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Boat Ramp Etiquette

My wife did well with our durango... now with a four door f250 with the 8 foot bed and diesel motor she is a little nervous. This truck has a wide swing....
 
Man, boat ramp culture really can be amateur hour. Being prepared and rehearsing in your mind if not practically can really help with a by the book launch and retrieval. Staying calm when it is not going as planned is just as important as knowing what to do when it goes to plan.
I was next to a guy last Memorial Day who got in a hurry, was frustrated with a difficult pull out on a steep ramp. A roller on his older trailer had spun on the clasp and wouldn't accept the boat. Dude is now getting highly stressed, jumped out of his truck seat and onto the ramp before he set the brake. Dude's Dodge 1500 diesel open driver door swept him off his feet, front tire ran over his shin and slid down the ramp, into the drink, windows open and motor running. It floated briefly, filled the cab with water, let out a puff and sank. The motor took a Big Gulp and stalled, a total loss. The bow of his boat is now pointing at about a 45* angle toward the bottom as it was tethered to the trailer winch, which was of course invisible and under water behind the sunken vehicle. Horror Show live and in color man.
The whole affair was spooky and very nearly deadly. The poor guy was full of adrenalin, hopped off the ramp and onto the dock and watched it all. Angry red tire tracks literally mark this guy's leg, nasty.
As you can imagine, every kid with a phone started filming the aftermath, adding to the humiliation of it all. There were hundreds of people there, some hassling this guy to hurry before it happened, he let the nasty boat ramp culture get him off his focus.
I never comment or hassle folks who are struggling, only offer help which is most times turned away. I am impatient with those who care little for other's time, like cooler loading guy or the Bickerson's who air their dirty laundry while the rest of us wait. After witnessing how quickly it can all go wrong, I keep my mouth shut and be patient when my fellow man is in the middle of his operation.
 
I suck at backing up and another reason I use the boatel all summer :)

Would sure suck to lose your whole rig!

I'm a newbie and just don't let the stress get to me. Take my time and don't go at busy times of the day.
 
The key to backing anything from a small yard trailer to a semi is proper set up while still moving forward!
 
NewBoater said:
I suck at backing up and another reason I use the boatel all summer :)

Would sure suck to lose your whole rig!

I'm a newbie and just don't let the stress get to me. Take my time and don't go at busy times of the day.
Click to expand...
I'm not the best either, I think it through before my approach to be sure. Like you, I'll get up early and beat the rat race, makes it much less of a hassle!
 
Practice, practice, practice, and more practice. Thats all it takes
 
I have helped many load their boats and have helped many more backing them in. I'm the 1st to offer assistance when needed - and most people graciously accept.
But For those idiots that back in, and then decide to uncover the boat and load up - that I will not tolerate and I will call them out every time.
 
The primary ramp we used when boating at our favorite (close) lake in WI was at silver lake marina. You had to back up around a corner and often there would be bikes/cars parked in the area! Now that was interesting to watch!
 
Somewhat off topic from this thread, but reminds me of a funny launching video:


A cool truck too if your into Rovers ... declining the beer meh ...
 
bronze_10 said:
The key to backing anything from a small yard trailer to a semi is proper set up while still moving forward!
Click to expand...
absolutely correct. I drove doubles for ten years. I got to where i could back in the whole works, That's 3 pivot points, and its all in the set up, now for the boat, pull forward in the lane you want to launch until your boat and tow vehicle is all lined up, then its just keeping it straight with tiny steering wheel adjustment WHILE MOVING IN REVERSE is the key.
 
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