Idiots at the launch!

[lncoop]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

My launching and loading are generally pretty quick and painless. I get everything ready, line the trailer up on the ramp, then hop in the boat and let the boss back me into the water. As soon as I get the boat off the trailer she parks the truck and joins me. We're a well oiled machine. She's getting pretty good at handling the trailer too.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

After reading this thread I feel fortunate.

I live in a very small community and the local ramp sees minimal use, maybe a dozen boats on a busy day. I can only remember having to wait once, and I helped the guy launch as he was by himself.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Where I boat there is 2 ramps and a small dock, they have security guards on the weekend to keep peace because it gets buisy and its nothing to be 15 in line and wait 30 min to hit the water. Thre is plenty of parking and areas to get ready BUT it seems alot of people wait in line for 30 then back to the ramp then decide to load coolers, people and undo straps then back into the water undo the boat and drive it to the dock while leaving there towing vehicle blocking the ramp when they have 6 other people on board I will never understand this, or you have the people that have not ran their boat for a month and cant get it started then decide to change belts/fuel filters etc. right on the ramp!!!

Now im not close to being perfect and have my boating brain farts like everybody else but i like to stay on a routeen at the ramp...

1. run the boat on muffs at the house before I leave.Check fluids belts etc.
2. Do a safety chek on trailer boat and make sure i have everything I need
3. load coolers food/ equipment in the boat at the house.
4. safely drive to the dock
5. at the dock find a place out of trailer traffic
6. undo rear straps/ have all my passengers get on the boat (wife is the temporary captain).
7. I install plug and check it 20 times. LOL
8. then I pull into the line to get wet and watch the show
9. when its our turn I back in and as soon as the drive is wet the wife fires it up put drive down I un hook boat and she is off
10. she waits in the no wake zone untill I park and does NOT hog up dock space. When Im walking up to the dock she comes in nose first and I jump in /push off and off we go. Basicly the same thing when we are done for the day.
11. also if I have trouble (starting the boat unhooking issues etc) I pull away from the ramp and take care of the issue in another place. I dont sit there all day trying to rebuild my engine on the ramp... ..BTW there was a guy at ramp yesterday he could not understand why his boat would not come off the trailer he was reving in reverse mud was flying and about 8 people came over trying to push the boat off the trailer and then stood there scratching there heads......I walked down to watch the show and noticed the bow and stern straps were still connected
Denny

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

As the OP, thanks guys for all the responses. Some very good observations and comments. I think I have a solution now....one ramp at every launch should be limited to IBoat members only. We'd all be in and out in a flash!!!

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

The best thing I ever did was teach my wife to run the boat on and off the trailer. It makes launching a breeze and gets plenty of "she's a keeper" comments on busy ramp days. I get everything ready to go and unhook the boat in the staging area, then I back her in until the motor is in enough water to start and hold there until I hear her fire the motor up and then just back down deep enough to send her into the water with a brake check. While I'm parking the truck she's standing rods up and stowing everything away. All bases are covered.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Thank Goodness for IBOATS and your Idiot ramp stories. As a new boater I learned what to do and not to do at the ramp.

 

[ECVCHAMP]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Totaly off topic but, idiots anyways. Yesterday I watched a couple "wash" their car at the gas station using the widow squigees (yes the whole car) LMAO....

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Don;t even get me started on power loading. That is where I think there should be a hefty fine. Friday a bunch of people power loaded and got all kinds of stuff stirred up in the water. Then one guy had twin outboards and went to WOT, the bow came up on the trailer and went over the roller, and the props hit the cement. Not only is that guy out a set of props, but he should be banned from that ramp for the rest of the year. A piece of airborne prop, could take out an eye.

The other thing that frys me, is when the nice close parking gets full, it gives people the excuse to use the main area to park and ready their boat while others cannot pull out. In that case I hold the horn down so everyone can see the idiot right in the middle blocking up progress.

 

[ExxWhy]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

I feel spoiled. Great ramps around here with nice long docks that can take a couple boats if needed. I almost never go out on weekends and rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes.

I'm a little confused about this powering on/off thing. Mine floats right off the trailer. Maybe I have been lucky with the ramps being the proper incline. Same with powering on, never done it nor seen the need for it.

At any rate, none of this seems like rocket science. All the ramps have signs that clearly say get your boat ready here, launch over there. Of course some of these people just won't read or think about their fellow boater. No need to rush through it, but just have everything all set to go before you get on the ramp.

 

[EricR]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

I agree with idiots at the boat ramps, here in coastal Georgia we have a ripping current at any given ramp perpendicular to the ramp, and powering on or approching quickly and under power is a necessity. I will take a video some time to show this. And you really have to back off fast too- the ramps are often in a "well" of sorts like a cut, lined with "rip rap" which is broken concrete and blocks.

The problem is people that are not familiar with boating in this area- I watched a woman try and gently push a boat off the trailer while holding a bow line in the other hand as if she was at a nice, freshwater lake. She started pushing the boat back, started to wade in- the ramp drops off very fast, probably 4' deep at the end of the trailer- she slipped and fell right in, the current took the boat quickly downstream about 150 feet where it fetched up on jagged oyster shells.

 

[mciaio]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

I'll put in my $0.02...

If I go to the chesapeake I use a marina ramp. Never anyone there.

Blue Marsh in Reading, PA has two real nice boat launches. Each one has 2 ramps with 1 "L" shaped dock each. The docks are long enough to hold 2 boats on the long leg and other one on the short side. Another couple on the other long side. We have a long "staging lane" where you pull aside and prep your boat... coolers, plugs, straps, etc. If you are not quick enough and the person behind you is ready, they will go ahead of you. Works real nice.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

The other thing that frys me, is when the nice close parking gets full, it gives people the excuse to use the main area to park and ready their boat while others cannot pull out. In that case I hold the horn down so everyone can see the idiot right in the middle blocking up progress.

Yeah don't even get me started on parking! my usual ramp also has a decent fishing/beach area. There is a large boating only parking section, closest to the beach/ramp. (long spots meant for diagonal trailer parking.) So you can guess what happens. This area fills up with fisherman/beach goer's who don't want to walk an extra 100 feet. So then people with trailers now have to take up TWO parking spots in the regular parking area. Of course, zero enforcement, even though there are several signs.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Yeah don't even get me started on parking! my usual ramp also has a decent fishing/beach area. There is a large boating only parking section, closest to the beach/ramp. (long spots meant for diagonal trailer parking.) So you can guess what happens. This area fills up with fisherman/beach goer's who don't want to walk an extra 100 feet. So then people with trailers now have to take up TWO parking spots in the regular parking area. Of course, zero enforcement, even though there are several signs.

My ramp is so desperate for money they will LET those people with regular cars park their car, load up their gear and then head to the beach.......then they ticket the cars for 50 bucks and have them towed.

I've seen lazy assholes almost get in fist fights with the dock supervisor when he points out the 25 signs that say "BOAT PARKING ONLY"

 

[rrkyle]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

I had a very pissed off moment yesterday. The place where we launch is a single ramp.

While sitting in line we got everything loaded ready and stern straps off etc..

The guy before us gets his boat unloaded and as soon as i start my truck this JACKASS with a partybarge comes flying up and pulls in front of me blocking off the ramp while they begin to lad the boat and prep for launch.

Needless to say i was PISSED!!! And then to make matters worse the idiot has no idea why i asked him if hes ever heard of waiting his turn!! I think their are people in the world who should not be allowed to do certain things such as: reproduce, operate a motor vehicle, purchase a watercraft, and purchase alcohol.

Wouldnt it be great if your IQ was on your drivers licence and if it was below 70 they wouldnt sell you beer or tobacco!!

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

The guy before us gets his boat unloaded and as soon as i start my truck this JACKASS with a partybarge comes flying up and pulls in front of me blocking off the ramp while they begin to lad the boat and prep for launch.

Needless to say i was PISSED!!! And then to make matters worse the idiot has no idea why i asked him if hes ever heard of waiting his turn!! I think their are people in the world who should not be allowed to do certain things such as: reproduce, operate a motor vehicle, purchase a watercraft, and purchase alcohol.

Wouldnt it be great if your IQ was on your drivers licence and if it was below 70 they wouldnt sell you beer or tobacco!!

that happened to me once. When I told the guy there was a line and pointed to the line of boats, he felt REALLY stupid - said he thought we were prepping, not waiting in line. He moved his boat and got in line . . .

 

[milmat1]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Where are you? If someone launches there boat here and it wont start, There not gonna pull it out. They are going to move over to the side and charge,jump/ Switch batteries/Whatever and get there boat running. And everyone else there will be looking for a way to help. And if someone is setting on there boat having lunch Thats a Plus ! Because you can walk over there and Check out there boat while having a fresh tomatoe sandwhich straight from there garden..But then This Is North Carolina !!.......

The point being RELAX ! And Enjoy !!! Why would you want to be all stressed and aggrevated on the day your there to relax and enjoy. If not why are you there ?? Because thats what the Boat and Water are for.

Yea they may be inconsiderate, But they may also have no idea that they are being any problem. And they may even be Yankees !!D) ..


Relax and Enjoy !

 

[DianneB]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Being a holiday weekend up here I sat in my boat at the marina (I arrived Wednesday) and watched boat after boat going into the water at the private launch. Everybody was pretty good and you could tell many of them had been doing it for years. The ramp is short and steep so pretty much everybody just floats their boat off.

Then one elderly couple take their turn at the launch - she's driving and he's in the boat giving directions. He had her doing a zigzag path down the ramp and then haulers STOP! I can't see the boat at this point but I hear the engine rev up .... and roar ... and roar .... and roar! I guess he finally powered it off the trailer because the engine stopped and I saw 4 young men jump to try to catch the boat before it ploughed into the boat behind it 60 feet out the dock.

Best way to spend a holiday Friday afternoon is watching folks launch boats!

 

[karatejoe]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

I have my own dock and boat lift. But sometimes I ride my bike over to the launching ramp for some giggles.
Why do men blame thier wives for thier own boat mishaps?
Why do they scream at thier kids for not stopping the boat from bumping the dock?
Why is it some elses fault when thier boat turns sideways in the launch area?
Crazy things at those docks.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

I have my own dock and boat lift. But sometimes I ride my bike over to the launching ramp for some giggles.
Why do men blame thier wives for thier own boat mishaps?
Why do they scream at thier kids for not stopping the boat from bumping the dock?
Why is it some elses fault when thier boat turns sideways in the launch area?
Crazy things at those docks.

I have to say sadly I DO have a little bit of that disease........and I think there is alot of that going around LMAO...and even if im driving its their fault, it makes me feel better till I get that look from the wife
Denny

 

[URDADDY]

Re: Idiots at the launch!

Have to be carefull about that. I have also found myself to blame the wife, kids, etc. I think I have gotten better and our first launch (saturday) wasnt perfect but all stayed calm and no yelling. I even admitted on the way home I was the one who forgot to put the second plug in.