most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

What seems to be the most common boat etiquette violations at the ramp or the one thing that really chaps your azz?

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

This will be a long thread! I can't name just one!

I would say my biggest pet peaves are (in order):

1) waiting until they're at the water's edge still on the trailer to un-strap it, test-start it, and load everything in for the day.

2) taking up more than one lane at the ramp.

3) having no perception that people are waiting for you to get out of the way; taking you're own sweet time.

4) fishing from the dock at the ramp (despite all the No Fishing signs) and they don't even have a boat.

5) having the wife back the truck down the ramp when the wife has no idea what she's doing.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

I always like it when I'am idling toward the ramp in a no wake zone, and some sh** passes me on plane to beat me there:rolleyes:

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

I am working at a place next to a boat ramp and 2 weeks ago a wakeboard boat went past throwing a huge wake in a no wake zone. A car had backed into the water to drop off a jet ski and went in so far that you could hear the exhaust under water. When the wave hit the car, it floated the rear up, gravity pulled the whole lot into the river and the car was entirely in the river with driver still in the drivers seat. Luckily we had the excavator working right next to him and pulled him out.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

This would be my vote for the most common violation.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

What about keeping the headlights on the tow vehicle turned off at night? just running lights.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

My boat is longer than the docks at Grand Haven so when I take boat back out I have to tie the boat up to one side of the dock and then go get the trailer and then back the trailer down the other side of the same dock or another. I can't back the trailer under the boat. When the ramps are busy sometimes I have a hard time geting an open dock before someone pulls another boat in. Some times someone starts to pull a boat in as I am backing down the ramp.
I have had to be a hard ass and just keep backing up. It is usually fishermen that are the worst.
I tell them they can have the dock that my boat is tied to but they still get pissed off sometimes. I just tell them to F off.
Sometimes you just have to be a jerk.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

Most docks in Michigan R way 2 short! 4 the state that I think now has the 2nd largest # of reg. boats in the US, launch facilities Su CK big time!

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

This one is still number one.

1) Waiting until they're at the water's edge still on the trailer to un-strap it, test-start it, and load everything in for the day.

Or

2) When they are leaving they stop at the top of the ramp and block all traffic, until they unload the boat and wipe it down, instead of pulling up and out of the way.

3) The people who are just driving through on the sight seeing trips, they always seem to be in the wrong place at wrong time.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

I hate the guy who didnt check his batteries all season, and leaves his boat in the water at the ramp trying to launch asking everyone who is launching for a jumpstart.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

What about the guy that is waiting to back down and you are the guy behind him seeing that there is two spots you can back down. What do you do? I am talking about waiting 10 min. not a couple.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

all the reasons above is why I have a slip :)
But I hate when a guy
back in at a 45 deg angle and takes up 3 spots on the ramp then pulls off his road cover,then start putting ice in his cooler grabbing towels and gear from his truck while still on the ramp.but alot of these guys dont know any better...at least thats what i tell myself :)

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

Or the impatient ones that just HAVE to start backing their trailer down the ramps and into the water BEFORE you have a chance to park the truck/trailer and get back to your boat :mad: If you needed to get into the water before me you should have got there sooner!!! i purposely wait idling my engines till they are nice and warm before i leave the docks when i run into these guys....

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

If someone is launching or recovering a boat by themselves, then a little assistance or a little patience is warranted. I've done it alone several times and it just takes longer.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

I had that exact same thing happen to me at the New Buffalo ramp last year. Nobody was at any of the 6 ramps, I had my boat and trailer taking up two slots in the water ready to pull the boat onto the trailer. This 18' fishing boat comes pulling up. He rudely asks "How many ramps does it take for me to get my G-Dam boat out of the water?" (There are still 4 available) I said Two, How many does it take you, there's 4 open?! My wife was standing there and I made sure I told my wife how much of an AS%Hol% he was. He heard me and then he proceeded to tell me how his boat was paid for. (??????) He shut up when I told him I burned more gas that day than his boat was worth.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

LMAO i like that....i'll have to keep that in the back of my mind for "next time" :evilb:

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

I was just a spectator this past weekend at the ramps but one guy had the nads to wash down & flush while still on the ramp. Granted, the only fresh water hose outlet is right there near the ramp, but there was a parking spot he could've used and let the other boats coming/going use the ramp.

Most everything else I saw Saturday afternoon was hilarious. What started as "I just want to stop by on the way home" turned into an hour and a half of "how NOT to load your trailer boat". At one point I had to get up and walk away so they wouldn't see me laughing so hard. I gladly helped when asked, even offered once or twice, but some guys just can't be helped...

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

My brother told me he goes down to the local lake some weekends and sits at the marina bar that overlooks the ramp and usually leaves when his sides are aching too much from laughing.

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

A ramp we used to use was a good 6 lanes wide. Several times the person in front of me waits until 2 -3 side by side are open. Guess they are not comfortable in their backing skills. If it's busy with a line behind me, I have gone around them. If it's slow, I'll wait. Usually you get a good feel for the persons abilty. The women absolutely hate it because if they don't do it perfectly, husbands yell at them. I feel sorry for most and give them the benefit. I have helped more then my share of the women talking them down the ramp. Usally they are very grateful and their husbands never objected. Sometimes anything to keep the line moving. Calmness always prevails. It's always the men that are the ones loading and reading their boats once they get up front.

My wife can run circles around 1/2 the men at the ramp. I love it! The men hate it. :evilb:

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

last summer I offered to give this guy a hand putting his boat on his trailer. he told me no that he has a system and can do it faster by himself I got to watch this guy almost get crushed between the boat and truck, his wife went over the windshield and their baby(mabe 5-6 mo old) flew off the engine cover when the boat came to a sudden fiberglass cracking stop. they all made it out ok just a few scrapes. he came in real fast then ran up through the open bow with the boat still running and in gear leaning out and tryed to catch the trailer as he fell over and out of the boat. I asked if everyone was ok then complimented him on his system

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

I agree with what everyone said, that`s way I have a slip for the boat:D I wish more people would practice during the middle of the week putting the the boat on and off the trailer. They would feel more confident when it come time for the weekend and they have to put on a show:drink:

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

Oh man thats a great idea for episode of powerboat tv............a weekend at the ramp!!!!!!!!

Re: most common boat ettiquette violations at the ramp
 

I like watching the idiots.

We were launching my boat one time, when another boater came over and asked for help. I do have a "system" worked out at my local ramp and can launch and retrieve my boat myself, so I sent my two friends over to help him out. The guy proceeds to disconnect the strap and the safety chain at the top of the ramp, with a roller trailer. Sure enough, as soon as he started moving, the boat started rolling off the trailer. By this time, I had my boat in the water and tied up, and I had come over to assist as well. The boat landed on the ramp a good 10-15 feet from the water, behind the trailer. I took a quick look at the situation, then told the guy "alright, keep backing up". Used the trailer to push the boat down the ramp and into the water. My thinking was, then he could pull it back out on the trailer and assess the damage. Nope, he parked the car, got in, and drove away. This was an old sea-ray, probably an early 80's model, if not older.

I can launch and retrieve my boat myself, but there is some risk involved because I have to leave the truck. I put it in 4 low and in park, then set the parking brake. Low range reduces the stress on the parking pawl, as does the parking brake. The parking brake itself is not strong enough to hold the boat and truck on a grade. One ramp, one line, and i can usually back it in pretty quickly and get out of the way of everyone else. But then again, i'm in a 27', so it's probably a lot easier than dealing with a 40' er.

Awesome comeback:D

My biggest B#%$* comes from the NYS Park Office. After I park the truck and trailer, spend the night on the boat, come back the next day, I find a nasty gram from the office on my truck. States that overnight parking is not allowed. Hello???Anyone else see a problem here?

I also like the guy that feels it neccessary to wade into the water, up to his waist, to launch his 20' boat

The closest ramp to my house has 50' docks, spaced wide enough for three to launch abreast IF the idjust closest to the docks can back next to them.. Rarely happens... When it does, I shoot down the middle and launch to much shouting and finger waving.. Not sure what their problem is, I just ignore them.. Most of the time however, they are so far from the docks on either side you have to wait for them to pull their trailers out and go park. I just stand there twiddling my thumbs because they all seem to think that their 20' boat has to be tied up close to the ramp rather than walking it to the end of the dock so others can launch...

I think I've seen it all- watched a tri-hull roll off a roller trailer on a steep concrete ramp when the winch rope broke -just like the photo above!, seen jetskiers and wakeboarders plane right past the ramp rocking boats and pissing poeple off, and watched a hundred a-holes load there stuff on to the boat AT THE RAMP (instead of at home or in the parking lot). This thread is hilariious. Boat ramps are goat rodeos.

love the pic with the sub-truck. :evilb: :evilb:

Is that a SUBurban? ha ha

Practice, Practice Practice. I did, with and without my husband. We/I have a system. I can drive it, trail it, launch it, secure it, Park it. I get a little chapped by the folks who think I just got "in the cab". I don't take my eyes off or direction from anyone but my husband. He's the captain.
If we screw up its on us.
Practice and Preparation are the keys.

BTW, its a triple axle trailer, 35 fountain, with a crew cab duallie,,,care to dance??

The reason I started this thread was because last summer my brother and I were launching my new boat at Joe Pool in Arlington, tx. It was night time and when I was looping the boat around to line up, my brother told me to turn the #%$&^ lights off and just use my running lights. It blinds people that are already on the ramp. Thats something that never occurred to me. Now aside from the "no brainer" stuff like having your boat, gear and passengers ready before backing down the ramp, I was looking for other minor things that may not have occurred to me. Anyway, SOCALSTONE is right, ramps are goat rodeos. Maybe setting up with a camcorder on a busy weekend would be a great way to win the AFV prize.

That is too cool, I wish my wife could do that.

Don't stop to piss while hooking up the winch cable!!!

Sorry, but as soon as your boat touches the water it should be moved out of the way so the next person can use the ramp.

Takes time to warm up 2 big blocks on carbs.

what about the guy who has to back in and out of the ramp 4 or 5 times to centre his boat on the trailer while were all...... WAITING.......some people think their g ay but I got trailer guides......we trailer every time out and I would never be without them again.....one of the best modifications Ive ever done to my boat......just like Minute Rice.....perfect every time.......

I am that guy, but I am making mods to remedy that situation. At least I am not in denial.

Normally i would agree with you....BUT the ramps i was useing were only just barly big enough to house a 30' boat... and they are just barely wide enough to get a boat in between the docks!!! you could almost walk across from one dock to the next by walking across the hatch......and there were no "temp parking" docks or the like. So what would you have me do..tie my anchor line to the bow and push the boat off into the lake so others can launch??? :rolleyes:

Spent yet another saturday late afternoon at the boat ramp this past weekend. The best one was a guy holding the line as the boat is being backed down crooked. boat gets far enough away from dock the guy has to let go. Of course the boat wasn't hooked to trailer anymore so off it floats into the canal. Finally the driver gets out of the truck and jumps into the water and swims for the boat.
It doesn't stop there...20mins later they come back because they forgot to put in the plug!!
I just don't think I have the balls to sit there with a camcorder.

You have got to get vidio. That is just to freakin funny!!!!!!!!!:eek: :D :D