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Yep, it is that time of year again. People got their first boat, and decide that Saturday, on the best weather day of the year is the time to launch it for the first time.... Or better yet the double decker jetski guy has his TRAILER JACK KNIFED SO IT IS BLOCKING ALL 3 (or 4 if you are good) LANES of the Air Force Ramp at Strike...
What do you do?
I showed up at the A/F Ramp on Saturday at noon. We had errands (why I was late launching) and I was taking my wife on our annual Mothers Day Weekend fishing trip. Yes, I would have loved to launch at 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning before the buffoons showed up. I get there and there are 6 boats or jetskiers in front of me. I prep my boat and get in line (notice I prepped my boat first). As we roll up, I am frustrated watching people lollygag around and then start prepping teir boat when they are ON THE RAMP. I really tried to be patient. After the second guy started getting ready ON THE RAMP, and the folks in front of me had not even started prepping their boat, I mentioned to the older gentleman that since it was so busy, and there was a line, maybe he might want to get ready before he got to the ramp. I was (not politley) told to F-OFF!
While he struggled to unload his boat, then tied it to the dock while his wife parked the truck, completley blocking 1 launch lane, I launched in the middle of the ramp, zipped around to the other side of the dock, beached the boat, ran back to my truck and drove it off the ramp. I timed myself, 1 minute 11 seconds from beginning my backup to driving off the ramp.
Please everyone, be courteous, get your stuff together before getting in line, and clear the ramp with both your boat and vehicle as soon as you can. If you need help ask someone. I be the next guy in line would be glad to help you clear out so he can launch. I know I would!
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Always a good reminder. Someday I will have the problem of owning a boat.[cool]
Windriver
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I hear ya. It is worse than we can imagine in Washington coastal areas. The halibut season opened Thursday in Neah Bay. The line waiting to get in weaved all through the town. A fellow was pulling his boat in when another guy with a 24' er came flying down the ramp, and didn't see him coming up. Hit him with the rear of the boat, and sent his twin motors right in the car. Put the two fellows in the car in the hospital. Later that day, another dropped his 27 footer on the ramp, and created a blockage of about 40 boats waiting to get on the ramp. Think there might have been some stressed out folks over there?!
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Saturday at Strike was almost as bad as Friday Night before the Salmon Derby at Sekiu... The attitudes here in Idaho were far worse.
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Last year at lucky peak (barclay bay) with clearly marked in and out ramps, and with sheriffs standing on the docks, a guy tried to force launch his boat while I was trying to take mine out. I just glanced towards the sheriffs, and they walked over and schooled the dipstick so I didnt have to. With low water there isnt much room on that ramp as it is. Most people seem to be okay. There will always be that small group ofproblem children.. you can generally tell if someone is just inexperienced or just an ahole... I have patience for the nubes....
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Noobies usually listen if you give friendly advice or try to help. A-Holes are a different story, like the old guys and their wives I saw Saturday...
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Ah for hell sakes get out of your truck and go help them out, you may make a new friend. Don't get stressed about ANYTHING that goes on at CJ, life is too short. It's always a boat rodeo at the AF ramp and Black Sands is a septic tank mud hole. I can load or unload in about 10 seconds with a competent backerupper dude.
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Seeing a thread like this every year, driving by the crowded launches most weekends all I do is remember that and all the other stuff (gas, maintenance.....) that goes with having a boat I don't have to wonder why I never have really wanted a boat all that bad no matter how much I like being on the lake.
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[quote dtayboyz]Ah for hell sakes get out of your truck and go help them out, you may make a new friend. Don't get stressed about ANYTHING that goes on at CJ, life is too short. It's always a boat rodeo at the AF ramp and Black Sands is a septic tank mud hole. I can load or unload in about 10 seconds with a competent backerupper dude.[/quote]
I don't have a boat. But, if some random dude walked up and started doing anything with my stuff, I'd quickly intervene and send them on their way. Too many people in this world "want to be helpful", but quickly damage things that aren't theirs, either by accident, design, or just plain clumsy.
While you might be doing it for the right reasons, and have the right skillset, it's their gear, and they don't know if you even have a clue.
Offering to help is fine. But if they refuse, just walk away.
[quote lucabrasi]Seeing a thread like this every year, driving by the crowded launches most weekends all I do is remember that and all the other stuff (gas, maintenance.....) that goes with having a boat I don't have to wonder why I never have really wanted a boat all that bad no matter how much I like being on the lake.[/quote]
I hear ya. Stuff like this is why I'll settle for a pontoon boat. I can carry it around the line of trucks 
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How do you expect beginners to learn if we don't teach them? If some "random dude" touched my stuff I'd get pissed too. Maybe we need another guberment program to deal with this. Do you know that boats coming out of the water have right of way. Safety first.
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The topper in the lack of boat ramp courtesy has to be SE Idaho
Henry's on the opener is something I am to old to anymore. Besides the things mentioned above is the Floating docks. With all the fisherman, kids, dogs, etc it can be a real ordeal to get to and into your baot. I found one guy setting on the back of my jet fishing one year. He didn't want ot move but was finally persuaded to leave.
The South Fork of the Snake is a real treat when the trout fly hatch starts. All of the normal problems mentioned above apply. However there are those that barely get the boat out of the water and then stop on the ramp to unload, cover the boat, take fishing rods apart and finally get a drink for the road.
It gets worse every year.
That is why I go early and during the week to miss mst of the fun.
[fishon]
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I have had the same troubles. People that haven't started their boats in 5 years trying to start it on the ramp on the trailer. Another guy was overhauling the engine on the ramp. But the absolute worst is the ramps where people are actually camping on the unimproved ramp. I see that more on the river between Swan Falls and weiser, and also at CJ strike and salmon falls. People in a tent or trailer sleeping on the boat launch. I plan a trip I get there before light and find I can't launch because of a tent. The last time it happened another boat in front of me kicked their tent and woke them up. They slid the tent out of the way but I wondered what they were going to do to his truck when he was gone. Ron
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Dtayboyz, when I got out, and approached the older "gentleman" in front of me and he told me to F-off, I got the point. I guarantee the tools with the jet skis that took 1/2 an hour to get unloaded were having none of anybodies help. I am really ready for mandatory boater education classes and enforcement like Oregon and Washington have gone to. Make money for the state, and educate some people. Anyone that jumps out, launches, and clears the ramp, has it down pat, and has nothing to worry about.
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That is why it is called a "launch ramp" not a prep, get my crap out of the truck, take the cover off, unhook my boat ramp! Beginners can learn by watching or going with someone with experience!
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all good points made but the one that really gets my blood pressure up is the folks that "wash and towel dry" on the ramp..........[pirate]
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Several years ago I spent a beautiful day catching perch about 40 yards from the ramp at Magic. It was almost as entertaining watching the boat ramp as it was catching the perch. One of my favorites was watching a guy back one wheel of the trailer up onto the floating dock and almost tip his trailer. I also saw two people launch boats with no crew and no rope. They had to ask for help from other boats to bring theirs into shore. And some people have obviously never backed up anything and never took the time to practice somewhere.
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I very much appreciate this thread. I just bought my first boat. It is a 15' tri-hull with a 50hp mercury outboard motor. Should be a great little fishing boat. One small question.....When is the best time to load small children in the boat? Before backing down the ramp seems like a bad idea incase the boat gets away from me, but waiting at the dock for the Mrs. to walk them down from the suv will take a while as well.
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i wouldn't recomend having kids in the boat when backing down the ramp as some ramps are very uneven and a small child could be jostled out of a smaller vessel. when you launch pull your boat to the backside of the dock and then load the family at your lesure
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Have all the children put there lifejackets on before you start the motor .
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Thanks for the tips. I have a good plan worked out, but we'll see how I execute it. I was warned by a friend to be prepared for some good fights with the wife over launching a boat, so here is my game plan.
Pull up away from the ramp to prepare the boat. While I ready the boat the wife will put life jackets on children but leave them in the vehicle. When everything is ready back down to the water. Set the Park brake....get out and have the wife take the driver's seat. Unload boat from trailer and send her up to park. As I am moving the boat to the farthest end of the dock on the side opposite the loading ramp she can bring the children down. In theory I think it will work, but we all know how life tends to screw up theories. LOL
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