Boat ramp rant!

[Waterfoul]

At our Wed. night club tourney last night this guy with his buddies in his big aluminum "lake Michigan" style boat backs up, hits my trailer, says nothing to Marc who is in my truck, then proceeds to cut off at least 3 other people waiting in line because his boat is tied to the dock (and very in the way).  OK, fine be a jerk.  But then he pulls it out and stops at the top of the ramp to do his business of tying it down etc.  Are you kidding me?

I hope you read this.  You have no business owning a boat if that's the kind of courtesy you extend to your fellow boaters and fishermen.  By the way, my trailer is fine, you hit a fender I want to replace anyway.  Jerk!!

AAGGHH!!!      (where is the screeming emoticon when you need it!)

[Genie]

Did you tell him this?  He's probably not going to read this.  It's like walking by trash on the side walk ... many of us complain that it is there and just keep walking.  Stop and pick it up and throw it away. 

[Waterfoul]

Come on Doug, do you think I actually watched all this and didn't say a thing?  LOL!!! 

[Skulley]

We have to face the facts Waterfoul that some people are just "Baffoons". You should have approached him politely, however he may have reacted negatively. You were probably better off leaving it alone and taking the high road as you did. That's very admirable. If he had damaged your trailer, then you have to approach Mr. Baffoon. When picking battles, pick the ones you know you can win. Just my 3 cents.  


BD.                

[JBASS]

Running tournaments for years and fishing them since the beginning of the 80ties this has always been a topic...
I remember one year on the Grand in a 200 or so boat tournament a drunk dude coming down to the ramp in the AM and chewing everyone out because of all the noise that was being made from the loud speaker the directors was a using...
Well he may have had a point?

You have to remember that when an organized group is at a ramp fishing a tournament we stick out like a sore thumb and it is common that we block or slow a ramp...I know we launch better than the 99%..

I am not defending the guy by anymeans and I am sure he was in the wrong for you but the tournament before you may have given the guy an attitude?..Still no reason for his action as you put it..

Anyone every been a fun fishing and pull into a small ramp and not be able to finding a parking spot because of a tournament.
In this case...I think you are on muskegon? the ramp and parking spots are huge.....Just saying...Just my 2 Jay

[fasttrack]

Mike, he did actually pull over and come over to apologize and make sure nothing was broke. And he did seem sincere and felt bad. But you're right, that doesnt excuse him from cutting in line in the first place, tying up 1 of only 2 spots to launch/retrieve, and then parking there to strap down (quite slowly I might add).

[Team houston]

I would have for sure politely pointed him to the tie down lanes and explained to him why they are called that.

[gmetime24]

Some people need to take some type of boat ramp behavior class. It's insane the amount of idiots you see with nice boats at the ramps. 

[Waterfoul]

Mike, he did actually pull over and come over to apologize and make sure nothing was broke. And he did seem sincere and felt bad. But you're right, that doesnt excuse him from cutting in line in the first place, tying up 1 of only 2 spots to launch/retrieve, and then parking there to strap down (quite slowly I might add).

Yup, he was a baffoon!! 

[Waterfoul]

I would have for sure politely pointed him to the tie down lanes and explained to him why they are called that.

I did see someone point this out to him, he did not move.  Besides, he was litterally parked right at the top of the ramp, making it very difficult for anyone else to retrieve their boat.  He needs lessons for sure!

[Waterfoul]

Also, I think somewhere on my trailer is says "hit me."  This marks the 4th time it's been hit at a ramp in 4 years, and that deer last year should have known better!!!

[motocross269]

Sounds like a normal weekend on the LSC ramps.... .........I think you could start a reality TV show with hidden cameras and make a fortune at Harley, Selfridge and Crocker...

[djkimmel]

You could make a fortune at just about ANY boat ramp... it is on my todo list so don't steal my idea...

Meanwhile, he never will read your comments on here 99% for sure. I have a 'selfish jerk plugin' that automatically blocks some people from signing up. Works pretty good almost all of the time.

They did a study of human behavior years ago using pay phone booths. They found out in multiple locations that the average phone call in a booth when no one was waiting lasted just over 1 minute WHILE the average phone call in a booth when someone else was waiting to use the same phone lasted over 2 1/2 minutes. It's genetic apparently.

[Manxfishing]

Mike,

There's a thought in life that things happen for a reason.

Maybe you need to cut back on the caffeine intake and learn to take time and
smell the roses

You already admitted you need to replace the fender and he help to remind you of this

We've all been there and bought the T-shirt, mug and hoddie.
It's just part of life if you're using a public ramp. Rather then raise the blood pressure
I just watch it all and try and make bets on long it's going to take them
And thank God I'm not the Baffon

Sorry you ran into my Uncle from the west side. LOL

[t-bone]

If someone is doing crap like this - I walk over and offer to help him out. That way I can explain some of the proper etiquette and try to avoid some conflict. I can offer to hold his boat or back in his trailer while explaining to him that there are a lot of people waiting.

I've seen a lot of guys that are jerks at ramps or they just don't do it often enough to know what they should do. Sometimes when we push them to move faster, they panic and forget stuff then they end up damaging their boat/motor or trailer. I've seen that and feel sorry for the guy. It would be better to slow down and offer the guy some help while imparting a suggestion or two at the same time.
Some are just jerks, others really don't know...

[Mike S.]

At least he wasn't stealing gear off of boats during your weigh in like the jerk at Fisherman's last night. A poor kid lost 4 rods off of his boat during the weigh in. That takes real bravery there. Can you believe someone would have the stones to steal gear with almost 50 guys standing around?

[djkimmel]

Great suggestions t-bone!

[Eric]

The most entertaining places in the world are boat ramps and gas station parking lots.

[dartag]

I live.near.the union lake ramp.  The wife.and.I used to walk to dairy queen and get.lunch. walk back to the.ramp and.watch the.show. cheapest entertainment in town.   The wife.holding the rope getting pulled in the water is my.favorite.  makes.them crabby

[Got Fish??]

Not  being there, was he at the dock and tied up before you backed your trailer down? Not to defend him but. A P.O. would give him the right of way. If that was true.