Boat launch etiquette

I've been around boats most of my life. I can launch/land in a few minutes. I'm also a non-confrontational person. If there is a clear order I am supposed to follow, I do, but I also don't like waiting around if there is no reason to.

Tonight at the launch I was heading in for the evening. A boat was in front on me (red) between 2 buoys (blue), but generally I don't consider the boats waiting there to be "in line" for anything except a dock spot, which there are only 2. I assumed the boat in front was waiting for one of those, or waiting for his buddy to back in a trailer.

The launch also has these side bumper things on the outside edge of each launch spot (green). They are wide enough to walk on but have no tie downs. People use them all the time as extra dock space as long as they don't need to tie off.

So, without thinking about it, I just went around him and grabbed a spot on the side bumper to go get my truck. Once I was backed in, he had just gotten his dock spot (he was alone) and was heading to the parking lot. I realized he was mad. I said I'm sorry, didn't need a dock spot so thought I would keep things moving. I said I'd be out before he got back. He said "Bull*************** and you know it. You passed me in line."

I was pulling out as he rounded the corner to back in his trailer, no problem. So I went and parked to pull the plug and clean up. That took another few minutes.

When I was ready to leave he pulls up right in front of my car and blocks me from driving forward, clearly as retaliation. We had my 3 kids and the neighbor kid with, I didn't want to stick around and attempt another apology, so I just backed up (quite easily) and left. He gave me a G-rated thumbs up as I passed by.

Next time I guess I will be more careful and talk with other boaters at the launch, but until he started acting up, I really didn't think I had done anything wrong. I only took space that was not being used.

What do you think? Did I budge?

You can't change the past but can change the future.

Next time pull up beside other boat on the water & see what his plan is.

Glad for you it didn't escalate.

SNobsessed wrote: You can't change the past but can change the future. Next time pull up beside other boat on the water & see what his plan is. Glad for you it didn't escalate.

Have to agree with this, a friendly Hi, and a little conversation as you're getting next to him to see what he's planning/thinking.

Who knows what the reply back would have been, but he at least wouldn't think you were cutting in front of him without at least asking.

Who knows, you might have ended up helping him since he was alone

I'm siding with GottaSki and try to go about my business with minimal interaction.

If someone needs help sure I'll jump in otherwise you do your thing I'll do mine. I have little patience at the ramp.

quinner wrote: Trailers should be what forms the line not boats, Like many at the public launch, he was clueless

Exactly how I have always operated.

Last launch run in I had was at Torch lake up in northern Michigan, 1 lane one-way road to launch, single ramp 1 boat wide with a single pier. I got dropped off at shore and got in line with my trailer, My turn and a guy pulls up and starts tying his boat to the pier blocking the ramp, wtf. Same thing, he says I cut the line, lol. Attempt to explain to him the logistics but he was not hearing it, now the wifey is chirping at me also. It wasn't until the guy/trailer in line behind me intervenes that they finally start moving, of course spewing profanities while having a total meltdown, lmao.

My last one was a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday evening. Whole ramp dynamics were changed because of higher water levels so only one lane was open. Guy who's first in line and just launching decides to load the boat on the ramp while 2 others wait. Then after he has it in the water he says hope it starts,I have not run it since October... Thanks buddy your the only one out here

I try not to let this type of idiotic and clueless behavior get to me, but sometimes I am amazed at the self-centered lack of common courtesy at the dock. People, the launch ramp is NOT the place to un-tarp the boat, load gear, store gear, trouble-shoot the engine, have 7 or 8 people climb aboard, practice backing, fuel the boat, etc.

I've seen all that (and more) around the country. Drives me nutz...

OK, I feel better now.

trailer first. sorry

I just wonder if maybe this is half the reason Jody takes along a Ruger Red Hawk ?
They kind of have a way of keeping gators and angry ramp guests simmered down.

quinner wrote: Trailer first means when your trailer is backed in the water is the only time your boat should be blocking the ramp.

I agree. You can pull up to the dock preferably on a side or end that doesn't block the actual ramp just to drop off the driver of your vehicle and trailer. Then the boat goes back out to open water waiting for the trailer in the ramp. Any gear unloading should be done after the boat is pulled out and in the parking lot and not in the ramp. Passengers too.

I get the "trialer first" idea, which is easy if you have someone to drop you off at the dock so you can fetch the car, but what if, like me, the vast majority of times you launch or pick up, you are alone. Granted, most of time you can tie up somewhere without blocking, but not at all ramps.

75 Tique wrote: I get the "trialer first" idea, which is easy if you have someone to drop you off at the dock so you can fetch the car, but what if, like me, the vast majority of times you launch or pick up, you are alone. Granted, most of time you can tie up somewhere without blocking, but not at all ramps.

This is my situation at a lot of the time as well. How the heck am I supposed to retrieve my rig without docking my boat?

In the situation I mentioned earlier, I was at the end of the dock and there was no one waiting in line to retrieve or launch. Even if someone pulled up to launch at my slip, there was room for them to dock in front of my boat. I also didn't have anyone on board who could operate my boat to drop me off.

I understand the etiquette, but I honestly don't think it applies to all ramps. Some are not conducive for this type of loading and unloading. Aside from anchoring my boat out of the way of others and swimming to sure, I don't see how this can be done in many of the places I launch.

If I can park my boat, get my rig and be gone in less than 5 minutes, I don't see any issues.

Jpass, I hear and understand your plight.   Our ramp is 4 lanes wide with a dock in the middle and on the outsides.    There are some nearby docks that allow you to dock while retrieving a trailer.   but there have been occurrences where the standby docks are full of boats that are just tied up, My wife is learning, but we are still working on both the trailer backing and the open water driving, so until she is ready/capable, I will be in the spot where I am the only trailer loader, and the only trailer backer.   When on the ramp dock, I RUN to the truck, and don't mess around with the loading process.   probably takes 5 minutes for me as well.   Once we are on the trailer, the boat goes to the tie down area before being wiped off, unloaded, strapped down etc.    Some of these guys may have help, which is great, but if you don't, just do your best to be quick about it.   If you can tie up somewhere else, that's the best option. I think there are ways to be seriously inconsiderate at the ramp, but if you can load in < 5 mins, you are way ahead of some of the guys I have seen just trying to get their boats off or on the trailer, or their tube blown up in the middle of ramp 3, or all of their blooming gear out of the van, or...

Ya. and Dreaming when you let her run with it, you let her run with it. Mr. Hall is good boat driver. Actually a very good boat driver. But she does not think like me. Never will. 99 out of 100 times, she pulls the boat on an off of trailer great. That other 1%, can either hold my tongue or get a divorce. If she were to total the boat, would not be worth price of divorce or price of my emotional stability as I actually love my wife. It's a boat. *************** happens. Very hard for me to accept sometimes, but it is the truth. If she happened to total the boat. which will never happen, not even close to the importance of wife and daughter.

BKH