BubbaThump Boat Ramp University

With spring fishing getting ready to heat up, I thought it would be a good idea to consider a few thoughts while loading and unloading our boats. We all know the ramp can be a dangerous place and sometimes down right mind boggling. So, here's a few things to think about.

1: Learn how to back your trailer before you get to the boat ramp. An open field or empty parking lot is a good place to practice and not tear anything up. Blocking two or three lanes at the ramp tends to slow things down and really tick people off. Also, if u expect to scream at your wife while she is trying to back your trailer up for you for the first time, you need to be slapped. Have a little respect for her and spend the time to teach her beforehand instead of making a fool of yourself and belittling her.

2: Turn your headlights off but leave your running lights on. People trying to back beside you are blinded so bad they have to stop backing till you are done.

3: Dont use the words "Whoa" or "Go." Use two words that are not easily mistaken like "Stop" or "Go." Or better yet, use hand signals. That way you don't have to yell. If it is dark, you might even use a small flashlight to communicate. I saw a woman pull a boat trailer out before her husband was ready because she thought he said "go" when really he was saying "whoa." He was pulled out of the water teeter tottering on the back end of the trailer and mad as a wet hen.

4: There are designated areas to tie your boat down and prepare for the ride home. I once saw a guy pull about 10 ft out of the water and wipe his boat down on the ramp. He blocked the lane for 10 minutes. All the while wearing a pistol on his hip and daring someone to say something. Crazy!

5: Service all four wheel brakes and emergency (parking) brake on your hauling vehicle. Especially if you go fishing by yourself. I've seen a scuba team have to pull a truck and trailer out of the bottom of a lake. None of us want to have that claim on our insurance!

6: Lastly, just plain old courtesy goes a long way. Respect the other fisherman and the environment as well. Trashy boat ramps make me wanna puke! Don't dump trash or unused bait containers on the ground. And, offer help if you see someone struggling. We are all out to have a great day on the water on our precious days off work. Spare time is a luxury and if I can make someone's day a little easier, I'm all for it!

Now, I know that 99% of us on the site have the experience it takes to unload and load efficiently. I was at work today and jotted down a few notes as I thought about the things I've seen at the ramp. It's always a good idea to plan our trips ahead of time so things go as smoothly as possible.

Y'all feel free to add any extra ideas.

Yea.... what he said. Some folks just need to use a little common sense. And then you have those that just don't care about anyone else.

Funny story from 30 years ago. I was fishing a lot of bass tournaments in GA where we lived and had my name and town on my engine cowling on my Skeeter like so many others in that era. We had come back to KY for a spring vacation with the boat. My Dad and I had put in at Sportsman's at Jonathan Creek.

When we got ready to load up, my Dad was having a fit backing my truck with a topper on the bed. The ramp was divided into 3 lanes by a low curb. In the lane next to the one we were using was an elderly couple. They also had a topper on their pick-up. The old man was having a terrible time backing it in and the old lady was screaming and cussing him as he did his best. My Dad got lined up and was slowly backing down the ramp. I was 15 yards off the end of the ramp, ready to pull the Skeeter onto the trailer.

As Dad was almost to getting the trailer into the water, the old lady stepped onto the ramp we were using. My Dad couldn't see her or me trying my best to warn him to watch out for her. As Dad got the trailer to her, he bumped up against her legs with the carpeted area behind the trailer wheel. All of a sudden she sat down onto the trailer and Dad backed her right into the water with her butt parked on my trailer. I was screaming, she was screaming, my Dad was totally in shock and the old lady's husband came out of his truck laughing his butt off at the sight of her waist deep, still sitting on my trailer.

Dad almost dropped her off when he pulled forward to get her out of the water. She was furious, Dad was embarrassed, I was figuring I was about to get sued, and the old man was still laughing. We finally got it all sorted out and both boats loaded up. She was fine but wet, the old man was getting the cussing of his life for laughing at her, and Dad and I never broke a smile till we drove off. We then proceeded to almost roll in the floorboards laughing about what had just happened.

Luckily all turned out OK and I never did get sued over it. Dad still hates backing my truck with a topper down the ramp. I don't ask him to do it any more.

One of my bass tournament buddies used to say our bass club could launch 20 boats and blast off before the average "perch-jerker" could get his rig backed down the ramp and in the water. He was right much of the time.

busy day at the lake....boat ramp can be the best show in town. Pull up a lawn chair and enjoy a beverage. It gets downright entertaining at times. Especially when the sheriff shows up and starts hauling off all the ones who have had a few too many.

Another tip make sure the battery on your boat is charged and it will start. It's a little aggravating to have a busy ramp and a boat holding it up because his battery is dead and motor won't start.

Another tip; when it says no parking this side of the sign DON'T PARK THERE! I was down fishing your fine state just before the floods and was amazed at how many totally disregarded these signs at the Hwy 2 launch on D'Arbonne. Made it tough to back the trailer when we were going through a maze.

Sorry, thought I was on the Louisiana page. My bad!

as to # 3, about 20 years ago on Douglas Lake in Tn, I had just come back to the dock to buy more minnows (figure that, a ramp at the lake where you could buy bait) and a wife was backing their brand new Bayliner down the ramp. Hubby was in the boat.Ramp was fairly steep and husband had taken OFF the winch line so he could just start it and drive off the trailer once it was in the water. I noted that she was doing a great job backing although she was coming down the ramp way too fast. As she got close to the water he said go and she thought he said whoa and she slammed on the brakes. Boat slid off the trailer and hit ramp so hard it tore the 150hp motor off the transom. Boat was NOT in the water and it took a tow truck to put the damaged boat and motor back on the trailer. Man told us who were trying to help him it was only the second time for it to be it the water.

Do not leave un-attended young children in boat while backing/ launching. You cannot know how they may react to an incident.

Make sure the motor is running well before you get to ramp, I had a guy checking his oil on the ramp, some people just don't use there head and are oblivious to the people around them that are trying to launch or trailer there boat.:twocents