Agree, if I can't afford the gas I have no business owning a boat. There can be exceptions for trips and stuff but that's rare.

I also always took my hitch out, because I ran into it a few times. But I don't want my family or friends running into it either.

On the other end of the boat ramp spectrum pet peeve is the people that sit and watch and don't offer to help out in certain situations . When my wife and I had our first son I was still trailering my boat. I remember coming back to the dock in the afternoons, my wife was holding our new born so I pretty much had the bulk ( all) of the work to do , which I had done Before just takes a little longer , and there would be people there mouthibg off to me. I'm a pretty thick skinned guy but those moments for ne were tough. So firm that day on whenever I saw someone having trouble I offered to help instead of sitting there watching . Problem solved the following season when I decided to put my boat in rack storage . Best money spent

I left my hitch in my receiver for a while once. Since I live in the northeast the salt did a good job of permanently attaching to two together. I don't leave the hitch in anymore. I have no idea if it's true and I'm sure it would vary by state but I have heard you can be ticketed for leaving a hitch in place when not towing.
edit- looks like the law about leaving the hitch in might just be an interpretation of the obstructed license plate laws. Don't feel like spending the time to verify it.

We have one rusted in place on an old Jeep Cherokee.

a friend of mine rear ended me and it bent the pin in the hitch. I was able to dreamel it off and beat it out but it was an unpleasant morning

I forgot to comment on the hitch and fuel.
I have 3 trucks that stay hooked to my boats. If they get unhooked it's to pull another trailer or maybe go loafing with the family in. Hitch never comes out.

Fuel, I'm a guy in my mid 20s with 2 kids and very expensive hobbies. I look at it like most of you. If I cannot afford to go I don't go. I may have had someone help on fuel a time or two but it was their idea and it was a lot of fuel.

I got a Tweet from the State of MA just a couple of weeks ago that said no plow frames and trailer hitches can be left on a truck if not in use. I have never heard about the hitch rule before.

Surprised not seeing more complaints about Jet Skiers .

Common to read about boat ramps and people that do not know how to back down - then taking up the whole boat ramp -- plus load the boat up with coolers, food - people and so on instead of beforehand entering the boat ramp. Very dumb people across the board.

Anyways for the ones who know Grand Prairie TX - If you ever get a chance to head to Joe Pool Lake - you can sit even outside at the restaurant and watch the boaters and people at the ramp, By far this lake has the most yoyo's I have ever seen attempting to boat.

For the ones whom have been there - Know exactly what I am talking about. I have seen everything that could go wrong actually go wrong at Joe Pool Lake boat ramp. . You actually at times can not help yourself from laughing.


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Anyone that turns their music up extra loud as they leave or approach a boat ramp is an idiot. If it's rap or techno they're double idiots.
People making fun of other peoples boat type or brand are idiots. I sail, I fish and have fun.
Rental jet skis should be outlawed.

rain, the scum line and other people.

oh and if you walk too close to a truck and are worried about the hitch, you are worried about the wrong thing,
sooner or later one of those "put it in gear and jam on the go pedal before the ignition key even springs back to run
people" will run you over then pull back into the parking place (running you over again) to see what that was.
bystanders yelling STOP will only make it worse because the driver will stop on top of you, roll down the window and yell
obscenities back at them, before pulling back into the parking place.

happy labor day, safe fun boating for everyone

This happened to a friend many years ago.......
Launched his boat and parked the car and trailer. End of the day he got in his car to go retrieve the boat, he put her in gear and moved forward but the trailer stayed still. While out boating, some clown jacked up his trailer and stole his hitch! It was only secured by a cotter pin and a clevis pin, no lock, but you wouldn't expect to have it stolen.

When I go boating with friends I always make it clear beforehand, I supply the boat, the fuel and soft drinks, if you don't bring food then we won't be eating and if you want alcohol, you'd better bring it with you. Had one friend bring what looked like a bottle of water but was actually Vodka. Late in the the day we worked him out. He's never been invited back.

RR