Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

[valkyr]

Went to the ramp on Sunday afternoon and pulled into the prelaunch area with another guy. This ramp has two lanes so we're both waiting on our lane. Well I hear the guys next to me talking about the truck thats in their lane so I get out to look. The truck thats sitting in their lane isn't even launching/retrieving a boat. It doesn't even have a trailer. Apparently, they unloaded a bunch of stuff from a boat onto the dock and then backed the pickup down the ramp to load the stuff onto it.

Well, the guy in my lane pulls out and I start to get into my truck and I notice the guy beside me is backing his truck down. So he manages to get his pontoon boat turned and backed down the ramp in the lane I was waiting on.

After he gets unloaded I back my boat down and the wife (?) on the pontoon boat tells me thanks for letting them cut in front of me. I grumbled you're welcome and thought to myself, "its not like I had much choice".

Meanwhile I get my boat launched and the truck that was blocking lane #1 finally has everything loaded and pulls away.

Unreal.

Sorry, but had to vent a little.

 

[Rob454]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

Well there are inconsiderate people everywhere. he probably figured since he was there first he can unload real quick. What you BOTH shoudl of done is go to the people who were loading thair crap in the truck and tell them they cant do that. Either that or accidentally trip and stumble on the gear selector and let the truck roll in the drink.
Rob

 

[Bigjohn1]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

Is it a public ramp? What about fighting for some sort of sign being posted which sets forth some rules. I have seen this type of stuff for so many years at so many different ramps. I am not advocating this type of bahavior but to a large degree, I think its an ignorance thing; many offenders don't realize they are doing wrong - perhaps "rules of the ramp" being posted might help?

 

[valkyr]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

Hmm..interesting thought. Guess I should have offered to help them load the stuff at a minimum. I was a little frustrated cause I had already been to the ramp once and found out I had a dead battery.

I'll keep this thread in mind next time i see something like that.

Thanks!

 

[bucky7680]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

They say that there's one in every crowd. But I think there's more than one.

 

[LTP]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

yea that sucks,
but at least he didn't drop his boat off his trailer or anything like that,
I go around the corner and sit at the ramp on weekends just to laugh at ppl's stupidity,(and to fish sorta)
you'd be amazed how many boats i've helped ppl pick up and put back on thier trailers and how many ppl have almost run down the the pier and can't back trailers and almost get hurt or hit someone elses boat

Just be glad your boat and your family was all in one peice
jerks will be jerks

 

[beerfilter]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

Yep,I've seen the same kind of incosiderate crap,everywhere I go.
I think many are just lucky to figure out which end of thier rigs to point toward the water!

My ABSOLUTE favorite episode was also a poingant bit of instant karma,played out in front of an apreciative audience.

This particular public ramp had a courtesy attendant that worked for tips.
He was a very congenial old man,who did this to supplement his meager retirement,and,keep busy.
I was putting in for a long weekend out on the lake,camping on the numerous islands,fishing all 4 days.

I had a 12' johnboat that I just threw in the bed of the truck since I didn't have a trailer.
I also didn't need to tie up the ramp,just unload/launch close to the staging area,leaving the ramps for those that need them.

Anyway,down the ramp comes this shiny red new Ford pickup,lifted beyond all sense,HUGE tires,and,a shiny new speedboat,blown Chevy BB ,etc..
The truck and speedboat had the typical "rebel flag" stickers,slogans,plastered in all the usual places.

As the owner gets out and unlatches the winch cable from the bow, the attendant offers to assist him tie up to the courtesy dock.
The tirade of racial and obscene comments that came from this waste of DNA, in response to a cordial offer of assistance,would get me banned for posting a single sample.

The undeserving attendant,somehow,managed to keep his cool,and,offered his assistance to the people on the other ramp.

I see a potentially nasty scene still devoloping,because there are numerous people along the banks fishing.
They all heard this verbal assault,and,many are ALSO,of African ancestry!
In the midst of all this,I happen to notice 2 little details.

1) Mr KKK has not only forgotten his tiedowns on the stern,but,in turning to give the attendant "the bird",forgot the to unhook the winch.

2) He also did not set his parking brake.

While the redneck Hitler wannabe is trying to start his boat,I quietly point out the coming attraction to the bank fisherman.

The redneck gets the engine started,and guns it like no tomorrow to warm it up.

The audience waits in anticipation...

Finally,after he is convinced that he has shattered all eardrums within a 1 mile radius,the GENIUS puts the boat in reverse and hammers the throttle!

Much to everyones appreciation,he is enraged because he didn't budge.

He hammers harder on the throttle,looking behind him,as he starts to come off the trailer,so he thinks...

MORE throttle,moving faster,should be off the trailer and FREE.
Looks forward to see the cab of his nice truck just above the surface,and,lays of the throttle in time for the weight of the truck/trailer to pull his bow under water!

The audience is now on thier feet,cheering.
The enlightened one is paddling back to the shore,screaming unintelligibly.
A park ranger,previously unnoticed,calmly walks to the ramp as this poor fool reaches land.
Mr. ranger asks "sir,have you been drinking?",and then asks for the license/registration for BOTH boats .

Smelling alcohol on the fool's breath he is placed under arrest by the ranger.
I later learned that they not only nailed this POS for DUI and BUI,that they ALSO got him for several weapons and drug charges when they retrieved his rig from the drink.

Sometimes,you do witness poetic justice!

 

[beezee28]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

Beerfilter, pictures would be worth watching. I would love to see the POS face when his pride and joy (red truck) go down in the drink and also the when the Ranger put him in handcuff. Would have loved to be there to see it.

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

Is it a public ramp? What about fighting for some sort of sign being posted which sets forth some rules. I have seen this type of stuff for so many years at so many different ramps. I am not advocating this type of bahavior but to a large degree, I think its an ignorance thing; many offenders don't realize they are doing wrong - perhaps "rules of the ramp" being posted might help?

One of the ramps I use has a sign on the dock facing the water so people loading their boats can read it. It says, "No Power Loading!" It is totally ignored by most people.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Of all the crazy things to do at a ramp!

Beerfilter,

Ah...it does my heart good to read your story. Sometimes, folks get what they deserve. I would have paid good money to have been there for that fiasco. I'd have paid even more to be the park ranger who got to arrest the cretin.