fall off after 200 feet as easy as 200 miles. You might even wash down the boat and flush the motor. And while you're stopped, pack the car, etc. Again, this is ONLY when there is no one else around who wants to use the ramp; if they show up, you drive up.
So the explanation: it's natural and convenient to square away the boat at the top of the ramp.
On a related note, at the ramp I use, there is an area next to the dock master's with a hose for boat cleaning--and "no parking" signs. Invariably some person who thinks he's so important parks and leaves his car there--typically a BMW or such. Isn't it just a shame when the scum I'm hosing off my hull ends up sprayed on his Beemer?

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

some of you guys are on the opposite side of the spectrum, I think you're hurrying so much that you'll forget things, I know I've done it and I've put a boat in the water twice a week for way too many years. The guy won't die if he has to wait for another minute or so.

I put in 3 to 4 times a week. What you are saying is true if you are doing your prep on the ramp. I have never been to a ramp that doesnt have a staging area. Take as much time as you need there. Once you are on the ramp you should be doing it as quickly as is safe. That prep, where you could forget something, I think should allready be done by that time.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

Why do people stop at the top of the ramp to square away their boat?
Although I would never do this at a ramp if others needed to use it, it is quite natural to stop at the top of the ramp to square things away for trailering. You remove the plug and the water drains down the ramp. You hose off your trailer especially if you have dunked in salt water (I have a hose connection on my brakes; the ramp I use has hoses right there) and secure the straps--a boat can fall off after 200 feet as easy as 200 miles. You might even wash down the boat and flush the motor. And while you're stopped, pack the car, etc. Again, this is ONLY when there is no one else around who wants to use the ramp; if they show up, you drive up.
So the explanation: it's natural and convenient to square away the boat at the top of the ramp.
On a related note, at the ramp I use, there is an area next to the dock master's with a hose for boat cleaning--and "no parking" signs. Invariably some person who thinks he's so important parks and leaves his car there--typically a BMW or such. Isn't it just a shame when the scum I'm hosing off my hull ends up sprayed on his Beemer?

That is unusual to have a spray down area that blocks the ramps use. I havent seen that anywhere. I suppose if its a designated area, there isnt much that can be done about someone using it. All the ramps I use have a staging area before the ramp and another once you pull your boat out.

YES you should always secure your boat before you hit the road. Pull the plug, make sure the motor is trimmed up, then with the Winch strap in place, chain hooked there, a strap from there to the trailer and then 2 straps in the back of the boat. Unload all of my crap from inside the boat so it doesnt fly out going down the road. Ready to go. Takes about 5-10 minutes, then I bring it home and rinse with freshwater. I would love a ramp that had a freshwater hose. I dont know of any though.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

I have a close friend that has a 27' CC he trailers. I hate going to the ramp with him because he's everything you guys bring up, it's embarassing to help him out, I try to hurry him and he could care less if there's 50 people waiting, great guy, crappy boater.

 

[mikeroche]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

this guy was going in at 230 in the afternoon

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

some of you guys are on the opposite side of the spectrum, I think you're hurrying so much that you'll forget things, I know I've done it and I've put a boat in the water twice a week for way too many years. The guy won't die if he has to wait for another minute or so.

Summer is too short and the days aren't long enough. During the week when I work, if I have to wait an hour (or more) for someone to clear off the ramp while they are taking their sweet time, I head home. No boating for me that night. (my local ramp doesn't usually get more than 2 or 3 deep in the queue, but if you get a couple idiots all lined up, the wait time is easily an hour or more)


So his lack of personal responsibility isn't more than just an annoyance, it means I don't get my boat on the water at all.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

I was talking minutes not an hour. I've never owned a trailered boat that takes more than 5 minutes to unload or reload but some of these posters talk like they're trying out for a NASCAR Pit Crew.

 

[md-lucky]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

I was talking minutes not an hour. I've never owned a trailered boat that takes more than 5 minutes to unload or reload but some of these posters talk like they're trying out for a NASCAR Pit Crew.

Those NASCAR guys move WAY too slow to help me get my boat in the water...

 

[capt sam]

Re: Boat ramp etiquette

lol, especially if you powerload.