Got Jumper Cables?

[dubblbubbl]

Last Sunday while coming in to take out, there a boat sideways across the one of the ramps, nobody around, just a boat. Well there's still one ramp open so I get my son to drop me off at the 'waiting' dock and I go up to get the truck. By the time I get back down, there's another guy (yahoo #2) backed up (kind of) in the other ramp prepping his boat to launch, i.e. moving stuff from his truck to the boat, putting the plug in, checking the oil in the motor, etc. Basically doing everything he should have done back in the staging/parking area, you know where the signs say 'Prep Boats Here'. <br /><br />The abandoned boat is still blocking the other ramp so I wait, and wait, and wait. Eventually yahoo #1 comes back with his truck and drives it down into the water next to the abandoned boat, it seems the battery is dead on the boat and he's found some jumper cables and is going to jump it off. The problem is that the boat is about 8 feet from the waterline on the ramp and this nutcase drives his truck far enough into the water to cover half of his front tires, I'm sure if he got any deeper his fan would be slinging water everywhere. So yahoo #1 get's his boat jumped off and makes sure the motor is running ok, then turns off the motor, disconnects everything and drives back up to the parking lot. Meanwhile yahoo #2 has finally finished and launches his boat but, instead of motoring over to the waiting dock, he ties up right there where he is still blocking the ramp and drives off. <br /><br />It's now become a race to see who's going to be the slowest to free up their ramp. Yahoo #1 gets back and guess what? Motor won't start, go figure? I seriously doubt that a 2 minute idle put enough charge in the batt to make a difference, or maybe the battery was toast (more likely based on the condition of the boat). <br /><br />So I'm still waiting, maybe 10 minutes now, sitting in my truck, my son cruising around the cove happy as a clam because he's getting some 'wheel time'. Finally yahoo #2 gets back and does a few last minute preparations and clears the ramp. I back in, my son trailers the boat perfectly (he's better at than I am). I secure it and I'm off just about the time yahoo #1 is back with his truck to attempt another jump off. <br /><br />GRRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!<br /><br />I'll have you know that I didn't utter the first expletive, at least none that anyone could hear, it being Sunday and all.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Got Jumper Cables?

Congrats on keeping your cool . Some clowns just don't get it!

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Got Jumper Cables?

he probably should have borrowed the battery from<br />his truck rather than jump it

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: Got Jumper Cables?

Moron's!<br />Can't live with'em,<br />and you can't torpedo them! <br /><br />It might be fun to try though.

 

[JamesCoste]

Re: Got Jumper Cables?

I had the experience this past weekend of having someone back their trailer in to launch the boat only to have taken up about 3/5 of the 2-vehicle boat ramp. I still had about 2/5 of the ramp, so I managed to back my Chevy 1500 Pickup and Glastron boat next to him nice and easy and launched.<br /><br />The guy just looked at me and didn't say a thing. His look was obvious -- "what are you doing trying to squeeze into the room I left you". My response would have been kind, but would have been something like, "well, it is a 2-boat ramp and if you would have pulled in closer on your side as you were supposed to, it would have not been a problem."<br /><br />If anything, he should have apologized for his taking up most of the ramp. <br /><br />Oh well, as long as I try to remain courteous. I only have to answer for my behavior, not someone else's.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Got Jumper Cables?

Oh well, as long as I try to remain courteous. I only have to answer for my behavior, not someone else's.

If more people would only take this attitude! I had a college professor that called a person up to the front of class and then hit him (would be sued if he did that today). We discussed the students reaction and the professor's point was that his own actions percipitated the response of the student, he did not make the student do anything he was not pre-dispositioned to do. We all have choices and make our own decisions - no one can "make" us do anything. If more people would take responsibility for their actions we would not have near the lawsuits we have and I guess the poor lawyers would be out of a job.<br /><br />Okay, I am getting off my soap box! Have a good day!