Ramp/dock etiquette

[Cyclones]

As some of you know, this is my fist season owning and using a boat.  I’ve watched about 23,000 videos on how to launch & load and what not to do.  But I never find a clear answer to the problem of the single boater.  Most places I fish the ramp is 2 lane with a single dock in the middle.  Launching is straight forward.  Loading?  Not so much.  I feel my only option is to pull to the ramp, tie to the dock, quickly get my truck and load up.  Am I missing something?  I know I’m tying up a lane, how else would I do it?  I see people say, park at the dock not the ramp and then get your trailer.  Are these lakes that have separate docks close to the ramp?  I got yelled at by a doosh boater last weekend as I was walking up the ramp to get my truck.  He told me I wasn’t allowed to block the ramp.  What the heck should I do?

 

2nd question... hasn’t happened yet but it’s coming......if it’s busy when I’m wanting to come in for the day a d there is a line for launching.... how do I get in line to load as a single boater?  Say there are 5 boats on trailers waiting to launch.  Do I just pick out the last truck in line and when he loads then come up to the ramp and tie off and get my truck?  Because if trucks keep showing up I can see a problem brewing real quick.  Unfortunately the closest lakes to me are super crowded lots of times.  I’ll attach a pic of the ramp I use often for reference 

 

 

Is the answer that I shouldn’t fish lakes as a single boater that only has docks/ramps like this?

 

Is the answer that as a single boater I shouldn’t fish lakes with ramps like this?  Because to be honest I want to tell those that get ticked to pound sand.  But I’ve seen multiple people in other boating forums suggest as much about not coming out on weekends as a single 

[TnRiver46]

Sounds like you just encountered a person having a bad day. If you tie off out to the end of that dock, there is still plenty of room for both lanes to launch 

[A-Jay]

I am also a 'solo' boater and have been for a few years now and I understand your concerns.

If I may . . . 

First, I DO NOTHING QUICKLY when it comes to launching or recovering my rig - EVER.

If folks are for some reason 'impatient' with how I go about it, they should have gotten to the ramp earlier. 

Slow, methodical & safe is the way to go IMO.

When I launch, there's rarely anyone else at the ramp, but that doesn't change how or what I do. 

When I recover, I simply wait for a space to clear at the dock, pull up, and do my thing.

Again, slow, methodical & safe.  

This clip shows some of that.

Hope it helps.

A-Jay

[GaryH]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I am also a 'solo' boater and have been for a few years now and I understand your concerns.

If I may . . . 

First, I DO NOTHING QUICKLY when it comes to launching or recovering my rig - EVER.

If folks are for some reason 'impatient' with how I go about it, they should have gotten to the ramp earlier. 

Slow, methodical & safe is the way to go IMO.

When I launch, there's rarely anyone else at the ramp, but that doesn't change how or what I do. 

When I recover, I simply wait for a space to clear at the dock, pull up, and to my thing.

Again, slow, methodical & safe.  

This clip shows some of that.

Hope it helps.

A-Jay

 

Ya but the people at your ramps have seen your workout program. So they just smile and ask if they can help… ?????

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, GaryH said:

 

Ya but the people at your ramps have seen your workout program. So they just smile and ask if they can help… ?????

Maybe ~ LOL.

A-Jay

[Cyclones]

I appreciate the replies, but what about the scenario with the line waiting to launch?  When I launch its early and empty, but when I come in it’s starting to get busy with wake boats.  Right now what I’ve done is just hang around until the crowd thins, but what if I need to leave?  How do I “get in line” from the water when the launchers are using the ramps?  It’s not uncommon to see 15 boats in line to launch here.  
 

also—thanks AJ.  “Solo boater” sounds much better than “single boater”.  I sound like a divorcee looking for chicks saying “single”

17 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Sounds like you just encountered a person having a bad day. If you tie off out to the end of that dock, there is still plenty of room for both lanes to launch 

Like at the very end?  Or just further down the dock towards the lake?  Because those docks seem pretty short…

[TnRiver46]

First person in the truck gets first dibs from what I’ve always heard/seen, but I’ve been cut in line before and let hurried looking people go before me as well. So if you come back and there’s a line, tie off somewhere (dock, rock, whatever) and get in the truck. Then you are ready for when it’s your turn. If there’s 15 people either get in line and be number 16 or fish around until it clears out. I’ve been know to just fish around the ramp when I see someone trying to load up 8 kayaks while filming an outro and blocking the launch 

[Cyclones]

38 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

First person in the truck gets first dibs from what I’ve always heard/seen, but I’ve been cut in line before and let hurried looking people go before me as well. So if you come back and there’s a line, tie off somewhere (dock, rock, whatever) and get in the truck. Then you are ready for when it’s your turn. 

There is nowhere to tie to but the dock, that’s my dilemma im looking for an answer to 

[gim]

It’s just a bad situation when there’s only one spot on each side of the dock to tie up which just happens to be right in the access point. I’ve been in this exact situation more than once and it’s frustrating, especially when it starts to get busy later in the day with recreational boaters.

 

Remember, the line forms on land, not in the water. So if there’s 10 vehicles waiting, they have priority over anyone in the water.

 

I would try to find a spot to either beach your boat or tie up where it’s not literally right in the access. If you tie up in the access point, no one can use it, and if there’s people waiting in their vehicles, they are in front of you. Therefore, you are just slowing yourself down by preventing them from using the access too.

 

This is what I do: I don’t use those access points if I’m by myself. Either go to another access that has more docks or take someone with you that can back up a trailer.

 

Disclaimer: even with a bunch of extra docks devoted for tying up and big signs on the docks next to the access that read No Parking, people still tie their boats up in the access point. I see it regularly. My Grandpa always called those people #$&* for brains. It’s like parking your car in a location where there’s signs stating No Parking.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, Cyclones said:

There in where to tie to but the dock, that’s my dilemma im looking for an answer to 

Either a big rock or just wait I guess. I tie to rip rap all the time 

[A-Jay]

 

13 minutes ago, Cyclones said:

I appreciate the replies, but what about the scenario with the line waiting to launch?  When I launch its early and empty, but when I come in it’s starting to get busy with wake boats.  Right now what I’ve done is just hang around until the crowd thins, but what if I need to leave?  How do I “get in line” from the water when the launchers are using the ramps?  It’s not uncommon to see 15 boats in line to launch here.  
 

also—thanks AJ.  “Solo boater” sounds much better than “single boater”.  I sound like a divorcee looking for chicks saying “single”

Like at the very end?  Or just further down the dock towards the lake?  Because those docks seem pretty short…

The whole deal is first come first serve.

If you need to leave - get yourself to the ramp EARLIER.

Crowds in the middle of the summer are unavoidable if you are there when they are.

It's like a circus many times, especially if you are in a part of the country where 'boating' is seasonal.

Many folks use their rigs only a few times a year and each and every trip to the ramp is an adventure, especially if it's windy and or rough. 

Dealing with some of this calamity used to be part of my job description.

Now, I simply avoid it.

?

A-Jay

 

[gim]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

Now, I simply avoid it

Yes, that’s the best solution.

[Cyclones]

10 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Either a big rock or just wait I guess. I tie to rip rap all the time 

How do you tie to rip rap without banging up your boat?  I’m a noob, it’s an honest question.  It’s choppy by the ramps, how do I get close without hitting and how do I tie?  Thanks!

[Jigfishn10]

I don’t encounter this problem much. Usually if peeps are at the ramp they help each other out. 

 

You’d think it should work that way, wouldn’t you?

[DitchPanda]

Well my perspective may be unique as a bank guy. Ill say this if somebody is in that big of a hurry then they should learn what this hobby is all about...relaxing and having fun. If 5 extra minutes at the ramp ruins someone's day on the water then they don't have the time to be fishing anyway. I had a run in with a boater one time years ago that sounds like the guy you ran into. I was in my early or mid 20s...guy was in his 50s I'd guess. So I'm standing there fishing off the dock and this dude pulls in lines up to back down the ramp and takes his ratchet straps off to unload. I grab my stuff to move and say hey how's it going? The guys glances and says are you gonna get off the fu$&$#@ dock or not? I set my stuff back down and started fishing. He unloads then walks up to the dock and says well? I said nope you had your chance so you can work around me or try to move me off the dock but I wouldn't suggest the second one. He waded out knee deep and crawled over the side.

[A-Jay]

Just now, Jigfishn10 said:

I don’t encounter this problem much. Usually if peeps are at the ramp they help each other out. 

 

You’d think it should work that way, wouldn’t you?

Yup - and it depends on the humans involved no doubt.

Some places I fish, one side of the dock is load and the other side is launch.

Really helps prevent all the 'launchers'

from poaching all the 'loaders'.

But there have been many times 

(when I stay too long) so I sat in the lake for an hour

 or more waiting for a chance to load.

Dudes just double side launching one after another.

Not their fault, I stayed to long and put myself right in the middle of it.

A-Jay

[evo2s197]

44 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

If folks are for some reason 'impatient' with how I go about it, they should have gotten to the ramp earlier. 

Exactly, if they have a problem they can just deal with it, as long as your not hogging up the entire dock and taking unnecessarily long.

[gim]

7 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Usually if peeps are at the ramp they help each other out. 

 

You’d think it should work that way, wouldn’t you?

You’d think under normal circumstances. I’ve asked people if they needed help and they completely blow up. I think they take it as taking too long and being disorganized when there’s 10 others waiting. Plus you never know when you might run into a hot head. So now I don’t offer. Plus some people are very anal about their rigs too.

 

A-Jays solution is still the best one. Avoid it.

[evo2s197]

Usually when I'm by myself, I just launch just before first light and I'm loaded up by 9:45 ish, I get about 4 hours of fishing in that way.

[gim]

5 minutes ago, evo2s197 said:

Usually when I'm by myself, I just launch just before first light and I'm loaded up by 9:45 ish, I get about 4 hours of fishing in that way.

That’s when I go too if I know there’s going to be riff riff at the access later on. Usually around 11-12 the parade of recreational boats starts to show up and by that time I am GONE.

 

Inclement weather alleviates much of this problem and the fishing is often better too.

[iabass8]

 

1 hour ago, Cyclones said:

As some of you know, this is my fist season owning and using a boat.  I’ve watched about 23,000 videos on how to launch & load and what not to do.  But I never find a clear answer to the problem of the single boater.  Most places I fish the ramp is 2 lane with a single dock in the middle.  Launching is straight forward.  Loading?  Not so much.  I feel my only option is to pull to the ramp, tie to the dock, quickly get my truck and load up.  Am I missing something?  I know I’m tying up a lane, how else would I do it?  I see people say, park at the dock not the ramp and then get your trailer.  Are these lakes that have separate docks close to the ramp?  I got yelled at by a doosh boater last weekend as I was walking up the ramp to get my truck.  He told me I wasn’t allowed to block the ramp.  What the heck should I do?

 

2nd question... hasn’t happened yet but it’s coming......if it’s busy when I’m wanting to come in for the day a d there is a line for launching.... how do I get in line to load as a single boater?  Say there are 5 boats on trailers waiting to launch.  Do I just pick out the last truck in line and when he loads then come up to the ramp and tie off and get my truck?  Because if trucks keep showing up I can see a problem brewing real quick.  Unfortunately the closest lakes to me are super crowded lots of times.  I’ll attach a pic of the ramp I use often for reference 

 

 

Is the answer that I shouldn’t fish lakes as a single boater that only has docks/ramps like this?

 

Is the answer that as a single boater I shouldn’t fish lakes with ramps like this?  Because to be honest I want to tell those that get ticked to pound sand.  But I’ve seen multiple people in other boating forums suggest as much about not coming out on weekends as a single 

you're using the most popular ramps on Saylorville closest to camp dodge that will get the most traffic in and out. Use the ramps across the lake or under the bridge and just beach your boat when you leave on the sand. It's unfortunate that place hasn't put in a 4 lane ramp. What you're encountering is normal. nobody owns the ramp. just take your time. 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Cyclones said:

How do you tie to rip rap without banging up your boat?  I’m a noob, it’s an honest question.  It’s choppy by the ramps, how do I get close without hitting and how do I tie?  Thanks!

I bang up the boat! Mine is aluminum. I just drag it up on there and wrap the rope around a rock .  (Not recommended with fiberglass boat)

[Cyclones]

28 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

 

you're using the most popular ramps on Saylorville closest to camp dodge that will get the most traffic in and out. Use the ramps across the lake or under the bridge and just beach your boat when you leave on the sand. It's unfortunate that place hasn't put in a 4 lane ramp. What you're encountering is normal. nobody owns the ramp. just take your time. 

That pic is Lakeview.  Cherry Glenn is way busier in my limited experience.  You’re obviously local.  Any tips on better close lakes to fish?  I usually catch ok at Saylorville but get skunked at Big Creek all the time.  

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

I bang up the boat! Mine is aluminum. I just drag it up on there and wrap the rope around a rock .  (Not recommended with fiberglass boat)

But she’s a new boat and still all pretty!  I can’t even stand the thought of that yet!

[iabass8]

30 minutes ago, Cyclones said:

That pic is Lakeview.  Cherry Glenn is way busier in my limited experience.  You’re obviously local.  Any tips on better close lakes to fish?  I usually catch ok at Saylorville but get skunked at Big Creek all the time.  

But she’s a new boat and still all pretty!  I can’t even stand the thought of that yet!

Not a local anymore. Just grew up in the Urbandale area. I live in the eastern part of the state on the Mississippi River. I always choose ramps /w sand on the Saylorville because waiting for weekenders drove me crazy. Green Valley, Rathburn , 12 mile and on occasions 3 mile were my favorite. Red Rock was hit or miss. Hate big creek. 

[Jigfishn10]

15 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Yup - and it depends on the humans involved no doubt.

Some places I fish, one side of the dock is load and the other side is launch.

Really helps prevent all the 'launchers'

from poaching all the 'loaders'.

But there have been many times 

(when I stay too long) so I sat in the lake for an hour

 or more waiting for a chance to load.

Dudes just double side launching one after another.

Not their fault, I stayed to long and put myself right in the middle of it.

A-Jay

 

15 hours ago, gimruis said:

You’d think under normal circumstances. I’ve asked people if they needed help and they completely blow up. I think they take it as taking too long and being disorganized when there’s 10 others waiting. Plus you never know when you might run into a hot head. So now I don’t offer. Plus some people are very anal about their rigs too.

 

A-Jays solution is still the best one. Avoid it.

 

It might be time I get out of the ideal world then...Huh? ?

 

Having my boat on a mooring in a beach community, I'm actually telling the truth. We all basically launch our boats around Memorial Day and retrieve around Labor Day. The ramp is located on a tidal river. We have a 4 hour window of opportunity to get down the river and load onto a trailer and vice versa. We all help each other as well as keep an eye out for each other's boats. 

 

So basically my post on this thread was was moot...?