What is your ramp like?

[Thad]

With all of the SHT's about ramps and the never ending tales and questions that follow, I got to thinking. (I know, that there is dangerous!)

I have read enough of these now to know there are different protocalls for salt water vs. fresh water. Even differences from lakes to rivers. Just from my own experiences at the different ramps I have been to over the years has caused me to assess a new ramp before I just back down and launch. Sometimes I will watch a couple of launches before I go, other times I will walk down the ramp and look it over before I go.

I could see myself the the topic of a SHT post if I were to take my boat to my grandmas house in Florida. The same as what was said in another post about a guy getting ribbed if he were to launch at a lake.

For the most part, the ramps around here are of a moderate grade and are fairly long. The majority of launches do not have a courtesy dock or even a beach area to land a boat. But the ones that do are used properly. The ones that do not, I have not really seen any major problems with. Most everybody around here has their boats already loaded and are pretty good about being courtious at the ramps. Sure, we have the occasional guy who is not good at backing a trailer or not real steady at getting the boat into the bunks straight, but if they look like they are trying and not being "difficult", people are more than happy to offer a little help or just wait. About the only real problem I have encountered is trying to share space in the lot with people going to the ball diamonds...that is a whole other topic in and of itself!

So what are your ramps like?

 

[avenger79]

Re: What is your ramp like?

i usually find new lakes by taking a motorcycle ride. then if it looks like a place I want to go I take the cycle there and hang out for awhile. watch people and how they load and unload. you can figure out where people "prep" the boat, how they back down the ramp etc.
the lake i go to on a normal basis is like a little slice of heaven. nice lot to prep, short easy access ramp, little area on the other side of the dock if you have to tie up. it's a very small lake and usually the ramp is not crowded. I have never seen more then two cars in line and that was unusual.

 

[badkins50]

Re: What is your ramp like?

Nice, clean and well maintenanced, not to step, long docks, and courtesy dock. Usually takes about a 10-15 minute stoll up the river to get to Lake Erie.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: What is your ramp like?

We have one of or the best salt water public boat ramps in Massachusetts. Built within the last several years, two boats at a time and if the launches know what they are doing two more boats can launch in sequence, plenty of room to launch four boats and can launch either tide.

Until this was built we had the worst in the country.

On a Saturday or Sunday evening around 5:00 PM you can take some fabulous pictures of the drunks trying to put their boats back on the trailer. If I had to trailer a boat to a ramp on the weekends I would not own one. God bless those who do.

 

[Flukinicehole]

Re: What is your ramp like?

I usually go look at a ramp before I use it. Just 2 weeks ago we went to Atlantic Beach NC for a extended weekend. There was a ramp next to the house and 3 slips in the back yard. At high tide (when I launched) I had to put the tires of the truck in the water to get the boat off. Over the course of the next few days I saw 4 people who could not launch their boats. At low tide the ramp was great as it got steeper with a lower tide. I will use this ramp again but make sure to try to time it for a middle or low tide. There were maybe 10 boats in and out of there all weekend. Nice and quiet and close to the inlet.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What is your ramp like?

My local one is downhill going in and uphill coming out.

 

[45Auto]

Re: What is your ramp like?

My local one is downhill going in and uphill coming out.

The newer ones are much nicer and safer. They are uphill going in so your truck doesn't roll into the water, and downhill coming out to help the boat slide onto the trailer and make sure your truck doesn't get stuck.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: What is your ramp like?

It's nice...real nice.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: What is your ramp like?

My frequent is well maintained courtesy dock enough for 4 boats and 4 ramps with beveled traction ribs all the way down and slightly levels gradually under water each ramp 20' wide the only real problem ther is single vehicles taking up the trailer parking spaces on a buisy day (maintaine by the Army corp of engineers) hard to believe even after thier rep with the Catrina disaster.

 

[642mx]

Re: What is your ramp like?

Our ramp is crap, its full of idiots, its full of dock-hogs, and never maintained. It does have plenty of parking, but that is the only good part.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What is your ramp like?

The newer ones are much nicer and safer. They are uphill going in so your truck doesn't roll into the water, and downhill coming out to help the boat slide onto the trailer and make sure your truck doesn't get stuck.

Going to have to try one of those new fangled ones out

 

[archangelnot]

Re: What is your ramp like?

My local ramp -- Lake Meridian, Kent, WA

 

[foodfisher]

Re: What is your ramp like?

My local ramp -- Lake Meridian, Kent, WA

Small world! I lived in a mobilehome at the other end late 70's.

 

[Trentriver]

Re: What is your ramp like?

It's nice...real nice.

Wow, looks nice and clean. Anything ever get caught in your prop?

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: What is your ramp like?

Wow, looks nice and clean. Anything ever get caught in your prop?

Actually, that was a one time deal in the very early spring, after a storm....It really is nice.

 

[Trentriver]

Re: What is your ramp like?

Actually, that was a one time deal in the very early spring, after a storm....It really is nice.

Oh I see, that would explain it. The ramp that I sometimes use up at Lake Simcoe is pretty dirty, covered in weed and algae, not to mention floating debris (garbage) etc. It smells like a cesspool as well..