Ramp tips and etiquette

[skein]

I remember last year when I went to the Oyster House for the first time I was amazed at the number of boats lined up to launch. I also remember going to Hammond (where I went without my boat) to look around and again, was impressed by the sheer numbers. My wife and I are pretty good getting the boat in and out, and try to tie up the ramp as little as possible, but I know there are always tips that make launching and taking out even smoother.

A couple of examples that come to mind are not using the jet to get up on the trailer (and creating a wake for everyone else to contend with) and having everything ready to go before hitting the ramp itself. But even finding a place to park can plug up a launch area if you don't know the drill.

So, without starting a war-story session about idiots you've seen, how about sharing some tips and techniques with us new guys (and gals) so we won't plug up the ramps and you can get to your fishin' hole without us getting in your way.

Skein

[Killertraylor]

My tip is only invite people to go fishing who are on time so you don't have to wait for them at the ramp with your boat in the water. :whazzup: Also, if you are in the water and the dock is long enough, walk your boat back far enough so the next guy can launch. I've had to wait many a time for a guy to go park and then come back and move his boat before I could get mine in the water.

[Phish_on]

If I'm by myself, I often give explicit permission to someone on the dock to untie and move my boat around as needed while I'm parking.

[letstroll]

Have your boat ready before pulling to the ramp :rolleyes: . It seems so obvious but I see people all the time pull to the top of the ramp then put in cooler, plug, untie transom etc.

[Lured In]

Ditto's to much of the above.

1. Put your plugs in before you leave the house if necessary. This includes any other items that can or need to be in the boat BEFORE it can go into the water. (This includes hooking up fuel tanks, fish finders, etc.) Everything else can wait or get out of the way while you are assembling your 30 piece custom fit top.

2. TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF WHILE BACKING DOWN AND LAUNCHING in the dark! There is nothing worse than trying to back down while being blinded by the guy launching. (Parking lights are good and necessary.)

3. They make curtosey docks for a reason, use them.

[Keta]

Practice at low traffic ramps. Get in and out ASAP.

[HOGTIDE]

...and don't be afraid to lend someone else a hand. If a guy is coming into dock solo, against the wind, grab a gunnel for him, help him tie off and get squared away.

Not to be 'age-ist' , but there are a lot of ol' boys who love to fish and go boating every day, but they just don't have the agility or spunk to do a 'crisp & quick' job around the dock. So... grab a gunnel, help swing a boat, help load a trailer. It will not only help them out...you will notice that the line goes much smoother for you, also!

....besides...my back kinda aches...could somebody give that wench a crank for me :rolleyes:

[Uncle Bob]

Putting in, or taking out !!!
If you take more then 60 seconds, you're doing something wrong,
OK, maybe a minute and a half, on a bad day.

Yep, there are those who are by themselves , and that does take a bit longer to get the job done.
Thanks for reminding me. :grin:

UB

[ 08-12-2002, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: Uncle Bob ]

[SandySteel]

Hogtide
Who is the wench and why are you going fishing with her? Why also do you want someone to give her a "crank" for you? Is this a double entendre for something? :wink:

Oh you meant winch.... sorry.... I couldn't resist. :grin:

One thing I do to make sure I am ready at the launch is to put everything in the boat including the light stuff and then put my travelling cover over it all. I can whip that cover off faster than you can think about putting things in your boat. Works for me.

Eric

[ 08-12-2002, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: SandySteel ]

[Cast Away]

Sure would be nice if the summer time pleasure crowd would read this thread. I would take a line of thirty fishing boats over a line of five pleasure boats.

[STGRule]

And remember that it is the next TRAILER in line, not the next boat. Nobody goes anywhere if your boat is blocking access to the trailer on the ramp. And PLEASE leave the dock for the solo fishers, drop your driver and hang back till your trailer gets there. It never fails to amaze people when they ask me if I'm trying to dock the boat when I say "No, I'm waiting out here for my trailer to get backed down." It then takes a total of 30 seconds (or less) to have the trailer in the water, boat loaded and chained and back up to the parking area and out of others way. As an aside, please learn how to trailer from the middle lane of a multiple lane ramp. It is very frustrating to be back in the ramp line waiting because somebody wants a dock side to load their boat and the middle lane(s) are empty and loadable.

PS HOGTIDE: Some of us wenches really dis-like being cranked! :wink:

[ 08-12-2002, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: STGRule ]

[Deleted User]

I always use the jet to load my boat. Drive on,chain on and go! 30 seconds and I'm gone. Never heard not to use the jet.....anyone else heard this?

Fool

[Pirate]

Bring you boat to a clear spot at the dock well away from the ramp. Drop the trailor driver to walk up to the rig to bring the trailor. When the trailor is starting to back down the ramp move your boat to meet the trailor at the water. Put the bow hook on and go...... Too many times there are all sorts of dougheads holding their boats right at the ramp while their driver will be in line for another 30 minutes!!!!!! :mad: :hoboy:

[Pirate]

Jet
Yeah, I heard of it at Hammond, but I thought is was because the wash from the props was degrading the ramp.

[Hogmaster]

Jet -

Yeah, there are a few others that don't want powering on. If you back down farther on those ramps, you can just coast it on.

The other thing is just to show a little understanding for the folks that are clueless, older or infirm. Sometimes they take the lane closest to the dock (only) because they have no ability to get their boat on a roller trailer without a major swim when not next to the dock. If the rest of us put pressure on them they will likely just get themselves and their boat all sideways and just take longer to get out anyway. If you are one who must load close in, be courteous enough to make sure others can get by your boat and/or trailer to the other lanes. Don't be afraid to wave someone on!

The biggest thing to remember is pretty much everyone wants to be in and out, but some are clueless how to be efficient...

[HOGTIDE]

winch! I'm sorry...I meant to say winch!!!!

But, frequently my wife goes with me and...(no, I better stop right there)

[k9jeff]

I have it down to 3 min,,, thats unloading and loading , parking the truck etc,,, and I do use my jet to load on the trailer...
Just be kind, quick and decent to others,\. Like I tell the family,,, its an art! :grin:

I have helped many a "older folk" load and unload, but I make sure my stuff is loaded and out of the way.

ALSO... when you launch and tie your boat up to the dock,,, park it as far as you can from the launch area so you are out of the way of others launching....

[rob allen]

When you move into position so as to be on or blocking the ramp the only thing you should have to do is back in, take the boat off the trailer and put it out of the way. Everything else should be done before blocking the ramp.. Of course thoes inline waiting should be patient if the you forget something and take an extra minute. it's about courtesy on all parts. Don;t get bent out of shape if someone holds you up for s few extra seconds... On the other hand be as ready as you can possibly be before you block a ramp...

[Pete]

There are times ya just don't know whether to laugh or cry ... I apologize for telling a story about strangers, they were new to boating, worried about their boat, unsure of what to do and too proud to accept advice. But here's the tale, anyway. It was late summer at Garibaldi, a Sunday. The bay was full of pleasure boaters and weekend crabbers. At midafternoon I was on my trailer and waiting by the bait shop for my crabs to finish cooking. I spotted a new boat heading towards the ramp. What a fancy boat it was, with paint and chrome and pin striping I've never seen equalled. As it neared, I could see a family of at least seven people on board; Mom, Dad, some men that could have been his brothers, Grandma and a couple kids. I didn't see any fishing rods or rod holders, so I looked a little closer and I think they had one crab trap. But I guess they had fun, so that's OK. As the boat drew near the ramp two of the men jumped out in waist deep water to hold the boat and walk it near the dock. At the dock, Mom stepped off and went to get the tow rig and trailer. Ten minutes later the Land Rover Discovery jack-knifed it's way down the ramp as the men moved the boat towards the trailer. Instructions were shouted to Mom to back a little further, a little further, so they could get the boat on the trailer. They appeared to be trying to hook the safety chain while the boat was floating. Another shout to mom and she started up the ramp, but was quickly shouted to a stop as the boat had high centered on one of the guide rails ... so she started backing down the ramp again ... the shouting continued and she kept backing ... until the bay was inside the back of the Discovery. The boat was finally centered on the trailer and the rig headed up the ramp with the guys guiding the boat as it settled on it's bunks. The boat was unscratched, but after watching that exercise I was scratching my head. Like I said, to laugh or cry ....

[Hogmaster]

Sure would be nice if the summer time pleasure crowd would read this thread. I would take a line of thirty fishing boats over a line of five pleasure boats.
<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Amen on that one! Maybe the answer is we print this thread and stuff it in every boat with a for sale sign on it!

[Chrome Hogs]

It goes twice as fast if the guy you fish with runs the boat or can back up the trailor.Do one or the other with me.time cosuming if i do both.I hate that.

[Lepper]

Just restate, go to a boat ramp that isn't busy and practice, practice, practice!! my problem is, the wife do n't wanna drive the boat and refuses to back the traielr in the water.... grrrrrrrr......

and yes this is another story..

Saturday I was out in the coquille going after some little fishies.. (nothing) And went by the dock to pick up the wife. Well there was this guy backing down a Brand new, first time out jetcraft. He hit the dock 3 times with the trailer backing it down.. I about cried.... Finally he got the boat off, Then he tried to just back it out of the dock/ramp area, He repeatedly turned the motor the wrong way and wammed into the dock. Finally he was off.... Anyway, several hours later I had given up fishing and was heading back and to my shock here this guy was trying to dock so he could pull out, I just stayed out and watched. ( i didn't want that guy anywhere near my new boat) It took him about 15 tries to get to the dock, and the boat was missing some paint when he finally got it to the dock, He managed to get the trailer down there in one try, and then proceeded to get his boat on the bunk trailer without any guides...... Well finally after like 15 min, he got it on and pulled out, but forgot to tighted then winch down. and the boat shifted so the bow wasn't in the front roller thingy... :smile:

I pulled in got out to get my trailer and saw him and this little kid trying to push the boat around to get it lined up straight. I went over and helped him and went to offer him a suggestion when he about ripped my head off.. wasn't a very grateful man....... So, If you are reading this, and you KNOW WHO YOU ARE! LEARN HOW TO LAUNCH AND RECOVER YOUR BOAT YOU BONE HEAD!!!!

and don't even get me started on the 20' bayliner I saw the other day..

[Crashin' Bait]

And, PLEASE, mind the "NO WAKE" zone. I hate gettin' corked at the ramp! :mad:

[Reel Livin']

I use the jet to load onto the trailer unless there is a sign posted at the ramp. I feel that you can do so without creating a large wake. If you have to give it a lot of throttle and create a large wake, then the trailer isn't in the water far enough.

With a partner, it's important to practice enough at less crowded ramps and develop a good pattern/technique until you have it down. With my normal fishing partner, we are loading or unloading from the ramp within 60 to 90 seconds either way. (Like Uncle Bob says). Sounds like you and your wife are already getting pretty good at this.

I feel that I have become pretty efficient when I am running solo as well. This took me a bit of practice and some mistakes in between as I developed my way.

Solo Unloading...If I have room, I will tie a boat length of rope to the bow and loop the other end securely on the trailer. (Make sure you have good knots or you'll be swimming for your boat). I unhook the safety chain and wench and ease the trailer into the water and gently pull a bit forward when the boat becomes buoyant. The boat will gently ease back into the water, eventually clearing the trailer. I'll stop the truck and put it into park, with parking break. I then get out and pull the looped end off of the trailer as the boat drifts backwards and walk it back on the dock. Make sure you have lot's of room for this one as you don't have full control of the stern. I normally just pull the bow to the dock and walk it back as far away from the ramp as I can. This motion will turn the boat around a full 180 degrees so that the bow is pointed away from the ramp when I tie it to the dock. I can do this very fast and be out of people's way in no time at all....but I don't do it where people will be putting in right next to me...otherwise, this is where someone may come and try to knock your block off before they realize what you are doing.

Solo Loading.....Have to tie up to the dock a reasonable distance away from the ramp as possible and go pick up the truck and trailer..no way around this. I leave enough room with the assumption that someone will either try to put in or take out before I can make it back. Know just how far to drop the trailer into the water so that you could successfully load the boat on with a reasonable use of the jet. I load the boat onto the trailer so that it feels secure enough that it will stay in position, keeping the throttle up on the jet just enough to stay put, I go to the bow of the boat and secure the trailer wench clamp to the boat and cinch up until it is tight enough to hold in place. I then turn off the engine, step up to and off of the bow of the boat.....onto the tongue of the trailer and to the ramp...hopefully avoiding the water. I jump in the truck and pull it out to the tie-down staging area and I wench up the boat tighter.

Each dock is different, requiring different techniques. When I started out, I would begin to panic if I felt that I was taking too long....then I would start to make mistakes.

It is best to remain calm, and do your best to move quickly, but don't rush it so that you avoid making mistakes. If you do make a mistake, don't panic and do your best to deal with it...ask for help if you need to. Offer help to others if they seem to be struggling.

Finally, be patient with yourself and with others within reason and it all seems to work out ok. That's my way....

[John]

Powering on saves a ton of time. Nothin worse then waiting for a guy to get out of his boat and winch it alllll the way up the trailer. All the while the wind is blowing the boat to one side of the trailer. Then they have a problem of trying to straiten out the boat on the trailer. Also, it has been my perrsonal experience that if a trailer is too far in the water the guides, or runners, do not allow for the boat to line up if the wind has blowin off corse. Always drive the boat on to the trailer until it is up to the front. Then hook the chain on and your gone in 30 seconds.

[crabbait]

John Steelhead, I could not agree with you more. Watching a boat driver and his partner that know what they are doing is a thing of beauty. When the trailer hits the water the nose of the boat is already heading for the bunks. A little power and the boat driver steps forward and clips the winch, gives it a turn, and motions for the truck to pull out of the water while killing the engine and having a seat.

I also hate waiting for two rigs to pick up boats on a three-wide ramp because nobody is willing to try to back down between the two. I say cutting the line and filling the hole just gets one more boat out of the water. If you are going to sit there with an open hole available, then sit there and watch how its done.

When Kampy is with me, I have the privelege of a professional truck driver backing the trailer. This guy could parallel park a boat and trailer in downtown traffic on the first try.

I say use the whole ramp, only use the dock if you are solo or have folks who need it in order to get safely out of the boat, power it on and get it out of the way!

[ 08-13-2002, 01:27 AM: Message edited by: crabbait ]

[RichH]

I have discovered (fortunately not through personal experience) that on steep ramps leaving the boat strap attached until you're either in or very close to in the water is a very good idea. Talk about not knowing whether to laugh or cry. graemlins/stupid.gif

[Jennie@ifish]

Great!
Now everyone is going to go slower today, clocking themselves at the dock!
I can just see it now....
"Hold on! OK! Ready set.... (Glance at watch...)
"Go!"
OH SHOOT! I ran into the truck next to me!
Back up..... "Sorry, I was timing myself..."

"ready, set...." glance at watch again....

Oh forget it!
We should hire an official judge who holds up signs like at the Olympics!

Jen

[Empire]

I agree with everyone, you need to be timely at the dock when there are others around....but..... Nobody has mentioned safety! Do not give up safety for the sake of time. There are lots of kids at boat ramps, when your attention is on the trailer you are backing you might not see the kids in front or beside your vehicle. Ramps are no place for kids to play and run, but they do.

[Sturgeon 42]

When someone has trouble at a dock I just grin and bear it, or I help them if I can or they will let me. Fish on and be aware at all docks. Also are all ramps priced different or free any favorites......mine is Cathedral park 1 mile from home(free)... :grin: :grin:

[Troller]

Being a new boat owner of a bigger prop boat . I have many years with a smaller boat and on other peoples boats. First thing I did was buy a couple of good quality boat hooks helps greatly in getting back into the dock to pull back out. I also get everything ready before comming back to shore, fenders hanging, docking ropes ready to go, garbage and fishing gear stored. I also take the time to tell everyone what we are going to do and where I want them and what to do even where to sit to stay out of the way. I have a couple of my friends that are accomplised enough to back the rig down so I can just drive it on. But if I am with my father he will be 77 in a couple of weeks and taught me well on his boats. Just not as mobile as he used to be. I have to do the boat driving and backing down the trailer so it does take longer. You just have to be patient with the other boaters and for that fact with the crew you have helping you come ashore or launch. I just tell myself that comon sense is something you born with and not something you learn. Some of us just have more than others. Just last week I sat waiting for a boat that was pulled out of the water before I got to the dock. They had both ramps blocked and were trying to get their straps on for 10 minutes I finally asked if I could help and if not if they would please pull off to the side. All the time they kept looking over at me then back to what they were doing. In a couple of minutes they got the boat out of the way with the straps on . I may not be in and out in 30 seconds but I dont think a couple of minutes is out of line.

[Phish_on]

There are trailers that cannot be "powered" onto. Sorry. :depressed:

[husker]

key here is time management......when u get to the dock....use the untie area for getting the boat ready......poles food whatever it is your going need to do......light plug out drain plug in......maybe do the last 1 at home.....saves humillation....remove the tie downs......get in line to drop boat......your turn comes......back down to a close proximity of the water and remove the safety strap or chain........watched a few boats go dry dock.....saves on a bad brake job.......unload boat and get out of the way.......always when using dock move boat as far foward as possible.....if not alone then have person hold boat and continue moving boat out of the way as room is made

loading boat same stuff reverse order.......load boat quickly.....do eveything else away from the dock......

power on or crank up.....be as quick as possible......hook safety chain and go....

2 minutes or less......next

[ 08-13-2002, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: husker ]

[cully]

I'm new to boating. I read one of these threads months ago. I went to a unoccupied ramp during rains and very unfavorable boating days. When rivers were blown out. I practiced my $% backing down the ramp. Over and over. Sometimes 10 or so times at a crack. One big factor that really helped me. Lower the truck gate and raise the rear camper window. Give yourself a chance to see the ramp your backing down. Next phase for me when ramps are empty. Practice backing down just using mirrors. Once i achive that, I'll be a happy camper(boater). :cheers:

[Jennie@ifish]

What I did:

Wait till Bill leaves for Portland... Hook up the boat, place several obstacles in the field and try to negotiate them in different ways.

Bill comes home,
"Presto!" Jennie can handle the ramps!

Bill: "Where did she learn to do that?"

[k9jeff]

I was a chinook landing today and came into the dock at sundown after fishing all day.

between the **** jet ski's and everyone else in boats,, there were at least 50+ boats and jet ski's waiting at the doc or floating around waiting to get to the dock. NO ONE was nice and most everyone was arguing. I was one of the few fishing boats, most were ski types.

There was an idiot in a small pickup who cut in front of everyone and backed down to load his jet ski. Several people brought this breech of etiquette to is attention. He yelled some profainities and everyone just let him be an A** and do his thing.

He loaded his Jet ski in the back of his truck and peeled out of the boat ramp. As he was pulling out, the jet ski slipped out of the back of his truck and fell onto the asphalt with a loud cracking sound. :grin:

It just goes to show..... some people get whats coming to them. It was fun watching him trying to get the jet ski back in the bed of his truck,, and no was was rushing down to help. :grin:

I loaded my sled and could not get out of there fast enough. There were still boats out in the river doing circles when I left waiting for a slot. What a mess.......

[Lepper]

I wonder if Dropping your jet ski is covered by insurance...... that would be an interesting one to explain to the insurance people if he had insurance...
dave

[Uncle Bob]

k9jeff,

...he loaded his Jet ski in the back of his truck and peeled out of the boat ramp. As he was pulling out, the jet ski slipped out of the back of his truck and fell onto the asphalt with a loud cracking sound...

So what you're saying is, the a$$ now has two cracks. :grin: COOL! :grin:

It was almost enjoyable wasn't it?

UB

[crabbait]

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/402907225.jpg

[SureSet]

If the ramp is busy and there is any doubt about your vehicle's ability to pull your boat out of a steep, wet ramp on a hot day, do everyone a favor and at least arrange a tow before your turn at pulling your boat out...... :rolleyes:

SureSet

[WheresMyBobber]

IMO the single biggest things are - preparation, practice and routine .

Get a routine down for what you secure at home, and what you do at the staging area, and follow the same routine every time. If you're fishing with someone who isn't familiar with your routine, do it all yourself. That will help with time at the ramp, inadvertant mishaps, and things that get forgotten.

Also, when you're done fishing, secure as much as possible in the boat before you even head back to the ramp.

[Pitch Pocket]

crabbait, you have a talent! I'm still LMAO.

[crabbait]

Thanks, SJP. I knew I would find a use for that pic!

[Dr Strangelove]

No laughing matter that picture - It really happened to me - I was trolling the mouth of the Santa Barbara harbor with a casting iron for sand bass and baracuda and a jetski a**hole rips though our fishing zone right across our wake trying to get air. What he got was 30lb test and a 3/0 treble ripping across his wetsuit chest. He went down, blood in water. Captain of party boat wouldn't stop to help - he did offer to back up and finish the job though. Hard lesson to learn.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Quickly rip in front of others, unhook saftey chain, back up quickly and stop suddenly to unload boat on dry ramp. Spend rest of day listening to frustrated fisherman swear at you and threaten bodily harm. :shocked: :shocked: :wink: :wink:

Seriously, just be prepared and have "ALL" gear in the boat ready to go. Don't transfer your crap on the ramp :rolleyes:

Don't forget to pay the launch fee. :cheers:

[Silver Hilton]

I haven't seen anyone list one of my pet peeves: Move away from the top of the ramp after you pull out to tie down your boat. Preferably a good ways away, so that someone has room to pull in behind you. Tuesday at Chinook, there was a guy who pulled straight up to the top of the ramp, and stopped to tie down, completely blocking the entry from the side. After someone pointed this out, he pulled 10 feet forward and still sat there blocking the top of the ramp for 15 minutes. And he wondered why we wouldn't tell him where we got our fish.

At shilshole bay in Seattle, I once had the luxury of explaining to the day sailers who were eating lunch in the turnaround that they were at risk of being lynched by the 20 fisherman behind me. "Oh, we didn't know..." Well, son, that's why the sign four feet in front of you says, "no parking".

[Pilar]

Crabbait!!

Hey, great picture. Is that an ad for Ugly Stik or what?