My woes at the boat ramp

[Icyharp]

Well this summer I have learned a few things at one of my boat launches. This will pertain on how the company that I take out acts.

Our boat, roller trailer, the launch has become an easy task, I have changed the way that I use to do it to me backing up the boat and trailer, (always did that anyway), tripping the safety lever and pushing my boat off, I use to fire it up and back away and come back to the dock. Anyway wife drives away and parks the truck and trailer while I tie up the boat to the dock. Then no worries all is good, not a busy ramp so I am generally relaxed then, and off boating we go.

Once I leave the dock in my head all I do is worry about loading the whole day on the lake. The wife and friends seem to pour down the drinks fast, me well in 7 hours on Saturday I had 3 beers, knowing that I was driving the boat and getting these people back home safely. Well again I head to the launch and I have to grab the dock, BTW I have a cuddy, so it is a task, but goes OK. Anyway then get all the drunks out, tie up the boat and head for the truck and trailer. Back in load etc...but it has become a one man operation as I cannot trust anyone to winch the boat up right, much less drive the truck and trailer back out of the water. So I do it all, they try to help but there is no telling them what I need to get back on the trailer, actually they are in the way. Well that is where is gets irritable for me along with this, when I was parking out of the way to pull the plug, remove weeds, and put the transome straps on I was told by one of my friends, "you have too many rules here, the hell with anyone else". Mind you it took me less than 5 min to get the boat on and out of the water and out of the way. I am a tad beside myself as I was not going to start an argument over my eddicate at the ramp for a friend.

The point is this has become an event that has me wondering if boating is worth it, I put a lot of work into my boat, and how I launch and load. But it is me doing all the work and keeping my 24yr old boat looking new is a lot of work, I like people to have a good time, maybe I need pick and choose who I take with sometimes I guess. But I don't have alot of fun boating when I have to worry about what others are going to do at the ramp. Anyone else have these issues? Or am I the sucker here?.........LOL

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

You have to ask yourself those questions. For me, I couldnt care less if I have anyone else on the boat. I like bringing people, but it is not necessary for me to enjoy myself. And if after I explain how things are done, they do not get done, or someone makes a snide remark like that, then they do not get to go again. At least not anytime soon. If they get so drunk that they cannot help, then they dont get to go again anytime soon. Even drunks can pull the plug or pull off weeds. I wouldnt let them drive my boat or my truck, but they can do the other stuff. Again, if they refuse or are too drunk they dont get to go again.

If you are doing all of this for the friends, and you do not enjoy it yourself even when you are by yourself, then no its probably not worth it.

 

[JB]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

Excellent example of why I never allowed any alcohol on my boats. You wanna ride in my boat you follow my rules.

 

[yetiman]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

Exactly why I have a invite and no invite list, non boaters don't understand

 

[Icyharp]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

Well the people I invite we have been friends a long time. I also don't mind the drinking as the one lake I am talking about has a sandbar to just chill at. Seems I will have to think about who I take out more often.

I do know that I when I run the river I enjoy myself way more than on a lake. However even my wife can be a handful when drinking....although she makes some great dockside stories for me to tell, I do find some of her actions annoying. But I keep quiet and just make sure everyone safe.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I'll probably get 'slammed' for this, but...you have your friends aboard because you want them to all have a good time (at least I am wanting this). The last thing that you want to become is the 'key master'. They are adults, and have the right to enjoy their adult beverages. They didn't sign on as First Mates...but assumed that they were going on a nautical party.

You're the skipper, and from what you said you keep your wits about you. You manage to retreive by yourself, and you may try to assign some of the simple tasks to your friends just to keep them into the 'spirit'. They might not be as proficient as you would want, but they may appreciate the trust and get totally into the boring steps we take to get home. As for the 'bride'...I have taken a little proactive stance and limited the amount of wine that we leave the dock with, and she has learned to ration her intake.

No one here can answer your being uptight as soon as you leave the dock, that may take a little soul searching as to whether, or not, you are being too apprehensive.

Happy boating!

P.S. My most relaxed moments are when I take my PWC out alone. My second most rewarding is when I have my friends out in the boat and they all have a good time...without my being their den mother.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I can't say if you should keep boating or not and no one can except for yourself.

But, rules are rules. Others drink on my boat though I usually don't. We don't take people out too often. Normally just Wife, Son and me. I do all launch and retrieve myself as her job is to keep our son safe. Just the way it is.

If someone doesn't like how I run the boat, they can stay at the dock.

 

[JB]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I guess I am anal about it because I find almost nothing as disgusting (or frightening) as a drunk.

I boated to go fishing and I took other fishingpersons with me. That was my world and if you wanted to inhabit it there were certain limits you had to observe.

I only remember two persons who insisted they could do as they pleased on my boat. I put them ashore at the first opportunity, a few miles from the launch. There they could do as they pleased. I actually considered letting them swim back.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I guess I am anal about it because I find almost nothing as disgusting (or frightening) as a drunk.

I boated to go fishing and I took other fishingpersons with me. That was my world and if you wanted to inhabit it there were certain limits you had to observe.

I only remember two persons who insisted they could do as they pleased on my boat. I put them ashore at the first opportunity, a few miles from the launch. There they could do as they pleased. I actually considered letting them swim back.

It is your boat. If you feel that a certain behavior makes for a dangerous situation, it is your responsibility to put them off your boat. I certainly do not like drunks on my boat. I have not banned it because I enjoy a cold one out on the water myself, but if you get too drunk or dont know when to say when you will not be invited on my boat. If you do not know them enough to know if they are, then you probably should get to know them better before inviting them onto a small peice of fiberglass or tin or wood in the middle of a huge body of water. The very nature of boating makes it a dangerous activity if not done safely. And if you are drunk that close to the water, anything can happen.

 

[Icyharp]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

Well one point is made well I do enjoy the company of my friends, guess I shouldn't get so uptight at the ramp. I did talk with one other guy I boat with about this and he said, "since you have been around boats all your life, you may expect to much from others that never have". That I think hit it on the head, we do have fun out there and so far I have had really no issues with too much drinking, meaning to the point where things are out of hand.

I do agree with Rocky that when I use to run the jet flea down the Mississippi I was at total peace with myself, nothing more relaxing than a cruise doing a little exploring. Cheers mates and tanks for the input.

 

[oops!]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

havent read this whole thread....its chef ward tonight and the chicken is in the oven.
booze is allways on my boat.....and i dont mind people having fun. but if im loading or unloading.....stand back.....go talk...laugh...giggle....but stay out of my way....they all know this.....so i dont have a problem

 

[southkogs]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I've never understood the drinking/boating connection. I enjoy a cold beer like anyone else, but the party atmosphere that some folks look for on the water is way off in my (never too silent) opinion. There's a difference between enjoying a cold adult beverage and getting sloppy (read that: really annoying) drunk. It'd be bad enough if it happened occasionally, but worse when it's predictable. I'm kinda' with JB on this one: alcohol and boats don't mix well.

It sounds like you enjoy your boat, and you like your friends - the "drunk" element seems to be the downer. If it were me, I'd insist on a few dry rides to see if I liked it better that way.

 

[skargo]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I am with JB on this as well!!!
Drunks are annoying. They are impaired and can't be trusted with their own, and others safety. My wife might have one drink while we are out. 99% of the time we go out alone, and if we have guests, they are mature and responsible enough to realize that a day on the water needs no imbibement to be enjoyable. I see many overdoing it out on the water, and frankly I am sad for them, that they need it to have a good time!

That being said, I have no issues with people drinking when we raft up or anchor near our friends. If they start getting too hammered I go away from them and start ignoring them. And to think, I was a bartender for 10 years LOL

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

Go by yourself you'll have more fun.

 

[aspeck]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I'm with JB on this one as well. But then again, I have never understood the whole "buzzed" appeal. I prefer to have what few wits I have about me at all times, I can't afford to loose any!

If you don't want to add a no booze rule, then how about a 2 or 3 drink limit, depending on the length of the boat trip. Might be a way you can all relax and have fun together? Just a thought.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

I have found that my best boating times on my boat with friends is with friends who own boats Friends who can back a trailer are especially nice

 

[jmarty10]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

Ive never once had a drink when operating my speed boat. Kids in the boat, busy river you really dont want to be drunk. River is policed somewhat thoroughly also on the weekends. Now what I really enjoy, in fact its some of my best memories of boating, is going back home after a Sunday ride, firing up the grill and tipping several back while sitting on my patio. That to me is responsible drinking! Icy, I would take out some new people that have a little more respect for you when you are doing the necessities of boating such as loading the boat on the trailer.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

well i dont drink when out on my boat, but dont mind if others do as long as they can handle it and act like adults, there for its a very short list of those who are allowed on my boat, and yes i have had words with some who got only one trip out, i simply said nope excessive drinking on my dont dosnt happen lol and it ends up with well maby you should buy one of your own , and none have , its my personal view that owning and using a boat is a privlage not a right the owner foots the bills and often dose all of the work, the passangers are along for a pleasant ride or day out, and if they cant respect that, thats why in the old days thier was a plank to be walked, i dont mind a bit of enteraining but i dont baby sit

 

[bassman284]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

This has been pretty well discussed, but going back to the OP, I'd say anyone who thinks you have too many rules would probably be happier not getting on your boat again.

 

[wellcraft19]

Re: My woes at the boat ramp

Think it also have to do a little with "respect". I am always the one that launch and retrieve + drive the trailer (wife does not like to), and the only "help" I need is when coming back in, having someone to ensure that the boat does bang in to the dock.
We have a single launch, small ramp, (smack downtown) and it can get horribly busy (that's when one question if it's worth it...) so you need someone "trusted" that can move the boat around on the lines (to assist other get in and out while you run to get the trailer). If not keeping and eye on bumbers, etc, not hard to get a little bit of gelcoat (or worse, glassfiber) damage that so easily could have been avoided.

What I mean is that for a "non-boater", it might not look like much (damage), but it totally ruin you day when you get a scratch or worth on the top side...

Part from that, never have had any issues with friends out. More common that the wife does not want to be out "that long", while I like cruising the sound for days.