More fun at the ramp

[ttownguy]

We were slowing down ahead of the no-wake zone near the ramp and noticed tons of white smoke coming from the pre-launch area. These guys on a pontoon were prepping to launch and I guess part of their checklist was to start their outboard!

They backed it down the ramp (still smoking) and finally got the motor in the water which smoked for another 30 seconds before the water helped with the cooling.

Then the guy throws the pontoon in reverse to back off the trailer, it doesn't come off, so he guns it...he's half floating but still tied off to the trailer! All of that rocking back in forth caused a 16 to 20 foot trailer bunk to come off which they noticed after unhooking the boat from the trailer and backing off. The guy in the boat stepped away from the controls and retreived the bunk while still in reverse and a boater on the dock had to stiff leg the pontoon to avoid the collision. When the guy picked up the floating bunk it broke in half.

I had every intention of telling them not to run the outboard until it was in the water, but got distracted by the show and keeping me and my boat out of harm's way.

As posted by others, I'm all for mandatory boat safety courses! I realize that won't make brainiacs out of people but it might at least help. My camcorder is never handy when I need it!

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: More fun at the ramp

It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: More fun at the ramp

problem is, a safety course would not have fixed those guys. And I don't think I want my tax dollars to pay for courses in launching, or instructions of the obvious (stay in neutral, untie your straps, etc.)

 

[jakebrake]

Re: More fun at the ramp

never a camcorder when you need it! it could have been on "world's dumbest" on tru tv. or, you could have made 10 grand of america's funniest home videos.

sadly, home cookin is right. dumb just can't be helped. not even with a tazer...although, it'd be fun to try

 

[joed]

Re: More fun at the ramp

Boating operators license is required in Ontario now unless you are a tourist. It doesn't have anything to do with this type behaviors. Launching and running engines on the trailer are not part of operating boat in the water.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: More fun at the ramp

There should be a boating common sense course.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: More fun at the ramp

There should be a boating common sense course.

Did you ever think how uncommon " common sense" really is?.....With the proliferation of pills for everything else the pharmecuetical companies could make a killing.

 

[Thad]

Re: More fun at the ramp

I have said it for years that every operator of a boat should have the equivelant of a drivers license. The stupid things that we see, both dangerous and non-dangerous. Sometimes I laugh and sometimes I cringe.

But keeping your own passengers and boat out of harms way is the most important.

Vehicles have lanes and curbs to keep dangerous activities to a minimum. A lot of people who think that boating is safer because of all of the water and no lane restrictions are either the idiots who we all talk about...or the people who have had to use that "extra" water to avoid a collision. I personally have used it several times to keep me and mine safe.

On a funnier note. Don't tell the guy to not run his motor, think of it as population control. The sooner they all blow up their motors, the sooner the rest of us get safe waters.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: More fun at the ramp

Common sense is not very common anymore. Here in WV the boaters safety course is manditory for anyone born after 1/1/86. I doubt most of the people I've seen have taken it though.

 

[ttownguy]

Re: More fun at the ramp

On a funnier note. Don't tell the guy to not run his motor, think of it as population control. The sooner they all blow up their motors, the sooner the rest of us get safe waters.

Good point!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: More fun at the ramp

Sometimes I'll try to talk some sense into people like that and sometimes I don't even bother. Sometimes they are just too clueless to know that they are clueless.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: More fun at the ramp

Sometimes I'll try to talk some sense into people like that and sometimes I don't even bother. Sometimes they are just too clueless to know that they are clueless.

Same here. Try to "suggest" something to some of them around here and half the time you get thanked for your help, the other half you get a mouthful of abuse as they consider your input to be a challenge to their ability. They are the fun ones to sit close by and watch the rest of their show with a half smile !

 

[j_martin]

Re: More fun at the ramp

Ignorance can be cured......with a little education.

Stupidity is forever.

 

[Bill Kilgore]

Re: More fun at the ramp

Around here there are very many boats / boat operators that only get on the water 3 times a year.

Memorial Day
July 4 (weekend nearest)
Labor Day

With the above being true, I generally do not go anywhere near the lake on these weekends.

 

[jkust]

Re: More fun at the ramp

I am in aw that someone would start their motor out of the water at a ramp.

 

[scrat]

Re: More fun at the ramp

Many years ago, I was looking to buy a small boat. Never had bought one before but had run a few (rentals). When I went to this one guys house to look at a used rig, (Small 60 hp evinrude outboard, tri hull) I asked him some questions about how it ran etc, and was just fixing to ask him if I could take it to the lake for a trial with the caveat that if I broke it, I bought it. Well before I could ask he decides to show me how well it ran. Cranked it up (on the trailer out of the water, put it in gear and proceeded to gun it for a while. I said thanks a lot and left.