"Jack Redington" wrote in message
m...
mmc wrote:
"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic
Something I saw when I pulled the pontoon out of the water yesterday was
the more the horsepower, the bigger the dickhead. Couple of guys
absolutely HAD to power up to the post and both made numerous attemps to
get there with a cross wind of about 15kts.
Most people nosed the boat onto the bunks, gave it a little goose then
cranked the boat up to the post. I like doing it that way too, doesn't
allow for any show boating (no pun- just fit) but it gets the job done
without the BS. And as the other guys pointed out, doesn't wash the sand
at the end of the ramp away.
The key is to take your time and be prepared. When I use to be able to
keep my boat at the house. I would load all the gear, coolers etc, put
muffs on the stern drive and fire it up. Check the drain plug (you should
do this more then once during the process) then head out to the ramp.

Before placing the boat as to where you are taking up the ramp or if it
busy and there is a wait. Walk around the boat, take of transom straps is
used. Check the plug again,if the boat has a enclosed fuel tank and you
think it will be about 5 minutes or so go ahead and check for excessive
gas fumes and run the blower, keys in ignition.

Then of course when it is your turn or you have gone over your check list,
back it down in the water and release the bow hook and go.

You will find that people get get a short fuse after they have been in the
sun all day, around noise of engines and may have had a few beers.

So some tips on saving time. Don't get in a hurry if people are waiting.
Just keep a steady pace and so you are sure not to mis anything. Trying to
backdown too fast or running around on slippery ramps can result in
banging ones head on steal, fiberglass rocks or props. If you show that
you have taken steps to be sure you are ready to go before getting on the
ramp your time there will not be very long.

Things I have seen that slow down or bring a ramp to a stand still.

Trying to rush down the ramp. The rig gets out of line and has to make
several corrections by pulling foward, if they had been going slower they
may have been able to make the needed corrections with out having to go
fowarded.

Getting on the ramp and loading gear, I saw this once to the extreme where
this guy was loading clothes that I could not imagine he would need.

I saw one guy having trouble starting his boat, I walked down the ramp to
see if there was something I could do. He asked me to take the bowline
while he pushed the boat off and pull it to shore just to the side of the
ramp. while he moved his truck I noticed that this boat appears not to
have been used in years. It was full of old beer bottles covered with mud
and dust, Leaves etc. When the guy got back he asked me if I could help
him getting it started. Looking at the engine showed I was amazed at the
crud, corrosion on the battery posts. Of course it was dead when one
attempted to crank it. I asked when was the last time this boat had run
and he told me three years.
At that point I pointed to the service dept and said you need to talk to
then, and left.

Same goes for loading as well of course. Back the trailer down, raise the
leg or outboard, secure the boweye and move it up and out of the way.
Again this is not a race so just take a nice steady pace up the ramp. Get
a good distance were you are not in other folks way and start unpacking,
secure transom straps remove plug etc.

Good luck and enjoy the boat..

Cheers

Capt Jack R..

I'll print up a few hundred copies if you'll hand them out ;}
I tend to stay away from the busiest ramps around here or go when they're
slow and if there's a line when I show up, I wait till it dies down a little
before launching/retrieving.
I'd rather hang out and not end or begin a nice day on the water by getting
stressed out.

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
I was reading some comments about it elsewhere and got to thinking.
When/if I get to the point of launching my own boat, I'll have to
spend some time watching ramp activity before I do it myself.
Used to launch/retrieve with my buddies years ago, but I forgot
everything except how hard it was to crank the boat onto the bunks.
I think the owner was leery of backing in far enough to float it.
Oddly, I don't remember any problems pushing it off when launching.
Maybe we were stronger setting out fishing than we were when we got
back, or maybe it's just how gravity works.
I don't remember any problems at all.
But from my reading it seems the ramp is a good comedy show sometimes,
and a good drama when the hotheads get involved.
Anybody care to share some "outstanding" experiences?

--Vic
My favorite was watching 2 bubbas in a (+/- 18') run about. Crew Bubba is
standing on the fore deck with beer in hand, waiting to step onto the
floating dock to fetch the truck and trailer. From the visible empties the
guys got a lot more carbos than fish.
Driver Bubba ignores Crew Bubbas instructions and misjudges the distance to
the floating dock he's trying to nose up to and, at about 7' from the dock,
jams it in reverse and gives it the juice.
Crew Bubba does a perfectly flat belly flop and on the way to the water,
raises his beer high over his head so that when he hits the water the beer
can is sitting at the edge of the dock. I don't think he spilled a drop.
No Bubbas or beer were injured in the making of this episode......