Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

[Campylobacter]

Just a little rant here. Today was a great day to be out on the water, and I was not the only one to think so. LOTS of boats getting ready to pull out about 4:00. I had the admiral drop me off at the beach and went to get the truck. Found an empty ramp, backed down in. Problem is, there was a boat at the end of the courtesy dock, 4 people in it, just waiting. They look at me, I look at them. There is no way my wife will be able to pull around them. A few minutes pass, I ask if they are leaving. and they say they are waiting to pull out, and they aren't moving (I don't think anyone could drive the boat). I pull back up the ramp, explain to the folks in line what happened, and they let me take the next open ramp.

What would you do in this situation? It was really busy, and they were making things much worse. I am non-confrontational by nature but I almost lost my cool. I have always assumed that an empty ramp is fair game, I don't look for boats at the dock. If they are there I assume they are going out. Isn't this how it works everywhere?

/rant off

 

[redfury]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

All depends on the situation. If I'm boating alone, in a situation like that, it could get ugly depending on how the launch was set up. If I'm boating with someone else, that can either drive or operate the boat and there is a lot of people in line, I'll either get in the truck and wait in line and have the boat out in the water away from the launch and have whomever is driving it wait to pull back up close until I'm positioning to retrieve the boat. Otherwise you'd have 5 people docked waiting for their trailer to be next in line causing one heckuva mess.

I'm wondering where this particular boats trailer was...

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

At the Corps of Engineers lakes around here, we don't have the courtesy dock parallel to the ramp, just a floating rectangular dock off to the side. I still can't for the life of me, figure out how the best way to run the courtesy dock is, or how best to approach one on a busy day when solo. It just seems that, if solo, you are going to **** someone off, or mess up some schedule. Now, when we were at Ocean Isle Beach NC for a week, they had one, but as we never launched solo, I just treated it like I do at the home lakes. I would idle around until dad had an opening to back in.

If someone could elaborate a bit on the common courtesy of them, I would be ever so grateful. At this point though, my view is that they are actually more of a hindrance as they are a help.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

with the water being up our seawall where most people drop off it not accessible. The other day my brother drops me off at the marina and I walk over to get his truck and back it down. I wait my turn and back in. My brother has a 25 ft Searay cabin cruiser and he is trying to get to his boat trailer only to have three or four boats cut in front of him to drop people off at the ramp. As they are there I state loud enough where they can hear "must be a lot of people's first day at the ramp" the ramp is for loading and unloading boats only. There is a marina in walking distance to the ramp where you can drop people off and I agree your trailer is in line not your boat. I would have just held my trailer there making them move.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I've tried six different ways to answer with the way I think it should go and the way it seems to go but there are no two times at the ramp the same so I guess its always just a go with flow. Which now that I think of it seems to be an amazingly beautiful mash up that usually flows well. If only road traffic went so well.

Anywhere I go the ramps are hardly ever all that busy and the parking is at the most a minute walk from the ramp. That said it does PO me when you have someone that is waiting for someone that is nowhere in sight (and yes clear the ramp if thats the case). Even worse was a few weeks ago on truly nice day and busy day when two guys decided they needed to tie up one side of the ramp tuning up their jet ski/surfboard thing. They obviously had no intention of going anywhere w/ it as its a idle speed only lake and just needed a some water to run it in. Being as they were both standing/wading in the water anyway it was pointed out to them that they could be wading off to the side doing whatever and NOT tying up the ramp.

 

[nuttyboater]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I sure am glad we don't have issues like this around here. If we get three boats in one day at some of the launches thats considered a "busy" day.

I drove past some of the lakes and boat launches on the 4th of July weekend to see what they look like, if anyone is having troubles with any of them and what, you know just scoping out the local spots since i just got my first boat of my own and plan on taking it out as often as i can once its ready.

Even with the busiest weekend of the year for these parts there was maybe 5-6 boats or trailers at each lake/launch. Of course compared to previous years its a lot less, not many people making those summer trips anymore these days.

 

[sammy29926]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

Gi,
i have to chip in to this one...I bought my boat last week and it has been close to 8-9 years since i towed or used a trailer... So after we came home with my wife.. we decided to take the boat out next day.. we only had to drive about a mile to reach to a ramp. It was not busy but it took me more than couple of tries to get the trailer allined and launched the boat. After we used the boat and it is time to put it on the trailer and since i was new to it.. i waited till the ramp kinda slowed down and load the boat up... It went smooth and it will get better over time...
Sammy

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I had a similar situation yesterday except I was the one at the end of the dock but not at 4pm. I was next at the ramp to pull out and there was a boat on the ramp (also pulling out) so I tied up at the end of the dock perpendicular to the ramp. While I was getting the truck, someone put their boat in and about 2' of the bow of my boat was sticking out past the end of the dock. The boat that put in didn't have reverse so I helped them turn it around at the dock so they could get under way.

Since I'm the only one that can drive the boat and truck, the only option is to tie up and get the truck. If it's busy with people putting in, I'll try to stay at the end of the dock so others can still use the ramp.

Around here it seems that there are two lines. One in the water waiting to get someone on land so they can get the trailer. Once you've progressed thru that line and are tired to the dock or if you've jumped ahead in line by not needing to tie up you then get your trailer in line to use the ramp. The ramp I used yesterday is wide enough for two trailers but only has one dock so those who don't need to tie up have the advantage of being able to jump ahead and power load on the non-dock side. On my second retrieval of the day that's exactly what happened. A boat that pulled in behind me got out ahead because he didn't have to wait for the dock. I wish I could do that.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I do it one of two ways depending on if I have someone with me that can back a trailer.

if Im alone I beach my boat next to the dock (its a light 14' aluminum boat) so its out of the way of others and go get my truck and wait in line.

If I have someone who can back a trailer I toss them the keys, dump them at the dock and take the boat back out 50-75 yards and wait till he is next in line to come back in.

either way, its get in get out.

in the situation that started this thread It almost sounds like the only person who could back the trailer in is also the only one who can operate the boat.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

when I am by myself I beach mine as well. I have an 18ft Searay and it's not that hard. Mine goes on the trailer well so no problems just walking it over to the trailer. I just wait until the ramp closest to my boat is open.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I'm wondering where this particular boats trailer was...

I think it was about 3 trucks back in line, and he finally just cut in front to retrieve his boat.

When our ramps get this busy (very rare), it is quite confusing at the end of the dock with boats coming and going. Thats why I just jump out at the beach. Often there are boats tied up at the end of the longer docks, and they are not an impediment to launching or retrieving. This particular boat was parallel to the dock halfway to the ramp.

One good part of the day: after I found free ramp, my wife dodged quite a few boats coming in, but managed to idle right on to the trailer. I winched it right up, and another woman watching the chaos says to my wife "It's my goal to one day be able to do that!". My wife is not real confident at the helm, so that was a big ego boost to her.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

most of our good ramps, do not have beaching areas. we have a ramp that is designed for 2 trailers, some people just don't get it. have to take the middle. i always take a side, and leave the other 1/2 free for some one else. luckily we have a good bit of dock space. as i launch & retrieve alone. the guy who designed our area was smart, and only did, one lane, to the ramp. no passing.

 

[redfury]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I guess when it comes right down to it, it's a matter of what level of common courtesy people have at the dock and how hurried they are.

I'm out on the lake to relax, the last thing I want is to have stress at the dock. If there is a line, I'll get in line and get the boat ready to launch. It's a rare thing at the lakes I'm usually at to be so busy. When they are, as long as you are working your best to get on and off the ramp as quickly as possible most people keep their cool.

For those folks that find they are having a hard time with their boat and there are people waiting, ask for help if you need it, most would be glad to lend a hand.

For me, the one thing I can never understand is the pair loading a boat wading up to their chest in water trying to guide a boat onto the trailer.

Launch deep, shallow retrieve!

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

Around here, most launches are setup the same way. Half the ramps are outbound, and half are inbound. Early in the morning, they are all outbound and late at night they are all inbound ( for the most part) Your trailer doesn't get in line, your boat does. When theres an open retrieving ramp, you idle up, tie up and go get the truck. The ramps are big enough that you drive around the line of boats and back in to get your boat. All in all it works pretty well, but I got tired of waiting in the boat line for an hour on a busy weekend so I got a slip across the bay. Doesn't sound like they do it this way across the rest of the country, but most of the launches are 6-8 ramps wide, so it works out ok. On busy weekends theres usually a ranger or attendant guiding things.

 

[clemsonfor]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I agree your trialer is in line,her on the 5th of july at the dorn ramp on lake thurmond for the fireworks, after the show there were say 10-20 boats waiting for their trialer when i got to the dock, i droped me off and had the wife hold the boat on the otside of the courtsy dock so not in a ramp lane but in shallow enough to not blosk others dropping people off. I ran to the truck to beat others and was the first in line waiting for an open ramp, this is a mega ramp and has 6 lanes 2x2x2 separated by a courtsy dock with outside docks also and this outside dock on the outside wass were the boat sat, i pulled up straigned trailer to pull down the first unoccupied ramp on the other side of the dock i was on just to see a pontoon sitting in the ramp slip like 8 ft from the ramp edge i though t they were dropping people off as many were standing and getting off while some sat on the boat, there were like 6 or so? They never moved and i was blocking the other trialers waiting for them to move they never did, but the boat beside them got loaded and pulled up so i just turned sharp to back down that ramp to get out of the way and i loaded my boat in like 2-3 mins before that pontoons trailer even was in sight, yet they still occupied the ramp? When pulling out i made a commennt to my wife about that guy with the flashlight needing to move his toon if it was his and she said that he way talking about people having no sense? YOUR TRAILER IS IN LINE!!! When i pulle d up to pull the plug and tie down in the tie down area i do not recall even seeing a toon trailer, yet those people were still occuping a ramp that about 2 boats could have already pulled out on? THeres no pill for stupid!!

-nate

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

There is no single answer to this delima...too many variables. Quite often, I do not have anyone that can back a trailer or dock a boat. I tie my boat up and retrieve my truck. I do not mean this in an arrogant fashion, but if anyone needs to launch or retrieve, they will have to wait. I can launch and load in less than a minute, but my boat IS in line. You backed down a ramp that was obviously blocked by another boat coming in. Maybe I do not understand your description correctly, but it sounds like you may have jumped the line.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

My .02c worth. Like Redfury I need my boating fix for what it does for me. Why ruin a perfectly good day on the water dealing with all the hoopla of a few who just don't get it. It's like when Sam's Club drops the price of gas and everyone is circling to get a pump. Someone is inevitably gonna jump in somewhere out of turn.
I try to be courteous and helpful. Above all, if someone seems to be struggling it makes my day to lend a hand. Also I seek out those ramps that don't have all the mayhem, and believe me, they are everwhere around here.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

one more thing, 99% of the launches around here are built without extra room to move trailers around so you are kind of stuck with the order the trailers are in line. I still try to keep my boat out of the way untill My trailer is in the water regardless of who I have with me or how the docks / launches are setup.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

in 40 + years of boating I have never seen it where your boat is in line. I guess different areas of the country do it differently, but if I am backing down to launch and a boat pulls in who is in line then? It just makes more sense for your trailer to be in line and not your boat.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Your trailer is in line, not your boat!

I guess different areas of the country do it differently, but if I am backing down to launch and a boat pulls in who is in line then?

Obviously you are in that situation. I may have interpreted the original post wrong. The original poster stated that he backed down an empty ramp but a boat was in the way?!? I'm confused. If the boat was in the way, the ramp was not empty. If the boat came in while he was retrieving his truck, they should have moved. If a boater states that he has dropped a driver, I of course, wait. Up until the time I exit the boat, I will gladly restart and move my boat. However, after I am walking to get my truck, there is nothing I can do. I have a feeling we may be talking about different ramp/parking lot setups also. Here, both methods work in relative calm. I fully understand the logic of "trailer first", and in a perfect world where everyone can back a trailer and dock a boat, it's a beautiful thing. I was simply stating that it is not always feasible.