We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

[CATransplant]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

Around here, there are more small boats on the water and fewer big bass boats. I think the fuel thing is part of the reason.

I've talked to a couple of other anglers, who said that that actually bought a small aluminum boat to use on the smaller lakes, rather than launching their bass boat. They keep the big boat for big water. That may be why aluminum fishing boats have been at premium prices on Craigs List in this area.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

Around here, there are more small boats on the water and fewer big bass boats. I think the fuel thing is part of the reason.

I've talked to a couple of other anglers, who said that that actually bought a small aluminum boat to use on the smaller lakes, rather than launching their bass boat. They keep the big boat for big water. That may be why aluminum fishing boats have been at premium prices on Craigs List in this area.

This might be getting us more off topic, but I decided on a tinny for that very reason. Easy to sell. After having it for a season, nope, no way I would sell it. We just love it. A dream to tow (got 17-18mpg on a 440 mile trip this summer with our 4Runner V-6), and the 115hp 4-stroke sips gas. With a 25" transom, even during the windiest days, we have yet to see any water come out after removing the drain plug.

Of course, we boat exclusively on fresh water lakes. If we boated in salt water, I'm not sure I would get a tinny.

But wasn't this thread originally about ramp etiquette?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

Have any of you seen much of a decline due to higher fuel prices this year?

YES, My son was bugging me to go fishing on the Labor Day weekend, I caved and went out Saturday night. I knew it was going to be a cluster pulling out the next morning but said to myself, self, just go grab a cup of coffee and an ice cream for the kid until the traffic breaks. Well, we arrive at the launch ramp at 12 midnight with only 15-20 trailers in the parking lot, normally there would be over 100. Pulling out was real easy too...

I'm on a SoCal fishing forum and they despise poor launch ramp etiquette, so much that they will gather at the marina on busy weekends and have a party right next to the launch ramp,,, instead of going fishing. Food, Drinks, 1-10 score cards to flash at the drivers, signs saying $5 to launch, $10 if you try and fail

 

[HappierWet]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

AAAWWWW, Come on this is funny stuff. Somebody should be video-taping this. Maybe the moderator could put a thread in for chuckles. Unless you're on the way to a hospital nobody needs to be in such a hurry....(unless maybe to get on the water)... come on take some pics. I need the laugh.

It's all fun and games til someone is hurt....then it's just hilarious

 

[fishrdan]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

OK OK, I was wrong... It's $5 to launch,,, $20 if you fail and then ask

I would hot link to the thread's on this site,,, but would probably get banned from Iboats for doing so, not-so kid friendly over there...

Whoops, had to delete a pic because someone was throwing a salute,,, sorry :redface:

 

[CATransplant]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

Well, funny as the launch ramp is, I think that may go just a bit too far. Rating folks in public on how they launch is a little outrageous, it seems to me.

It's no wonder someone gave those folks a "salute." In Southern California, I'd be worried about a stronger reaction.

 

[45Auto]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

I think rating people on how they use the ramp is a great idea! Maybe that way some of the "clueless ones" will get the idea that there's a better way to do it.

One of the ramps I use locally was just rebuilt at the beginning of this year. New pavement, new parking spots, waiting lanes on the other side of the parking spaces from the launch/recover lanes, lane markings with arrows showing the traffic flow of the waiting lanes and launch/recover lanes, etc. Doesn't matter a bit, the same people that used to screw it up still aren't smart enough to look around and see how other people do it!

 

[DJ]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

AAAWWWW, Come on this is funny stuff. Somebody should be video-taping this. Maybe the moderator could put a thread in for chuckles. Unless you're on the way to a hospital nobody needs to be in such a hurry....(unless maybe to get on the water)... come on take some pics. I need the laugh.

It's all fun and games til someone is hurt....then it's just hilarious

We have one, it's called "Stupid Human Tricks". You're welcome to post pic's and videos, in good taste of course.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

I don't have a problem with those having trouble backing or launching or retrieving. Those things can be learned. It is the ones who back down the ramp stop short of the water. Then take the straps loose, put the plug in, unload the suv into the boat then everybody trots to the bathroom to change. Don't laugh I have seen it done.

 

[drknute3]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

Having worked at a marina on a river all through high school and college, the Sunday evening show was always entertaining. You truly see what a person is made of, good or bad, watching them and their significant others trying to trailer a boat in a current. If the intent is good and they are having troubles, I always offered to help. But if there was any degree of spousal contemp, I would just sit back and enjoy what can only be described as tryouts for the Jerry Springer show.

On a recent camping trip with the boat, I was getting ready to back down the ramp with truck and trailer while the wife was out in the bay in the boat ready to put it on the trailer. She has gotten quite good at this, but is still not very good at backing the trailer down. So Im getting ready when a guy pulls up next to me and asks if he can go first cause he's in a big rush to get somewhere else. I'll be in and out in 3 minutes he says. I said no prob, I'm not in any hurry.

The ramp is a single ramp but plenty wide for 2, and he procedds to get jack knifed all over the place multiple times. Finally after about 5 minutes, he gets it in the water. the boat driver was obviously equally experienced cause he would approach the trailer, get off track a bit, then put it in reverse, back out 50 yards and try again. After another 5 minutes of this, I had had enough. I singnalled to my wife to get ready, backed the trailer in and she pulled the boat on and I pulled right out. I was about 5 yards from the other guy while all this happened and I never even got out of the truck. the whole thing took about 45 seconds. We have a bunk trailer and the ramp is not steep so I never latch the winch strap until we are up on flat ground.

The look on the faces of the other 2 guys was totally priceless, they were amazed, or so I thought. When we pulled up to the flat, we got everything unloaded and had the boat all wiped down when they finally come up the ramp.

The guy pulls up beside us and starts ranting and raving about how unsafe I was by backing down beside him on what he called a single ramp, even though its probably 20 yards wide. I told him he needs to find an empty Walmart parking lot and learn how to drive. Told him I didnt appreciate being lied to in order to get ahead in line. A few expletives later, they left.

 

[DJ]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

I decided, early on, that I would be a helper (if asked for) early.

I witnessed an amazing one.

Does anyone remember the Seventies? Well, it was jet boats, as the fastest on the lake(s). San's the super hyped up Evinrudes. The V-8's came a bit later.

Here's the story. (Factual)

Here I am sitting to pull my parents 1976 22' Starcraft Super Sport out of the landing. I was driving a 1973 Thunderbird (460 CID-C-6 trans, and a 9" rear, with traction control). I pulled many a broke boat out with that unit. It was a truck with extremely luxurious appointments. Nice, in 1975.

We sit and we sit and we sit. A/C on, of course. My freinds-fast asleep. One freind, a qualified boater, "drowsing" -waiting. Our signal was two "toots" on the car horn and a headlight flash.

I went down to the ramp to watch the "action".

We'd been out on the lake, all day, we were exhausted.

There was a jet boat, sporting a 455 cid. Olds and a Berkley pump. He harasessed every boater, on the lake, spraying us with his "Jet Wash".

He got his.

When it was time for him to load his boat, on the trailer, we all watched.

He had his buddy back his trailer down, towed by a 1969 Chev. 396 HO Chevelle.

The guy drove the boat, on the trailer. The one thing they missed was the safety chain. The winch rope was attached but the winch was in "free wheel" mode. Another "forget".

Being what they were, the guy in the boat said "hit it". The guy in Chevelle did so, leaving a spectacular burn out and pulled him up.

You can see where this is going.

The winch handle went supersonic and the boat stayed. The car/trailer-did not. The winch went to it's rope limit and unloaded the trailer, of it's intended boat.

The guy, in the Chevelle, kept pulling, about 100' up the ramp. No boat, just trailer and a boat tied to it. About 50' up the ramp. They realized what was happening-not good. That was one damn good rope. I can't believe, to this day, it held.

Nobody helped, many clapped.

I did, help the guy get his boat, on the trailer. He was, as we say: "Spanked".

The damage was spectacular. The jet pump intake was-gone and the fiberglass damage put it into the "Boat Rebuilding" category.

I never saw him again, at that lake. "Spanked", I think he knew.

I did help him. We are, "boaters", by the way.

Help those that you can. If they deny, that's their problem, not yours.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

This thread is making me a little nervous. As a new boat owner (I haven't even put the thing in the water as its owner yet), I could very well find myself in the role of one of the people described. I would also prefer not to have my launch/retrieve prowess rated (at least for a while). I am more than willing to practice my backing up in a lonely parking lot (in fact, that's a bloody good idea) and practice my launch and retrieve during what the cell companies used to call off-peak hours. I am also more than willing to take the boater safety course -- in fact, I will over the winter.

What I'm most concerned about is the following, at least until I see how things shake out. The lake I intend to put my boat in for fishing has 2 ramps at the public launch. I believe they can only handle a boat each at a time, and there is a dock between them. I have avidly read many postings about launch and retrieval, and they don't really seem to cover this situation. I'm going to have a really rough time launching alone in this scenario. If I dock my boat at the end of the dock, I could technically block BOTH ramps while I go to retrieve the truck. Granted, I could go with someone else (and probably will for a while), but I'd also like to be able to do it alone.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

If I dock my boat at the end of the dock, I could technically block BOTH ramps while I go to retrieve the truck. Granted, I could go with someone else (and probably will for a while), but I'd also like to be able to do it alone.

You'll either have to beach (if available) or tie up at the far end of the dock.

Sometimes there's nothing you can do but block for a bit, but if you are as far away from the ramp, others should be able to get by.

If I'm at a ramp with a dock with just my wife, I have her hold the boat at the end of the dock and others can drive by to load. Then when I'm ready, she pulls the boat forward with the ropes.

When I'm alone, I'm usually where there is no dock anyway.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

You'll either have to beach (if available) or tie up at the far end of the dock.

Sometimes there's nothing you can do but block for a bit, but if you are as far away from the ramp, others should be able to get by.

If I'm at a ramp with a dock with just my wife, I have her hold the boat at the end of the dock and others can drive by to load. Then when I'm ready, she pulls the boat forward with the ropes.

When I'm alone, I'm usually where there is no dock anyway.

I understand the concept of launch order being driven by position of launch vehicle in the launch queue. If I beach my boat so I can park my rig, how do I get my boat back into the launch order?

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

I understand the concept of launch order being driven by position of launch vehicle in the launch queue. If I beach my boat so I can park my rig, how do I get my boat back into the launch order?

I'd think once your rig is on the ramp, you grab your boat and drive it up, but it would kinda depend on your ramp setup I guess.

 

[109jb]

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

Re: Ummm... I'm starting to get a little nervous here...

You know this whole beaching idea is fine when there is a long line of trailers, but in the case of the ramp I use most often, the nearast place to beach is farther from the dock than where my truck is parked. If I beach and then get the trailer, the trailer winds up blocking the ramp longer than boat would be if I were to just leave the boat at the dock. Granted, if the trailer line is long, beaching may still be a better option, but you just have to judge which will cause the least amount of inconvenience to others, but in the end, do what you have to do.

The last time I went out I helped a guy load his boat because he was having trouble. Turns out it was his first time out after buying his first boat. He had a friend with him, but both were inexperienced. After pulling my boat out and putting it in the staging area, I went back to help him and he was much appreciative. I was able to give him some pointers that will help him out rather than humiliating him. We have all been there. Nobody is born knowing how to launch a boat and must learn how it is done. Yes there are those that can't be helped because they have the "me" attitude and nothing can be done for them, but most of the problems I see at the ramps are people that could use some help.

In the case of the people that need to "rate" people launching their boats, they are mearly showing their intellegence and are most likely holding up cards with their IQ written on them. If they really wanted to help with the ramp tie-ups, they would lend assistance. Same goes for all those on this forum that are complaining about people that are having problems. Ask yourself the last time you even thought about asking someone like this if they needed help let alone even doing it. I'm sure there are those that have helped, but I am also sure that quite a few of the complainers have never offered to help before.

I'm done.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

Actually, I think a most of the people here on iboats are happy to help at the ramp. I do it all the time, after asking politely first, of course.

I tend to agree with you about folks who just watch as people struggle, or even make fun of them at the time. That's just bad manners. I make a note about such folks in my mind. They're not going to get much help from me if they find themselves in trouble sometime.

On the other hand, there are folks who won't accept help, and there are a lot of funny things that happen at the ramp. So, we sometimes poke at those funny things, anonymously, here on iboats. That's little different.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

On the beaching thing...every ramp is different. That's what makes it so difficult to come up with a set of rules for ramps. A guy's just got to observe a particular ramp for a while and see how things are done there.

The solo boater often has to come up with ingenious ways of dealing with the situation. Sometimes, there are few options. Personally, I try to avoid ramps that are going to be a problem, or use them only when it's not busy. I know that's no solution for a lot of people, but in Minnesota, there's a lake around every corner, so you have lots of options.

 

[45Auto]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

In the case of the people that need to "rate" people launching their boats, they are mearly showing their intellegence and are most likely holding up cards with their IQ written on them. If they really wanted to help with the ramp tie-ups, they would lend assistance.

You meant "merely" I think. No such word as "mearly".

It's been my experience that people who object to being rated at something usually don't like it because they know they'll be near the bottom .....

I offer to help anytime a fellow boater needs help at the ramp. I would say that about half the time they are appreciative, and half the time they act like you are insulting their manhood. Never had to offer to help any women at the ramp so I don't know how they'd act!

 

[109jb]

Re: We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

You meant "merely" I think. No such word as "mearly".

It's been my experience that people who object to being rated at something usually don't like it because they know they'll be near the bottom .....

I offer to help anytime a fellow boater needs help at the ramp. I would say that about half the time they are appreciative, and half the time they act like you are insulting their manhood. Never had to offer to help any women at the ramp so I don't know how they'd act!

I didn't realize this was spelling class and you obviously knew what I was saying. Spelling is a rather small measure of intelligence when compared to other factors. Perhaps I should have referred to their character rather than intelligence

As for ratings, I launch and load rather quickly even when by myself so I'm confident that I would rate high. With that said, I still think it is a poor practice by inconsiderate people who obviously think little of humiliating people. Nice class of people!