Ramp/dock etiquette

[Cyclones]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Summertime is not really the best season to learn launching and loading. Just don’t panic . Show up early and leave before the wave of people hits. 

It’s my first season and I’m no expert at the process at all, but I just go slooooooow especially backing the trailer and bringing the boat to the dock.  No real problems doing it, just the traffic at the ramp and trying to understand when I can take my turn loading when the dock at the ramp is the only available spot and it would tie up the lane while I’m getting the truck.  
 

I know many have suggested beaching or tying up to the rocks.  I’m not comfortable doing that yet.  I guess the best answer is this —do what I’ve been doing and avoiding the ramp at busy times and when that’s not practical i just need to pick a reasonable time/spot to tie off and those launching will just have to wait.  I can do that.  

[dickenscpa]

On 6/22/2021 at 5:15 PM, 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 do my thing.

Again, slow, methodical & safe.  

This clip shows some of that.

Hope it helps.

A-Jay

I agree with A-Jay, don't rush and risk injury or forget something critical. I have a philosophy and I actually live by this. I have teenagers for kids now, but if I'm at a restaurant and hear a baby cry I don't sweat it. People used to hear my kids cry and now I hear other kids cry. If I'm waiting in line at the grocery store and someone is having problems checking out or has to do a price check, no biggie. I wait on people without complaining and in turn I don't get nervous when people wait on me.

 

If I'm leaving the water and about to load up - I pull up to the courtesy dock. If the ramps are on the right side of the courtesy dock I tie off over to the left side of the dock out of people's way. I go to the lot and get in my truck and just wait in line and back my truck down. Walk to boat and pull it on the trailer. Immediately I pull out of everyone's way to finish tying everything down and getting the boat road ready.

 

Now if your courtesy dock is between two ramps you can either tie off at the end and it is what it is, power pole down close to the bank so you can walk off onto shore or just tie of at the shore. I wouldn't tie off on the ramp though. The time walking from the ramp to your truck and getting back with your truck, two boats could've launched.

 

Just tie off somewhere and get your truck in line. You're in the same boat (no pun intended) as everyone else there. I've learned in my 49 years that 99% of people don't have the ba!!s to say anything, .05% say something from a distance and I ignore them and .05% you might want to take a BJJ class or two. LOL!

 

Don't worry and enjoy your boat. Worry is the interest paid on nothing.

[Cyclones]

29 minutes ago, dickenscpa said:

I wouldn't tie off on the ramp though. The time walking from the ramp to your truck and getting back with your truck, two boats could've launched.

 

Just tie off somewhere and get your truck in line.

This answer here is why I’m asking.  You say you wouldn’t tie off at the ramp.  Am I just being a baby and should tie off at the end of the ramp dock?  Never seen anyone do that…yet.  The dock isn’t long enough to tie up normal and leave space for another to launch.  And I’ve never seen anyone tie up to the rip rap or rocky shore line to get out of their boat. 
I’m not saying you’re wrong at all, just trying to find out the accepted practices.  I think what I’m finding out is each lake is unique and what might work in one spot isn’t possible/practical in another.  
 

I do appreciate all the replies.  I wish we had more lanes here and more so I wish they’d designate launch and load lanes.  Seems an easy way to clear up a problem.

[gim]

29 minutes ago, Cyclones said:

And I’ve never seen anyone tie up to the rip rap or rocky shore line to get out of their boat. 

@TnRiver46 does this all the time LOL

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

@TnRiver46 does this all the time LOL

It’s true! I had to learn that trick long ago as over half the ramps I use don’t have a dock . Some of them don’t have anything and you tie off to a tree while the boat swings around in current banging into stuff. I dug through the archives for some examples............

Here’s my typical method 

here’s the same boat ramp with several bags of rotten meat some moron dropped off in a white Jeep Wrangler (at least he could have not thrown the plastic bags in)

different view same spot again 

And below is  a classic poop show that took almost 1 hour to clear 

here’s the ramp closest to my house

and here’s a ramp in the greatest stretch of water you could imagine but as you can see it’s about the worst boat ramp you could imagine. I know what you’re wondering and yes I’ve broken a wheel there 

 

[galyonj]

Hey, I know a coupla those ramps!

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, galyonj said:

Hey, I know a coupla those ramps!

Don’t go breaking your wheels like me 

[galyonj]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Don’t go breaking your wheels like me 

 

Worry not. The only way I'll go to that last one is in your boat.

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

Worry not. The only way I'll go to that last one is in your boat.

I only take canoes and kayaks there anymore unless the water is way up past where my truck is in the picture. 

[galyonj]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I only take canoes and kayaks there anymore unless the water is way up past where my truck is in the picture. 

I don't blame you. I've seen people launch there and still have to walk a yak out about a dozen yards before there was anything under it to float.

[Ksam1234]

I fish out of my boat solo 99.9 % of the time or well I fish with my dogs but I haven’t taught them how to back them truck up yet. They are learning ?. But serious I back the truck up, take the boat off and tie up then get in my truck and drive away etc just like you do snd just like A-jay does. Whoever is giving you issues is just being an jerk and don’t pay attention. Your doing everything correctly. As A-Jay said. If they are in such a hurry they should have gotten there sooner. Just keep doing what your doing and literally ignore them and take your time. It’s fishing not life or death.  

[dickenscpa]

20 hours ago, Cyclones said:

This answer here is why I’m asking.  You say you wouldn’t tie off at the ramp.  Am I just being a baby and should tie off at the end of the ramp dock?  Never seen anyone do that…yet.  The dock isn’t long enough to tie up normal and leave space for another to launch.  And I’ve never seen anyone tie up to the rip rap or rocky shore line to get out of their boat. 
I’m not saying you’re wrong at all, just trying to find out the accepted practices.  I think what I’m finding out is each lake is unique and what might work in one spot isn’t possible/practical in another.  
 

I do appreciate all the replies.  I wish we had more lanes here and more so I wish they’d designate launch and load lanes.  Seems an easy way to clear up a problem.

You may just have to sit and watch one day and see what the majority of boaters are doing. I do know around here if you tied off to the ramp someone would back a trailer down out of spite and hit your boat.

[Cyclones]

32 minutes ago, dickenscpa said:

You may just have to sit and watch one day and see what the majority of boaters are doing. I do know around here if you tied off to the ramp someone would back a trailer down out of spite and hit your boat.

That probably wouldn’t end well for that person...