Ramp Etiqute
Dude_Himself
Member Posts: 596 ✭✭✭
Someone with a Rinker FV 242 is becoming internet famous today on Facebook for camping on the ramp at a busy landing. As the owner of a 280 EC that I ramp launch at a public ramp - I get that these bigger boats take a minute or two, but I do my best to load up and get out of the way. I also single-hand my boat - my wife has to watch the kids - and I hate the common "trailer holds the line" rule. I've been threatened and cursed at for pulling around to get to my boat - which is longer than the courtesy dock, and therefore has to be left blocking a ramp while I get the trailer. And it can't be pulled forward or backwards any further without becoming a liability for someone - me if the bottom hits the ramp, and the person behind me when it's sticking 5' into the channel there.
Discussion?
Discussion?
Comments
eff 'em. do what you need to do and don't worry about perceptions.
and the next thing, speaking of etiquette? HELPING. if someone wants to complain, as in B&M, they have no higher ground if they're just standing there B&M'ing. I can't tell you how many times I've held a line or helped push off when the tide is low... i can't tell you how many times i've helped folks crank the boat up instead of letting them power load because of being rushed by others.
i can tell you this, though- i was once loading and dipped the trailer, and walked around to get the boat off the courtesy dock when approached by some couple wanting to know if i'd "please move my rig so they could load up"..... the truck ewas literally only parked in the zone for seconds... i said "i'm in the middle of doing the same" and the woman tore into me.... it's amazing how often women get their man's butt whooped.... that about happened that day, and because of them i took my sweet time- mostly because nobody else was at the ramp at that point. that 'couple' decided to take refuge at the far end of the street until i was clear... and after finishing my own operation i watched them struggle mightily with the current and wind and holding up the no less than three boaters arriving in the interim- one of which i knew- and who i motioned to 'leave them alone' instead of assist, and in turn they knew the other boaters and communicated the same message....... they screwed themselves and i've not seen them at that ramp since.
in short- 'ramp etiquette' involves everyone at the ramp, not just the folks actively launching. if you know you're going to be more than a minute, seriously- ask for help and offer the same. that will take you miles.
it can't be as bad as what i witnessed once in key west- i crap you not- the owner of a new rig backed down the busy ramp, launched his boat, and left the trailer+truck sitting on the ramp while he went for a test ride... for more than an hour it sat there, and when the owner returned they were being towed out- and tried to attempt to stop it, but the port authority wasn't having any of that... was quite the episode of comedy. (only funny because i wasn't launching or retrieving) .
I will not go back to that ramp again. Grrrrrrr....................
Family boat ramp on Ohio River.
Dave
2002 Captiva 212, 5.0 220 hp, Alpha 1, 1.62 gears
Moon Township, PA - boating in the Ohio River
Mark
2019 MTX20 Extreme
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
For everyone else, maybe take the advice of @212rowboat and share what you've learned ... make the water a better, safer place. It takes a village to raise a good boater.
My point is, informing an ignorant boater helps everyone. It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
While some newbies are arrogant, others are glad for the help. Some people just need to learn the hard way!!
approaching someone and saying something akin to "let me show you" is kind of abusive in nature... making the same approach and saying something like "man, tides are tough today, i'll assist you if you'll pay it back someday?" as giving the person an 'out' is much better. it's been my observation that insecurity causes toxic reactions. the approach doesn't have to be that way.
and as far as 'backing up' goes- everyone has their own technique i've observed... some make sweeping maneuvers that require lots of space while others can make short abrupt changes in confined area's. some folks get as straight as they can on the ramp (or driveway for that matter) and pray they don't eff it up (trying to keep it straight when backing)... i bet not a one of them has ever taken a bit of instruction, and their 'skill' came at a cost of experience, which means they were tweaking people at the ramp long before they were the ones ridiculing... as if it's some sort of "right of passage".
this is all kind of easy for me to say because folks around my launch are generally nice and have a sense of comrade. there are some obvious exceptions. they are usually pulling jet boats.
i ain't sayin' i have all the answers- as i have had my own run-ins at the ramp (as told above), and another where i tore a prop to shreds that had nothing to do with boaters but some punk kids who thought it funny to pull a street sign out of the ground and drop it at the foot of the ramp in murky water where it couldn't be seen..
i don't have a problem with folks power loading at the ramp i use... there is a little sign that says "ramp ends here" and it means it... it is a three to four foot drop just after that sign. power loaders may actually assist keeping it that way. the risk they take with their rigs is the part i wouldn't suggest- i'd wager 90% of boat damage comes from dropping or scooping, and 90% of that is from power loading. it just doesn't pay off in my humble opinion. i've seen guys who were really good at it, though, both drop and scoop in seconds by having one in the truck and one in the boat.... i guess that is a skill with an expensive acquisition cost- sorta like these motor cross bike guys who do inverse flips and such... how in the hades did they learn how to do that w/o paying a price a few times along the way? what in the hades motivated them to continue that quest after making a few installments on that loan?
I’m 100% trailer, so I’m on the ramp every week. My wife backs the boat in, and does an awesome job. We are on the ramp for 30 seconds to unload, and a minute to load. I’ve just learned to take a deep breath before we get there, and stay out of the idiots ways.
My wife and I always ask for ramp view seating!!
Told them they should put up bleachers.....
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"