Who has the right of way at the boat launch?

[golf101]

I was at a boat ramp last week in NC that had two ramps, but only room to turn around one trailer at a time and back it up. No separate boat dock, but a walkway next to the ramp you could tie your boat up to. (Meaning, that to leave your boat and get your trailer, you had to leave the boat tied up in the ramp).

I came back from being out on the water the first day, tied my boat up, then went to get my trailer. When I came back, there was a long line of folks waiting to launch.

In that situation, who goes first? Me getting my boat out, or the folks in line waiting to launch? I was told it was the folks waiting to launch. The problem I had is that, for someone else to launch, I would have had to have someone take my boat back out in the water, and my father (the only other adult with me) was not comfortable doing that because of strong currents in the launch area.

I ended up going to the other boaters in line, explained my situation, and they didn't seem too upset about letting me pass to get my boat out. I'm curious, though, about whether I had the right of way in the first place and should have just assumed that I could pass them to get my boat, since I was in the launch area first with my boat. What's the etiquette in this situation?

 

[CATransplant]

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

Normally, the people lined up with their trailers have the right of way. On ramps with just a walkway like you described, it can be difficult for the returning solo boater. If there's a spot to beach your boat, that works in such cases. In others, you can tie off on the side of a boarding dock that's away from the ramp.

If neither is possible, you have to do what you did, and beg the guys to cut in line to retrieve.

Here in Minnesota, there are so many lakes, I'd go somewhere else if retrieving solo was a major hassle. Not everyone has that option, of course.

 

[Splat]

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

Typically around here, it's the next truck in line, regardless of if that truck is launching or retrieving. However if the only dock it tied up with a boat that only has one operator, and he's blocking the ramp, then is does us no good not to let him get his boat.

Sounds like you did ok. Most people understand stuff happens, and as long as your attempting to clear the ramp in a timely manner most people don't really care.

It's the people who block the ramps to put ice in the cooler, or tie lines on the boat, or gather up 10 kids that we don't care for.

Sounds like you did fine, and if i were there I wouldn't have minded too much.

Bill

 

[Brokenjaw]

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

Every launch that I know of that has 2 ramps, BOTH are for launching and one is for hauling. In other words, you can launch your boat from either ramp, but when it comes time to haul, you use the designated one, and you come first people launching wait for you.

As far a the single launch sites, not sure what the policy is, but I assume that the person coming out of the water has the right away.

 

[golf101]

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

Brokenjaw: This ramp area had no indication that one of the two was for hauling. Is there an etiquette to that? (Meaning the one on the left is always for hauling?)

 

[Home Cookin']

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

If there are people waiting, and a solo either launching or hauling, the people waitig should help him just to speed things up.

 

[bryanj23]

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

I must be pretty lucky here in northern mn. It's just kind of a common courtesy when pulling up to the launch that if there is a boat tied you wait for it to be retrieved. You can't really launch with a boat in the way, might as well wait a minute!

 

[Brokenjaw]

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

Brokenjaw: This ramp area had no indication that one of the two was for hauling. Is there an etiquette to that? (Meaning the one on the left is always for hauling?)

Ramp Right Return

 

[ckone0814]

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

interesting question.

Seems like common sense to me and if I saw it I'd tell the guy to go ahead and lobby anyone ahead of me to do the same.

 

[H20Rat]

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

**deleted**

 

[JimmyOOOOO]

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

How about you do it like you would at any other intersection... inbound and outbound alternate?

I launched for the first time yesterday and I made a few mistakes, but everybody seemed to realize right away that I was a newbie and didn't get too upset with my lack of knowledge.

for example, I:

- didn't see the staging area, so I jumped in front of somebody waiting to launch. I apologized and escaped with a mild dirty look.

- didn't put all the food and drinks in the boat first, so I had to run back to the truck to get it while my wife held on to the boat.

- Put the tilt down too far and managed to "polish" my prop and skag in the sand. the prop is nicked up a bit, but I figure I'll leave it on until I get some more experience.

I also noticed, that although the ramp area had lots of people around, nobody offered to help out. That was mildly disappointing, but I think human nature is to allow others to ask for help instead of possibly getting in their way.

 

[dkorzun21]

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

I think it really all depends on what type of mood ppl are in and if you have room to even drive your trailer around them. I have waited a couple times after have my boat ready to pull out go and get the trailer and all of a sudden there are 3 ppl out there, just explain and they usally let you go unlesss they are and *** and try to put it in right in front of you then I just dont move my boat and make sure they dont hit it if they dont have room it my turn.lol Last weekend we let this guy launch in front of us before we took the boat out 28 ft boat. wouldt start right in front of the dock blocking everyone we have to take are boat and pull it with the ropes around this one. with my truck first one in line after adjusting boat too boat cut us off explained what we where do they didnt want to her it so we didnt move are boat and they had no choice to just pulll theres out.

 

[jkust]

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

I am in Minnesota and most of the accesses I go to have one ramp and one courtesy dock and almost never a sand beach. If you pull up from the lake to load and there are people in line waiting to unload, there is not enough room to pass the people in line with your vehicle to get to your boat at the dock. My wife was not built to handle equipment...she can't back up the boat and wait, so at the launch I am close to solo as well. She can hold the boat and wait but even then an 18 footer that weighs well over 3000lbs plus two active boys is tricky on a windy day. The whole launch scene can be a big stresser. I have noticed thought that people so far have been very kind to me and others at the ramps. 99% of the people I see launching have much easier boats to handle at the lakes I visit. In MN most of the boats I see launching are under 19 feet, generally older and much simpler to launch/retrieve.

 

[ronnieb09]

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

I'd say as long as you have some common sense and are aware of your surroundings, you're fine. It's the idiots that think they know everything and don't have a clue about what's going on around them. Just yesterday I had to deal with:

• A guy parked in the ramp waiting for a boat to arrive(guess he called ahead to a buddy that didn't go out), he sat there for a good 15 minutes while everyone had to use other(busy) ramps.

• A boat pulled up to the loading ramp(instead of the side dock) and took forever to unload his 5 kids, wife, gear, etc. Then he proceeded to take his time to walk to his truck and when he finally got his boat loaded(after screwing around with the straps for 10 minutes) he pulled out and forgot to raise the engine. He stops to raise the engine(scraping the concrete) at the top of the ramp, and then pulls another 20ft away from the ramp to finish strapping down, blocking the use of the ramp. All in all it was about a 25 minute ordeal.

• Someone left their boat tied off at the ramp, in the 35 minutes I was there I didn't see anyone attend to the boat.

Keep in mind this is a 4 lane ramp, but there are so many inconsiderate and ignorant people, it's a bottle neck.

 

[JimmyOOOOO]

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

I think it really all depends on what type of mood ppl are in and if you have room to even drive your trailer around them. I have waited a couple times after have my boat ready to pull out go and get the trailer and all of a sudden there are 3 ppl out there, just explain and they usally let you go unlesss they are and *** and try to put it in right in front of you then I just dont move my boat and make sure they dont hit it if they dont have room it my turn.lol Last weekend we let this guy launch in front of us before we took the boat out 28 ft boat. wouldt start right in front of the dock blocking everyone we have to take are boat and pull it with the ropes around this one. with my truck first one in line after adjusting boat too boat cut us off explained what we where do they didnt want to her it so we didnt move are boat and they had no choice to just pulll theres out.

I have no idea what you just said.

 

[rjlipscomb]

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

I guess every situation has unique points and similar points. If you boat up to the ramp and its busy, go away and come back when its not. If you get up to the ramp, and the back-up starts after you tie-up, you need to get your boat out of the way. People launching will or should understand.

I have had similar situations where I boat up to the dock. Tie-off so I'm not interfering with launchers. Hike the up hill 1/4 mile trek to my truck and return to find other boaters returning and blocking access to my boat (while trey make the 1/4 mile trek). I was considerate of others. But there are always stupid idiots who are not. Hence, until I get really good and expedient at it, I go on weekdays and avoid the crowded weekends.

 

[Tahoe 55]

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

I must be pretty lucky here in northern mn. It's just kind of a common courtesy when pulling up to the launch that if there is a boat tied you wait for it to be retrieved. You can't really launch with a boat in the way, might as well wait a minute!

That's pretty much how I see it too. We have a 5 lane launch and it never really seems to be a problem. If I'm idling in to retrieve, I just pick an empty lane, tie off, get my truck, bypass the staging area and pull the boat out(5 minute ordeal). You can't worry about people in the staging area still unstrapping, loading their boats with gear and paying for a launch pass. If I did that, I'd never get a turn to pull the boat out. Same thing goes on the other end. If I'm ready to launch and there's a boat tied off (or a wife holding a boat), I just pick another lane or wait till that boat gets pulled. I think you just have to use common sense, which a lot of people seem to lack these days....

 

[Boss Hawg]

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

Me, I turn around and go do a little more boating until the crowd clears out.

Ditto

But the line forms to the rear

 

[WTR4FUN]

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

My launch has 2 docks that go straight out into the lake with 2 lanes between them. You are supposed to tie off only on the outside of docks and leave the middle open for puting in or retriveing. If all the spots are taken on the outside than you wait on the water until one opens up, and trailers have the right of way.

 

[SNye45]

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

The trailer always. If there is a courtesy dock- do the drop off the driver thing. However, if solo boating the thing to do is to tie up at the end of the dock thus leaving space for someone to launch in front of you. Therefore, while you are retrieving the truck you are not holding anyone up. Too many times I have seen inconsiderate people tie up too close to the ramp leaving no room for someone to launch, thus making that lane useless until the trailer comes for that boat. That is just plain rude.

Where I boat there is a courtesy dock and (because my wife does not have the skills or nerve to drive the truck or the boat) I tie up there. Then I get the truck and wait for my turn in line. I back the trailer into the next available ramp and then run over to the boat where my wife has been making things all tidy. I jump in and putter over to the trailer and pull the boat out. A simple and effective process that does not tie up the ramp for ages.