Spring at the ramp

The ramp was at a standstill for about 30 mins this morning. One poor guy didn't put in his drain plug in, and about lost his boat. When he got it pulled out the water, it looked like his frame was going to snap at the front of the leaf spring from all the weight. Once we were able to launch, my ever helpful four-year-old let him know he had a lot of water in his boat. He quipped, "That's how you wash the inside of an old boat." Turned out to be a real nice guy having a bad start to the year.

The ramp was at a standstill this afternoon too. Some fools had pulled full size pontoon with a Dakota. They were stuck on the ramp between getting the truck wet or reversing at speed to launch the pontoon into the water. He finally combined both, and got it off the trailer. Then he full-throttled the pontoon back onto one side of the ramp. I backed my trailer in and went to load my boat. Once his friend got the truck parked, they got the pontoon unbleached from the ramp. He went off full throttle backwards towards the dock. So he went full throttle forward, and sideswiped the dock and pontoon on his way, and missed my trailer by about three feet. He continued at full throttle out the marina like he couldn't be found. The marina employees and onlookers stared in amazement.

One of these days I'm taking a cooler and a lawn chair just to sit at the ramp for the entertainment.

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

One of these days I'm taking a cooler and a lawn chair just to sit at the ramp for the entertainment.

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That would be the same as the Old Man bench at Walmart! Lol

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I actually know a guy in East Tennessee that him and 4 or 5 guys and women go and set up a mini camp sight at the boat ramp on Memorial Day Weekend every year and they video the ramp all day lol. They make signs and everything. Like " My wife can back a trailer better than you " Its hilarious he broadcast-ed some of it live on Facebook. lol

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

One of these days I'm taking a cooler and a lawn chair just to sit at the ramp for the entertainment.

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Quacker, I'll bring the grill and we'll have dinner and a show!!

Used to spend Memorial Day at the Lone Valley ramp at Green River Lake watching the chaos. Knuckleheads like that are why I refuse to launch on a holiday weekend. More novice boaters should spend a busy weekend day watching the flow of the ramp before attempting to launch/retrieve a boat of their own.

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

One of these days I'm taking a cooler and a lawn chair just to sit at the ramp for the entertainment.

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Memorial day, 4th of July and Labor day!! Thank God I keep my boat on the water. Had a really old couple launch their jon boat with two Dodge Caravan seats up front to rig from and a third as the driver seat for his tiller motor....you guessed it. Right down the middle for about 20 minutes!!

I had a heated conversation with a northern tourist last year on the ramp I use. He backed his bass boat right down the middle of the 2 lane ramp, got his tool box out, and proceeded to start working on his outboard. I asked him if he realized he was keeping a line of fishermen from launching? He blew me off then started mouthing things that would get his arse kicked in most situations. I just shoe-horned my trailer within inches of his and launched my boat. After I parked, I let him know how stupid and inconsiderate he was. By that time he kept his mouth shut because the line of upset boaters had grown to several who were now standing on the ramp.

He was still in the same spot when I left the marina with clients. Some folks think the world revolves around them.

Stupid people do stupid things. I've pulled some dumb stunts in my lifetime but boat ramp etiquette should be common sense.

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Originally Posted by mrdux

I had a heated conversation with a northern tourist last year on the ramp I use. He backed his bass boat right down the middle of the 2 lane ramp, got his tool box out, and proceeded to start working on his outboard. I asked him if he realized he was keeping a line of fishermen from launching? He blew me off then started mouthing things that would get his arse kicked in most situations. I just shoe-horned my trailer within inches of his and launched my boat. After I parked, I let him know how stupid and inconsiderate he was. By that time he kept his mouth shut because the line of upset boaters had grown to several who were now standing on the ramp.

He was still in the same spot when I left the marina with clients. Some folks think the world revolves around them.

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You know, I’ve always wondered where this mentality comes from. We can blame parents, feeling privileged, etc. However, staying on task with this conversation, you see others launching while respecting others. Wouldn’t you just conform? I mean, I would think no one would want to look like an idiot!? Even those who feel superior would nullify that appearance by looking like they don’t know what they’re doing. I’ve had problems at the ramp, and I’m working like a madman to avoid inconveniencing others. If I don’t understand a process, I’m going to watch others from a respectable distance to see how it’s done. Maybe even ask a few questions. I can make friends with a stump, and I have usually found that others are willing to offer friendly advice, and usually assist me. Especially here in my beloved South! I once had my motor stick in the downward tilt position, and a stranger got in the water with me to assist. He got wet, but seemed happy to help. Another time, my boat got loose, and a guy who had just finished loading a pontoon, re launched to take me to it. In turn, I have assisted others having problems or lack of knowledge. All this being said, where did we learn this behavior? IMO, it takes an incredible amount of privileged stupidity to act like this! I still don’t get it!

ETFish, like my first manager taught me, almost 50 years ago now, you can't fix stupid!
Thats my best explanation, just don't think it's entitlement, unfortunately, it's out there, for All to see, from time to time!

My wife and I live just a few miles down the road from Paris Landing Marina. On holiday weekends we often go down to the boat ramp a couple hours before dark. We park over by the little pavilion and watch the show.

My favorite was when I got back to the boat ramp to find a man sitting in a lawn chair in the middle fishing. I asked him to real in his lines he said he didn't care if I ran over them. I said but I DO. I also told him to read the sign at the top of the boat ramp that reads no fishing on ramp. My buddy told him I was crazy when he went up to get the truck. Lol

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I never thought I would be that guy but I got a new truck that sits higher than my Trailblazer did. My boat is small and only has 8 inch tires. On a steep ramp it can totally disappear including the poles on the side and have had trouble keeping it straight. I felt like an idiot at Barkley the other day trying to back it up as I've always had no problem.

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great thread and posts everyone...some great ideas from all angles:ThumbsUp:Doh:

I back trailers Monday through Friday, I can back in no problem, my issue is double and triple checking myself when launching and tying boat off at courtesy dock, I don’t launch boats every day but I try to show some patience with other people because I know how hard I work to purchase the towing vehicle, the boat, and all the gear i have to fish with. One mistake because your rushed as the angry mob grows anxious can be disastrous. Be courteous by preparing boat in proper area before launch, pull in your lane while backing in, other than that take what time you need to do it right and safe, I’ll kindly wait my turn


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I love amateur hour at the ramp. Saw 3 guys this past weekend wondering if the boat was straight on the trailer. I don't know how long they were there because I was loaded and on the road before they even pulled it out of the water. Clearly it was a new boat and the guy was unfamiliar with it but c'mon man. At least he didn't back down the middle of the ramp and left me room to get my trailer in.

I think this year that I'm going to head to Big Bear ramp and video the chaos right after the Moors fireworks show!! A friend on the sherriffs dept said they have altercations there occasionally.

One time about 7 or 8 years ago, I was fishing Elk Creek Lake in Indiana. As I came towards the ramp to go home, I noticed several Amish people fishing on the ramp. Upon arrival, I noticed their horses had crapped all over the ramp. I wasn't a happy camper, it's amazing what you see at boat ramps.

One time a truck from up North was blocking the ramp at Buchanans with know one to be found. I waited for over 30 minutes didn't know what was wrong. Come to find out he left his truck and trailer parked on the ramp and went to the fish cleaning station to clean his catch. lol.. The bad thing is when I seen his bag of fresh filets I realized how bad he had out fished me for the day. lol i just smiled and kept my mouth shut.

What an entertaining read this has been.... I have been there done that on a few of these (had a motor quit once and had someone help me get it loaded in the water for instance and a couple of times have helped someone retrieve a boat). A little courtesy goes a LONG way in most of these cases.