Boat Ramp Idiot # 96723

[kingtin]

We're all capable of stuffing up. Sometimes I pray for a quiet ramp where no-one can see me struggling.

We all have our cross to bear and I recommend that we take a deep breath and ask ourselves if the bloke holding us up is simply a ###### or someone who isn't as skilled as most.

It's nice to be nice and it's hard to be forgiving, but it doesn't take much to pause and reflect............there....... but for the grace of God.

kev

[Lovey80]

Scalem that is absolutely awesom. Well im a week away from getting out of the Army and havent found work yet (Got a month of leave up my belt tho). Maybe in my spare time i could go round SEQ boat ramps putting up signs that say "Dont back your boat unless its ready to go into the water". No ill quickly do up the bungs or it'll only take a sec to undo the straps. Sorry Tinaroo but the guy that is at this stage is the "first one there IMO" Only left to do is Back it down unhook the winch launch the boat its that easy. Then I can stand there with a baseball bat saying "oi ######## read the sign" Once the etiquite is known onto the next ramp I go. If only they had that as a choice for work for the Dole

Ok I'm ranting now hope someone got a laugh out of this post

Cheers Chris

[Lovey80]

One last thing. Kingtin totally agree with you there the old bloke that was by himself deserved a hand. Totally different to what im talking about above. If someone has done the right thing to be considerate of others but needs a second hand I'd be quite happy to lend a hand.

Cheers Chris

[Luc]

Unfortunately, with the increasing number of boats and no corresponding increase in facillities, ramp congestion will only get worse.

More emphasis should be put on ramp 'etiquette' in the course to get boating licences.

Luc

[finga]

How many lanes is this ramp??

I'd be commenting on his inability to back a car and his inability to judge lanes and would you like me to park it properly for him....and give comments like....gees I'd love to see your shed...the door must be 12m wide or how do you park at the supermarket?? or gees, how do you launch that if there isn't a 20 foot wide boat ramp?? or some comments like that.
Basically annoy him so he buggers off quickly to get away from me.
I saw a bloke down Cabbage tree one day with a canoe. He had a little trolley made (it was just 2 pump up 6 or 8" tyres on plastic rims and a simple cradle) so he could do everything he needs to do in the carpark and then wheel the canoe down to the water and then he just carried the trolley back up and locked it in the boot....absolutely brilliant

[Tailortaker]

On sunday arvo i returned to the ramp, I went and got my car & trailer to retreive my boat but when i went to reverse down the ramp their was a guy on one side tying his jet ski down, puting his light boaed on, taking his wet suit off ect ect, on the other side was a lady squating in the middle of my path taking photos of the sun set, she was determine not to move for about 5 mins untilll I started reversing down , when i was about 1-2 metres off her she give me a filthy look and moved. I'm not impatient and every one has their rights buit come on a bit of respect could go both ways..

[warrior1]

is this sort thing mainly on pub hol & weekends? cause i haven,t seen it happen in years(i work 95% of the time on weekends & pub hols)being fisherpersons we all have a little patience.

[Tailortaker]

this is the first time its happened to me, but i always prep my boat to for launching in the car park not on the ramp and the same when retrieving, so i dont hog the ramp.

[roydsy]

How many lanes is this ramp??

I saw a bloke down Cabbage tree one day with a canoe. He had a little trolley made (it was just 2 pump up 6 or 8" tyres on plastic rims and a simple cradle) so he could do everything he needs to do in the carpark and then wheel the canoe down to the water and then he just carried the trolley back up and locked it in the boot....absolutely brilliant

I have one of these canoe trolleys and i launch near fingal boat ramp (2 lanes) and while i peacefully wheel my canoe down to the water, I watch in disgust at the impatience and agro brewing on the ramp. On one occasion I left the trolley behind and there was no one on the ramp so i thought bugger it, Ill reverse down and load up at the waters edge. This was when the agro started, two boats turned up and wanted to retrieve and people were like wtf a canoe blocking the ramp for 3 mins, come on, hurry up. Needless to say I have a short fuse and lost it completely..... they waited their turn, i was a bit embarrassed when I later saw kids aboard. I still managed to launch quicker than the 1st boat could retrieve anyway.

At the end of day, I agree with Kingtin, that we all need to remember the times when we were on our own, having trouble, or just out for a relaxing time with no stress. Everyone needs to take a chill pill when within 200m of a ramp.

Probably, half of my launches with the full boar 5.5m involve some sort of drama at the ramp and i have to agree it isn't getting any better with ramp rage. I know people that sold their boat and bought a canoe due to ramp rage anxiety.

[elprez]

Last trip to the sleepy little village of Maaroom, usually listed as a village or destination on maps, saw influx of southerners in the caravan park, good stuff. Ramp was never busy and usually isnt but every car vic registered did the same thing, drove the 200 m from the park, reversed down the ramp then began taking off straps bungs etc. etc. must be bred into them. Doesnt matter if the ramps busy or not, wether your the first there or not get the bloody thing ready before you venture near the ramp. Thats my 2 cents worth.

[Tailortaker]

Oh I forgot, afew weeks ago I returned to the ramp in the boat at about 11pm and here was a 4wd parked on the ramp diadonally, they were all set up fishing with their caamp chairs and eskys, they didnt look to impressed when they relised they would have to move and did so without a word, but commen sence would of made things easier as there was about 5 cars with empty boat trailers so it was obvious poeple would need the ramp for its real purpose.

[elprez]

Yep that one always gets me too, what are they thinking. What about all those with bad handbrakes, chock the wheels with rocks or 1/2 besser bricks then drive off and leave the brick sitting on the ramp?

[Dirtysanchez]

I once watched an elderly guy bring his boat in, way too fast at a ramp, a fibreglass hull too, not a tinny, and as I had my boat on & in the area designated for setting up, I raced down to try and help him because he was going to hit the concrete for sure.

Ultimately I probably only slowed it down a notch, and almost did some injury to my shoulder, but I thought, he's an old bloke, lend him a hand... Anyway, his son leaps out of the boat and gives me an earful, why are you touching our boat he says ?

I politely told him his dad was approaching too fast, to which he replied his dad was an excellent boatie and had been driving for 25 + years (?)
Anyway, I pointed to the damage from the impact with the concrete and walked off.. what can you do ?

[SeaHunt]

The only things you should actually do ON the ramp is to undo winch and safety chain, or winch in and put the safety chain on, everything else should be done before or after.

[Seahorse]

I love this topic. Always puts a smile on my face. How about the guy who drives up to the area where u tie down ur boat, and he parks right next to sign when there are no boats in gront , then when u come up u got to go around him. thats when u reverses up. But thank god for idiots otherwise i couldnt have a laugh

cheers
greg