Boat Ramp Communications

[NYMINUTE]

I have to wonder why there is so little communication between boaters at small boat ramps. I have noticed this at lakes in Coldwater, and Kinderhook Mi. Both have 2 ramps, separated by a short dock. Boaters arriving to launch, will proceed to back into the side where a boat is entering to retrieve. Waving hands gets the attention somtimes, and they will relocate. I believe these acts are not deliberate, though there must be a better way to communicate and reduce gridlock at the ramps. Designating in and out is useless at a small ramp. Any ideas from around the country?

 

[garycinn]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

The person with the trailer in position (empty or with boat) should have the ramp.<br /><br />Boats on docks should either be dropping off or picking up a vehicle/trailer driver.<br /><br />An exception is the single boaters tied up to get/put their trailer.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Everyone wants to use the "good" side. Be it deeper, smoother, upstream, closer to the dock, less weedy, etc.<br /><br />If there is a boat on the dock, it belongs to him, and the ramp in front of the boat. No one should ever expect a boat to move off the dock so they can use the launch ramp, unless there is only one ramp. The boat tied to the dock may not be able to move, as in not operational.<br /><br />As gary said above, if there is a trailer in the water, or lined up to back in, then he takes priority over any approaching boat that may or may not be planning on using the dock/ramp.<br /><br /><br />As usual, all emergency situations will take priority.

 

[alcan]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

This is what a lot of folks do not understand. It is not the next boat in line, it's the next trailer. A person can not expect to tie up dock space and a ramp while they walk a half mile to get their tow rig and trailer, then get in line and wait another half hour or more. If you are by yourself moore your boat out of the way, then get your tow rig. If you have a buddy with you, drop him at the dock, he gets the trailer and gets in line. You take the boat out of the way (holding pattern) until your trailer is on the ramp. You drive on, your buddy pulls out of the ramp. You finish tie-down, clean-up and Bsing out of the way. Anytime you use a launch alone or with a friend you need to have a pre determined plan. If you can't get it by yourself don't do it at all.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Originally posted by alcan:<br /> This is what a lot of folks do not understand. It is not the next boat in line, it's the next trailer. A person can not expect to tie up dock space and a ramp while they walk a half mile to get their tow rig and trailer, then get in line and wait another half hour or more. If you are by yourself moore your boat out of the way, then get your tow rig. If you have a buddy with you, drop him at the dock, he gets the trailer and gets in line. You take the boat out of the way (holding pattern) until your trailer is on the ramp. You drive on, your buddy pulls out of the ramp. You finish tie-down, clean-up and Bsing out of the way. Anytime you use a launch alone or with a friend you need to have a pre determined plan. If you can't get it by yourself don't do it at all.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

To be more specific my boat was in approach, bow at the end of dock, moving in to tie off. Trailer was pulling up to align at the same time. I waved him off, and he moved to the open side. No conflict, just concerned that I was wrong. Seemed dumb to back out and move to the other side which was open.

Originally posted by alcan:<br /> This is what a lot of folks do not understand. It is not the next boat in line, it's the next trailer. A person can not expect to tie up dock space and a ramp while they walk a half mile to get their tow rig and trailer, then get in line and wait another half hour or more. If you are by yourself moore your boat out of the way, then get your tow rig. If you have a buddy with you, drop him at the dock, he gets the trailer and gets in line. You take the boat out of the way (holding pattern) until your trailer is on the ramp. You drive on, your buddy pulls out of the ramp. You finish tie-down, clean-up and Bsing out of the way. Anytime you use a launch alone or with a friend you need to have a pre determined plan. If you can't get it by yourself don't do it at all.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

In my book the "rules" are common sense and courtusy. What busts my chops is the folks who tie-up the ramp (launching or retrieving) doing stuff that they well could do away from the ramp. Many times I have been in the preparation area getting ready and this rig will go around me to the ramp, line-up and then start taking the cooler out of the truck, mom takes the kids to the bathroom, etc. - - and there I sit ready to launch.

 

[justin walker]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

I am fairly new to boating and launching. I agree with the common courtesy. Being inexperienced I often let others go ahead of me. Last month was the last straw.. another boater in the free lane was wiping down his boat as i am waiting to back my trailer in. I asked if he was launching soon, he replied "yeah give me a minute" and preceded to clean his windshield!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

What I said, if you are on the dock or on the ramp, and there is another ramp open, fine, you are ok.<br /><br />But in a situation like alcan mentioned, where there is a line of vehicles, by all means, wait in line.<br /><br />Lets see, I have waited for a total of 2 boats to clear the ramps, so far this year. I do feel for you guys that have to use the crowded ramps.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

hahaha last guy that did the cooler trick I moved my truck and blocked his then mooseyed off to the bathroom and did some bull shooting with the marina staff and hung out till he was good and mad. then I went "Oh you finnaly done? let me move my truck." the marina hands were dying laughing.<br /> good luck and keep posting<br /> PS a lot of the bungholios that like to park crosswise in wally world parking lot get the same treatment. If I can park my old rusty chevy to block them and still be legal I will do it every time.<br />

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

I love the smell of ramprage in the morning....

 

[bounder4465]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Where I boat it is who is the rudest gets to use the ramp first. Case in point: Two weeks ago while idling in across a large no-wake zone past the marina to the ramp I noticed a truck/trailer backed in the water taking up 1/2 of the 2 car ramp. The guy idling to the ramp in front of me pulls up beside the parked truck/trailer and walks up to the parking lot to get his truck. I had dropped my son off at the dock beside the ramp to get my truck. When my son returns with my truck the person holding the boat on the end of the ramp says he doesnt know anything about boats and wont move it from the ramp. All this time the other side is blocked by this big yellow trailer. Finally a car pulls up and a fellow walks over to the yellow outfit. I ask him where the boat for this rig is at? He said they drove back to their camp, and the owner will be there shortly! Now, my son is sitting on the ramp with 3 other tow rigs waiting on these two fine boaters to return one with his truck the ouher with his boat...it had been 14 minutes since my son backed to the ramp. Finally 18 minutes pass and this fellow returns from the overflow lot .25 mile away and asked my son to pull out so he can load his boat (the one on the ramp). The dude finally loads his boat, and it is my turn. As I ease up to my trailer, a roar, a big wake, and a 30' Baja full of drunks blast up on this parked yellow trailer washing my boat off the bunks. The average boat on this lake is 18'. Then the Baja pulls out blocking the turn around area, and a car pulls up beside them leaving the doors open to block the road. When I asked them to move the car so we could pull up off the ramp they huffed and slammed their doors....just a average day at the lake.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Does a hovercraft have to wait in line at the ramp?

 

[thefoyboy]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

NYMinute,<br /><br />Good to hear from someone else who boats on Coldwater and the chain of lakes. All the times I ever launched on Coldwater I never really had the problems you speak of, but times change I suppose.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Hi thefoyboy, Coldwater ramp has been problem free, The ramp where I observed the most ignorance was Hamilton Lake in Stuben County In. Evidently the good ole boys there frown on "outsiders" using their lake to cruise on.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Guy this weekend pissed me off good. It was Sunday, a little busy, and there was a truck/trailer with boat in front of me, he was first in line. A few guys in the water waiting for empty trailers. Ramp is empty. So 5 minutes goes by and I finally decide to go around the empty truck in front of me. As I'm about to back in to unload, the empty trailer comes around so I decide to let him load up first. So I back out of the way, and here comes the guy that was in front of me telling me how long he has been waiting for the ramp and that he's going next. I said fine, but told him the he and I could have been in the water if he had been near his truck instead of out on the dock bullsh!tting. Kinder words though. He then told me that he was going to unload, and then "I was going to let the guy behind me unload next since they are together." I told him "sure". Once he pulled out of the ramp I pulled around and dropped my boat in, since I was the next in line behind him. He didn't like that, and I got some rude looks and comments from his little group on the ramp. Funny thing was I was pulling away from the dock before his buddy was even backing up to the water. Guy #1 was still bullsh!tting on the dock holding everything up. Some people are just idiots and think they rule the world. Of course the whole time out I was wondering what condition my truck/trailer would be in when I got back, luckily it was fine. <br /><br />People gotta just calm down.

 

[alcan]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Bottom line, be polite, be patient,be ready and have a plan, that might include trained competent helpers. I spend so little time in the war zone (the ramp) I don,t get much time to fight. I do how ever enjoy watching the calamity from a safe distance. One more point DO NOT hurry. If you have your ducks in a row there is no need for this.

 

[Crighton]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

Originally posted by Steve Huminski:<br /> Guy this weekend pissed me off good. It was Sunday, a little busy, and there was a truck/trailer with boat in front of me, he was first in line. A few guys in the water waiting for empty trailers. Ramp is empty. So 5 minutes goes by and I finally decide to go around the empty truck in front of me. As I'm about to back in to unload, the empty trailer comes around so I decide to let him load up first. So I back out of the way, and here comes the guy that was in front of me telling me how long he has been waiting for the ramp and that he's going next. I said fine, but told him the he and I could have been in the water if he had been near his truck instead of out on the dock bullsh!tting. Kinder words though. He then told me that he was going to unload, and then "I was going to let the guy behind me unload next since they are together." I told him "sure". Once he pulled out of the ramp I pulled around and dropped my boat in, since I was the next in line behind him. He didn't like that, and I got some rude looks and comments from his little group on the ramp. Funny thing was I was pulling away from the dock before his buddy was even backing up to the water. Guy #1 was still bullsh!tting on the dock holding everything up. Some people are just idiots and think they rule the world. Of course the whole time out I was wondering what condition my truck/trailer would be in when I got back, luckily it was fine. <br /><br />People gotta just calm down.

I'd probably be the jerk who trimmed up all the way and goosed in on the way out from the ramp. Amazing what a cold shower will do for some people.

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Boat Ramp Communications

NY Minute,<br /><br /> I boat off the same boat ramps you are at in Coldwater and Kinder hook though I always use the coldwater one. I have seen some real crap their. It really got worse when they put in the big cement crushed rocks along the shore... I try to time it so no one or few are there.. just makes it easier