FBPirate95
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Messages
- 840
Not really....We took my lil' 16 footer out for its maiden voyage today. It's been a long time coming since I've had to do a little work on it. My parents told me about a new ramp that just opened up near them. I decided to go check it out.
Once we got there we pulled to the trailer parking to prep everything. My crew consisted of my wife and three kids. None of them have ever really gone out on a boat. They waited at the dock while I backed the trailer down. My wife had to pull the trialer out while I got the boat off and pulled over to the dock. Was it a perfect launch? Nope...but I didn't hold anyone up.
We cruised for a little while and I decided we should head back. The clouds were buliding and I figured I'd be better off getting to the ramp before the bottom falls out and so that I wouldn't hold up every body else making a break for it.
We got to the ramp and I had to tie up to go get the trailer. (my wife can't back a trailer) I get back in the boat and make my attempt at loading the boat. The current is really swift through this area, and the wind today didn't help either. My first attempt failed.....my second attempt failed. By this time 3 other boats have pulled up and are waiting for me. Not wanting to be the ramp hog, I told my wife to go ahead and pull the trailer out and we'll let everyone else load.
About the time she was to get in the truck a guy came over to offer some assistance. It wound up being a guy I grew up with and haven't seen in years. He and another childhood aquaintence of mine were two of the boats waiting in line. He waded out about waist deep and helped me guide on. I thanked him and apologized to everyone waiting and pulled on out.
My wife and I sat at the picnic tables while our kids played on the playground. We watched other boaters try to retrieve, and many of them had the same problem I did. That made me feel a little bit better anyway.
I think they will have to try and figure out a way to cut the current down some on that ramp. Other than that, it was a nice park/ramp area, and we had a pretty good day.
Once again, another story of good deed doers helping out fellow boaters. A huge thanks to people willing to help each other out.
Once we got there we pulled to the trailer parking to prep everything. My crew consisted of my wife and three kids. None of them have ever really gone out on a boat. They waited at the dock while I backed the trailer down. My wife had to pull the trialer out while I got the boat off and pulled over to the dock. Was it a perfect launch? Nope...but I didn't hold anyone up.
We cruised for a little while and I decided we should head back. The clouds were buliding and I figured I'd be better off getting to the ramp before the bottom falls out and so that I wouldn't hold up every body else making a break for it.
We got to the ramp and I had to tie up to go get the trailer. (my wife can't back a trailer) I get back in the boat and make my attempt at loading the boat. The current is really swift through this area, and the wind today didn't help either. My first attempt failed.....my second attempt failed. By this time 3 other boats have pulled up and are waiting for me. Not wanting to be the ramp hog, I told my wife to go ahead and pull the trailer out and we'll let everyone else load.
About the time she was to get in the truck a guy came over to offer some assistance. It wound up being a guy I grew up with and haven't seen in years. He and another childhood aquaintence of mine were two of the boats waiting in line. He waded out about waist deep and helped me guide on. I thanked him and apologized to everyone waiting and pulled on out.
My wife and I sat at the picnic tables while our kids played on the playground. We watched other boaters try to retrieve, and many of them had the same problem I did. That made me feel a little bit better anyway.
I think they will have to try and figure out a way to cut the current down some on that ramp. Other than that, it was a nice park/ramp area, and we had a pretty good day.
Once again, another story of good deed doers helping out fellow boaters. A huge thanks to people willing to help each other out.
