We need a dang boat launch ettiquite lesson...

[capt sam]

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

You said you made the biggest rookie mistake maybe the broken rib will remind you to make sure your boat is running properly BEFOREyou go out on the water.

This is a load of crap or you've been very lucky. I spend 2-3 days a week on the water x's that by 35 years and at some point you'll experience an issue on the water. Things happen, sometimes you make it back sometimes you get towed in, and it doesn't matter how anal you are with you service schedule or basic maintenance.

 

[CATransplant]

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

You said you made the biggest rookie mistake maybe the broken rib will remind you to make sure your boat is running properly BEFOREyou go out on the water.

Ah...right...you've never had a problem on the water, right? A broken rib is something that can happen to anyone. As far as making sure your boat is running right before you go on the water is concerned, you can do only so much in your driveway on the muffs. Sometimes, you don't find a problem until you're on the water.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

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

Sometimes, you don't find a problem until you're on the water.

I agree with this. I always start my boat prior to heading out and let it idle while I'm loading the truck. There have been a few times that when I get to the dock the motor decides to just be picky. Once it was the last straw for my clutch dog (I did machine it and fix it) and I had lost reverse. Also seems like no matter how much I adjust the thing either, it does take an extra minute or two to warm up before I can pull away.

 

[vintage boat junky]

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

The broken rib thing sounds innocent enough; and God knows he paid a price. Mechanical issues can happen at any time much like a car. That would be like saying "Make sure your car is running BEFORE you leave the driveway".

I don't see that as part of the idiot magnet problem that plagues an access.

 

[slasmith1]

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

The broken rib thing sounds innocent enough; and God knows he paid a price. Mechanical issues can happen at any time much like a car. That would be like saying "Make sure your car is running BEFORE you leave the driveway".

I don't see that as part of the idiot magnet problem that plagues an access.

If the boat stalled every three minutes all day he had no business leaving the dock. Knowingly continuing out for the day with faulty equipment endangers everyone on the boat and can be a danger to other vessels as well if he happens to stall at an inopportune moment.

 

[CAVU V]

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

I use to launch at Leesylvania State Park, VA and they had a designated day to practice launching boats. On weekends some of the park rangers would give boaters a certain amount of time to and if they couldn't get it together they would send them back to the end of the line.

At this park they have a closing time and they lock the gates, if you are not out they charge you to open them. One Sat evening, 1/2 prior to closing there is a line of people trying to beat the clock and there is a lady backing down the ramp with another one directing her. The driver keeps on turning the boat/trailer 90 degrees to the vehicle, so I ask the director if they need help, she says no that is teaching the other lady how to launch a boat. I proceed to retrieve my boat, in the mean time the 2 ladies are still oblivious to the world around them. I finally go the director and tell her that there a lot of people getting really pissed of at them because they have to retrieve their boats before closing time and that she should jump in the drivers seat and get it done. She just continuos to direct.

I guess some people are clueless or just inconsiderate.

Dale

 

[gregg g]

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

Back to funny launch stories.....

I used to go to a local DNR park/launch site after work to relax by the water. One day I'm watching these 2 guys loading a 20-something foot boat in what had to be the stupidest method ever- one guy is standing in the bed of the truck, pointing directions to the other who is piloting the boat onto the trailer under power. And not gently idling up to the trailer either, it was a hard enough hit on the throttle to make you turn around and look.... the guy just powers all the way up to about 2 feet from the winch, then the other guy hooks up and winches it the rest of the way.... I was waiting to see the boat parked on top of the pickup.

Jet-ski- in the back of a Ranger pickup, the guy backs his truck down the ramp, into the water, until the Jet-ski is floating.....

Actually watched another guy back his car down the launch ramp to untie his kayak from the roof and toss it in the water.

 

[SG Goobacks]

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

I don't know if this is funny but this guy got an earful from everyone on the ramp:
We had just loaded and where parked in the side lot doing wipe down and getting ready to leave when you hear a bunch of people yelling at someone and a really loud scraping sound, apparently this guy had chewed out his wife for not being able to back the truck down and he had to finish the back down and then load the boat himself. Well, when he loaded he forgot to tilt the drive and proceeded to drag it all the way up the ramp creating a nice 2 to 3 inch canyon in the ramp and taking half his skeg off at the same time. He pulled up next to us as we were yelling at him also to stop but he paid no mind to anyone. When he did stop he figured out what all the noise was about and went right after his wife blaming her. Probably half a dozed people came to her rescue and proceeded to tell the guy facts of life. He jumped in the boat, tilted up and quickly jumped in the truck/she followed with a huge smirk on her face and left in a quick.
We all just looked at each other with that: Did that really happen look.
It's amazing sometimes, you can really see the best or worse of people at the ramp.

 

[gregg g]

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

Gonna be an interesting summer for me, first time boat owner.
I plan to take an experienced buddy with me the first few times I go out so I don't make too big of a fool of myself.

 

[Ridemywideglide]

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

If the boat stalled every three minutes all day he had no business leaving the dock. Knowingly continuing out for the day with faulty equipment endangers everyone on the boat and can be a danger to other vessels as well if he happens to stall at an inopportune moment.

Boat started stalling when running across the lake, or at anything over 1/3-1/2 throttle under load. If you had looked at my other posts about the troubles, you'd have seen that it ran continuously in the driveway on muffs for over a hour, no stalling. There's only so much you can test for in the driveway, unless your you I guess...
I think the rib, AND the fuel delivery issue are solved now tho, so I can get back to getting in peoples way at the boat ramp.

 

[Ridemywideglide]

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

Gonna be an interesting summer for me, first time boat owner.
I plan to take an experienced buddy with me the first few times I go out so I don't make too big of a fool of myself.

Everyone has to learn, only one way to pull that off. Being able to back a trailer will be your most valuable resource.

 

[SG Goobacks]

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

Everyone has to learn, only one way to pull that off. Being able to back a trailer will be your most valuable resource.

Practice makes perfect is what they say. And like I ell everyone I know, Don't panic, just take it slow and easy and it should be fine.
A couple of years ago, Watched a lady backing the truck and trailer down as the hubby sat ready to trailer the boat, she was zig zagging half way down the ramp, pulling up and trying and trying again. Her windows were down and she could hear her husband yelling and screaming like a mad man. She threw the truck in park half way down the ramp and walked away He had to dock the boat and finish the back down and loading by himself. Not the best of scenario's for sure.
Just be patient, calm and be prepared BEFORE you get on the ramp.

 

[Shizzy]

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

I don't know if this is funny but this guy got an earful from everyone on the ramp:
We had just loaded and where parked in the side lot doing wipe down and getting ready to leave when you hear a bunch of people yelling at someone and a really loud scraping sound, apparently this guy had chewed out his wife for not being able to back the truck down and he had to finish the back down and then load the boat himself. Well, when he loaded he forgot to tilt the drive and proceeded to drag it all the way up the ramp creating a nice 2 to 3 inch canyon in the ramp and taking half his skeg off at the same time. He pulled up next to us as we were yelling at him also to stop but he paid no mind to anyone. When he did stop he figured out what all the noise was about and went right after his wife blaming her. Probably half a dozed people came to her rescue and proceeded to tell the guy facts of life. He jumped in the boat, tilted up and quickly jumped in the truck/she followed with a huge smirk on her face and left in a quick.
We all just looked at each other with that: Did that really happen look.
It's amazing sometimes, you can really see the best or worse of people at the ramp.

I do feel bad for these women. if the Husband is treating her like that in public, imagine how she gets treated in private.

 

[gregg g]

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

Everyone has to learn, only one way to pull that off. Being able to back a trailer will be your most valuable resource.

Had no problem backing the little boat up my narrow driveway, I tow a 6'x10' snowmobile trailer with a Wrangler- THAT'S a challenge to back up! The boat trailers well behind the F-150.

Most hobbyists will help out a noob if asked, I feel boating's no different in that respect. I have no pride- if I don't know how to do something I will do whatever it takes to learn. This is my first step, asking questions online.

 

[vintage boat junky]

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

Well in response to the "not running all day" comment, it was running fine until on the water. As he already replied there's only so much you can test for in the driveway. Plus, if it's running for 3 minutes all day, how exactly are you endangering anyone? If people see you stalled, in my experience, they will approach and see if you need help, or slow the f**k down if they're going fast. (surprisingly, yes - most of them do)

Don't act like the boat's going to sink if the motor is flaking out. He did what he could and paid a price.

Now, agreed with the "back to funny stories" comment, I have another contribution.

There's nothing like seeing money get wasted at the ramp. I'm talking about the $30K rigs on a small puddle. Mostly Lund, Crestliner, etc - but it's always behind some huge expensive customized trucks that compete with the latest Harley muffler.

I had a neighbor who was driving a similar rig, but with a more modest SUV. He seemed to be the type that knows what he's doing, but hasn't been doing it long. I see him backing into a short driveway - fits about 2 cars side by side, then you get to the garage. He's got one of those new Lunds with all the fixin's. His 130 Merc sits higher than my vehicle, and he's backing it into his garage. I happened to be doing trailer wiring in my garage when I hear, "OH NO! OH NO! STOP! STOP! STOP! STOP!"

Well, utilizing the buddy system when backing a trailer I've always promoted. However, it doesn't do you much good when you are blasting the A/C with all the windows up, and you just didn't think turning down a blaring radio was all that important. So naturally he doesn't hear his wife's warnings, and POW!

That brand new Merc hit the top of the door frame, denting it in pretty good. He did have a transom saver, but I clearly saw the motor flip up from it, and slam back down. Bummer since it was his first season with that new rig. I just know that if I did something like that, it'd be a far greater financial impact trying to recover. I guess that's why I am extra careful.

 

[capt sam]

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

Florida has a million registered vessels and they all go out on Sundays. I have literally sat in my boat for an hour waiting to just nose up to the dock and tie off on a piling so I can go jump in my truck and wait another hour to pull the boat out of the water. That is why I never boat on sundays anymore.

 

[hubbard53]

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

I was helping a buddy launch his newly acquired 24' Center console last weekend and had some idiot pull in right behind the boat we were launching, tie off the boat on the other side and just walk away. He then tried to back his truck and trailer down between the two lanes to retrieve his boat. He was pissed that someone cut his boat loose while he was getting his truck. He had the nerve to back down only inches from my buddies new truck and boat, then began flipping out about how dare anyone touch his boat.
This coming from a guy that tied off to someone elses boat who had also gone to get their truck. His boat blocked us from unloading. When he started to get nasty with the guy who's boat he tied to, we both stepped in and kindly explained life to the loser. Meanwhile, his boat was headed down stream, most likely to be beached at the next bend in the river about 1/3 of a mile down, on the opposite side of the river that has any access.

We loaded my buddies boat, he took his truck home and I met him at his dock with the boat down stream a few miles. I saw no sign of the boat on my way out though. It either continued downstream farther or got tied up by someone else someplace. We weren't too concerned for the guy. He's better off without a boat.

are you kiddding me? If you're so into ettiquite and safety, I'm surprised you didnt say something to whomever intentionally untied a boat so it could float away freely and unmanned. Talk about a danger to those downriver...

No matter how rude, aarrogant, or stupid someone is, it should be against the law to untie their boat and create a hazardous situation such as that. Franky, you say he's better offf without a boat but in my opionion, your opinion on that subject shows that you too should be without.

 

[cribber]

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

Luckily here in Lake County we have enough public and private ramps to handle busy weekends and we rarely have to wait to launch for a day of fun. If there is a tourney going on then you need to be off the water before 2:30 since most weigh-ins are at 3. Or better yet, just hang out on the water out of the way and watch these guys in action. It's truly amazing to see 20-30 boats clear the ramp in under 30 minutes.

 

[DixieBoatN]

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

are you kiddding me? If you're so into ettiquite and safety, I'm surprised you didnt say something to whomever intentionally untied a boat so it could float away freely and unmanned. Talk about a danger to those downriver...

No matter how rude, aarrogant, or stupid someone is, it should be against the law to untie their boat and create a hazardous situation such as that. Franky, you say he's better offf without a boat but in my opionion, your opinion on that subject shows that you too should be without.

I can't claim to believe that untying the guy's boat was the right thing to do, but I can say that if I went to step into my boat and some a**hat whom I did not know, had tied off to my boat, I'd be pretty fuming pi$$ed about it! What should you do at that point? Should you stay there and wait for the rocket scientist to reappear? Should you untie it and tie it off to the dock where your boat was tied off? Seems to me that if I was ready to go, I wouldn't drag the boat along because it is tied off to mine and I would not spend my time caring about his boat enough to tie it off to something else, so I'd guess it would go floating off down river. I can't fathom the moron that would do this to begin with anyway!

 

[hubbard53]

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

i'm not saying the one guy was RIGHT in tying off to the dock or boat but to release it freely into the river is the greater of the evils. By this logic, if someone were to double park and block me in, I should, if I could, release the break, put it in neutral and let it go into traffic...