Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

[convergent]

Made the maiden voyage this evening with our new to us boat. It was starting to get dark and I didn't want to retrieve it fir the first time in the dark, but one more ski round and I was cutting it close. I pull in to the only open ramp and proceed to back the trailer down. This idiot photographer had a tripod setup in the middle of the ramp trying to take a picture if this girl in near darkness. I kept backing thinking he'd move over and he wouldn't. I ended up waiting for another ramp and then walked by him to move the boat and said something to my kids about the guy blocking the ramp making sure he heard. I am pretty big in photography and have fine some pro work and I can't imagine setting up in the middle of a boat launch at the end if the day and then not moving when someone is trying to access the ramp.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

I think your encounter with the girl on the ramp and your description of the event as your "maiden voyage" is more than just coincidental. There's plenty there for a psychoanalyst to work on with you for a few sessions.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

You get any pictures of the girl?

 

[rwidman]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Made the maiden voyage this evening with our new to us boat. It was starting to get dark and I didn't want to retrieve it fir the first time in the dark, but one more ski round and I was cutting it close. I pull in to the only open ramp and proceed to back the trailer down. This idiot photographer had a tripod setup in the middle of the ramp trying to take a picture if this girl in near darkness. I kept backing thinking he'd move over and he wouldn't. I ended up waiting for another ramp and then walked by him to move the boat and said something to my kids about the guy blocking the ramp making sure he heard. I am pretty big in photography and have fine some pro work and I can't imagine setting up in the middle of a boat launch at the end if the day and then not moving when someone is trying to access the ramp.

I would have asked him to move. If he didn't, I would have told him to move, explaining that this was a boat ramp for the use of boaters, not photographers. If he still didn't I would have backed into the tripod.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Nothing really suprises me at the launch anymore, I just plan on someone irritating me so I am ready.

I try to be nice and correct them because alot of people just don't know, some listen some don't btu I go fishing either way.

My biggest thing this year is the shmos that think the parking spot directly in front of the ramp is the place to park, almost always have to work aound someone but there is no sign and I don't expect anyone to have common sense and not park there.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Here's a guy who spent about an hour trying to get his PWC to start. Blocking the ramp the entire time:

Here's the DNR truck and trailer parked in front of the "No Parking" sign for the day while he was out on the water:

And just for fun:

 

[AndyTblc]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Is the flag on that mail box the choke? Up for off down for on? lol

 

[rwidman]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Is the flag on that mail box the choke? Up for off down for on? lol

The real question is, shouldn't that guy have strapped two PFDs together?

 

[convergent]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

The girl wasn't like a model or anything... Just some girl.

The thing was that there was a whole beach about 50' from the ramp with no one on it. There are also 5 long docks. Was totally unneccesary for them to block a ramp.

Those pics posted above are hilarious

 

[dirtdiver]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

I love the dump truck with cruiser. Probably paid for the boat using the truck.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

More photos here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/16575333

and here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/16575352

 

[Ebbtide94]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Just a few weeks ago I was pulling my boat out of the water. Beside this man who was trying to load his pontoon alone....And drunk. He was already there attempting this feat when I first docked. I backed my trailer in, loaded and was getting ready to leave. My kindness took over, and I couldn't take it any longer. I had to help.

This guy's sheens were bleeding profusely from where he was climb....um I mean falling, on and off the pontoon and trailer. He would climb down and move the truck. Get back up on the pontoon and try to power load it. He did this several times all the while slipping, stumbling, falling, and scraping his sheens. He couldn't figure out why his pontoon wouldn't move or if it did it would turn diagnal to the trailer. A few people and myself had told him a few times already the problems was that his pontoon was still tied to the dock.

He finally had the pontoon somewhat loaded but the toons were just off to the side of the rails they ride in. I convinced the guy to turn off his motor. Then I and a waiting bystander were able to get the rope untied and pickup the front end of the pontoon and set it in the correct postion.

As he pulled out of the water and made a left hand turn on to the highway I realized the errors of my ways. Now I have to follow this drunk guy. Luckly he just lived a mile or two down the road or at least he turned into somebodies driveway.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Drunk and alone loading a boat. Kind of sad.

 

[bowler]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Or he the worst kind of 'crew'.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

I like the dump truck...my kind of tow vehicle. Just a touch of overkill. That said, I didn't know you could tow twin jetskis with an MR2?

 

[MPII]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Nothing EVER surprises me on the ramp anymore. There are several threads on this site dedicated to that! Personally, I just tell people to move it. They always get mad and tell me to be patient but when you are launching your PWC with a rear wheel drive Toyota MRII, well, that says it all. I have been on ramps where my friends and I have been asked by Rangers to help people get their boats in the water becuase they have no idea what they are doing.

Anyone ever heard of practice? If you are new to backing a trailer, practice in a parking lot. New to boating, get on a site like this one and ask people about do's and don'ts. Such things as, check your batter before backing down. Blower on? Did you get everything in the boat at the staging area? Life vests? etc etc etc. Did you get your driver in the boat BEFORE backing down? Have the straps off? Plug in? Yada Yada Yada.

Oh yea, and when you pull it out, please don't sit on the ramp and do the opposite, unloading, washing, dryings, plug, straps, etc. Common sense people!

(I think I had a little launch ramp monkey on my back, did you see him?)

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

I would have asked the guy to move then I'm sorry to admit I would have moved him myself. I've never dealt with that situation personally but I see people fishing from floating docks all the time and I ask them to clear their lines if it's the only dock to use when loading or unloading a boat. They always do because it's obvious they are in the wrong. This guy would have given you some lip but he would have moved if you told him to.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

I am in agreement with rwidman give him a honk and a few seconds to move then proceed down the ramp.

 

[86 century]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

I had some A-hole get crappy with me the other day for wanting to use the dock at the ramp that he had chosen to fish off of. I don't normally mind dumb people but when you start cussing like a sailor in front of wife and kids it tends to get on my fight en side.

 

[Fisher3491]

Re: Thought I'd seen everything at the boat launch

Its easy to tell them to move. But sometimes its more fun to sit back and watch. It's amazing how oblivious some people are to whats going on around them.

http://www.boatbanter.net/opinion/what-not-to-do-at-the-launch-ramp/

Made me smile!