BubbaThump Boat Ramp University

Another "Dad and I" story:

We had put in at the Buckhorn Bay ramp on Big Bear on a Saturday and had been out for a couple of hours. Fish weren't biting so we headed in. That ramp is 2 lanes wide if the 1st person on it is considerate. Dad was walking up to my truck when a couple of guys with a boat behind a truck and a 2nd truck loaded with pallets and stakes pulled up. They parked the boat almost middle of the ramp blocking any chance of anybody using wither side, both vehicles unloaded, and they proceeded to start putting stakebeds together RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAMP!!! Dad told them they were blocking the ramp and by that time another fisherman had pulled up to unload his boat. That guy saw the ramp being blocked and the idiots building the stakebeds could care less. He asked them if they could do their work in the upper parking lot and not block the ramp. The idiots said something to the fisherman that caused him to blow a fuse. By that time my Dad had the truck in line at the ramp so he stepped into the fray. It got pretty heated! Finally one of the 4 guys putting the stakebeds together pulled the boat/truck up into the parking area.

I could easily blame this incident on tourists or OOSers but I can't. These were locals who thought their time was much more important that everybody elses.

One day I took my jon boat to launch at the "other" boat launch at Kentucky Dam Village to test my new HB Helix 5. I took it out into the small bay just to get used to the unit and noticed a BIG boat still on the trailer with just the stern in the water with the engine running. I got ready to head in and the boat was still there. As I approached the ramp I see there is a local guy (I know him as he attends the same church as I do) and he is working on the boat. I get close enough to shout at him that I would like to use the ramp to load my boat. He gets all huffed up and says something about having to get the boat fixed for a customer (yes - he works for a local boat dealer) and then begrudgingly shuts the boat off, climbs into the pick-up and pulls up into the parking lot so I can beach the boat (no dock) and get my truck and retrieve my boat. It amazes me how some folks think that they can monopolize a public facility and don't understand when someone objects.

Wish I could turn my headlights off. But if it is in gear the headlights stay on. Canadian truck thing I think.

Just don't expect your wife to back the boat. I just back it in, jump in and get the boat off, and have her park the truck and trailer.

Dux, I'm thinking about a few stories you have told me. You and your dad have had some experiences at boat ramps. I'm thinking maybe you need a gopro on your truck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by callen

Dux, I'm thinking about a few stories you have told me. You and your dad have had some experiences at boat ramps. I'm thinking maybe you need a gopro on your truck.

---

I doubt anybody would care about me and my Dad. He turned 80 this Feb and is slowing way down. He still loves to pull cranks but can't take the cool weather. I will always associate him and crappie fishing with those huge red and white plastic bobbers about the size of a softball. He thinks you can't catch crappie on minnows or catfish without one of those bobbers.

I'll leave the sinking the truck story for another time. That one didn't involve another party.

We were having a local tournament last year at Taylorsville Lake and there was also a tournament taking out a lot of kids. There were well over 100 boats to launch on a ramp 2 boats wide. There was a fella on the ramp whose boat wouldn't start. He would grinding on it and then work on it. This went on for 30 minutes or more. He finally gets it started and drives to the courtesy dock in a strong head wind. He runs up to tie to the dock and the wind blows him away. This goes on forever he is getting into other boats and everyone is mad. The woman with him stands on the dock and watches never trying to get the boat when he pulls up. And all this time his trailer is still in the water blocking the ramp. We get all our boats launched and the 2 tournaments start and he is just going to park his truck.