Another one my brother told me about: Man and wife recovering the boat. Wife can't back a trailer so they swap. Man gets trailer into position and is coaching his wife which is piloting the boat. (19' blown jet boat) After several approach attempts and failures and amid much yelling and gesturing between the two, the final words from the man are "just give it some #*&% gas!!! A picture was taken with the couple posed next to thier rig with a boat sitting in the bed of the truck with one of the sponsons jammed through the back window. I havent seen the picture, but I dont have a hard time believing this story either.

I hate it when fisherman wait til they are in the basin to start feeding their bait to the fu ck in seagulls....not to mention getting bird sh it on your boat

Two months ago, I watched a guy run an little old o/b powered fiberglass boat up onto the ramp at full throttle like he was taking the beach at Normandy. Concurrent with that, another guy hit the dock with his trailer and high centered his mini-van on the dock while trying to get the trailer off. There was a young guy standing on the dock (affiliated with General MacAurther in the glastron) who just watched as the guy hit the dock with the trialer and didn't say a word.

Of course I was sitting there watching because I flooded my engine... Dang Quadrajet!

Two weeks ago, I watched a guy back off his trailer under power, cut the boat 90 degrees and back into the dock. Then, he gunned it forward to get the drive out from under the dock and hit the breakwall (concrete) on the other side. Awesome!

I find myself laughing at all the posts on this thread, I live & boat on the Mississippis Gulf Coast, they are still trying to rebuild some of our ramps. Unfortunately, some folks forget this. My wife has learned very well on backing the trailer for me to load the boat. What really "chaps" my butt is...she is clearly backing an "empty" trailer down the ramp, I am "clearly" idling toward that empty trailer, but I can't count the times some happy boater deems it necessary to pull in to the dock & tie up right in front of me....I just wonder, what are they trying to accomplish here???...Another thing, our boat ramps has parking clearly marked, vehicle & trailer, or just a vehicle, but on a crowed weekend, I always see a single vehicle (mostly a car, import) parked in a trailer parking area...wow, I could just go on & on about "ramp ettiquette", there should be a book or something...:D

Rangerrick

Here Is A Solution To Your Parking Problem. Get A Couple Of Buddies To Lift And Slide The Trailers, On The Sides Of The Import Car, Towards Each Other, Thus Blocking The Car In.

:D I do like that idea, I'll have to recruit a few folks next trip to the ramp...That would be good for a laugh when they return for their car....

My favorite ramp at Lake Minnetonka has three lanes. But if boats park on the inside portion of the docks, they block the two outer lanes leaving only the middle lane usable! It's so obvious, but people do it all the time.

I've had good luck with fisherman because they launch all the time and are in-and-out!

I can launch or recover my Scarab, alone, faster than nearly anyone at the ramp it seems. I've even had some guy's wife comment on how can you do that alone? They had like four people trying to get a 16' foot Alumacraft on to the trailer!

My girlfirend and I though are a great team. She can back a trailer better than most men!

All and all, I do enjoy the ramp experience.

Well since we've hijacked the ramp eitquette thread into a ramp humor thread...
Looks like I was ramp geek today. I only had one guidepost on and the wind blew the boat away from it. As I pulled it out of the water, the boat was sideways enough to fold over a front centering bunk; I was hoping it was still on good enough that it would slide back on center.
so I had to back it back in, unload and re-tie the boat to the dock and then fix the bunk...and put the other guidepost back on. At least there weren't a lot of people there today :D

I think that is one of my biggest pet pieves. I don't mind as much when there are 2 cars taking up 1 truck/trailer spot, given the choice over a single vehicle taking both spots. We have approached the DNR guy at our ramp many times about this. They don't enforce the parking lot rules. I don't know if they can legally though, dictate who/what parks where??

Then there's the trailer guy will pull in and cut it short so he taking 4 spots!:mad:

That's a common past-time around here too. We've got a couple public launches that have bar/restaurants right alongside. Although all of the items previously listed here are aggravating as hell when you are trying to launch or trailer your rig, sometimes when you're just having a couple cool ones at the watering hole, the entertainment dollar can't be topped!:D Some people simply should not own a boat....:rolleyes:

Ditto!!! That is classic!! :drink:

Pete

I have done that, Ever seen your boat list at a 45 degree angle on the trailer?

I have also seen it done quite a few times.

How about the guy that sets his drives on the trailer?

That's exactly what I saw! As soon as the trailer started coming out of the water the bunk flipped over and the boat tilted. At least I was watching (in horror) and backed it down right away.

I'm going to the ramps tomorrow, to go boating. But I'll bring a camera just in case :D

Even the best of us(especially those who think they are)can mess up so don't laugh too hard cause it might be you or me next time...na, fu#k it laugh!!! I have a good one...I put in one day by myself and park the truck go back to the boat and one won't fire...I realize it's the fuel pump,make a call,one's on the way.We have a nice launch with long enough docks and wide enough water between I can work on it right there w/out pi$$in anyone off.So,my buddy shows up with the pump and a 12pack,he's watching while I'm upside down changing the pump.He says "Mike,U gotta see this",I come out of the bilge and here's this couple(loaded)backing down the trailer that's a 5'X10' flatbed-NO LIE!!! They back it in and get the rear just under the water and he get's in the boat and guns this 12-14' boat onto the trailer as it falls to his fat ass side of the "V"he hops out and drives away with no straps and beer in hand...LMAO!!!

WOW!!! where are the cops when you need them!??! :eek:

:D

the best i saw was a few years ago up in lake george at a donzi event
we stay at a place that has a ramp and a sundeck so after the run we sit lake side and have a beer or 2 on the sundeck
a guy pulls up with a 25 foot cuddy loaded to the gills with stuff tubes skis coolers and has his wife and 3 kids in the tow vehicle so he backs it in and now gives the wife the last few feet to back up as he mans the ropes so being polite a few of us ask if he needs help we'll man the lines, he says gruffly I don't need help, we say ok and warn him that the ramp falls off very steeply very quickly, and we go back to our conversation, well the guy was so intent on pulling his boat off the trailer he walked right off the dock into the water and luckily he didn't hit all the Stainles steel sharp stuff on a fishing boat at the end of the dock so now we offer to help him back up on the dock after we grabbed the lines and tie the boat up, and as he walked past us soaking wet ,wallet soaked,spirit broken thinking to himself it can't get any worse, his wife gets out of the truck and screams " kids go get the towels your father walked off the dock again " :eek:

his wife gets out of the truck and screams " kids go get the towels your father walked off the dock again "

Now that one was real funny:D :D

All of these
 

are funny, but soooo true life.

The most flagerant boat ramp violation are jet-skiers.....................they show up.......:chimp:

#5 the best, and then the husband yelling at her!

One of the funnyest launches I've seen.....two guys pull up with a bass boat. The owner jumps in the boat ready to fire it as soon as it's in the water. The passenger is tasked with backing the rig down the ramp, but he's never backed a trailer before. The guy in the boat is trying like hell to teach his buddy how to do it while sitting in the boat. I've never seen so much hand waving, arm flapping, and yelling in all my life. That trailer went everywhere but in the water. Wish I had a camcorder that day.

Last summer as we returned to the ramp from a day on the water two older gents in a bass boat passed us in the canal. They yelled over that my boat was sinking(?). Nice that they were concerned but that's how our boats ride at idle.
We get to the ramp and one of the gents is trying to be helpful by telling me how to dock. I hold up a hand and tell him I have it under control. We tie up and I go get the truck. As I'm getting the truck the gent is telling my ex how it should be done. He watches me back in, load the boat and pull it out sitting perfect on the trailer. We attach the straps and pull the drain plugs. In all it takes us about 5 minutes to get it out and leave. The gent walks over and says "Gee, I guess you do know how to do it".

If a guy can't back up a trailer it dosn't matter if its a jet ski trailer or a boat. Granted the longer the easier but still. I am lucky I haven't been punched yet pulling idiots out of their trucks to back them up for them just to move things along. Forget the boat test we need a trailer driver's licence. Make them back doun a ramp with only a side view mirror. then make sure their wifes can also pass.

I hate when people do this.

There's a ramp over in Windermere (Orlando) that is plenty wide for 2 boats and it was famous for one person to use the middle or people waiting for the one jetski on the ramp to get out of the way. My dad and I were waiting patiently in the truck one time behind about three people at this particular ramp and there was one small boat pulling out but still plenty of room for another trailer to put in/out. Well, after about 5 minutes of waiting for the first person in line to pull up and back down, I decided it was time to go around. Almost got in a fight that day with the guy at the front of the line, but we were virtually out of the water before heeven knew what was happening. :evilb: :p

I hate it when the (boatless) come down and fish and swim off the dock while my father and me are trying to dock the boat. Then don't get out of the way when i'm pulling the boat up. Or the people who are just at the lake (cumberland) to sight see and park their cars in the few parking spots avaliable at pumpkin creek ramp. :mad:

its early in the season there has to be some new stories


last weekend a guy in on of those overpriced metalflake fishing boats is waiting to trailer, there was a line about 5 deep with three on the ramp to put in or pull out. One couldn't get their boat started and was there for ever flooding it. When it was Sparkle paint geezers time his wife was trying to back down the bass boat trailer with the fancy fenders in the matching Escolade down into the middle spot, and she was all over the place up and down up and down, 90 degree angle nearly jackknifeing the truck over and over, the guy in the fishinglure like boat starts honking at her with his Kia like sounding horn over and over like that was going to help, my buddy was next and passed her and I pulled the boat on the trailer. Between the guy flooding his carb on his tri-hull and Barbra Bush in the Escalde the line was long so I was about to offer her help when on the 15th attempt she got it..... It was sad but funny :)

Little MF'er on a jet ski yesterday, launched, started up and gunned it away from the ramp, came back and started doing 360' turns right in front of the ramp and dock. Very un-cool, when my boat does'nt have good convient tie up to the dock options, so I'm holding it by hand on the dock waiting for my passenger, dealing with his wake...... :mad:

Well I made a contribution to the funny side of this a couple weeks ago... I tried to drive my boat onto the trailer for the first time. I've always just walked it on in the past. My new trailer floats in the salt water and kind of moved away from the dock, so I said "f-it" and decided to try to drive on like the previous owner did (with great ease I might add).

Three unsucessful attempts later I gave up, gaffed the trailer back over to the dock and dragged the boat on by hand... Dang! Funny for the on lookers. Didn't take too long to try and give up. I'll try again next time! :chimp:

It's all good! As long as you can laugh at yourself because you didn't mess anything up. Stop by a dive shop and bolt a couple 5lb weights to the trailer; might help settle it down.

Yup, looking like a clown on the boat is still miles better than being at work!

I've got a bucket of dive weights at home, just got to get off my posterior and bolt some on. Floating trailer was petty funny too!

One of my favorite entertaining moments is when someone is trying to trailer their boat under full throttle, because their trailer isn't far enough in the water. I'll bet 1/2 of the boaters where I boat do this. They'll try and try. Once I actually had a guy ask me how I trailered so easy. I was momentarily speechless, then I told him the magic of backing the trailer up a bit more.

Last night these people backed their trailer down the ramp and started talkin, instead of putting boat on trailer. Other boats waiting to come in, getting dusk to dark. Finaly they pull boat up, park in front of ramp and start cleaning it in blocking it....When finished giving their boat a wipe down, they start talkin again....Some people are just stupid.

this thread is so funny i need to add my story.2 years ago me and my buddie out during the week for a couple of beers after work over looking a launch.this guy and his wife are loading and he backs the trailer down but the wheels are 2-3ft from the water.he gets out,hooks the winch up and starts pulling the boat on trailer.we yell down to him you should back the trailer down farther.he yells i know what the *uck to do.ok we say,not 2 min later he's standing there with the winch strap and bow eyelet in his hand.yanked it right out of the fiberglass.we just laughed and drank our beers.never did see him get it on the trailer

This thread is hilarious.

My wife and I launch at Boyne in Lake Charlevoix Mi. Two ramps, 230 Powerquest 2000 Grand Cherokee.

Our System: While waiting in line put wife and two kids in boat (cooler, towels & crap in at house), Turn on batteries and blower, tie 1 line at mid cleat, throw other end in boat w/ wife, back boat straight down ramp close to dock- 12", stop when drive hits water Park& E brake - loose strap and safety chain, finish backing in ( While others run to help wife - who doesn't need it), Boat floats wife ties line over dock post to rear cleat.( before those that think she needs help can get there), Pull out, park, run back, fire and go - Total ramp time less than 2 minuntes.

Biggest pi?$ off: Ramp rules are incoming has right of way. I respect that. as usual when its your turn to be coming in some one thinks they can unload while your pulling your boat up to the dock. I usually don't stop just keep on docking and wait for the fight.

Biggest Own Issue: 1 AM, (not wasted, but didn't want to see any body either) loading boat, back jeep and trailer down ramp. Walked boat on to trailer. Go to get in running jeep and the da?$ door is locked. No tools, keys in the ignition, I was just fuming. Got the bright idea to unthread the radio antena, proceed to bend the piss out of it to reach down into the unlock switch. Still can't believe I got it. I was glad there was no-one there.

Spoolincat,
I hear ya, that ramp has got to be one of the worst. I think it is all of the first time boaters/campers. It's going to be worst this year with the new ramp and parking. It's a good thing I love that lake so much!
Anthony

Some Ramp Humor VID
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FshOpPqj88





Stumbled on this --- had 2 post it!

sum funny s h i t!

most common boat etiquette violations at the ramp
 

Yeah i usually go to canaveral and watch I call them the boat docking follies!!!!

OK, so how many jetskiers does it take to launch or recover?

Answer?

All the idiots came out this weekend! With eight boats waiting in line to launch at Halifax, this ski boat backs down the ramp and he didn’t even have the covers of the boat yet!

Another brainchild was trying to load a sail boat and the trailer broke loss from the truck! It was like watching SNL at the boat ramp. :evilb:

Watched some kids putting in about a 23 foot Chaperell this weekend. Back it down the ramp, the guy in the boat fires it up and revs the crap out of the engine trying to back off but he ain't going anywhere. Tries it a few times, then scratches his head and tell his buddy to pull back up the ramp. Removed the straps from the back and things worked a lot better.:D