Went to the local boat launch today to help a friend and I was truly amazed

[Fastatv]

A friend of mine has a pontoon boat which hasn't ran in about two years. I helped him with engine repair and tune up and today, helped him launch. It fired right up, then he's was out of sight....a fine thing! Anyway, I hung around the boat launch for a few minutes and observed many many mistakes made by boat owners, I was truly amazed.
- Guy was hammering his Jet Ski, trying to get it off the trailer.....I hollered at him.....it's still attached the the trailer....lol
- Watched two other guys start their Merc I/O's and rev the engines up in the full trailer position. The U-joints were screaming....
- Watched a guy pump the throttle on his I/O at least ten times.....then it wouldn't start. Told him it was probably flooded and to hold the throttle
wide open till it started, then quikly bring the throttle back down.
- As another was backing his boat down, he backed into the dock
And there were other things. All this in about 15 to 20 minutes.....it was really something to see....and I was about shocked as to how many boaters don't really seem to know what their doing. Anyway, I tried to provide a bit of "kind" training for most of the folks....LOL...

 

[GA_Boater]

The sad thing is they were just warming up! All you or any of us can do is try to help.

 

[jestor68]

A friend of mine has a pontoon boat which hasn't ran in about two years. I helped him with engine repair and tune up and today, helped him launch. It fired right up, then he's was out of sight....a fine thing! Anyway, I hung around the boat launch for a few minutes and observed many many mistakes made by boat owners, I was truly amazed.....I hollered at him.....

Hollering at folks around here can cause trouble.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Ahh yes, the folks that we get on the water when there are no training or licensing requirements.

And besides all the folks who don't know how to manage their equipment are the ones who don't have a clue about courtesy at the boat ramp, such as all the people who wait 'till they've backed down the ramp to start putting tubes, coolers, towels, etc. etc. into their boat.

 

[Maclin]

I call this the Bumper Boats holiday

 

[Texasmark]

I NEVER went boating on a holiday weekend in a cosmopolitan area. Just not worth the experience on or off the water.

 

[Maclin]

With ya on that TM... :thumb:

 

[kjsAZ]

+1, Memorial Day/July 4th/Labor Day are designated non-boating and stay at home days.

 

[Sea Rider]

Just because someone has a boat, doesn't mean he knows what's he's doing, seen some real animals that should be knitting instead of boating. Once saw an engine overheat on top of a trailer before launch while "warming up", owner went for a cold beer and forgot all about his combo. Definitely the most costly beer he's ever taken....

Happy Boating

 

[Gyrene]

I just concentrate on bikinis....

 

[Cldwell]

+1, Memorial Day/July 4th/Labor Day are designated non-boating and stay at home days.

Those are the weekends for a movie and dinner with the family. Boating always waits until the next weekend!!

 

[Starcraft5834]

I dont see any of that... i boat on weekdays when launch and water is mostly empty...

 

[Bubbasboat]

XXXXX

 

[thumpar]

We went on Wednesday and it was totally messed up. Had the guy that loaded on the ramp. Then the guy that must have just got his new SeaDoo because he could not get it backed up. The guy that pulls up from the ramp to unload but just far enough to screw up people trying to line up before backing in. There was a guy that cut in front of us. He launched and we backed in on the other side, pulled out and we were on the water before he even got in the boat. The way we do it is I launch and hop on the boat and head out so people can use the ramp while my wife parks. When she gets back to the dock I come in and pick her up real quick.

 

[Fastatv]

We went on Wednesday and it was totally messed up. Had the guy that loaded on the ramp. Then the guy that must have just got his new SeaDoo because he could not get it backed up. The guy that pulls up from the ramp to unload but just far enough to screw up people trying to line up before backing in. There was a guy that cut in front of us. He launched and we backed in on the other side, pulled out and we were on the water before he even got in the boat. The way we do it is I launch and hop on the boat and head out so people can use the ramp while my wife parks. When she gets back to the dock I come in and pick her up real quick.

I agree with everyone here...do the boat thing thru the week...LOL

Thumper, when I read your post....in total honesty, I looked up your profile to see if you were from East TN because what you described sounds exactly like the ramp I use...Ha, ha, ha! I'm serious....lol Anyway, I guess about no matter where we are from.....its the same experiences.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Stopped by the Shelter Island launch ramp around noon today. Sure enough, guy in the parking lot, with an I/O, ran it dry for almost two minutes. Don't those I/O's use the same sort of impellers I use on my OB? I thought running it dry was a no-no.

 

[WIMUSKY]

+1, Memorial Day/July 4th/Labor Day are designated non-boating and stay at home days.

Rookie weekends......

 

[kjsAZ]

Stopped by the Shelter Island launch ramp around noon today. Sure enough, guy in the parking lot, with an I/O, ran it dry for almost two minutes. Don't those I/O's use the same sort of impellers I use on my OB? I thought running it dry was a no-no.

yep, impeller is toast but that might be a good thing.......

 

[Cldwell]

Stopped by the Shelter Island launch ramp around noon today. Sure enough, guy in the parking lot, with an I/O, ran it dry for almost two minutes. Don't those I/O's use the same sort of impellers I use on my OB? I thought running it dry was a no-no.

He will be posting in the I/o section wondering why his boat suddenly started over heating!

 

[Illinoid]

I bought a 40 year old toon, our first motorboat, about a month ago and finally got it ready for sea trials on the 4th...The Admiral decided we should wait till next weekend when it is quieter and hopefully the high water has subsided some...I hate it when she is right;-)