Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

[Hashi]

I just got back into boating and am fairly new to iBoats which, by the way, I enjoy reading all your threads and very helpful advices...Thanks!

I'm sure you've all experienced this...I go to this lake which has a free boat launch with only one dock versus a pay launch. Of course, the free launch is always crowded and the parking lot gets full early. I get upset when people take their sweet time at the dock loading/unloading while there is a line of boats trying to get in or out. Whatever happened to common courtesy to move the boat on the other side of the dock (no ramp side) so other people can get in or out?

Also, there should be classes for backing a trailer down the ramp. The other day it took one person 20 minutes to back down.

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

What gets me is when they back down the ramp, THEN decide to get their gear together, unstrap the boat, yada yada...

I don't mind if it's slow, and I even do it myself, but on a Saturday afternoon have your boat ready before you get to the ramp, please.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

I will second that rentalguy1 seems alot of people think they are the only ones going out on the water.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

I don't mind people taking a long time. If you are alone, and the ramps are set up like many on my local lake, it will take time. But, when people dawdle, it bothers me. I often see, and don't mind, when some guy in a big bass boat drives up, and backs halfway down, then stops, as all he has to do is pull the motor toter, and transom straps, as everything else is loaded in storage lockers, while his buddy clambers in, SO LONG AS IT IS NOT CROWDED!! If they do that while crowded, it bothers me. But, when somebody backs down, then loads the coolers, rods, tacklebags, batteries, etc, it bothers me. A motor toter and straps take less than a minute, which is the time spent for the buddy to get in, but loading all the gear is not condoneable. Ocaissionally at small elec only lakes, we will load the boat in the ramp, as very few people use it, so we ain't blockin' nobody.

 

[JB]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

Just one more symptom of the decline of American manners. Boat ramps are not by a long shot the only place Americans are rude to one another.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

What gets me is when they back down the ramp, THEN decide to get their gear together, unstrap the boat, yada yada...

I don't mind if it's slow, and I even do it myself, but on a Saturday afternoon have your boat ready before you get to the ramp, please.

I absolutely second this for sure. They should have their stuff ready and the boat ready to launch off the back. Starting the load process on the ramp is ridiculous but surprisingly common. The other thing I see all the time is allowing the kids to play in the boat when doing this.....as if that helps speeds things up.
Maybe having a volunteer/paid? launch checker who doesn't let you into the ramp queue until you have met the basic readiness list.

 

[mudmagnet63]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

You're right JB. I think that's why this forum is so popular 99% of what is written here is in good taste not vulgar or rude. Just like minded people sharing something we all enjoy.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

How about this one....

I put in our boat after my brother-in-law rebuilt the motor for me. I had some problems getting it to run right on the prior attempt, but we were sure we had the problems all figured out.

We were wrong. Put in, parked the truck, and ran... I mean RAN down to the landing, to start the boat and get it out of there. The stupid thing wouldn't start. It turned out to be something simple, but I, of course couldn't figure it out right away. Now, we go to a landing that has a dock in the middle of the landing... so you can do either the left or the right side.

This frickin' jet skier came down... no one else around, but me, trying to start the boat. Tinkering.... He had to put in on my side of the landing. I couldn't believe the balls of this guy. I'm right there!!! If I didn't push away from the dock, he'd a hit me! Pushed off, had his wife, or girlfriend, hold the jetski while sitting on the dock, and drove off.

I was so mad, but my wife made me hold my tongue. I couldn't believe the nerve of this guy!!!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

I had a guy last week swoop me, I was in the prep area getting ready to launch like you should and just as I am getting into the truck to launch this shmuck comes tearing in and takes the ramp.
I am thinking "whatever',I can sit for a minute, 15 minutes later the idiot finally unloads all his gear from the truck to the boat and actually launches only to sit in the boat,running 20 feet directly behind the ramp.
I start to back the boat in thinking this idiot will surely move,he doesn't.
I'm not a violent person but I almost offered him a beer,upside his head.

Another time we got back to the ramp at 1:30 in the morning only to find a truck and trailer backed into the water with noone around, the truck is off and locked parked on the ramp!!!
After 15-20 minutes the guy comes tearing up loads and leaves, I couldn't beieve it.
Needless to say you have hit on one of my biggest pet peeves.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

I had a guy last week swoop me, I was in the prep area getting ready to launch like you should and just as I am getting into the truck to launch this shmuck comes tearing in and takes the ramp.
I am thinking "whatever',I can sit for a minute, 15 minutes later the idiot finally unloads all his gear from the truck to the boat and actually launches only to sit in the boat,running 20 feet directly behind the ramp.
I start to back the boat in thinking this idiot will surely move,he doesn't.
I'm not a violent person but I almost offered him a beer,upside his head.

Another time we got back to the ramp at 1:30 in the morning only to find a truck and trailer backed into the water with noone around, the truck is off and locked parked on the ramp!!!
After 15-20 minutes the guy comes tearing up loads and leaves, I couldn't beieve it.
Needless to say you have hit on one of my biggest pet peeves.

A guy like that deserves to stay on the ramp a little longer. Maybe a flat tire would have helped him do just that.

 

[Ron-O]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

Since I'm very new to owning a boat..(Only been out 4 or 5 times so far). I try to get to the extreme left or right on the ramp. The ramp is 3 boats wide where I launch. It does take me a little longer, but even being new at this I have everything ready when I back the boat in. One time, I had some friends with me out for a quick cruise, we get back to the dock, a buddy runs up to get my Jeep and trailer. There's some lady standing in the middle of the ramp holding a jet ski. Here comes another lady backing a truck down the ramp to load the jet ski. I thought no problem I can wait. She's completely sideways on the ramp. Then she can't seem to load the jet ski on the trailer. After about 15 min, my friends and I were ready to grab the jet ski and toss it in the bed of her truck. Didn't think jet skis were that hard to load on a trailer...

 

[mcjeff72]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

I have just begun launching a boat with some horsepower and the ability to motor down the lake, but one thing that I've definately noticed is the lack of etiquette in either situation! When I go fishing(at the small "electric only" lake), I don't want to wait for someone who is tying up their bass boat, and more importantly, I don't want to back around 3 cars parked on the ramp(do they not realize that this is a boat ramp?)(obviously not!) I wish that state DNR's and the National Forest Service would start giving tickets for parking on the launch! I have also passed a small boat up in the parking lot who was preparing their boat for launch, and I didn't notice. I pulled down to the ramp, and then noticed them, I immediately apologized, and asked if they wanted to go ahead. They responded no, and when I had issues launching with my two young daughters, the gentlemen actually came and helped to get the boat off the trailer, that's what boating is all about, and I thanked him. All of us on that small lake had a great time, and I hope that the ettiquette, in boating/fishing can maintain a little power while I try to fish when I can, and pull my daughters behind the boat

What gets me is when they back down the ramp, THEN decide to get their gear together, unstrap the boat, yada yada...

I don't mind if it's slow, and I even do it myself, but on a Saturday afternoon have your boat ready before you get to the ramp, please.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

Just one more symptom of the decline of American manners. Boat ramps are not by a long shot the only place Americans are rude to one another.

YEP!
I love it when I see people fuming at the guy thats braindead...but yet they sit at the launch...pissed off look...never bothering to give a hard...
My take..what goes around, comes around....I always offer a hand...(plus it gives me something to do as I gotta wait ANYWAY!)
PS....I LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEE my slip..!

 

[loppster]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

Since we are all venting about rude people at the ramp, here's my latest.

On the Labor Day weekend, the ramp was very busy. The ramp is big enough to get maybe 5-6 boats unloaded at the same time. There was a line of boats waiting in the "staging" area for an open spot. Behind me comes a hummer with a nice looking boat in tow. The hummer pulls around and in front of everyone waiting for an open spot. Mom gets out of the boat to head for the restroom and takes the dog. He proceeded to pull in front of me and start to back the boat down the ramp. He is backing the boat crooked towards another vehicle. Dad comes running from who knows where, and starts barking orders to turn the wheel to straighten the boat up. Did I mention that the 16 year old driving didn't have the windows down?? Dad realizes this and runs up to the hummer to ask him why his windows were down. By this time I am extremely angry because there are open spots on the ramp and he is blocking me from moving. I finally get enough room to pull around and do so.

I unload the boat and the wife takes the vehicle to the parking lot. When I see my wife walking down the hill, I head towards the courtesy dock to pick her up. I am heading straight towards the dock and here comes the same boat cutting me off from getting to the dock. I put the boat in reverse so i could stop as dad was not going to stop. After the boat passed by I then proceeded to pick up my wife and we went on our way.

It is amazing how these people could think they are the only person on the lake on a busy day like that!!!

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

I have incidents like some of these from time to time, but I don't let them get to me too much. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter all that much, and 5 years from now I will have forgotten it.

I've come to realize that I can't do anything about all of the idiots that surround me on a daily basis, so I just have to chuckle and take them with a grain of salt. Other than getting angry and possibly ruining my day at the river/lake there is nothing I can do other than just take it with a laugh and chuckle, and go on my merry way after I leave the ramp. Sure there have been times when I've wanted to pull back and knock the snot out of some idiot at the boat dock, but I just sat back and took a deep breath.

Before I get all worked up about something I always ask myself ... "Does this REALLY matter in the grand scheme of things?" If the answer is 'yes' then it's worth my time and attention, but the answer is 'no' more often than not.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

When I am behind the people you describe, I grab a wrench, check out the tightness of various bolts, hoses, etc., re-check the fluids, tighten up various screws on the dash, grab my magic eraser and do a little cleaning, go ahead and ad some extra sunblock to the kids -- basically anything to make a positive use of the time, versus my usual high stress lack of patience psyche that I bought a boat to help cure.

It does not always work, though!

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

then we have the people that don't have a clue how to back up a trailer and take three spots at the ramp, just had this happen last night and literally sat while the guys rolled the boat,off their roller trailer, onto the concrete launch. they then sat trying to figure out how to get it far enough into the water to make it float. after almost an hour i figured it wasn't worth the going out the kids had school and it was after work . I did walk down when he was trying to back in but just as i got there i saw them pushing the boat off and heard the thing slam about a foot down onto the ramp and just walked away . maybe tonight will be better unless they are still trying to let it in the water or maybe they are trying to carry it back to the trailer . Sorry just had to vent the fact i HATE stupid people . Are did i mention the 12 pack they were drinking while they stared at it.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Whatever Happened to Common Courtesy?

Since we are all venting about rude people at the ramp, here's my latest.

On the Labor Day weekend, the ramp was very busy. The ramp is big enough to get maybe 5-6 boats unloaded at the same time. There was a line of boats waiting in the "staging" area for an open spot. Behind me comes a hummer with a nice looking boat in tow. The hummer pulls around and in front of everyone waiting for an open spot. Mom gets out of the boat to head for the restroom and takes the dog. He proceeded to pull in front of me and start to back the boat down the ramp. He is backing the boat crooked towards another vehicle. Dad comes running from who knows where, and starts barking orders to turn the wheel to straighten the boat up. Did I mention that the 16 year old driving didn't have the windows down?? Dad realizes this and runs up to the hummer to ask him why his windows were down. By this time I am extremely angry because there are open spots on the ramp and he is blocking me from moving. I finally get enough room to pull around and do so.

I unload the boat and the wife takes the vehicle to the parking lot. When I see my wife walking down the hill, I head towards the courtesy dock to pick her up. I am heading straight towards the dock and here comes the same boat cutting me off from getting to the dock. I put the boat in reverse so i could stop as dad was not going to stop. After the boat passed by I then proceeded to pick up my wife and we went on our way.

It is amazing how these people could think they are the only person on the lake on a busy day like that!!!

Dad should have known better to have a 16 year old back down the Hummer. WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING!?