Idiot on the Ramp

[Rick]

I just pulled out of San Vincente Reservoir in San Diego and can't beleive the rude behavior of a local dealer. He pulled his boat to the top of the ramp and just stopped. He then got out and proceeded to wipe his boat down and stow his gear. He was there for aboiut 15 minutes. When I mentioned that it was hard to get around him to use the ramp he replied, " you don't have to be rude." I didn't think stating the obvious was rude. He then moved his rig 50 feet forward and went to the bathroom blocking 2 guys that wanted to pull out of their parking spots. I tried to call the number on the truck and tried the Web site listed and neither were working. Marine-max get a clue.

[TylerO]

RE: Idiot on the Ramp

Rick,

Marine-max? Never heard of them?? I thought you were describing the local Mastercraft dealer until the last sentence.

[882001]

RE: Idiot on the Ramp

every time i go to the boat ramp my blood preasure rises. it never ceases to amaze me.

[BigBald]

RE: Idiot on the Ramp

Sometimes it's bad at our local lake.....but if you've ever been at your lake when a Bass tournament is done....you'll see some expert folks. Those guys can get boats out of the water faster than I would have imagined possible.

Last year on my first attemp to trailer my "new" 99 Sport, I was in the middle of a tournament. I had a CC previously, so I knew the drill....but I was a little slower than normal. The ramp was three wide and in the time it took me to get my boat on the trailer and out of the way....at least 5 or 6 bass boats were trailered and gone....amazing. Those guys were very business like, but not in the least rude.

[patoloco]

I second that on bass fisherman. Hit the breaks and dump it and when your done run it up the trailer and pull'er out....when you have 50 boats in a tournament that are all trying to unload within the same 30 minutes you have to be fast.

I grew up both skiing and bass fishing and having a lot of experience loading/unloading bass boats, io's and my nautique and never with any of them(unless I have some sort of mechanical isssue), has my trailer spent more than a couple of minutes sitting in the water...usually less.

Nothing gets me more worked up than the ramp, especially when people don't even try to learn...but then I tell myself that it only takes a second's lack of attention to become one of those idiots.

[jzwake]

It helps to have that outboard maneuverability. Its like driving a car around at low speeds.

[ag4ever]

They might be pros at the ramp, but I have found fishermen to be a rude bunch when on the water.

I have been just about run over numerous times because they felt it necessary to run full tilt about 20 feet away when I am stopped before or after a ski set. Also if running they love to run up my prop wash at 60 -70 MPH till about 20 feet away then cut out.

Then this weekend I towed in two stardned boaters after fishemen said they were too busy to help (one had a tube tied to the back of his Ranger bass boat).

What a professional group of people.

[igkya]

I agree w/ ag4ever, they are usually very quick on the ramp but rude as **** on the water.

[BigBald]

I have been around bass fisherman most of my life....and with this crowd (serious skiing crowd) for only a couple.....From a semi-outsider.......There are dorks in both sports.....I think it more about respect for others than anything else.

Back to the original thread....
just a couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to help a dude back his trailer into the water. He was a friend of the boat owner. He had never even pulled a trailer.....much less backed one down a boat ramp. His buddy was in the boat getting it prepared to get it on the trailer. This poor guy jack-knifed the trailer twice and finally gave me this look like he was ready to just leave it where it was and walk home. I walked over and gave him a couple tips....and he got it down with minimal problem. Man was he ticked when he finally hooked back up with the boat owner. I felt bad for that dude....and was really bummed that the boat owner was oblivious to anything.....and this was a guy that was in our "crowd".......

[skiswm]

regarding Marine Max....I believe they are a pretty large West Coast dealer....I know they have a few diff location here in Nor Cal. As I recall they use to be Harrison's Marine, selling Sea Ray Boats, use to be the Malubu dealer as well. I am sure they'd love hearing how one of their operations was being rude at a boat ramp. I'd believe if you are still mad at them Rick, you should be able to track them down. I know they have a location here in Nor Cal in Oakland right on the water.

I think we all have our little routines, but I try to NEVER leave my boat/truck to go do something and not have anyone that can move it if a person needs to get out. But, I have had "issues" with all types of boaters. What usually gets me mad is when someone drives down the ramp (no boat in tow) stops to unload their group, parks the car to carry stuff off to some campsite and doesn't even worry they are blocking the ramp, the sailboater who drives down the ramp only to then get his spinkers set and such, and also the kyacker who drives down the ramp and takes 20 mins to launch their kyack. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

Just my thoughts, I am sure we're all different becuase it depends so much on what you launch and what kind of ramp you go to.

[ag4ever]

There is a marine max here in Houston too. they are a huge chain, and mostly sell sea rays. The one here used to sell chris crafts also I believe.

[patoloco]

At Four Winns on Monroe here in Indiana, the entrance/exit to the actual ramp is off to the left side so you have to swing your entire rig around the bottom of the ramp and then almost to the very top of the ramp to get your rig straight for backing down.

Every moron and their mom seem to think the top of that ramp is the best place to park their cars and unload...thus stopping your rig in mid arc, making it difficult to hit any of the spots, but making it a PIA to hit the farthest one. One of the DNR guys used to be the worst offender at parking in that spot.

I was 3rd in line to unload there last year and waited 30 minutes, because one trailer sat in the water..no driver in sight....another took the entire 30 minutes to get his boat loaded...and the third guy blocked the last hole afraid to put it in there and had gotten himself stuck blocking all of them...the funny thing was...he was the guy blaming everyone else.

My friend took over one guys rig and backed it for him and two of the drivers figured it out after a shouting match....I was too entertained to be too mad.