Pet Peeve at boat launches....

[dwag70]

I agree with ya too.. I always keep my mouth shut and acess the situation before offering help And I do not have a problem with people taken there time to get it in but get it in and go or move out of the way is more of what I think every one wants..For me it is more about the guys that launch the boat them put all the stuff in it.. Then (no kidding) leave it on the dock so no one else can launch and walk over to the bathroom to take care of business before moving the boat(I have actually seen a guy do this) There are ways to speed the process up and this process is not just backing the truck up that is only one facet of it..How about while waitinf in line to launch get out and uncover and unstrap the boat dont wait till you are on the launch ...Put the poles coolers life jackets in before it is moored to the dock. I have no problem waiting while someboby lifts his 3 kids in but why not put the life jackets on while waiting in line instead of after everythimg is ready to go I am not asking people to fly in and fly out just take care of the easy thing... Common sense thing but that might be asking alot I guess

[Willy]

What drives me nuts is when someone is in front of you unloading their boat, they get it in and then hold it on the dock right in the way so you can't back yours in. All you have to do is have one guy in the truck, one in the boat. Guy in the boat back away from the dock so everyone else can get in. If you're by yourself beach it on shore or at least out of the way so everyone else can get in. It make a guy mad when you have someone blocking waiting for their buddy to walk back from the truck which is half a mile away.

[Farley]

For those of you who have problems backing in, especially just the trailer when loading the boat up after fishing, try letting the tailgate down so you can see the trailer through the back window. Some guys can use just mirrors but some shouldnt. It also gives you a nice place to stand or step onto from the dock.

[snakes]

People that back down the middle of a two wide ramp !!!!!!!!!!

[mnrstrider]

A couple of my observations...

1. Clueless people with no common sense bother me the most ie; loading the boat on the launch ramp, screwing around and just being in the way of people who just want to load/unload, bother me most.

2. They are indeed clueless, and 98% don't know or realize that they are this way. And in general, you can help most of these people, but that only makes you wait shorter for the day ( which is good ) but these people will resume the same slow nonsense at a later day anyways.

3. They come out in flocks on weekend and holidays and frequent the nice days.

4. Are never to be found on the rainy wet days that are not weather wise pefect.

5. Weekdays are your saving grace, if you have the time or option fish weekdays, you'll cut the number of clueless people to a very small number, or you can fish different water, plenty of lakes out there that get much less attention, and offer great fishing, off the beaten path.

6. These people will either figure it out eventually ( though rare) or will not have a boat for long or not use it much in the long run.

7. Paintence, paintence, paitence, you'll get on the water, you'll get off the water, relax, getting mad and yelling at them is not going to do anything but [PoorWordUsage] them off. Meanwhile turn the radio up and enjoy the show.

[bucketmouth64]

I agree with many of the posts that I have encountered. Here are my stories. Had a party launch ahead of me and they docked the boat in the path of the launch. They were waiting for the driver to get back to the boat. Here I was waiting to back in with my boat halfway down the ramp in the park position. They could've moved the boat to the other side of the dock.

Another incident happened in the fall involved a duck hunter. Double ramp, other ramp was being used. Some guy was in waders beside the 2nd ramp checking out his decoys. He wouldn't move so I proceeded to launch with only a few feet between me and the guy in the water. He could've gone to other side of the dock.

[ZapBranigan]

This is turning into funny stories. Well heres mine a guy ahead of us once was putting a small runabout in. He had his boat down on the third attempt. Then five people with him waited for him to get out and unhook the boat. He did this then got back in the car rolled it down a little further. Then he got out. Then we couldn't figure out why a long time was passing and nothing appeared to be happening. A few guys in line got out to see what was up. There was a pretty good crowd now standing around his trailer.

Long story short he left the Chain on this tightend up and could not be pulled over the loop. Bad part was it shifted to the center of the loop and they could'nt get the strap back on it cause it now wouldn't fit in the loop. I walked down looked over the situation and said two options here. Pull the boat back out and try to work the boat back on the trailer on flat ground. Or pull the vehicle down further and float the boat back up the trailer. They were able to do the later. But there must have been 10 guys by now with know idea what to do. Hilarious.

[vern]

I have to agree with Dan T. - busy launches make great entertainment when you're just watching! Sometimes I'll stop by one of the metro river launches on a nice day & watch the chaos for 20-30 minutes.(35W or Hidden Falls) You'll see everything already mentioned & more. I just try to avoid those spots when I take my boat out on summer weekend day. I understand new boat owners having some issues & everybody has some problems now & then, but there's a lot of other stupidity that's inexcuseable. - Vern

[Slyster]

Fun thread! We all share these common experiences no? Many of us caused them at one time or another

[HoleHopper]

What gets me is when you got a boat sitting right in the load zone while three of them hang on to the dock while waiting for someone to get done parking, or going to get, the car and trailor. Thus blocking the landing the whole time. There is no reason to even be useing the dock other than to pick up or drop off someone. Unless you are by yourself. Then you have no choice.

I have got a lot of paitiants for the guy or gal that just plain, dose not know any better. And for the 86 year old that will never change. But its the guy that does know better but plays stupid, just to get ahead of someone else that erks me. I am sure that we all have seen our fair share of these (you know whats)

Relax and laugh, Its a lot more fun that way!

[chucker34]

My father-in-law got his first boat 3 years ago and praticed launching it several times well before opener. He was very nervous about it and would often wait and let others go in front of him so he would avoid the chance of holding anyone up. And he has always been sure to have everything in the boat so we are on our way in a minute or two.

Well this spring he was pretty confident he had got the knack of it and not feeling so nervous anymore. The first time out, he backed it down the ramp into the water with several other boats waiting to unload behind him. I jumped onto the trailer, unlatched the front of the boat, hooked on the rope, and tied to shove it off. Nothing. I tried even harder. Nothing. He got out of the truck and noticed that he had forgot to unhook the back straps from the trailer. He looked back at the line of trailers waiting to unload and jumped right into the water in his jeans and tennis shoes to unhook it. Luckily he had extra clothes/shoes he always brings in case he has to get wet. As we were on her way, I turned to him and said "I guess we were just getting a little to cocky that we know what we're doing." It drew a big smile from him.

[Dan Thiem]

I like the old story of the people that just unhooked the trailer from the vehicle. Leaving the boat winched up and strapped down on the trailer. That's a funny one.

[Shorelunch]

I agree with all of you. My biggest peeve is the un-packing or packing when the boat is on their trailer sitting in front of the water on the ramp.

While we may influence a handfull of "offenders" who visit this web site, the vast majority don't know or care about learning launch etiquette (sp). I think the only way to change their routine is to talk to them or help them at the ramp. Some don't know that they're holding up the line and many just don't give a hoot. It's all part of the weekend fishing process!

[Aquaman01]

Yup - it's usually the 'pretty' boats that tie it up. Those of us with alumibeaters aren't afraid to beach it, bang it, scratch it, hang it...whatever it takes to get it out onna water!

I know a couple of folks who have a hell of a time at ramps due to lack of organizational skills.. fer real! They can't help it - they just get nervous and can't remember what comes first, 2nd, etc. and all the while the last thing their heads have room for is economy of time.

When I see a struggler - I jump in and help out.

MY peeve is rude boaters. The yellers, the parking lot pigs, etc. The worst ramp I've been to is the Big Lake municipal ramp. Nasty, nasty folks.

I solve it by using water less travelled.

[HoleHopper]

In defence of the ones with (pretty boats). I had one and it would take me and my wife about 30 seconds from the time we made the turn till the truck and trailor off the ramp ready for the next guy. The same amount of time loading too.

I am not blowing my own horn but to simply point out that it is just (simple knowledge) that gets er done! Pretty or not!

[Bushwacker]

My worst is the "in-the-way-organizers", like a lot of people have mentioned above. My all time worst experience was on a tiny lake up in Northern MN that usually have two or three boats max. This day the road was lined on both sides with empty trailers and there was a line of 4 boats to get in. Everything was going very smoothly and then all of a sudden a 75 year old couple with a pickup with a camper on it loads up their boat and pulls out about ten feet from the water and stops. The wife gets out and proceeds to make her dog "relieve" itself. That dog must have been constipated because it took at least 5 minutes of sniffing around before it could do its business. All of a sudden theystart to take take off and give this suprised look, like "I didn't know all these people where waiting for me." That was truly a stressful few moments in my life.

[Willy]

I agree Holehopper. I know that another person (that knows what they're doing) and I can land any boat manufactured in around that time. The problem is, there are plenty of people that aren't very experienced and can't. Isn't a race, but it does get frustrating at times.

[luckey]

A couple years ago I was at a smaller lake but for some reason the launch got busy. One guy launched his small aluminum boat and took off to clear the launch. He got about 50 feet before some guys got him stopped. It seams the anchor rope got hung up on the trailer and the boat was dragging along up the ramp. Several guys just unhooked it and carried it back to the water.

[bobO]

I also hate it when guys pull there boats out of the lake and then pull up like 20 ft and start to tie-down their boat. They are sometimes so close to the landing that I can't even get around them to pull up into the main parking lot. I think some guys don't think about what they are doing when there on the landing, its like they are on a different planet or something. Or when you get sharpies with these big exspensive speed boats or fishing boats for that matter that think just cause they spent 30K on boat that they own the boat landing. I could go on and on.

[Muskieguy]

I hate it when there is one parking spot left for trailers and the guy waiting in line behind you makes his wife go stand in that 1 parking spot to "save" it for him.

Almost had to run the woman over before she would move out of the parking spot.

Muskieguy........

[Sandbar]

I have plenty of "circus like" experiences at the ramps due to other people. But, the best one that comes to memory was my own fault. My fishing buddy and myself were in the typical "hurry up" mode getting the boat ready to put in the water. We backed the boat in and were having trouble getting it off the trailer. So, we backed it in a little further, then a little further, by now it feels like the boat is floating off the trailer. We are completely stumped. Then a 13-14 year boy on the dock tells us one of the tie straps is still attached. We sure felt like a couple 30 something fools. At least the ramp wasn't too busy at the time.

Sandbar

[jegerjack]

All I have to say is that I would much rather deal with some one who is backing up for the first time than some meat head that thinks he is gods gift to the lake… Personally I see a lot of situations as the rest of you but I just try to remember that they are trying to enjoy the same thing as myself and just because we go about it differently, it doesn't give me the right to ream them a new one… My motto is "practice patience" and that goes for more than just the boat ramp... Good Luck...

[Eric Wettschreck]

Looks like I'm a lucky one. I drag my boat out of the back of the pickup, and toss er in the water. No waiting at the ramp for me.

On a somewhat different note. I was at the Cedar Lake racetrack not too long ago in my little RV. I pull in, put er in park, get out, sit down and crack a cold one. The rest of the day was spent watching others park RV's. Now THAT is good humor. Back and forth, oops need to be 2 inches to the left, went too far, back and forth some more. It kills me.

[CALVINIST]

Two interesting stories...

same launch (a small one; one dock, one ramp)...

2 days apart.

#1. 7:30 am sunday. Already fished 2 hours and ready to load my boat. I pull up to the dock. People are fishing all over the dock, which is not a fishing dock. then two rigs pull up, wanting to launch their boats. I back my truck into the water, and the guy who is in line to launch first comes up to me and tells me, "I'll help you load your boat". to which I reply, "No thanks, I can load the boat by myself." (understand I have a solid system down, and am very efficient at loading and loading my boat). Then I hook up the strap, and was just about to get ready to crank when he comes up AGAIN and says, "I'll help you crank", and again my reply is "No, I can crank it myself", so I crank it up, and he is watching me intently with this really puzzled look on his face like he couldn't believe I didn't want his help. My question for that guy is this, Do you REALLY think you are going to get your boat in the water any faster by helping me? How exactly was he going to "help" me anyway? And obviously, he never cranked my boat onto the bunks; he'd probably break his back!

#2 Same launch, but this time I have my 5 year old boy Lucas with me. There is a kind of creepy looking guy hanging out by the port-a-potty, watching everything I do. I just unloaded my boat into the lake, and I have to park my rig up on top away from the view below where this man was. Lucas tells me he has to go potty so I tell him to go and I would wait for him before I parked the rig. I am waiting besides my rig, and Lucas walks up the the potty. Then the creepy looking guy yells out to me, "It's alright, I'll watch him (Lucas)", to which I just ignored him because I didn't think I looked that stupid!

Bottom line?

I don't want these strange, out-of-touch people helping me load my boat or watching my kid.

[nthomps66]

Brand new boat last year-third time out by myself. I pull into the Turtle Lake launch and see one available parking spot and nobody waiting. Perfect. I back up to the edge of the water and hop out to remove the straps and put the plug in. A guy and his wife come racing down and see that I am alone. They decide they can beat me to the parking spot. He cranks it in reverse and his wife jumps out and starts releasing the straps on the fly. I decide no way I can beat them so I calmly walk up to him and tell him common courtesy says its my spot because I arrived first. He says, "F-you, I don't see your name on the spot" and continues to take my spot. I had to leave the lake.

If I had a knife I would have slashed every one of his tires including the trailer. It was simply amazing behavior.