Boat Ramp Ettiquette 101 - For us Crappie Fishermen

If you have ever been launching your boat and looked up and noticed a line of other boats waiting to get access to the ramp, then this may alleviate the strange looks that you keep noticing from your fellow fishermen...

1. Prepare the boat for launching BEFORE you back down the ramp to the water. Is the plug in the boat? Is there already gas in the gas tank? Is there already oil mixed in the gas or in the reservoir? Do you know where the ignition key is?
2. Don't unload your vehicle into the boat while blocking the ramp. There is plenty of time to rearrange your tackle box after you clear the ramp. You can decide which jigs to put on the rods after you have relinquished control of the ramp. See 1.
3. Boat Motor won't crank??? Don't continue to block access to the water if you are experiencing mechanical problems. If ole Bessie let's you down, then pull her back up the ramp so that others can get their chance to go fishing.
4. Be sure to back up the trailer straight so that you don't take up the ENTIRE ramp. If the ramp will accomodate 3 or 4 trailers at a time and you can't back the trailer up in a straight line then you may block the entire ramp. Practice backing up a trailer prior to arriving at the lake.

And finally, don't be afraid to ask someone for help. If you just can't seem to manage the process in short order ask someone to give you a hand. Most fishermen will be MORE THAN WILLING to help you clear the ramp in a more timely manner...

:)

Good post RDG

Need to add:

1. Clear the ramp area before strapping boat down, fastening motor support.

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Originally Posted by oldwhiskers

Need to add:

1. Clear the ramp area before strapping boat down, fastening motor support.

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Also, when you are waiting in line and it is still dark TURN OFF your headlights and just leave the parking lights on. Sure makes it hard on others trying to back in.

do ya'll actually see this stuff? I must be living right, I arrive, I launch, I plane out, I fish (actually most of the time catch..lol)

really hacks me off. Want to see something worse than that? Come down to the rez on a sunday when you have 3 or 4 of the big 30 to 35 footers trying to put in at the same time. They pull up and then back down to within 15 feet of the ramp and THEN start doing what they have to do. Things like Pull the bags out of the back seat of the truck and hand them to the cutesey chics in Bikinis that need help getting into the boat anyways cause it's 8 feet to the boat railing. Then some guy has to climb up the back of the boat, then take 2 or 3 coolers full of beer from his friend as he takes them out of the truck bed. Then someone will forget their cell phone and other what nots. THEN they'll unstrap the boat to ease the last 15 feet to the waters edge. This takes usually about 20-25 minutes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DonDon

really hacks me off. Want to see something worse than that? Come down to the rez on a sunday when you have 3 or 4 of the big 30 to 35 footers trying to put in at the same time. They pull up and then back down to within 15 feet of the ramp and THEN start doing what they have to do. Things like Pull the bags out of the back seat of the truck and hand them to the cutesey chics in Bikinis that need help getting into the boat anyways cause it's 8 feet to the boat railing. Then some guy has to climb up the back of the boat, then take 2 or 3 coolers full of beer from his friend as he takes them out of the truck bed. Then someone will forget their cell phone and other what nots. THEN they'll unstrap the boat to ease the last 15 feet to the waters edge. This takes usually about 20-25 minutes

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I have seen this a lot at engineers point at sardis. the only consolation is watching the bikinis while you have to wait.

but it's still a pain in the butt having to wait my turn to put the boat in the water. All I gotta do is unhook the rear straps and the front hook, back down and pull off. MAYYY take me2 minutes

And you guys surely realize that the vast majority of people that are knowledgeable enough to see this post probably ALREADY have the skills listed above.

Lord....give me patience and DO IT QUICK.........

we all have been there......whatch gonna do.....maybe sounding off here will relieve some of that pressure.....LOL