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Alright, I just got home from Saturday night RIVERZOO, and I figured I would start a topic that could help the uninitiated to be more effective, and not get yelled at (or worse). Please feel free to add anything that you feel needs to be known about using a HIGH VOLUME ramp on a HIGH VOLUME night:
* TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF!!!!! (Yes I realize all caps means I am screaming it, and yes I feel I need 5 exclamation points) Pulling your boat down a ramp with your PARKING lights on is the proper ramp procedure, and allows other people the luxury of being able to actually see to pull down their trailers. EVERY time in the last month that I have put in at riverbreeze, someone has had their driving lights on.
* Prepare your boat before you pull down the ramp. If you are loading ANYTHING from your car to the boat while other people are waithing, you have not prepared well enough. When your boat hits the water, it should be ready to go. And if the ramp is busy, and you have the luxury of a second passenger that can drive, have them pull your boat away from the dock, so others can launch. At the very least, if you are on your own, motor your own boat to one of the exterior docks.
* Once your boat is on the trailer at the end of the night, pull away, and park somewhere out of the way to allow for other boats to get out. I know you want to stow your gear, count your shrimp, and who knows what else, but there is a time and place, and that time and place is not there.
*When docking at a busy ramp, it is ok to drop off someone to get the car, but DO NOT park your boat in a useable ramp, and wait for your trailer. If there are trucks waiting, your trailer may never get there. Tonight, I had to pull down the ramp at an angle sufficient enough to go AROUND a pontoon boat that was just waiting there. I know, it is a pain, but if you really need to park your boat, park it on the outside ramps either north or south, or the long ramp that parallels the channel.
OK, I feel much better now. Please add your ramp tips to help!
Mike
* TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF!!!!! (Yes I realize all caps means I am screaming it, and yes I feel I need 5 exclamation points) Pulling your boat down a ramp with your PARKING lights on is the proper ramp procedure, and allows other people the luxury of being able to actually see to pull down their trailers. EVERY time in the last month that I have put in at riverbreeze, someone has had their driving lights on.
* Prepare your boat before you pull down the ramp. If you are loading ANYTHING from your car to the boat while other people are waithing, you have not prepared well enough. When your boat hits the water, it should be ready to go. And if the ramp is busy, and you have the luxury of a second passenger that can drive, have them pull your boat away from the dock, so others can launch. At the very least, if you are on your own, motor your own boat to one of the exterior docks.
* Once your boat is on the trailer at the end of the night, pull away, and park somewhere out of the way to allow for other boats to get out. I know you want to stow your gear, count your shrimp, and who knows what else, but there is a time and place, and that time and place is not there.
*When docking at a busy ramp, it is ok to drop off someone to get the car, but DO NOT park your boat in a useable ramp, and wait for your trailer. If there are trucks waiting, your trailer may never get there. Tonight, I had to pull down the ramp at an angle sufficient enough to go AROUND a pontoon boat that was just waiting there. I know, it is a pain, but if you really need to park your boat, park it on the outside ramps either north or south, or the long ramp that parallels the channel.
OK, I feel much better now. Please add your ramp tips to help!
Mike
