More Boat Ramp Frustration: I live across from a dual boat ramp. This evening around dusk within 5 minutes 9 boats and 2 jet skies arrived to get out of the water. The first 5 boats...

Fish Hungry Bob Loc: Grand Isle La

I live across from a dual boat ramp. This evening around dusk within 5 minutes 9 boats and 2 jet skies arrived to get out of the water. The first 5 boats tied up to slips adjacent to the ramps. While these boaters were getting their trailers to the ramps, the next two boats pulled in directly to the ramps and tied up. In the ensuing confusion numerous other vessels arrived. Once all adjacent dock space was filled arriving vessels loitered in front of the ramps. As ramps opened, of course the loitering vessels claimed the ramps the quickest. It is now 11/2 hours later and I don’t think any (too dark to see) of the 5 1st boats have got out of the water yet. Most people are much more Christian than I would be in this situation. Are there any solutions out there?

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

I d I nt suppose a 12 gauge would help much, but it sure would be tempting. The ignorance of people is amazing.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Fish Hungry Bob wrote:

I live across from a dual boat ramp. This evening ... (show quote)

That's a good reason to have another person with you. One goes and gets the truck and when he pulls down into the water you drive the boat on your trailer, latch onto it and pull out.
It doesn't matter how many boats are there. Whoever's trailer gets into the water, that's who gets to load up. Simple, easy.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

You see all kinds at the ramps, the courteous, the helpful, and those that feel they are entitled to do what ever they please. Sometimes makes a guy shake his head, but, I have learned to stay away from the ramps on Holidays. I typically get surrounded by too many of the 'entitled types' and then my 'Mr Nice Guy' attitude seems to disappear.. 😆

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Had a similar situation last week. Boat in the dock area ahead of me and while he was off getting his trailer i paddled in and tied up leaving enough room for a boat behind me coming in.

Guy pulls his out and within seconds a guy is backing down the ramp. I left my yak there blocking his path and got the evil eye from his Mrs. Politely I said it wont take me more than 5 minutes.

He scoots up just enough for me to get my truck in. I load up and on my way to the un load area. He proceeds to go down the ramp while the guy that was behind me is at the far end of the dock.

Curtesy went out the window with that dip S***

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I have no problem being polite, helping others and keeping my cool. I and just going with the flow. That is just part of launching at a busy ramp. That is until some one makes a negative comment or yells at my 12 year old grandson while I am going to get the truck. I will not go into details, but that person gets the opportunity to think back on the rotten day they had at the boat ramp.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Doug Lemmon wrote:

You see all kinds at the ramps, the courteous, the helpful, and those that feel they are entitled to do what ever they please. Sometimes makes a guy shake his head, but, I have learned to stay away from the ramps on Holidays. I typically get surrounded by too many of the 'entitled types' and then my 'Mr Nice Guy' attitude seems to disappear.. 😆

I'm with you all the way Doug.
I only go with Brad to the Napa or Petaluma boat ramps on Saturday. They usually aren't crowded.
But I don't fish with anybody else or by myself on the weekend. WAY too crowded at most all the lake boat ramps, and my Mr Nice guy attitude only goes so far till somebody is bein a JERK towards me. Too much frustration for me. MUCH calmer on the weekdays. Frequently, we're the only people on the river for most of the day.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

saw1 wrote:

I'm with you all the way Doug. br I only go with ... (show quote)

The last time I was at a ramp on a holiday, (Several years ago) I learned by my own example that I should never put myself in that environment again. I waited like a good boy until it was my turn to pull out when a guy with an apparent excess of funds (150k Bennington pulled with a 100k Mega cab Laramie) thought he'd just jump in front of me.. I began to verbally let him know what I thought of his ignorance to the extent that I probably left quite a bit of spit on his face since I was pretty close to his so I knew that he'd be sure to hear what I had to say.. About 2 weeks later and 3 counties away, someone made a comment about a guy getting his a$$ reamed at a boat ramp that had several onlookers.. I knew at that point that I had best keep myself away from the ramps on holidays.. Not worth making the local News!!

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Doug Lemmon wrote:

The last time I was at a ramp on a holiday, (Sever... (show quote)

Yeah I hear ya Doug.
I woulda probly done the same thing.
Definitely not worth the hassle to go to those kinda places for me.

Plus, nowadays ya never know who might pull a gun on ya.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

saw1 wrote:

Yeah I hear ya Doug.
I woulda probly done the same thing.
Definitely not worth the hassle to go to those kinda places for me.

Plus, nowadays ya never know who might pull a gun on ya.

LOL... I had a 9 on my side..... Probably why the guy just stood there and listened intently!

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Doug Lemmon wrote:

LOL... I had a 9 on my side..... Probably why the guy just stood there and listened intently!

Maybe so.

Shihan Loc: Pendleton Oregon

To me, car toppers are the most frustrating. They unload the boat, get out the motor and put it on the boat. Then comes the fishing gear, anchor, life jackets, ice chest and so on. They manage to plug up the ramp for fifteen to twenty minutes. I can load or unload my boat in less than a couple minutes. I’m not sure of what the solution is.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Shihan wrote:

To me, car toppers are the most frustrating. They unload the boat, get out the motor and put it on the boat. Then comes the fishing gear, anchor, life jackets, ice chest and so on. They manage to plug up the ramp for fifteen to twenty minutes. I can load or unload my boat in less than a couple minutes. I’m not sure of what the solution is.

Yep, very frustrating when someone uses the loading ramp to load the boat with everything. That's what staging areas are for. However, I understand bout the car topper boaters. They can't do it that way.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Shihan wrote:

To me, car toppers are the most frustrating. They unload the boat, get out the motor and put it on the boat. Then comes the fishing gear, anchor, life jackets, ice chest and so on. They manage to plug up the ramp for fifteen to twenty minutes. I can load or unload my boat in less than a couple minutes. I’m not sure of what the solution is.

Patience is the solution. Not everyone can afford or want to use their tailorable boat. I unload my small boat and just dump gear into it including motor. I then move it to the side of the ramp to rig. Thus opening the ramp back up to others. It takes about 5 minutes. That being said, I have not launched the small boat or kayak at a "busy" ramp for years.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

bapabear wrote:

Patience is the solution. Not everyone can afford or want to use their tailorable boat. I unload my small boat and just dump gear into it including motor. I then move it to the side of the ramp to rig. Thus opening the ramp back up to others. It takes about 5 minutes. That being said, I have not launched the small boat or kayak at a "busy" ramp for years.

The same is true when hauling. A pair of chest waders makes the project easy and relatively quick. On many lakes I can launch without a ramp. Those are the lakes I usually use the kayak or small boat on.