Please, check your boat, motor etc before you get to the lake, (Ranting)

[Kdog]

This AM, buddy and I took the "Yard Sale Yacht" to a local lake for our first boating trip of the year. We got to our favorite ramp and were surprised to see a line. (At 5am there aren't that many starting out). While waiting started talking to the guy in front of us who is a local and usually decent source of info on the lake. He was ranting about having to wait had been there 25 minutes and although the ramp is 3 lanes, the guy trying to launch had all 3 lanes blocked. Boat was floating and at 90 degrees to the trailer which was at 45 degrees to the water and his mini van was angled across all 3 lanes. Boat would not start idiot would not pull off the ramp because boat would not start. No trolling motor so he would not unhook boat and move it to the dock.

I walked down and offered to help get the boat back on the trailer. "No, we'll get it running in a minute" was the response 15 minutes later, still no luck. We decided to got to another ramp worked our way out of line and around the waiting vehicles and off the the second ramp that is 20 minutes away.

Got there and at bottom of road RAMP CLOSED!

I looked over at my buddy and he asked if I was thinking what he was thinking. Yep, breakfast at the diner and call it a day. We were headed out and driving over the causeway were able to see the ramp van still there but DNR truck is also there, Not sure what all was going on but that was almost 3 hours since had left and no one was getting on the water.

Please, check your boat, buy some muffs so you can check it at home and Learn how to back it in a straight line.

Time for a nap. Maybe an afternoon trip.

 

[hookup]

Same rant in the Old Dominion - that's why I got a kayak and go places most boats wont dare. And if they do, I can do a commando launch off the ramp. Some people are clueless ....

 

[JSC]

Been there had it happen to some ahead of me several times ...
Nine out of ten times it is some one who might fish once or twice a year .. others who
fish a lot are more considerate .....

 

[Kdog]

Been there had it happen to some ahead of me several times ...
Nine out of ten times it is some one who might fish once or twice a year .. others who
fish a lot are more considerate .....

Yes, but at 5 AM one would think it was a die hard fisherman.

 

[QPassage]

I must say 2 years ago while waiting to launch my canoe at a local ramp. Two guys in a boat couldn't get it to start, traile/truck still in the way. Only thing I can say about it is, karma is a B. After several word of encouragement they started and sped away. We launched the canoe and got about 10 ft when the yoke snapped and flipped us in. After snorkeling for gear and replacing 2 iphones, I've had nothing but respect for those at the boat ramp and kindly wait my turn patiently. I've even been known to hand out an extra cup of coffee, especially on those cold, wet, icy wintery fishing trips.

 

[Jig Man]

Tell us how ya really feel....

 

[Ron Don]

Boy oh boy. Bullets prolly woulda been flying round here!

About an hour into my fishing trip today I couldn't find my phone. I knew I had it in the boat at some point. Found it when we got back to the launch....... In the bottom of the livewell! She was submerged for a good 3 hours. I hope those fish weren't using up all my minutes calling for help. Havent tried to turn it on yet. Ive got it in a bowl of rice tryin to get all the moisture out.

 

[Bucho]

Boy, I so do not miss my motorboat... BTW thats one of the benefits of renting a shop at a downsized shipyard: A boatramp that you can see from space. I like the space and the privacy of it.

 

[New River Rat]

I've been doing this fishing thing most of my life, alone, so I have the "in & out" part down pretty well. Ramp etiquette is an unwritten rule by old salts, but the twice a year guys don't get it.I have "helped" a few times just so I could let the uninformed have less of a learning curve. Tempers can and do flare.

YEARS ago, I arrived at a local two lane ramp to find a pickup blocking both lanes by being in the middle. The jon was still on the back of the truck, and it's owners proceeded to remove a trolling motor from it's box. Then they started reading the instructions on how to mount it. Huh? Really? I offered some assistance at this point, but "No, we got it." was the response I got. I politely asked them to move their truck so I could launch and they did. After about 15 minutes.

Next time I saw them, they, well one guy, was paddling and no TM. Seems it wasn't secured tight enough and the connecter clips werent enough to keep the motor from dropping into a very deep lake. I told them next time I offered help, they should take it. They were within a 1/4-1/2 mile of the ramp, had paddled at least that far, so I figured they would be just fine, and left. I had my boat trailered, secured and gear stowed when they got to the ramp. I wished them a "Good day" and drove off.

It's karma. If offered help, take it!