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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | I hope this post on this site, where most all are veteran boaters doesn't seem trivial. But with recent posts on my own fishing message board by beginners asking about hints and suggestions concerning their very first time boat and motor choices, it occurred to me there might also be other newbies reading and wanting/needing to know some launching etiquette as well, to keep us old boat launching/retrieving Pros off their backs while they learn.
I'll try and put these in the order one would fallow when getting to and leaving the ramp area.
Firstly, practice backing your boat up. This will save you tons of time, uncultured stares, comments, innuendos and embarrassment at the ramp.
Then, when first pulling into a ramp area try to surmise just how busy the ramp is. If it's a weekday and the fishing isn't on fire, where you park for those first few minutes to get things into your boat before the launch will not be of vast importance. But never park directly in front of the ramp no matter what conditions prevail. And if the ramp is crowded and boats are coming and going at a fast rate, try to pull off somewhere out of the general route going down to the ramp. Never and I mean never back the boat into the water and then load all your gear, no matter how deserted the ramp appears. Murphy's Law will dictate that somebody else will show up at that exact time to launch, count on it. And nothing draws more verbal fire and perceived disrespect from other seasoned boaters then this act alone.
When safely off to the side, be sure you have everything your going to use that day into the boat, back straps off if any, plug in, your boat eye connector rope/strap clip un-done (in most cases) and your buddy either in the booat or ready to walk and hold onto the anchor/boat rope as you back down. Then pull around and back into the launching area the proper way, and never against the traffic flow, with your buddy either in the boat ready to pull away or walking next to the boat holding onto the boat rope, to both hold and guide your boat back to the shore or up to the dock after it starts to float and you pull away with the vehicle. Do not stop to talk or socialize at this point if their are others waiting to launch or retrieve boats. If you must talk or answer the (How'd ya do) question, do so while your walking to your boat or your vehicle to retrieve it. When retrieving, get your entire rig out of the way first and talk (if you must) in that safe zone area away from the ramp.
I know I must have missed something. Can you guys think of any others?
Edited by walleye express 9/22/2007 8:16 AM
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Location: Lincoln Park, Mi | Headlights off at night! Nothing like trying to back your trailer up with someone's headlights blinding you. My personal pet peave.  |
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Location: Midland, MI 48642 | Jim, I had a guy one night come after me one night at the ramp. I told him my lights do not turn off. He dropped what ever he was holding and started after me - saying have you ever seen a mad polok? He was a loaded one tell you that. ha He did stop about 10 ft from me when a buddy of mine came around the corner of the truck. They are automatic on after dark. My question is HOW do I shut them off???? Nels |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Nel's.
To avoid mad Ramp Polocks bearing gifts. On your Chevy, turn/twist that little knob down and to the left. Theres no distinct click or anything. In fact, it will not stay there. But it turns your head lights off. Do it again and it turns them back on and resumes the Auto function.
Edited by walleye express 9/22/2007 8:51 AM
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Location: Midland, MI 48642 | Have to try that Dan. Probably save my life! lol Nels |
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Location: Michigan | Dan or Nels have you been out on the bay at all looking to make a trip up maybe for one more limit before bow season starts |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | If your looking for a limit of sheepsheads, smallies or cats the Hot Ponds are smokin right now. Even whites are schooling and busting bait like crazy in the river. But the walleyes are off the feedbag on the bay right now. Maybe we'll get a late fall/early winter bite like last year on the Bay. Man it was sweet doing those two smorgasborg trips during December.
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| On some of the older model chevys if you engage your parking brake 1 notch it would turn off the headlights too. |
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| I normally do a post like this on the Bays de Noc site every spring.
A couple more I would add (you already got the big ones,) - at the start of the season, make sure your boat will start at home. The boat ramp on opening day of walleye season is not the time to discover that your engine won't start.
At busy ramps with a single dock, move your boat to the other side of the dock away from the ramp so that the next guy in line can get his rig in ASAP. |
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Location: Midland, MI 48642 | I will be in Tawas this week fishing the deeper waters IF the wind stops! Nels |
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Location: Appleton, WI | walleye express - 9/22/2007 8:44 AM
Nel's.
To avoid mad Ramp Polocks bearing gifts. On your Chevy, turn/twist that little knob down and to the left. Theres no distinct click or anything. In fact, it will not stay there. But it turns your head lights off. Do it again and it turns them back on and resumes the Auto function.
Great Tip(s)!
Here is another:
Scout the launch before you approach it, while your partner is getting the outboard off of the transom saver, etc. Find the best ramp, or at least, find problems with the approach. Is there a washout bar? Is the ramp compromised?
Here is some food for thought while loading, then I will be quiet:
The guy backing the trailer in for loading should make sure the bunks, rollers, etc. are were they are supposed to be. Someone messed with my buddy's trailer, while we were out. Cost him a bucket load of $ in fiberglass work, because someone was a clown, and messed with his trailer. Try to pick the same lane you launched at. Power load only when you need to (not because you can, although a 620 or an Osprey would be a pain to crank). If it is not your boat, and asked to wipe down the boat when she is out of the water (out of the way, of course), be very thorghough, so that Shep will ask you to join him again |
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Location: Potter, WI. | If loading in late fall and there is ice pull your trailer out and stop and let the water drain out of your trailer into the water. This will keep the ice from building up on the ramp. Also a pail of salt would be good idea if you fish that late in the year to through down when loading. |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | If there is one thing I don't like it is the PUSHY people. By that I mean the guys, well, like, you and I. we launch alot. The people that do not launch as much as we do, well, they will be slower. Don't be a pushy person, be a helper. Most times the guy has to drive the trailer in and load the boat. Instead of whining loud enough so he can hear, get out and use your skills to teach. Don't be arogant, no one likes that, be helpful. ask him if you can lend a hand. help him make changes but let them be his ideas. Point out to him whats obvious to us, but he cannot start to understand. You can help make these guys better. Remember, you had to learn at one time as well. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Good point Stacker, but heres the rub on helping people out anymore.
The (Sue Happy) people in today's culture has stopped me from volunteering or doing a lot of things (except for the people I know personally) to help anybody out. Did you know that Michigan had to pass a law, that you "could not" be sued by anybody when assisting or helping them out, when their own lives were at stake and/or as their boat was sinking under them on the Great Lakes.
That's right, amazing but true. People helping other people in today's world have to be legally protected with laws from those same people they're helping. This president setting State law came about (with the Coast Guards urging) because one guy sued another individual when he got hurt from being dragged into that individuals boat as his own boat sank. It's sad, but being part of a ramp mishap and/or law suit, because you volunteered to help another guy out, is something these modern times and (some) blood sucking lawyers have stopped me from doing. "Yes Sir your honor" "That man setting right there next to his lawyer told me to cut my wheel to the left and I ran over my little boy". No thanks.
For the most part, you'll never see social tensions so high as they are at launching ramps. These tensions are proportionate it seems to a few things about the users. Their age, experience, temperament and most always their ideas about entitlement as individuals. Still, (IMV) both knowing and understanding ramp rules is best for everybody (especially beginners). And better learned first on boards like these versus the ramp itself.
Edited by walleye express 9/25/2007 4:09 PM
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| my fishing partner and i were waiting to load on a busy weekend (labor day) we were sitting about 200' from the loading dock. just as it was our turn to pull up a couple pulled right in front with a covered 24' pontoon. they stopped got out and started taking the cover off. talk about a jam up at the landing. everbody around were just awstruk at how stupid this whole thing played out. the bad thing about it was that they use the ramp alot and should know better. i'm useally the one who whould spout off or in some cases help but this time i didn't have to becuase everybody around did. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | I load and unload a lot by myself when guiding. Primarily, because I do not feel that the client should help if they are paying the bill. You'd be surprise how many people sit and complain versus asking if they could lend a hand. |
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