Boat Launch Etiquette ?

[riden]

So I just got a new boat, and with the long weekend the launch was busy yesterday. I have little experience at busy launches, but I don't think I was in the wrong.

I docked my boat and was backing my truck up, but I wasn't at the launch yet. But, if you looked you could clearly see I was straightening my trailer so I could back up to the launch.

That's when another small boat pulls up and lands his boat right beside the launch. I could watch him doing it in my mirrors, so that tells you where I was at the launch.

Everyone gets out and one guy walks up to get his truck and looks really ****ed at me that I am backing up. He clearly thought he was next and I was jumping the line.

So, who was right?

[oilngas]

The launch rarely brings out the best in folks!!

It's hard to tell from your story who is right, never again will I give advice "at the launch", but then again I find that folks rarely ask for help, rarely stop yelling at the other party backing up the trailer or driving the boat, keep the little ones quiet and out of harms way, rarely judge the wind current well etc.

Once you watch an expert team do it sometimes the light goes on, the guys in Florida are experts!.

My team uses separate bow and stern ropes, I find they help in windy conditions. Also when launching by myself, I use the anchors to secure the boat off to the side of the launch until I can get back from parking trailer n tow vehicle. Bumpers out etc. all the stuff in the boat.

Sorry for the mild rant, I am far from an expert on this topic!!

[dodger]

Your already backing to the ramp. Your first he’s next.

Dodger.

[Tom Pullings]

No rules. Every man for himself. Only the strong survive.

[thorne]

Next in line is determined by trailer and tow veh. Park the boat and get your veh. And trailer in the line up....not wait in boat then dock, then go get the trailer....so as you tell it, yep, he was wrong. As mentioned the launch always has some retards with stupid ideas or no clue what so ever....just do what you can and dont forget the hand brake, or the plug....or the stern straps, or a quick run up in the driveway befor you leave to make sure your boat will start! Been lots of guys who just showed up at the dock and tried to start the motor first time all winter with a line up of people behind them and spend an hour trying to get it running......

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by dodger

Your already backing to the ramp. Your first he’s next.

Dodger.

This^^^^^^

Originally Posted by thorne

Next in line is determined by trailer and tow veh. Park the boat and get your veh. And trailer in the line up....not wait in boat then dock, then go get the trailer....so as you tell it, yep, he was wrong. As mentioned the launch always has some retards with stupid ideas or no clue what so ever....just do what you can and dont forget the hand brake, or the plug....or the stern straps, or a quick run up in the driveway befor you leave to make sure your boat will start! Been lots of guys who just showed up at the dock and tried to start the motor first time all winter with a line up of people behind them and spend an hour trying to get it running......

And this ^^^^^^

[riden]

Thanks guys, I didn't think I was wrong.

His whole group looked sour while we were loading, but it sure felt to me like they were jumping the line, not me.

I wasn't at the launch, but was backing up to the launch and my buddy was holding my boat by the rope at the dock. We were doing our part to be efficient.

New boat, so there is a learning curve.... I admit that. But I thought he was being a jerk, not me.

[Ken07AOVette]

He has likely fished there for 30 years, everyone else knows that when he and his gang pull up to the dock everyone else has to get out of his way, or incur his miserable stares.

Some people are just knobs. Give him a huge smile and a wave, ask him how fishing was, and offer him a coke for being such a peach.

Your boat was there and you were backing the truck down. You were not at all in the wrong. Tell him to pizz up a rope.

[338Bluff]

Originally Posted by riden

Thanks guys, I didn't think I was wrong.

His whole group looked sour while we were loading, but it sure felt to me like they were jumping the line, not me.

I wasn't at the launch, but was backing up to the launch and my buddy was holding my boat by the rope at the dock. We were doing our part to be efficient.

New boat, so there is a learning curve.... I admit that. But I thought he was being a jerk, not me.

Just so long as you aren't the guy backing down the middle of a double launch.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by riden

Thanks guys, I didn't think I was wrong.

His whole group looked sour while we were loading, but it sure felt to me like they were jumping the line, not me.

I wasn't at the launch, but was backing up to the launch and my buddy was holding my boat by the rope at the dock. We were doing our part to be efficient.

New boat, so there is a learning curve.... I admit that. But I thought he was being a jerk, not me.

Your alright....people make things hard sometimes....

[EZM]

Originally Posted by huntsfurfish

This^^^^^^



And this ^^^^^^

YUP and YUP

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Tom Pullings

No rules. Every man for himself. Only the strong survive.

This is exactly why there are problems at a boat launch. No respect, and a total sense of entitlement, people who think their time is more important than anyone else’s. A good recipe to have ones vehicle vandalized while they’re out on the lake making wakes.

[Tom Pullings]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

This is exactly why there are problems at a boat launch. No respect, and a total sense of entitlement, people who think their time is more important than anyone else’s. A good recipe to have ones vehicle vandalized while they’re out on the lake making wakes.

You couldn’t tell I was joking?

Anyways yeah my actual belief is that whoever is coming down the ramp has first crack at loading. It wouldn’t make sense for you to wait for him to go get setup just because he beached closer.

[Big Sky]

Launch and load in the order that vehicles are lined up.

Beach your boat or tie to the dock ( away from the launching area ) or drop off your driver. Go get your vehicle. Get to the back of the line. Wait your turn.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Tom Pullings

You couldn’t tell I was joking?

Anyways yeah my actual belief is that whoever is coming down the ramp has first crack at loading. It wouldn’t make sense for you to wait for him to go get setup just because he beached closer.

I knew you were speaking tongue in cheek, but the reality is that some people act this way.

As busy as Cold lake launch gets, and I’ve literally watched one guy take up both ramps for 45min with a $140k boat and a $100k truck in what I can only describe as the most pathetic attempt of loading a boat I have ever witnessed in my entire life, clearly there were quite a few frustrated onlookers, but cool heads prevailed and nobody got ignorant. I have seen patients lost and tempers flare at pigeon and gull on a few occasions. I’m not sure if it’s location or luck that things worked out the way they did, but people seemed more accepting in northern lakes.

I’ve been backing up trailers since I was 16 and respect the unwritten first come first serve rule of boat launches so I’ve never experienced any altercations at the launch.

Have your boat ready before you pull in to the launch lane, have your boat loaded, plug in, straps undone, bow line handy, and a plan for when your boat hits the water so your time at the launch is minimized, this will be appreciated by everyone. If you see someone struggling at the launch, have patience, offer assistance, and remember launching a boat actually can be rocket science for some.

[russ]

If 2 of us are fishing, which is the norm. We get everything loaded and ready before the boat touches the water or gets close to the ramp. Then we'll dump the boat in and while the truck & trailer are getting parked, we'll move the boat away from the ramp area and let it warm up. When the trucker gets back to launch, buzz in grab him and get the heck out of everyone's way.

Basically, the same operation in reverse when loading. Just be organized so you don't have to rush which usually is when things get messed up.

[220 Swift]

Originally Posted by riden

So I just got a new boat, and with the long weekend the launch was busy yesterday. I have little experience at busy launches, but I don't think I was in the wrong.

I docked my boat and was backing my truck up, but I wasn't at the launch yet. But, if you looked you could clearly see I was straightening my trailer so I could back up to the launch.

That's when another small boat pulls up and lands his boat right beside the launch. I could watch him doing it in my mirrors, so that tells you where I was at the launch.

Everyone gets out and one guy walks up to get his truck and looks really ****ed at me that I am backing up. He clearly thought he was next and I was jumping the line.

So, who was right?

he didnt catch anything and his wife told him he had to come home now. i have let the whole boat launch feeling go.

I usually have to load and unload my boat by myself so unless someone has an inspector gadget way of loading they can go pound sand.

[35 whelen]

Was at cold lake for 3 days in the middle of the week it was still busy at times on the boat launch single launch, anyway some people can do it very fast within a couple minutes some people have to tie the boat up walk up to their trucks try to back in could take 10 minutes people have no patience nowadays but I'm sure glad I don't have to fish any lakes in Alberta too often with a boat.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk