Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

[tburda]

Re: Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

I could see a time limit for privately owned lakes. Not sure I understand the why or how if it's a public lake and ramp though.

The reality may be as simple as having some very well connected (politically speaking) people with houses on the lake who don't like the noise of boat traffic. Why do you think John Wayne airport shuts down for the night? Newport Beach $$...

Oh yeah, I would assume it's just the launch. Our DNR launches "close" at 10 pm, but the city is in charge of locking the gate, and as long as nobody is breaking glass and stupid stuff down after dark, they don't lock the gates. If you live on the lake, or across the street and can park your vehicle somewhere other than in the dnr lot, you can stay out all night and the next day without question. There's no off the water time just public launch close times.

 

[convergent]

Re: Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

Oh yeah I forgot, I too am wondering why is the launch closing at 8:15?

This is a small lake (2 miles long) and the only access to it is a large city owned park complex with rental boats, pavilions, ramps, etc.. They close the park and lock the gate at a certain time each night, so if they didn't have a time you had to be off the lake, then you'd be stuck in the park. They have a patrol boat that goes out and retrieves anyone that is still out after the designated time for being off the water. There are no private docks on the lake either, so there literally are no boats on the water after that time.

This is off the subject, but one thing they do that is pretty nice I think is that three days a week the entire lake is "no wake" until 11am. That makes it nice for fishing or rowing because the wakeboard boats really make that tough the rest of the time. There are three rowing clubs that call the lake home, so they use that time quite a bit.

 

[badkins50]

Re: Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

This is a small lake (2 miles long) and the only access to it is a large city owned park complex with rental boats, pavilions, ramps, etc.. They close the park and lock the gate at a certain time each night, so if they didn't have a time you had to be off the lake, then you'd be stuck in the park. They have a patrol boat that goes out and retrieves anyone that is still out after the designated time for being off the water. There are no private docks on the lake either, so there literally are no boats on the water after that time.

This is off the subject, but one thing they do that is pretty nice I think is that three days a week the entire lake is "no wake" until 11am. That makes it nice for fishing or rowing because the wakeboard boats really make that tough the rest of the time. There are three rowing clubs that call the lake home, so they use that time quite a bit.

I guess that would make things nice every once in a while to go to but I imagine it could get pretty busy and hectic come opening and closing time. Probably the cause of some of the attitudes. Living next to a great lake that covers the entire northern coast of our state (and I'm right in the middle), I've never had to go any where else to boat. Some times it could be a 2 mile trip up the river before you even get to the lake. Happy boating.

 

[Philster]

Re: Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

I honestly think that in-land boaters (lakers) have more trouble at ramps than we do along the Atlantic coast. I am always looking for ramp drama, but continue to be impressed with how well people do. Even with tides and dramatic shifts in currents at some very crowded resort-type areas, I am usually impressed.

I think you guys get a lot more casual boaters clogging up the works. People tend to have salt water in their blood in these parts and they are generally working from a long background of boating.

You landlubbers that post here DO impress me --- it's just that you have to deal with a lot of people who don't have a pedigree for boating.

 

[badkins50]

Re: Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

I honestly think that in-land boaters (lakers) have more trouble at ramps than we do along the Atlantic coast. I am always looking for ramp drama, but continue to be impressed with how well people do. Even with tides and dramatic shifts in currents at some very crowded resort-type areas, I am usually impressed.

I think you guys get a lot more casual boaters clogging up the works. People tend to have salt water in their blood in these parts and they are generally working from a long background of boating.

You landlubbers that post here DO impress me --- it's just that you have to deal with a lot of people who don't have a pedigree for boating.

Yeah I think people really have to have their stuff together before they can go hang out with you guys. I know our lake (Erie) can change and get ruff pretty quick but nothing that can compare to the oceans though.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

I've pretty much decided to abandon the ramp we currently use and go down river about 5 miles to the next one, next year.

The ramp in Bordentown is nice when conditions are right. A long dock in the middle of two concrete ramps.

However, the river is VERY tidal at that point and when the tide is out, you can't even get your boat wet before the tires drop off the end of the concrete and you have to yank your boat off the bunk supports back onto the tires.

And they charge $125 a year for a sticker.

AND last weekend I couldn't get the boat in because the tide was so low, so I put the truck in 4 low and proceeded to back down the gravel beside the concrete ramp. Of course a local police officer saw this and came and yelled at me. I considered asking him how the hell I was supposed to use the launch at that tide level when I paid my money to put my boat in, and if I was coming out at that tide level, how he'd expect me to do that. Instead I bit my tongue and said, 'Yes sir.'

The ramp gets a bit silly sometimes. Usually it's pretty quick, but once the tide goes down 1 side is totally unusable and one side is moderately unusable, so the lines can get pretty long.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Yesterday's boat ramp knuckleheads

After pulling your boat out, just go home.