Would You Have Said Something?

[JimKW]

I was at a new ramp today at Alum Creek. Very nice and wide with plenty of room for four at the same time. When coming in to leave I docked my boat at the courtesy dock, my wife stayed with the boat and packed everything up. I got the truck and trailer and backed it down the ramp. Mind you my boat is not there beause I had no idea what lane I would be using.

As I get in my boat and start towards the lane my trailer is in somebody cuts in front of me and docks their boat behind my trailer. There is room to get around him, but I really like a long straight shot at my trailer and not coming in at an angle.

I said something loud enough for all four or five people on the boat to hear me. I said I'm coming in there and you should not be docking where I'm coming in. They said something back to me and appoligized, but continued to dock their boat while one guy gets out to go get the truck and trailer. I had to go around them to get to my trailer and intentionally came pretty close to their boat and gave them a dirty look. They were all looking at me, but didn't do a thing.

Luckily my trailer was out from the dock about 4 or 5 feet so it wasn't really a big deal. I just don't think they should have docked there when there was plenty of other spots to dock. I was the only boat that used the courtesy dock and there was room for at least four boats. Oh yeah when they looked at me going by I did say that's what the courtesy dock is for.

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I agree the other guy acted stupidly. However, you didn't help matters. Intentionally coming very close to his boat when you admit there was enough room makes you a bit of a jerk too.
I hope that good, positive behavior will inspire others. I'm sure negative behavior won't.
I may have mentioned to him that he should have used the courtesy dock after I had my boat on the trailer and was ready to leave. It does seem someone should point that out to him. I like to have a quick and ready escape in case a friendly reminder isn't taken well by the recipient.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

When I say pretty close I'm saying at leat 4 or 5 feet away. Not so close I was in any danger of hitting them. I was polite in what I was saying and was not acting like I wanted to start a fight. Keep in mind there was several guys on the boat with two girls, and I'm 63 years old. So there is no way I was looking for a fight.

 

[QC]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I think I would've left it alone too. With that said, I am very transparent, and they would've been able to see my disgust. Maybe I even come a little close to them like you did just to get their heads thinking for next time. I would've left it at that. When I have been vocal, I have regretted it. Rarely going to turn out positive.

I load alone often, and I just put the boat almost on the ramp. Then there really is no room for anyone to do what they did to you. Just becasue it is clear to you, don't assume other people always think these things through.

 

[Lakes84]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I often would say something like you did, but in a sarcastic joking way, that has a note of seriousness to it.
I've been told I'm good at that

 

[roscoe]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

What? You didn't raise the drive to power load and fill their boat with water?

I'm glad to say, I never run into situations like that.

 

[airshot]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

If you had the time, I would have taken my time loading to the point where they would move to another dock as they would not be able to retrieve theirs with you blocking the ramp. Sometimes your actions can speak louder than words. Unfortunately there are some real idiots who own boats. We were at a public ramp (4 place) where one guy was working on his boat at the ramp and another guy came up and tied his boat to the opposite dock and they both worked on the boat tying up two ramps for many hours, what was especially bad it was the July 4th holiday weekend.
Airshot

 

[89Donzi]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

What? You didn't raise the drive to power load and fill their boat with water?

^^^This!

And if they questioned you...just tell them you didn't want your prop wash to erode the ramp

 

[Part-time]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

^^^^ that too!!! but go in with a big stupid grin on yer face driving like Mr. Magoo and scare the hell out of the guy so bad that he won't have to go to church for the next few Sundays... And hopefully think twice about where he parks his boat from now on!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

Expect idiocy every time you go to the ramp and you won't be "caught cold" and become agitated by things as trivial as this.

Just be glad you had a nice day out on the water, not all of us were able to do that.

Next time back your trailer down the lane farthest from the dock and everybody will have enough room.

 

[nlain]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I would have probably kept my mouth shut, as my wife has said, "Somebody is going to shoot you one day", you never know what that idiot it carrying in his boat, there are some real crazy people. Like QC I am somewhat transparent, they would have noticed that I was not happy. Another reason to keep quiet is at 67 I don't want to pick a fight.

 

[emoney]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

Give peace a chance people, sheesh. To be honest, I'm not sure how I would've responded because it's hard to know unless you're in that situation, however, I would hope that my response would be of one to educate. Let's face it, a rather large majority of folks on the water are new at the hobby and it's safe to assume that of that number, almost all have no education as to protocol when it comes to any boating situation, either docking/loading/unloading or right-of-way. Not even mentioning those idiots that choose to consume far too much alcohol while boating as they're an entirely different sort. Who knows, you might've been speaking to someone right here in the forum that you've talked to many times online that's on his/her maiden voyage.

Having said all of that, I'm also known to knee-jerk and even though I'm trying to work on it as I hopefully get wiser each year, I may have flown off the handle a smidgeon. Odds are, though, after I "ran my mouth", I would've felt bad about it on the ride home so this would've been a "lose-lose" situation. I think we're all better off trying to concentrate on the former and have less of the latter. No harm, no foul, as they say.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

After thinking about it they really didn't do anything all that bad and it was obvious that most of the people on the boat were new and only the guy who got out to go get the truck and trailer knew what he was doing. And he did appologize. He did have his boat as far back as it would go on the dock and I did have room to get around them, but that was hard to see when I was coming in from the other side of the dock and that's when I said they should not be there because I am coming right there to get on the trailer.

As far as using another ramp, in this area all ramps come with a dock, two of the docks are very long and two are shorter. They were at one of the short docks and I honestly thought it was shorter than it turned out to be. I don't feel bad for saying something though because I did say it in a way that was not real mean. Just basically with all this open area why are docking right where my trailer is, and pretty much said you could be using the courtesy docks if you have to tie your boat up and go get the trailer. That way you have your choice of any ramp when a lane opens up and you are in line.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I probably wouldn't have said anything either - we've had similar things happen at the ramp. Usually, I just try to be friendly and figure out if there was some good reason they needed to do what they did. In most cases that I've figured out folks are just rude/selfish ... I also find that "what goes around comes around."

People who are unconscious of others typically wind up dealing with worse consequences than those who are courteous and careful.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I do not really understand why you tied up at the courtesy dock if you intended to recover the boat.
If you pulled up to the ramp dock like the other fellow did, everyone would know you were recovering and just pick another ramp.

Tie up, shut down and send the driver for the trailer.
If you were able to get in front of him, there was enough room at the dock for two boats.

The first boat pulls up close to the ramp. Driver goes for tailer.
The Second boat, docks behind the first boat. Driver goes for trailer.
First boat hauls out. Second boat shifts dock lines and moves forward toward ramp.
Third boat docks behind second boat at end of ramp. Driver goes for trailer.
Second boat hauls out, Third boat shifts forward.
The recovery process just keeps repeating.

A solo boater slows the process, but so be it.

 

[Mason78]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I was at a new ramp today at Alum Creek

I like Alum Creek as well, but is seems like people at Delaware State Park are a little nicer/more considerate. Just my experience.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

I do not really understand why you tied up at the courtesy dock if you intended to recover the boat.
If you pulled up to the ramp dock like the other fellow did, everyone would know you were recovering and just pick another ramp.

Tie up, shut down and send the driver for the trailer.
If you were able to get in front of him, there was enough room at the dock for two boats.

The first boat pulls up close to the ramp. Driver goes for tailer.
The Second boat, docks behind the first boat. Driver goes for trailer.
First boat hauls out. Second boat shifts dock lines and moves forward toward ramp.
Third boat docks behind second boat at end of ramp. Driver goes for trailer.
Second boat hauls out, Third boat shifts forward.
The recovery process just keeps repeating.

A solo boater slows the process, but so be it.

It would not work that way at all. The line forms for all four ramps and you take the next ramp available when your turn comes. If my boat is at one ramp nobody else could use that ramp until my turn comes in the line to the ramps. That would really tick some people off if my boat is just sitting there making that ramp unuseable until I can get to my truck and wait my turn in line. No doubt somebody would try and back their boat down with mine sitting there and then what would happen? If the boat is tied all the way back on the ramp there is room to use the ramp and dock the boat, but I didn't realise that until I went around the guy. Just made it an angled shot to my trailer instead of straight on.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

... somebody would try and back their boat down with mine sitting there and then what would happen? ...

I guess every ramp has a different protocol.
I am used to dedicated ramps.
If you are tie up at a ramp for recovery, anyone backing a boat down the ramp should be on a launch ramp instead of a recovery ramp.
If the ramps are set up "First come, First served" style you end up with the Free for All that happened at the ramp.

With four ramps at least one of each should be dedicated Launch/Recovery only.
The other two are used as needed. More launches early in the day, more recoveries later, or the weather turns.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

When I say pretty close I'm saying at leat 4 or 5 feet away. Not so close I was in any danger of hitting them. I was polite in what I was saying and was not acting like I wanted to start a fight. Keep in mind there was several guys on the boat with two girls, and I'm 63 years old. So there is no way I was looking for a fight.

LOL I'm 45 and I wouldn't want to fight you. There is no way I can win that one LOL if you get the best of me then how bad do I look for getting beat by an old man and If I get the best of you then everyone will look down at me for picking a fight with my elder. So I guess you can say pretty much what you want to me and I'll just look at you too. I do think you where correct in saying something, as long as it was in the polite manner that you said.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Would You Have Said Something?

When I retrieve I always pull the boat up so its close to the ramp. This #1 allows room behind me for the next retriever and #2 keeps people from launching as I go to get the trailer.

When I launch I do the opposite. Put the boat in the water and pull it to the back of the dock. This allows another launch in front of my boat and keeps a retriever from pulling in behind me blocking my exit to the waterway.

Works well -- Kinda leaves no room for the less thoughtful to foul my day.