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Random Quote: In theory, practice and theory are the same, but in practice they are diffrent. (Larry McVoy)
Okay, with the holiday weekend approaching, for sure I will stop by the local ramp on Saturday morning and late Monday afternoon for some entertainment. To that end, what is the dumbest/strangest/most bizarre thing you have witnessed at a boat ramp. My short list includes
- Launching of boats with no one on board
- Trucks sinking - best was a two wheel drive ranger trying to haul a 25 foot whaler - in the water we go
- A pguy did not want to back his Expedition up too far and instead dragged the boat over the concrete ramp
- Launching a boat and not disconnecting from the trailer - truly a classic
I once saw a guy haul a 24' Bayliner out of the water w/o tilting the outdrive up. Ripped the drive right off the transom. The only thing that was still attached was the hydraulic lines.
I was stuck behind a guy that had to turn off his truck and disconnect the battery from it to take back to the electric winch on the trailer. More annoying than bizzare.
A lady who immediatley got out of the boat at the Homer boat launch in Alaska and flipped her husband the bird and told him to shove the boat up his a**.
Snowwolfe - 5/25/2005 3:10 PMA lady who immediatley got out of the boat at the Homer boat launch in Alaska and flipped her husband the bird and told him to shove the boat up his a**.
I saw a guy in Port Clyde, ME who just purchased a new sail boat, approximately 15 footer. Watched for about an hour - had his wife back the boat down into position, stopped, and then raised the sails while the boat was on the trailer/ramp - it was blowing about 10-15 knots from the stern and the sails were full (sorry I don't know my tacs), wife backs the boat in the water and he is trying to pull boat off but can't because he is fighting the wind - slipping all over the place, numerous falls into the water where he was completely submerged (by the way the water is cold up there). Swearing up a storm. Acting like an idiot. Had a huge audience. No one helped because he was such an idiot. Finally realizes he has to lower the sail to launch, lowers sail and then realizes that the the boat is still strapped down to the trailer. Gets boat off trailer, raises sail, pushes nose around to catch wind, yells at oldest boy to jump on (they are now trying to head 180 degrees away from the ramp directly into wind) anyone who sails knows it is not possible, so he heads off course slightly, catches a nice gust and crashes into dingy dock about fifteen feet away. Whole time yelling at his son. Makes his way through 10 dingies to dock and pushes the bow around in the other direction. Jumps on board and is heading straight for this beautiful Pabesco CC (I think that is the name) that is fueling at the gas dock. Captiain and crew are able to fend him off without contact to the hull, they end up pushing the bow down wind and he ends up sailing right up the launch ramp where he started - I mean literally runs the hull up on the launch ramp. Finally ecides to call it a day. Swearing at everyone. Goes to pull boat out with minivan. Minivan stuck. Ramp to slippery, no four wheel drive.
Anyway, I'm sure this story won't translate well over this form but it was absolutely hilarious. The entire episode lasted approx an hour and there was a decent audience for this event. Felt bad for wife and kids but it was so painful too watch and listen that nobody could bring themselves to help.
This was in a local newspaper some years back: I wiished I was there to see it.
Pickup truck backs boat down the ramp with boat attached. What caused the truck ot enter the water I don't recall. Boat in the water, truck in the water. Comes the tow truck to pull the mess out. Do you see where we are going? Tow truck ends up in the water!
Eventually the second tow truck pulls the whole mess out.
saw a guy about three weeks ago launch an old as hell tri hull, with a lead rope attached, and he pulled the boat back up onto the ramp (beached on the concrete), right in the center. This ramp was designed to handle 2 boats at once, he was blocking the entire thing. His quite large friend (300+ lbs) who had no clue how to operate the boat was in it, and refused to move it out of the way so that we could pull my boat out. the driver of the truck proceded to take about 20 minutes to make his way the 50 yards from the parking lot to the boat to leave. I was pissed needless to say, but remained polite, you never know who is packing these day, granted I had my .32 in my back pocket, but I figured there is no need encourage a helpless situation fueled by ignorance.
Tempers flaring, pissed off wife and kids, idiots, drunks, and numbnuts. Now you throw in firearms! Sounds like a nice relaxing time out on the ole boat.
This is exactly why I'm in a nice, comfy, relaxed marina slip. Definitely worth the cost, yearly bottom painting, and increased maintenance.
Tempers flaring, pissed off wife and kids, idiots, drunks, and numbnuts. Now you throw in firearms! Sounds like a nice relaxing time out on the ole boat.
This is exactly why I'm in a nice, comfy, relaxed marina slip. Definitely worth the cost, yearly bottom painting, and increased maintenance.
How is being in a slip any different? I have seen all of the above referenced in a marina as well.
In the south everyone has gun for the sharks and snakes. If the people on the shore pi$$ them of then they can use it for that too. I do carry one as needed. All legal and with permit and badge if needed. as for the ramp issue. watching the boats and trucks take a bath cause people don't use the e brake or never check the adjustment and make sure it hold the rig. Funny how most will blame it on a spouse.
Well I haven't experienced nearly the same degree of pissy behavior in the marina as I have at the boat ramp. The stress level at the ramp is just amped up to a whole other level.
I think a lot of this is due to impatience on one end and inconsiderate behavior on the other. Impatience because some are itching to get out there and don't want to wait around--especially for the less experienced. Inconsiderate behavior with people hogging up the ramp or taking 20 min. to load the boat up at the dock.
shoebag22 - 5/25/2005 5:07 PMyet another reason why the guns should be left at home...
so it would be better to be unarmed youself when bitching at somebody that very well may be armed who is being a dumbass?* nobody was drunk, this was a weeknight, people don't have to be drunk to be stupid.* IMO it is better to have one and not need it, than to need it and not have it.* BTW, I've got all the documetation to be legal to carry.
The ramp can be a pretty frustrating place. Our problem at the two ramps we use most is that they are overcrowded and idiots park behind the trailer parking spots so that it is impossible to maneuver your trailer out. My wife is only marginally competent at backing the boat off the trailer. She can't even park the trailer. We're practicing now to make our launching a bit easier but its still pretty hairy when she picks me up at the dock.
BTW I know some people don't deserve a whole lot of sympathy but maybe the guy with the sailboat could have used a hand and some advice if so many had an hour to kill watching the fiasco. I would hope that if I was messing up that bad some kind soul would offer assistance.
Some years back we watched a fellow in full scuba gear, including wet suit, walk down the NPS ramp in Ocracoke and swim off into the 2 to 3 foot deep water adjacent to the ramp.
pwelch - 5/25/2005 6:59 PMSome years back we watched a fellow in full scuba gear, including wet suit, walk down the NPS ramp in Ocracoke and swim off into the 2 to 3 foot deep water adjacent to the ramp.
I think that one is the winner, can you say DARWIN FILES.
While launching at a local ramp one Sunday I watched a guy back his mini-van so far in his license plate and rear tires were under water. Having never seen him before I thought it would be a good Idea to suggest he dive immediately to the nearest quarter car wash to mitigate salt water damage. His answer was a simple " It's my brother in-laws van"
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