Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

[dtime]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

My ramp is three lanes and is very busy. it has two curtisy docks and very strong currants. the un writen rule there is after u finish makeready, if you are a lonewolf you wait until the lane nearest the dock with the current to hold your craft to it when u launch it move / walk it to the end and tie it off then go park the rig ( no point in starting and driving off trailer when your rig is blocking the ramp)

if you are with another comptaint operator (boat or rig) back down the ramp and drive off the trailer, putt around in the water then pick up your buddy on the end of the dock no need to tie off the boatbut if you do please do so on the out side and on the side that pulles the boat away from the dock and only us the bow line( dont block the entire dock)


when u eturn do all of the same things in reverse except never tie off to the inside of the docks they are for people launching and retriving their boats the only exception to this is emergencys (sinking, injury)((wife having baby)) then you may tie up the inside and block the ramp.


after u retrive your boat pull far enough away from the ramp and then finish stowing ur gear and straping down the boat

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

Wouldn't that logic change if there was no parking space left? Wouldn't the outgoing boat be given priority so that the launching truck/trailer have a space to park?

Yup, this happened just this weekend, literally no where to park. I drove around for an hour and a half waiting for a spot to open. Our local ramp has very clear signs at the top of the ramp. The right ramp is for launching and the left ramp is for loading. We have a really big problem with jet skis mostly that dock at the courtesty dock to have their picnic or what not. Leaving no space for either activity. It can get a bit heated.

At the end of the day though..look at it this way...you're out for a day of boating. What's the rush, if someone wants to be ignorant, meh, let them be ignorant. Eventually they'll be gone and I can procede to do what I need to do. Typically I don't pull out until sundown or later, so almost everyone is gone by then.

ian

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

I DO!! "I" always have the right of way!!

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

Here in Michigan, I have never seen a "courtesy" dock. Most boat launches here have one dock (some have 2, but not many). Usually the boat launches are so full by 11:00am that you don't have to worry too much about people putting their boats in.

 

[Hitech]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

So far I've never been to a launch that didn't have a place at the dock to tie up that is out of the way of others. So, that is always what I do. Then, when I get the trailer in the water I move the boat over and load.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

According to the little boating rules book you get in PA when you renew your registration, trucks on the ramp are what decides right of way, not boats in the water. So whatever order the trucks are lined up in, the boats go in or come out in that order, regardless of who tied up first.

Fortunately, most places I launch aren't busy enough on most days to have problems. And I actively avoid going to the ramp at the busiest of times. My wife can go straight with the trailer, but isn't comfortable turning yet. So I pull off, get the boat ready, then back down the ramp until the trailer touches water. Then I get in the boat and she takes over and parks the truck and I pick her up at the dock. Same for retrieving. I tie off to the dock, go get the truck down to the water then come back to the boat and she moves the trailer if needed while I winch it on. Always works.

I see a lot of frustration and anger at launches. I must admit, I don't get it. Everyone is so angry at how long it takes to launch. And it seems like everyone thinks that everyone else doesn't do it right or fast enough. I've found that more often than not, if someone is breeching ramp etiquette, it's because they are inexperienced not because they are jerks. A little polite conversation and maybe some advice usually fixes it. Of course, some people are just inconsiderate jerks. But you'll have that.

 

[Sikiguya]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

Issue with the other side of the ramp...

I was coming in late today after a great day out on the water. I noticed that the ramp was busy...there were at least 2 other boat waiting. Drifting near the farest boat, I signal to the driver and he confirmed he was waiting. So I just stay outside of the cove(about 50 yards) that house the ramps. As I am idling, there is a family of 6 fishing in a jonboat nearby. It has a motor but the driver was paddling it. They were all fishing and was drifting by(less than 20 feet away)...didn't say a word to us as they went by.

After watching through a set of binocular that everything was about to clear...I started up the boat and headed into the cove. That is when I notice that the jonboat was going in!!! They were still fishing as it is going in. I idled in and, being they are paddling, went right by them. That was when the driver said in a coy manner....No cutsy...To which I replied..Not so, since you are the one that cutted in line. One of the ladies protested.."We thought you were taking pictures."...Yeah, I was taking pictures of people pulling in their boats. If they truly believed that I had cutted, the tone in his voice would have been a more different. They tried to sneak in...WTH?! The ramp was full of people that were both considerate and morons...or I prefer..a waste of human flesh.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

the only people that have any business being on the ramp are ones that have both truck and boat there. since it is truck moving to the ramp, the trucks are what waits in line... the ONLY excuse for EVER blocking the ramp with your boat when your truck is not already on the ramp is that it is absolutely impossible to put your boat anywhere else. I've yet to see a ramp area where there was n't at least someplace to tie up outside the ramp area.

if it's really busy, there are two lines for a single boater. one to tie up and another to get the truck to the water.

stuff happens and we all know it. also all of us have had those days where we forget things, or haven't got a lot of experience, etc... but only a jackazz ever intentionally blocks others access when ht (or she) doesn't have to.

Around here, people are generally polite and do the best they can. Not much more you can ask for.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

For the most part people where I live leave in the morning and retrieve in the afternoon. I always try to get to the launch before 9:00 to avoid the mess.

I prep before I leave. As soon as the wheels are wet I immediately move the boat off the trailer and to the end of the dock allowing the next launcher in line to back down and begin their launch as I drive the rig to the parking lot and hike back. All the time I'm parking and hiking the Mrs. is tending the lines and the engine is idling. About the time I'm back the guy either has launched in front of me ,is launching or parking. I back off, there's room for the next boat and so on.

Retrieval is similar only I pull the boat all the way forward on the first available lane. This tells any late launchers to launch in another lane or wait and others retrieving will have room to pull up behind my boat.

Occasionally some idiot will try to launch while I'm pulled up close retrieving before the trailer arrives. Quick holler that I'm retrieving usually gives them the idea...

 

[Hitech]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

Retrieval is similar only I pull the boat all the way forward on the first available lane. This tells any late launchers to launch in another lane or wait and others retrieving will have room to pull up behind my boat.

What if there is only one lane for both launching and retrieving (as most of the places I go are)?

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

Then it's a small ramp and it's first come first served.

 

[special_kaye]

Re: Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

That's how it works at my favorite launch. One lane, courtesy dock. Trailers in line are the order things happen in. And, if I'm several places down in line, I might just go lend a hand to the people ahead of me.