Dock manners

[Kittyhunter]

Nothing burns my butt more than to see some idiot block the boat ramp. We were at the lake one weekend and a storm came up. Everybody was rushing to get out of the water. I pulled up to the dock (well away from the ramp), tied the boat off and walked to the parking lot to get my truck. I got in line (with everybody else) to back down the ramp and I'm sitting there looking at this one ramp. Well, nobody is backing down it, nobody is coming out, so I pulled over and started backing down. This fool has pulled his boat right up to the end of the ramp and tied off. He is about 4 people behind me in line. Now he has blocked the ramp so nobody else could use it. It made me so mad, I backed my trailer right down the ramp and cocked it sidways within inches of his boat, walked down the dock (in no hurry at this point) got my boat and proceeded to load it on the trailer. His wife is yelling at me not to hit their boat. So ,I told her (in not so polite words) how stupid her husband was and that if he hadn't parked his boat there, she wouldn't have to worry about anybody hitting it. Anyway, with all that said, common courtesy is to tie off out of the way, get your trailer in the water, then bring your boat to the trailer. Am I the only one who thinks this is the right thing to do?

[Kittyhunter]

We went to the local boat ramp on the river one night to do some cattin'. We get to the ramp (there is a parking area up the hill from the ramp), drive down the hill and low and behold, some idiot has launched his boat, pulled the trailer just out of the water and left it there on the ramp, truck and all. Now there is barely enough room for one vehicle on the ramp, so everybody else is SOL. Now, there were already 2 other trailers on top of the hill empty. That means, 2 other boats are in the water and have to get out. What was this guy thinking? We stood there for a few minutes, called the police (who said they didn't have jurisdiction). We almost shifted it into neutral and rolled it off in the river. If we'd had a tow strap, we would have dragged it out of there. All we could do was leave him a nasty little note on his windshield. We let him know just how much of an idiot he was and told him if we ever caught it there again, he would find it in the river. We have been down ther before and had people fishing from the bank parked on the ramp. What are these people thinking? Do they actually think they are the only ones who want to fish? Some people just don't think. Anyway, I'm done now.

[BIG-G]

May I ask what day of the week this occured.

[Kittyhunter]

Now don't take this the wrong way but, Does it matter? It was on the weekend both times. The lake incident was during a busy time of year and there were a lot of people trying to get boats out because of the storm. This guy blocked the ramp keeping probably 5-10 people from using it while he waited in line. The river incident was at a popular ramp that is frequently used, there were other trucks there with empty trailers. Anybody with common sense could have figured out that these people would have to come back to this ramp to leave. The next nearest ramp is about 10 minutes away by truck. We wound up going to the other ramp but shouldn't have had to. It is a public ramp. Whether it was a Monday or Friday should not make any difference. I wonder how those other guys felt when they got ready to leave and couldn't get their boats out of the water. There is plenty of parking less than 100 yards away from the ramp.

[Stubby]

I'll go along with Kittyhunter on this one. Some people just don't care about anything anymore. Polite seem to disappear with money and age. and I don't mean old age.
Stubby

[BKS72]

Yeah, gotta agree, there are some dandy's at the ramps. The tie-off-on-the-ramp-side is one of my faves and happens constantly at the lake I go to. I about had a guy hit my boat with his pontoon last night, he and his buddy had dropped off the rest of their party to get the trailer and were talking as their boat drifted almost into mine. Then, of course, they hammered the throttle to get it away and beat the snot out of my (admittedly ugly, anyway) boat against the dock from the wake. They were pretty well lit, which didn't help. One of those deals where it took them about 40 minutes to get the whole mess on the trailer and get out of everyone's way.

I also like the jet skiers who wait until dark to try and get out and then circle the ramp area with no lights on trying to get hit while they're waiting their turn to load.

[Desperado]

I just hate when people don't care about no one but their self. I would of made sure that the guy leaving his boat and trailer on the ramp would of been there overnight too. But I had a jet skier that couldn't wait and as I backed into the water and was unloading my boat from the trailer. He shot right next to my trailer and unloaded his jet ski. He said he was in a hurry after I yelled at him. I pulled up and parked my truck and returned to my boat and guess what... He tied his jet ski off on the back handle of my boat. As I seen him walking toward me from his truck I drove my boat out to the center of the lake with the jet ski still tied to my boat. The guy screaming and cussing me, I got to the middle of the lake and cut the rope and went on my way of fishing. He was swimming toward it as I was leaving. I guess he wasn't in that big of a hurry after all. I seen him later and he wouldn't even look my way. You think he is still mad?? :D

[peewee williams]

I was going home to Tybee Island Ga,about 3:45 am.After working a break down.I saw 2 men waving their arms side of the highway,near the boat ramp.I stoped.They explained the situationThey had unloaded their bass boat,and left the truck and trailer on the ramp,just as he parked to unload the boat.(yep,in the middle of a double ramp)This way,all they had to do was run the boat up on the trailer,when they got back.They left he emergency brake on and a chocks behind the wheel.They thought someone had shoved their truck in the water."A little of the top was sticking out".I figured the same,being they had blocked the ramp.I was told that they parked like this "all the" time back home,at their friends private ramp,at his home on the lake.Also,only had a boat and been fishing,for less than 2 months.Then to top it all,I found out that they had parked at 9:30 pm,which was dead low tide.The Tide had come in on these inland fisherman.It seems like,from the start,they just didn;t know any better.Had it not been for a slow time of the year,and springing tides,someone else may have been at the boat ramp,and stoped them from parking.I realy felt sorry for them after I learned all of this.I went and called a wrecker,came back and waited untill it got there.While living at the landing at Santee,I saw many things.You have a lot of selfish people out there,but some just don;t know any better.peewee-williams

[Desperado]

Tha's funny there!!! Mother Nature got him.

[davesoutfishing]

lol that was funny pee wee and I would have done the same thing with the jetski but I would have taken it to the other side of the lake I hate when people think they can work on their boats at the docks and block the ramp if it dont start take it home sheesh

[Kittyhunter]

That was some funny stuff with the jet ski. I'll have to remember that one. I was at the lake once and these guys had driven who knows how far to get there and the battery was dead when they tried to start it. I ALWAYS check mine before I leave the house.

[derbycitycatman]

I really wish they would have mandatory boating classes for everyone. Including those of us who have boated for over 10 years. Maybe we could get some of the idiots off the water. And we would have some recourse when reporting them. I just dont understand how someone can buy a boat and hit the water without having a clue.

I used to go to Lake Cumberland all the time but after seeing the Buckeye navy try to kill each other with their floating mansions its just too dangerous for a little fishing boat. Id rather go one on one with a barge on the Ohio River anyday. Not trying to attack Ohio fisherman but if you had to deal with the Ohio Navy and SOME of these morons youd understand. I seen one of these guys launch his boat with his trailor attached. LMAO He couldnt understand why his boat wasnt moving like it should. We just watched and laughed. Best 30 minutes I ever spent waiting on a ramp.

[davesoutfishing]

lol derby thats a funny one also

[crazy]

I just like the bank fishermen that park there sorry butt in the middle of a semi busy ramp and start fishing. I hate waiting for people to get there uncontrollable kids off the ramp while I'm backing down also.

[Stubby]

I always start the motor on the trailer before I unload the boat. Believe Me, that motor doesn't know its not in the water for a few seconds. I been doing that for 50 years and I've never had a motor conplain yet. I've had a couple that didn't fire right up and it always turned out to be something I did, not the motors fault. Had one one time that wouldn't pressure up on the gas bulb and it turned out someone had barrowed the gas tank. Had one that didn't start once but found out My brother-in law had eased the plug wire off a bit.
"Boat" a hole it the water that I Pour money in.
Stubby (Carl) in Kansas

[Catbird]

I would like to add, not all bankfishers fishing on the docks are a pain. On the Ohio river, the few times they were there while putting in or out, they got out of the way as far as they could and even helped tie off. Of course, this is usually at night and not a cluster there to begin with.

[Catwagon]

I like to launch at a nice, new public ramp closeby on the Tennessee river. Problem is, everyone else likes to use it too whether they have a boat to launch or not.
It makes me want to go ballistic when I come into the ramp and there's a huge group of mixed aged kids swimming on it. That's because NORMAL kids see you coming to the ramp and get out of the water, but NOT these kids. Nope, they usually stay right there and you finally have to scream bloody murder at them until one of their parents shows up and gets them all out. Then the parent just looks at you like you're totally evil and had absolutely no right to ask them to move.
The last group I met was completely unattended and only moved to one side of the two lane ramp after I threatened to call the law from my cell phone. They still wouldn't get out even after I told them the suction from my prop could pull any one of them under my boat and cut them to ribbons. I ended up having to pull my boat out while half hanging off the cement slab on one side to do it. :cursing:
At this ramp there's also a jettie that was built to protect this ramp from the river current and provide a small, calm area for launching. The upriver side of this jettie is 100,000,00% open to the river channel and provides 300+ feet of beautiful, unobstructed, open water to cast to. I know this for a fact because I've fished off this jettie myself countless times.

So where do you suppose the local numbskulls like tightline for catfish? Yep, you guessed it, right across the one little channel that takes you into the ramp. Yes sir, I HAVE cut several lines and have also pulled more than one Zebco Rhino right into the drink. This is the spot where you're supposed to stop me and ask if I care. :rolleyes:

I've bank fished all my life up until a few years ago and I never once acted like a moron or ever shown any disregard for other folks on the water. I was taught differently than to ever be impolite to others. What is it with folks these days?

Steve

[crmule]

The crazyest one that happened to me was at the ramp down from my house I got to the river at frist lite and low an behold there where 50 people in white robes at frist I thunk Ododo a CLAN meeting ,but it was worst cause they would have under stood going fishing on sunday morning ,but it was the Babtist church holden a babtizen and a sing along ,complete with rock chuncker to keep the gators away from the flock.I was imformed that they would be done in half and hour and I was welcome to sing along or just wait.
Well me and my pard though it over and since nether he or I was much of church folk we gathered up some fire wood and had us a pot of coffee and wildturkey with a side of brats cooked on a stick . and we hummed along.
Amen
_________--be well -----mule

[Catbird]

crmule, now that is a good story!

[crazy]

Now that's a good one. I wonder what they would of done if you started backing down.

[JAYNC]

I would have said pardon me, I need to baptize my boat,

[Mark J]

:D That would mean total submergence. Not good.
The state's themselves could put a stop to most of the stupidness that goes on at ramps.
Here they have no problem spending the money for signs like NO ALCOHOL
NO PETS. Why not signs posted right on every ramp NO IMPEDING RAMP TRAFFIC and of course slap one of those stupid fines on it like 50 bucks for each occurence. A man with three kids, a dog , and the wife would go home broke with a lesson learned.

But of course alot of states have the laws but they aren't worth squat if they aren't enforced.

My biggest gripe is those that own a boat and still havent learned to back a trailer. Take that sucker to a Walmart parking lot at 2 in the morning and practice backing on your time not mine.
My second biggest gripe is those that own a boat and have for some time and still don't know where and how to prep for unloading, secure it after loading, and above all still aint figured out how to load the thing in less then a minute or two. Adjust your trailer for your boat idiot and learn how to use the trailer.

Thats one thing that attracts me to night fishing so much. I get there after the idiots have left and leave before they get there.

[Kittyhunter]

Most of our problems have been at night, from other catfishermen. Mark, if you have ever used the ramp in Smithfield at the Little Brown Jug, you know what I'm talking about. At this ramp there is just enough room to pull up and get semi straight to back down the ramp. Almost every time, somebody has either pulled out of the water and left the truck and trailer in the little pull out area or somebody bank fishing has parked in the same area. This makes it almost impossible to get turned around down there. We had to back down the little road to the ramp one night in the dark to launch. With all that room up top, you think people would use it. Heck, there's even lights up there. Whoever is responsible for the upkeep has fallen on their butt this year. It's so grown up on the sides, you can't even see the wall on the right and barely can get a truck down the ramp. We've quit using it this year.

[cook]

I kinda live out in the boonies,and all we have is a small 1 lane ramp with no dock.Most people are considerate and have had no problem with other boaters......BUT....

I was coming in one afternoon about 5 p.m.,promised my wife I would be home and ready by 6 to go to a school function for the kids.As I came around the bend,I was in for a shock....blocking the ramp and staging area were....4 fire trucks and pumpers...spraying every available hose into the lake.One truck had a water cannon(?)that was reaching...oh...probably 300 feet out.

After circling for 10-15 min.,with no abatement in sight,I beached the small boat and walked up to them to see what was going on.Turns out it was our local vol. fire dept.It turns out that they had to do a test of equiptment and pumps for the insurance co. to get our citys certification(or some such regulation)...Pumps had to av. some many gallons for a 1 hour period.It was 5:30 and they had another 30 minutes to go.

Guess who was in the doghouse that night with a truly unbelievable excuse!!

The next day while out shopping with my wife I just happened to pull into the fire station as they were messing with the gear.They verified my story to the boss.
Now she believed me,but guys,that don't always mean its forgiven!

100% true story.

[sal_jr]

Last summer I was on Lake Cadillac/Mitchell up in Cadillac, MI- fishing for pike and gills with a buddy. We got word of a big cell coming in to dump serious rain on us over the radio, so as I crossed the canal from Mitchell to Caddy, i dropped my bud off at the state campeground and went on to Caddy to hit the boat ramp off riverside road.
As I got onto cadillac, the weather caught up with the boat and the downpour ensued. I threw on my foul weather gear and headed full throttle to the ramp. I was 6th in line and not too worried- I figured free boatwash with this trip, and I had the poncho and the patience to wait.

As I waited, I watched the weekend warriors stacking up behind me in their pontoons and ski outfits. One guy was wasted right in front of me and his 12 year old kid was in charge of the vessel as dad was busy adding his stomach contents to the lake.

Just as bozo the drunk got just about to the ramp, a twentysomething foot fiberglass 4 winns decides to forego the wait in line and bolt for the ramp ahead of the pack, spreading wake on the rest of us and cutting off the drunk, hopping off the boat, and tying up in a matter of secionds. With Cadillac being the home of four winns and the boat looking brand new, I figured it was a compaqny exec trying out the new model with his kids.... you know- the rich, oblivious type of guy thats so disconnected from everyday life that he forgets he is only a merely a from-behind-the-desk factory manager and acts as though his presence should be known to all outside of work as well.

I was offended, but the fellow he cut off went nuts. Drunk guy told his kid to push his boat up the ramp, so the kid went forward, nudging the boat onto the concrete slab, while drunk guy got off the pontoon, and confronted the offender. At the same time as these two are about to throw fists, the other loading ramp cleared and now I became the next guy in line, so I took it.

Next thing I know these two are exchanging drunken roundhouse for jab, drunken jab for sober headlock. all the time Im watching my boat as temps are flaring and other outside folks are getting in the fry and yelling, crowding, etc... as gawkers tend to do. My head cocked to see both the rumble and my boat, my foot got caught in a pothole and I went down like a deer hit by a cannon, spraining my ankle.

Needless to say by the time I hobbled off to my truck, loaded the boat, and got out of there, both guys were detained by local sherriffs and their boats were being removed as well.

People get dumb at docks in the rain. A month later I had to bump a guy into the water off the dock for swearing at my grandfather.... for rolling out of the boat onto the dock cause his knees wont allow him to step out. The guy wanted to get past him to get on his jetski and was not willing to wait. A lil nudge later his attention was off of my grandpa laying on the dock and onto other things- like staying afloat. Amazing how priorities can change so quick when you use "old SOB" in a sentence. I'd a been happier if he would have not wore a float vest, but I accept the things I cannot change. LOL

Sal

[davesoutfishing]

amazing what some boaters will do what I hate is when your out fishing anchored and haveing a good time watching this bass boat coming up the river and then he turns and starts heading towards ya and about the time your ready to jump out of the boat in fear of being ran over he idles way down

[cats4uandme]

i have a couple.

1. the first one was on a sunny afternoon. i was actually just getting my boat ready to back in. here comes this $20,000 bass boat. trolling along and fishing the ramp. they just stopped and fished. i was in reverse looking at them out the slider. they looked at me and kept casting. well needless to say when i hit the gas and backed at them at 15 mph the thought of my prop going through the deck sent the minn kota a humming out of the way. i think i waited about three minautes. far l.onger than i thought was common sense on thier part.

2 ya. the idiots that think if they back in it will start. weve all seen amature day at the ramp.

3. as for the fellas fishing from the docks. i just pull in. if they don't want thier line in my prop reel em in. its a boat ramp. thiers plenty of areas to bank fish and fish along the banks near the ramp. not on the loading dock. now don't get me wrong. i don't cuss em. some older folks and disabled folks do that cause its easy access. i do try to avoid them but im not gonna make three attempts at it to avoid thier lines. im usually at the dock and gone in less than 5 min. my boat is extreamly easy to load.

[cats4uandme]

if a bass boat did that to me ide launch one of my 6 oz bank sinkers at him. that gets the hint across. did that to a woman on a jet ski once after she made 2 laps around us. we were the only boat in seeing distance in the middle of the lake. she came within 15 feet of us and the second lap i came about two feet from her. she got a little :cursing: as well. just have courtisy. i do it for others.

[joesf]

Better yet I wonder what they would do if you pulled your rig into their church.

[crmule]

They probablly would have dunked us along with the other folks who were dripping all over the place
Be well mule

[Mark J]

I get it , yall stumbled onto the set of Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

[JAYNC]

right after they got done eating gophers over the fire.

[BKS72]

Coming off the river today and there was a crew working on a boat on the ramp. Boat was in the water, halfway on the trailer, covers off, won't start. Primer bulb on fuel line was bad. Guys had it duct-taped up and wrapped with string (not sure what the string was for...) to keep it from leaking. I had a spare in the boat and gave it to them. Guy hooks it up, no hose clamps, just pushes the fittings in (kind of), and finally gets it to fire up. Pulls away from the ramp, and now I know why they left it on the trailer, no rope in the boat or truck to tie off or pull it to the side. Gave 'em 20 or 30 feet of spare rope I had in the boat. My kid is complaining, it's hot, and I just want to get my boat loaded and get home. Watch 4 people and their gear pile in this boat which I haven't seen run longer than 3 minutes and head up river, about 1 small wake from swamping. Not a life jacket in sight. Guy says it's the first time he's got it out this year. Why wouldn't ya start the silly thing in the yard, or the parking lot, or anywhere but the bottom of a boat ramp on the MO river before you take off? Watching 'em go upstream, kind of wondering if I helped 'em out by helping them get on the water or not.

[crazy]

Your just to nice. I would of let them learn the hard way. When you let someone fail they seem to learn what not to do. Well normal people do.

[Phil Washburn]

it really is hard not to get angry at the ramp sometimes...i think the saddest ones are the people that have no idea how to back a trailer...you know, the "snake" down the ramp job...it takes an amateur a 100 foot wide ramp to get the trailer to the water

[bigflathunter]

I try to have patience at the ramp. I know I'm not great at backing a trailer, but I haven't been doing it long. Everyone has to start some time. Next time you see someone having trouble, instead of trying to not get upset, give them a pointer to make backing the trailer in easier. Give 'em the old "hold the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand the direction you want the trailer to go" bit. I read that here at the BOC and it helped a lot.

[BKS72]

Yeah, I went to ramps at night to put in when I got my boat. I could practice without getting nervous about holding people up or feeling stupid. I still have my moments when I'm in a hurry or not paying attention, but most of the time I can look semi-competent.

As far as those guys this afternoon, I wasn't really mad, just kind of surprised they would go out on the river with a really iffy fuel line if they had gotten that duct tape to hold. I can understand doing whatever it takes to get back, but to leave the ramp with a boat that you couldn't trust just seemed kind of silly.

[Kittyhunter]

I think they should require you to take a course and get an endorsement like a motorcycle before you could pull a trailer. There are a lot of people out there pulling them that don't have a clue how to back them. Heck, you can practice at home on your time, don't practice at the ramp on my time.

[Big Nick]

All of those stories are good. Here is mine.

I was with an old timer and his son, both of which are the ones that taught me how to catfish. We were out on thier little house boat (Pontoon with walls) needless to say this thing is pretty darn top heavy, and doesn't take waves too well. Anyhow, its about 3:00am and we are fishing about 200 yards from the marina and docks over a little honey hole that the weekend warriors don't know about. We hadn't seen a boat in hours, then all of the sudden a Ski Natique with 3 drunken guys and 4 drunken girls came right up on us and decided to do doughnuts around our boat. They got the darn thing rocking back and forth so much I thought we were going to tip. We were screaming bloody murder at them telling them we were going to kick thier butts (thats a nice way to say it) and they sreamed back, you'll have to catch us first. Well, we threw that thing into gear and hauled butt to the marina where we docked up against a friends boat really quick so we could get to the truck and drive over to the landing. We got to the landing before they even had a chance to get on the bank to get thier truck and trailer. We waited around for about an hour with bats, hammers, knifes showing. They were to chicken to even come up and get in thier truck. We waited and waited and waited untill they dropped off one guy on the bank with the truck keys. As soon as he hit the land he ran strait for his truck and the boat reversed as quick as it could. The guy got in the truck and left the area, and the boat headed across the lake to the only other landing which was about 3.5 miles away. Neadless to say we never saw em again. And needless to say we caught em, we just didn't get the chance to kick thier butts! :mad:

[TDawgNOk]

Where we camp, is directly across the cove from a boat ramp. A lot of times, I see the guys pull up, get out and prep the boat, then climb in their boat. Then their wives get in the drivers seat of the truck and try and back down the ramp, all the while the guy is in the boat, yelling directions and getting frustrated. Most of these boats are fancy rigs, that ANYONE could drive from the trailer to the floating dock nearby. To me it would make since that the guy back the trailer and let his wife navigate to the dock to pick them up instead of visa versa. When waiting in line to put my brother in laws boat in, we have been known to go to the front of the line, and offer our driving services so that people can get in and out faster.

A couple of weeks ago, my father in law was helping us. 2 boats being put in and 1 boat being pulled out, on a ramp that normally only 2 can be on. When you have people who KNOW how to drive, and KNOW how to back a trailer, you can get boats in and out of the water pretty darn quick. The line that day was 20 boats deep in front of us, and we were in the water in about 30 mins.

[Mutt]

well first i want to say some good storys there. and ive experienced a lot of the same things. second not all bassboat owners are idiots lol i do own a bassboat. the one that got me we were fishing at new malones wife and a good friend of mine. well we were done for the day we sat out in the water for over a hour while the idiots were blocking all 6 lanes of the ramp and docks. all they were doing was talking pulled up close and said can someone please move so we can get out. the reply was a string of four letter words and to go to well you know where. needless to say my buddy jumped off the boat onto the dock and proceded to push that guy into the lake (deserved it as far as i was concerned) then offered to take on the rest of em if need be. well long story short one guy did move his boat out of the way. not one apology for hogging the ramp and to think the average age of these jerks were in thier 40's. went and got my truck loaded up pulled to the tie down area dumped the livewells finished tieing down 3 of them came up and tried to start a fight becasue thier friend got pushed off the dock. my wife looked at them and said and i thought our grankids were inmature needless to say they walked away and we laughed all the way home.
jetskis should be outlawed in my book have yet to meet a responsible jetskier one guy a old time shot a jetski with his gun becasue he was trying to swamp the guys 12 foot boat. little extreme but i think the jetskier got the message.

[Kittyhunter]

Jetskiers are just like other boaters. There are smart, responsible ones that respect you, and then you have the ones that don't deserve to wake up every day. I used to ride a jetski and would love to have one now. Not once did I crowd other boaters, go by close enough to cause any wake, or endanger the lives of others. It's all about the individual.

[JAYNC]

As far as the wives backing up the truck to the ramp here is a solution, unless your wife can back up, just back the boat into the water yourself, then unhhok the boat and jump in, pull it up to the dock while your wife parks the truck. As far as jetskiers, kittyhunter is right. I have seen stupid people on both boats and jet skis, I own one of each and am always considerate for fisherman, and other boats. Like in the cape fear yesterday, every time I went by people fishing I slowed down to a crawl about 200' away from them and then proceded when I was 200' past them. If everyone was just as considerate it would be a lot more fun to go out and do things.

[Mark J]

The solution to those that are boat backing impaired is the use of a square hitch instead of a round ball. :D

[Phil Washburn]

i like that idea mark ..lol..and one wheel on the trailer that pivots :D

[Kittyhunter]

Or you could put a turning axle on the trailer and let somebody steer it in the water LOL!! I did see a guy once get to the ramp, unhook the trailer, turn his truck around (had a hitch on the front too) and drive his truck headfirst down the ramp with the trailer in front. I though "what an idiot".

[jim]

I think I have seen all of these things a tousand times.When I used to fish Percy Priest reservoir in Nashville for smallmouths at night I used to sit in my truck next to the ramp during the day taking it easy and watch the ramp follies.Some times I would get a stomach ache I would be laughing so hard.Can't tell you how many times I would walk over and save a marriage by offering to relieve the scared wife trying to back down the ramp.Once at Shearon Harris here in NC I was coming in to load and a man approached me and asked if I had any spare life vests because he had forgotten his and didn
t want to take his kids out without them.I said sure because I always carry a few spares and as it turns out I gave him all I had so each kid would have one.I told him I was going back out later and if I wasn't there showed him my truck and told him to just toss them in the bed.Quite frankly I didn't expect to ever see them again but felt it was worth it if they would all be safe.I had great respect for him that he wouldn't go out without them.When I came back in sure enough they were in my truck with a very nice thank you note and a fifty dollar bill attached.As luck would have it I ran into them again and returned the money but made them promise they would help the next person out when they had a chance.So it isn't all bad there are good boaters out there and I agree if you can and they will accept it offer to help out all they can do is say no.They might be the ones that come along when you need a hand.I fish alone a lot since my son is overseas but I developed a way to launch that is very easy. I got a rope about ten feet longer than the trailer.I attach it to the trailer with a clip and to the boat eye.Then I coil it on the front deck so when I back in the boat floats free to the end of the rope,I jump out pull it to the dock secure it and drive the truck off to park.Simple and fast.

[Mutt]

Jetskiers are just like other boaters. There are smart, responsible ones that respect you, and then you have the ones that don't deserve to wake up every day. I used to ride a jetski and would love to have one now. Not once did I crowd other boaters, go by close enough to cause any wake, or endanger the lives of others. It's all about the individual.
sad thing is out here in my neck of the woods i havnt seen a jetskier yet that was nice. sad to say and yea ive seen boaters that well shouldnt be allowed to own a boat let alone be out on a lake or river with one. one lake we fish is Lake McSwain its a fishing lake no water skiers jetskiers allowed 10mph the complete lake. great for us that troll. had some boaters over a recent 3 day holiday think they were at McClure and were overloaded (13 people give or take one or two) running about 40mph almost swamped some boats then anchored in the middle of the turnaround area where everyone turns around when they are tolling! and went swimming. only swiming allowed on the lake is back at the campgrounds and at the swimming beach. needless to say our day was over.

[Gentleben]

That is some awesome stories and all true , I've seen all of them.
The best one I've seen and I have a pic of this is this ole guys who went out and had a good time came in, got the boat on the trailer, started to pull out and 4 got one thang !! :wub:
Yeap, they did not lock their winch and the boat rolling off the trailer and on the pad :eek:

[H2O Mellon]

Wow guys, I dont really know what to say. I know some of this stuff gets to everyone. I havent been boating long, but everyone must think: How were you when you first started boating? :confused: Were you as good then as you are now? The answer should be "No". I am not good at all about backing the boat in the water. In fact I would load in/out if there are people waiting. I go to the less croweded area & I always let everyone in front of me so they can go 1st. I try to show the more experienced guys the respect, but I have had a couple tell me things like "You gott learn sometime, go ahead & we'll tell you how to improve" , etc... Even though I cant back a trailer in the water as well as other it doesnt make me an idiot, right?

Now for my pet peves: I've been on the local river here, The Great Miami (unlimited HP) w/ my 14 1/2 foot Tracker & 9.9, acnhored for cats & some yahoo w/ a Ranger or the like goes mock 10 right past me w/in 15 yards. Why do this? Is it to show that they have bigger gahoonies then me? What gives? Ive also seen the same butt clowns hit the hard to see rocks/timber in the water too. I have to say, it doesnt hurt my feeling. Jet skiers..... Dont even get me started. Gee, talk about a lack of respect. It's hard to say the MAJORITY of any oner group are bad, but in my expereinces even the big time bass guys have more respect for me & my little boat than Jet Skiers do.

Oh yea.... One more thing, I've driven a 15 ft boat & rig & its a lot easier to load/unload than my 14 footer. Is that usually the way, larger = easier to load/unload?

[H2O Mellon]

Clear ups, for some reason it wouldnt let me edit my last post. Th guys I referred to in the Rangers usually have 100HP motors flying down the river causing major wakes, showing me no rspect, I guess I'm "just a caztfisherman" to them. :cursing:

Alos I menat to type that I've loaded/unladed 16ft rigs easier than mine, not 15 footers.

[Mutt]

well a person who knows thier limits and does things like give way to the experienced boaters is nice they will learn in time and you will find as you have some will even offer to teach you shortcuts and such. jet skiers well lets say i think they are the same everywheres. ive found the rude bass guys are the preppys they go buy a 50k bassboat to keep up witht he jones. sure i have a bass boat but i slow down when i see someone anchored and i have to pass close by. i know what its like to be in a small boat and have a wake monster go flying past. but one thing i will say aobut the bass boats they dont kick a big wake like a seawinds or seaswirl etc does. there are rude idiots in all catagorys these days.

[Mutt]

[QUOTE=H2O Mellon] Th guys I referred to in the Rangers usually have 100HP motors flying down the river causing major wakes, QUOTE]
hehe my ranger i had i had a 250 merc on it hehe 100 hp thats a little boat :p

they all load about the same to me my bass boat is eaiser then my last 14 foot was to load in a current

[cook]

[QUOTE I did see a guy once get to the ramp, unhook the trailer, turn his truck around (had a hitch on the front too) and drive his truck headfirst down the ramp with the trailer in front. I though "what an idiot".[/QUOTE]

Hey,quit makeing fun of me!!
I got a ball on the front of my truck,got a very difficult driveway with a narrow road and the enterance on a curve,with trees and shrubs.Makes life a lot easier.I have a dual cab and extended bed,its a loooongtruck to try and make that jackknife.

[fwmud]

hehehe been there, seen those!
man I'm still laughing at most of these.
The thing I do when on the water is to know my boat. Some boats throw wake either half or full speed. If your boat is planed right,you'll throwm much less wake at full throttle than at 1/2. The rule of thumb I use is "full throttle or no wake".Had a guy in a nice 16 foot bass tracker blow past me on cape fear once. He made almost no wake as he passed.he was planed correctly. had another guy go by at 1/2 throttle and nearly swamped us.
Ramp courtesy? Ya gotta admit, there ain't a lot of that going around.
I'll do my best to pre-rig before gettin on the ramp myself.
Guess we just have to keep teaching others.

[Kittyhunter]

How were you when you first started boating? :confused: Were you as good then as you are now? The answer should be "No".


Well, yes I knew how to back a trailer before I started pulling a boat and trying to back it down the ramp. I may not have been a very experienced boater, but I had enough common sense to not head to the ramp if I couldn't get the boat in the water, and had enough respect for others to not hold them up. I get my stuff ready before I put the boat on the ramp, so all I have to do is back it down and get in. Now there are times where we fish that you are the only one around, and I will get the boat on the ramp before unstrapping and getting ready. But, I would never leave my truck and trailer on the ramp, that's just stupid.

[Nobody Special]

Years ago when I was a young man, I was trotlining and it had just got dark and was starting to rain a little and had come into the ramp, pulled my boat up to the bank and was sitting in my truck. . There was one other vehicle there and I knew who the guys were.

Well, they started in when the rain started and they happened to be just a little bit drunk. The old man went to the back of the boat to tilt the motor up as the coasted into the ramp and instead of pulling up the motor, he pulled himself right over the back of the boat loosing his glasses as he hit the water.

The other man went to get the car and trailer. and was having some difficulty backing it down to the ramp. He decided to unhook the trailer from the car and roll it down the ramp by hand, and I assume he was going to hook it back to the car after he got everything down there. Well, the trailer was a little too much for him to handle and he went down face first on the gravel road and rode it out with the trailer until it came to a stop on the mud bank beside the ramp.

That's when I offered my assistance and got them loaded and on their way home.

That's a true story. Only the names have been ommitted to protect the embarrassed.

[mspratt]

Funny posts,,,,,,,I hardly ever go fishin on some of these holiday weekends. But I will go down to the ramp when its pullout time just for the entertainment.I"ve seen fist fights,wives and girlfriends get out of the boat to what I thought was to get the trailer backed in only to drive off with a pissed off look and never look back(takin the trailer with them).Try it some time,get a cooler of cold beer and sit back and watch all the fun.....:tounge_out: .ur humble servant beartrap

[Doyle]

I went fishing one day at 4:00 am in the middle of a large bass tournament. I just happened to be Cat fishing at the same dock. They all appeared to all have the second or third guys in the boat with them. The guy in the boat would help the backup. I was by myself. I just got in position and several vehicles were facing me with their head lights on. Looking in the mirrors I could not see. My back glass was a little dirty and I could not see though it either. I had to get out of the truck and go back a little ways to see how I was pointed. After a couple times I finally made was able to get the boat into the water. I had to then find dock space to park my boat. With all the bass boats, the docks were full. I finally found a place between two boats. I had to walk a long way. By the time I got back to the truck to move it my truck my ears were hot as a firecracker. I didn’t see the faces that were cussing but I was not the well liked guy at the ramp. Had I known of the Tournament, I would have docked else where.

[blackhorse83]

Ignorance is a terrible thing, but some people just don't care about any thing unless it benifits them. I have seen things like this at ramps and just don't understand it.

[trnsmsn]

The Whole Problem Is Covered By This:"Common Sense & Common Courtesy" Are NOT Common !!!!:crazy: Elliot

[peewee williams]

I went fishing one day at 4:00 am in the middle of a large bass tournament. I just happened to be Cat fishing at the same dock. They all appeared to all have the second or third guys in the boat with them. The guy in the boat would help the backup. I was by myself. I just got in position and several vehicles were facing me with their head lights on. Looking in the mirrors I could not see. My back glass was a little dirty and I could not see though it either. I had to get out of the truck and go back a little ways to see how I was pointed. After a couple times I finally made was able to get the boat into the water. I had to then find dock space to park my boat. With all the bass boats, the docks were full. I finally found a place between two boats. I had to walk a long way. By the time I got back to the truck to move it my truck my ears were hot as a firecracker. I didn’t see the faces that were cussing but I was not the well liked guy at the ramp. Had I known of the Tournament, I would have docked else where.
With that many people,looks like there would have been someone with the decency to offer to help.peewee-williams

[flaboy]

Hey did you say decency reguarding b@$$ jerkers? shirley you jest!

[Boogan1]

Here is one that happened to us last summer. The docks at the loading ramp we use on Truman are clearly marked, "For loading and unloading boats only, no fishing or swimming". There is plenty of room for fishing away from the loading docks and a swimming area just up the road. My family and I were catfishing in the evening and about two hours after dark. The fish quit biting so we headed to the ramp. We get there and there are boats lined up waiting to get out, but only one lane of the two lane ramp is being used. When I get up there I see the problem. There is a group of trailer trash set up and fishing and swimming off of one of the loading docks. They have coolers, paper grocery bags, big tackle boxes, lots of acoholic beverages, about ten rods, one guy with jailhouse tattoos, one woman about forty, two teenage mom girls, and about six kids ranging in age from a baby sitting in a baby seat to a boy about five who is throwing rocks in the water. There is a little girl about two wandering around on the boat ramp in the dark, and two others playing in the water on the ramp side of the dock. After sitting and waiting for 30 mins while people carefully maneuvered around this circus dodging the kids on the ramp etc, I lined up and moved in to pull up to the dock they are on. One of the teenage moms has her feet in the water on the ramp side of the dock. She sees I am going to pull in, she yells " get out of the way! This is pulling in!" She jerked her feet out of the water, you can tell she is drunk. I made sure the kids weren't in any danger from my boat before I got to the dock. I pulled up and let my wife off and she went up to get the truck and trailer. I told her to back down this side of the ramp. I then informed the white trash on the dock that this dock was for loading and unloading boats only. The parolee asks me "who says so?" I said," the big sign at the top of the ramp says so if you could read". Anyway, we got our boat out, still were probably 15 waiting behind us. I was fed up so I called the sheriff. They showed up, took a statement from us, then proceeded to check ID's on the dock. Wound up callin in social services to take the kids, everyone else went up the ramp in handcuffs. Seems there were some outstanding warrants, parole violations, etc. My wife, who had done daycare for 12 years made the call mainly because she was concerned one of the little ones was going to get hit by a truck or boat the way they were wandering around on the ramp. Boog

[AllenM]

I'll tell ya, it takes all kinds... Some kinds I could SURE do without though! I bought my first boat late last season, don't even have a truck to pull it with, but my fishin buddy does and he told me if I bought it he'd pull it when ever I wanted, wether he could go out fishing with me or not! Now THAT's a buddy!

Anyhow, I want to thank everyone for their stories, cause I've learned a bit from them for one thing, and most of them were just downright entertaining on top of it, hehe...

I have done a lot of shoreline fishing myself, and I'll tell you what, nothing ticks me off more than being stuck on the shoreline, having hauled all my gear to a sweet spot to fish in peace, and then to have some yahoo in a boat decide to stop right out from shore right in front of me to cast right where I'm fishin!! The jerk's in a boat for crying out loud, and can go anywhere on the lake they want without breaking a sweat, and often I've had to hike my gear as much as a quarter mile or more to get to a good spot!! I had this old fella and his buddy do that once at the lake, and I was using my big game rod with a 3 ounce weight, so I had some pretty good distance for my cast. I could have pounded his hull, but I decided to cast just a couple feet short of his boat to get my point across. Boy, they just looked at me like I was nuts, and I just smiled at them and tipped my hat politely. They decided that wasn't where they wanted to fish after all and trolled off without saying a word to me. I figured they was old enough to know full well that they was in the wrong and was lucky I hadn't put a real nice dent in that boat of theirs!

On Black Butte Lake there is this big old water skiing boat with a sound system that belongs on a stage somewhere for concerts, and man!!! These kids are COMPLETE jerks! They cruise along the shoreline trying to wakewash shoreline fishermen all day long with that dang music blasting so loud you can hear it on every part of the lake!

Anyhow, when I DO get me a truck you can be sure I'll be doing some practice backing my boat up, even though I already know how to back up a regular trailer fairly decent. I'll be taking the advice from these stories to make my loads and unloads as quick as possible too, even though the ramp we've taken my boat to isn't very busy. The most I've ever seen was three boats there at the same time, one loading and two waiting. All the same, I'll be using common sense and common courtesy, cause you never know when I might just get to take my boat to a bigger or more populated lake.

Thanks guys!

[paleocaver]

Sad stories to be sure.
The one I experienced really got my goat. It was on a Saturday, not especially crowded but still a busy ramp. It was a launch inside the city about a 1/2 mile up a feeder creek to the Tenn River. There is a new ramp that most folks use and an older ramp that's good in the summer but dangerous in winter when the water's down. Anyway, most of us flatbottom users know the old ramp is safe and will use it while waiting on the ski boat crowd to do their typical buffoonery. As I pulled up to the area I saw I trailer backed into the old side. As I got closer I noticed the vehicle was from a local boat dealer (logos and ads all over it). No one was in the vehicle nor were they in a boat around the ramp. They'd just launched a boat, presumeably to give a test drive, and left the trailer in the water. On a Saturday, in the summer. I hung around wanting to give them a piece of my mind but they didn't show in over 20 minutes it took to load up and loiter a while. I sent the business an email (never got a response, surprise, surprise) and never shopped there again. What idiots.

[FordTruckGuySTX]

our closest boat ramp can launch two at a time, three if everyone can back a trailer really good. even though they try to keep a deputy sherriff out there people still think it is the swimming hole and its not uncommon to find 10+ members of whitetrash households out drinking ON the ramp and running around like idiots. Common occurances include 2-5y/o children swimming to the prop of a boat that is running, when loading the boat or unloading 5-13y/o children climb up on your trailer and try to play on it and use it as a diving ramp while a boat is about to hit them trying to park on the trailer, their sorry usually beer toting moms never scold them or apologize and just usually yell, "billy sue get of'n that fellers boat trailer afor i whup yur a$$" and this past weekend while moving in to drive the boat on the trailer some 18y/os where throwing their dogs tennis ball to fetch literally right infront of and across the path of the boat.

[warrior]

Makes me grateful that I am looking at my ramp right out my front window. Private ramp for the 11 houses on my street and four of those houses have their own ramp. Seven have their own boathouses. I am also thankful that my slough is shallow with a mud bar cutting it off from the main channel that keeps most of the riff raff out. Once I'm out on the river it is a whole different story though.
I've been watching a neighbor on the next road over that runs down the other bank to see what happens when they try to get the two beasts that they have got tied up out on the river. A forty footer that looks like it should be down at the gulf and a thirty foot cuddy. They have a ramp of their own and must know that it is six foot at their pier. Since they are new they must not know that the mud bar only has a couple places to cross that are barely two feet deep. This could be interesting.
Just upriver is a twenty something ski boat that his one of those stereo systems that let's the whole river enjoy the headbanging music. On any given weekend they enjoy buzzing private piers with kids swimmng in the water, trying to save the poor fish by swamping evil fishermen and making a general nuisance of themselves.
I was once working over a good bream bed when they came by not once but three times eventually pushing me into the logs the bed was in. I figured I was safer tucked into the logs where I could hang on. They eventually stopped mid channel directly in front of me (and just below a blind curve) to tank up and toke up (what's that smell?). The boat had about eight teenagers complete with coolers and funnels. I just sat back and enjoyed the show. Some of the ladies decided a change of attire was appropriate (I hope the wife don't read this LOL). It wasn't until at least thirty minutes had elapsed that one of the knotheads looked over and said Oh S***! I didn't know he was there. This was in a river less than 200' wide at that point.
Sad thing is that this boat is owned by the very people that with a similar boat with a drunk at the wheel ran over a pontoon boat killing two young girls that was the cause for our stricter boating laws.

[AllenM]

It's been posted before, but bears posting again... Seeing as we gotta register our dang boats with the DMV anyhow, they aught to require people to have a boating license just like they do with a motorcycle drivers license... Add a new class for water craft!

[riverratmatt]

we used to have a small boat and we coul lanch and pull out in just a minute or 2 but since someone stole our motor we have been mostly ristricted to a canoe. our lake has a 10hp limit anything over runs on idle but sometimes jerk runs his 150hp motor all out and on this 1000 acre lake your canoe will flip good thing i fish in 5-8 ft deep water so its not a bad dive to get my gear

[AllenM]

If you can, get the vessel number of the hull and report them. Is it the same boat that keeps doing it? Got one like that out here at Black Butte too. There's at least one at every lake it seems.

[Mutt]

Went fishing monday and at this lake there is a 10 mph limit on the whole lake. Well a couple of idiots ran along when they were out of eye sight of the marina cranked wide open almost swamping a couple of little boats. then at the ramp getting read to leave this idiot has his boat tied up his car is in the water and he is tieing down his bimini top stowing his gear etc cant even get to the dock as there is no room yelled at him to do that up on top and to load it. he gives me the finger and calls me a few choice words. he finnaly moves his boat towards the trailer which gives me enough room to dock i get my truck he is now loaded but back in the boat stowing more gear. i am at the top of the ramp waiting finnaly i get mad and start to back down and park right next to his rig but block him so he cant pull out and i go and drive my boat on the trailer. he in the mean time is calling me names for blocking him. I pull to the top and start to stow the boat he comes up 5 minutes later and proceeds to get in my face I looked at him and said dont like it when someone treats you as you treat others do you. he swung at me i ducked and laughed at him in the mean time rangers and sherrif was there arresting a bad guy they saw him swing at me and come over he gets hauled off in cuffs too while his wife called me names. how old was he about 72 years old. it aint just young punks either. needless to say i normaly dont do things like i did that day but enough is enough its time these ramp hogs learn that others have rights to use them to.

[AllenM]

Kudos, Mutt! It sounds like you handled that admirably IMHO! Who says the cops are never around when ya really want them?! ROFLMAO!!!

[lonegunman88240]

My biggest gripe is those that own a boat and still havent learned to back a trailer.lol , im a truck driver i can put a 53 foot trailer anywhere you'd want it first try, im pretty dang good at doubles and triples, but when i back my 14 foot boat down the ramp it looks like amatuer hour,

[catfishkatmando]

It's probably been said here before but I will say it again be polite and respectful and generious that is what we should do , it is contagious. I know that some people are immune to this and won't respond and need a good punch in the nose and if this is nessisary the manners will set them up for the punch.



SEE YOU ON THE FISH BANK AT THE BOC NATIONAL GATHERING

[Majesticman]

I dread seeing the person loading using a paddle (unless the motor won't run) pulling up to the trailer with someone standing in the water at the winch guiding him. I know it will take them 20 minutes to load.

Also if I am loading I hate for someone to come to my trailer to help me. I don't need help and am afraid they will get hurt or cause me to have a problem. Leave me alone. It is faster.

The get your gear ready deal has already been thoroughly discussed.

As far as wives backing in mine can put the trailer in better than most men. If someone takes too much room she will squeeze in so tight they can't hardly open their door. It takes us about 30 seconds to back in, load and pull out. I am usually headed for the trailer as she is backing in. It is funny to see guys look mad because a girl is in front of then but calm down when they realize she is much better than they are. She practiced for a solid day several years back backing the trailer though our neighborhood to learn and has it down pat. I'm proud of her.

[photocat]

I kinda live out in the boonies,and all we have is a small 1 lane ramp with no dock.Most people are considerate and have had no problem with other boaters......BUT....

I was coming in one afternoon about 5 p.m.,promised my wife I would be home and ready by 6 to go to a school function for the kids.As I came around the bend,I was in for a shock....blocking the ramp and staging area were....4 fire trucks and pumpers...spraying every available hose into the lake.One truck had a water cannon(?)that was reaching...oh...probably 300 feet out.

After circling for 10-15 min.,with no abatement in sight,I beached the small boat and walked up to them to see what was going on.Turns out it was our local vol. fire dept.It turns out that they had to do a test of equiptment and pumps for the insurance co. to get our citys certification(or some such regulation)...Pumps had to av. some many gallons for a 1 hour period.It was 5:30 and they had another 30 minutes to go.

Guess who was in the doghouse that night with a truly unbelievable excuse!!

The next day while out shopping with my wife I just happened to pull into the fire station as they were messing with the gear.They verified my story to the boss.
Now she believed me,but guys,that don't always mean its forgiven!

100% true story.

I had the damn firemen doing that today while i was fishing after teaching at camp... I was on the paved Dock next to the boat ramp at the lake and they pull up... start with the water cannon on the ladder truck and i swear were purposly trying to soak me and ruin my fishing... well i didn't move, i got soaked and didn't catch any fish... Sucks...

[Tar_River_kid]

Well I just reticently got my first boat and I had a mechanic in the family look over the motor, he said everything worked fine.:roll_eyes: The next day I launched at the local reservoir, I had practiced backing up in the yard. The boat fired up fine and ran good for about 400 yards then it started surging and cut off. I threw anchor and started look over the engine trying to figure out what was wrong. A guy came along and asked if I was ok and did me need a tow back in. I get back to the landing right before 3 or 4 other boat start coming in, I tied up to the end of the dock and told them go ahead of me. I know when I back a trailer it looks like amateur hour so I am patient and let others go ahead of me, but one thing that burns me is jet skiers and party boaters.---rant on--- this spring I went and stayed at my grandparents on the chashie river, they extend the rock fish (stripe bass) season for a week and they let me use there boat so it worked out perfect. Every one was having better luck in the Roanoke River this year so I decided to fish there. now there is a thorofare connecting the cashie river from the Roanoke river, the thorofare is only about 45 feet wide and a hurricane blew a bunch of trees into the water so that makes it even narrower. On top of all that the whole thing twists and turns every 20 or so yards. I was taught to always go threw this aria slowly so i am trolling along when all of a sudden a ski boat comes around the corner a mach 4 and nearly rams into me, well i am still cussing the guy when another ski boat comes flying past me. Best I can figure they where trying to race. Pulled out my cell to call a game warden but dint have service, (aight that luck) I was worried because other boaters have died in that thorofare. Some people just aight right!

---Rant off---

Randy

[OsageCountyCatman]

Most of my fishing is on a couple creeks that feed the local lakes in the county. Nothing's worse than being in a 12' Jon on a 80' wide creek and have some jagoff in a Ranger fly by at 30mph.

More than a few of the small boaters on the creeks carry shotguns. Mine an old police trade-in High Standard Riot 12 guage pump. They may not slow down going upstream from you but coming back they sure do.

[Mutt]

Most of my fishing is on a couple creeks that feed the local lakes in the county. Nothing's worse than being in a 12' Jon on a 80' wide creek and have some jagoff in a Ranger fly by at 30mph.

More than a few of the small boaters on the creeks carry shotguns. Mine an old police trade-in High Standard Riot 12 guage pump. They may not slow down going upstream from you but coming back they sure do.
I am wondering what does THIS have to do with dock manners? oh and btw 30 mph in a ranger the guy is putting and I will say if I was going along and you pointed a shotgun at me you better kill me as I will go and confront you. You nor anyone else has a right to brandish a weapon at ANYONE that is not pointing one at you or trying to hurt you. Its this kind of attitude that gives anti gunners more fuel for thier fire.

[Gabowman]

Around here people just sit their minnow buckets and chairs on the ramps and begin fishing. When you pull up and stop to unstrap your boat and get things ready so it doesnt take too long on the ramps they just sit there and look at you kinda funny. You still wind up waiting for them to move before you can launch or load you boat. I dont even say anything. Some people are just plain dumb I guess. :confused2:

[LarryW]

I agree with you but you will find all kinds in this world.

[paleocaver]

Most of my fishing is on a couple creeks that feed the local lakes in the county. Nothing's worse than being in a 12' Jon on a 80' wide creek and have some jagoff in a Ranger fly by at 30mph.

More than a few of the small boaters on the creeks carry shotguns. Mine an old police trade-in High Standard Riot 12 guage pump. They may not slow down going upstream from you but coming back they sure do.

I agree it is rude and inconsiderate, but is it worth pulling a gun over, seriously?

[catseeman]

When I back my boat or trailer down the ramp , I let the trailer pull the truck instead of truck pushing it very much. Just above idle is usually enough while backing. It is surprising how well it works.

[OsageCountyCatman]

I am wondering what does THIS have to do with dock manners? oh and btw 30 mph in a ranger the guy is putting and I will say if I was going along and you pointed a shotgun at me you better kill me as I will go and confront you. You nor anyone else has a right to brandish a weapon at ANYONE that is not pointing one at you or trying to hurt you. Its this kind of attitude that gives anti gunners more fuel for thier fire.

A Ranger doing 30mph on an creek 80' wide and about 10' in the channel can/will swamp or capsize a 12' Jon boat he passes. BTDT and so have the 3 guys I helped to pull outta the drink 3 years ago.

Don't like the shotgun? Don't capsize my boat. If I feel you're jepoardizing my life and those in my boat I will do what I have to do.

BTW antigunners have proven that the behavior of gunowners has nothing to do with their agenda. They don't like your guns so they want them destroyed. Thus endeth the lesson.

[Mutt]

Like I said what does this have to do with the topic? dock manners? And like I said anyone point a gun at me better be ready to use it as I will confront them about it. Its that type of mentality that makes people feel they way they do.