I used the new/rebuilt boat ramp on the Satsop. It is horrible, they have the ramp going directly into the river at 90 degrees. The flow of the water pushes against the boats as they are launch and retreived. Some one is going to dump their boat or worse because of this design. If DOW has a risk managment person they should take a look at this potential liability. I have guide-ons with my trailer and considerable experience launching and retrieving my sled. I had a hard time with the launch, I can imagine what a novice might encounter.

That one is a biatch!
Can't even imagine it without guide-ons.

FJ...out.

I like the way the silt covers it up after high water. It's an engineering marvel, I'll tell you.

I have been out of the loop for a while, where is this new ramp on the Satsop? It sounds like a Trent Lott designed project......act, plan, think.

They replace the old ramp below SR12. The old ramp washed out because it went into the river at a 90 degree angle. The current washed against it. So, they replaced it with a nice new ramp, yes they did, it runs into the water at a 90 degree angle. No wonder the STATE is broke!!!

Never a problem with my driftboat......Mabey you should leave your sleds at home
Just a little joke...sorry!

You think that's bad.......I'm still waiting for them to re-build the ramp, excuse me, "ravine" at the confluence of the west fork and east fork. I think the last time that facility saw any tender loving care was about 122 years ago. Just another glowing example of my decal access sticker dollars hard ay work!

If they make the launch too nice, those "bait thugs" will just show up and low hole everybody. No sense in taking the adventure out of a day on the river, eh.....

Gurmpy,you slay me LOL

Hey centerpin, how do I get on the Hoodsport Pro Staff? If you have connections can you hook me up, gud buddi?

Come on guys, remembering who we are dealing with here, I am not suprised one bit. I wonder if herm Olde was the engineer on it.
Peace Superfly

Satsop boat launch:

Pain in the ass!!!

I go back far enough that I remember the boat launch, down river on the west side, that got washed out because they wouldn't protect or control with some "rock jetties". WDF could have protected that launch on the Satsop west fork with some "well placed rock jetties" up river. Fuller Bridge and South Monty are other boat launches that are problems.

The "no money" bit with be used again as excuses for not getting these problem areas "FIXED"....but you can bet your ass that the WDF upper management will find monies for "pet projects, raises, or new fancy buildings."

I was there 2 times this past summer, as they were building this "boat launch????" and questioned the "why" of why it was being built that way.....was told that it was fully engineered by WDF state engineers.....wow, no wonder the state in broke.

Would probably be a great launch for a "lake" but sure not for a river with the water flow the Satsop has.

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

As I said before some one is going to lose their boat or their life because of the construction of this ramp. The STATE designed and constructed it. May be they are so use to paying out money for law suits, they don't care about liability. It is just unfortunate that some thing bad will have to happen before a change is made.

I thnk they got plenty of practice when they built the one at the Olequa on the Cowlitz.
Sounds like the same design to me.
The one on the Cowlitz is better yet because they put in the rock jetty.
Crazy thing is,its on the low end of the ramp. Go figure.
Some serious engineering going on there.
Love that gremlin,its really usable when your talking about W.D.F.W. or T.C.L. or a slew of the other goernment agencies that have our best interest in mind.

I have been holding off posting on this one, but I think that even though the state may have messed up, a ramp is better than "NO" ramp at all. I have launched many places "including the Satsop, Nisqually, etc., with my sled and would have appreciated a ramp in some of those instances. We keep on *****in....some of those engineers might put some of those projects on the back burner.
Maybe we could be a bit more positive and let them know that we appreciate their efforts, but in a helpful way, let them know of some of our concerns for safety, ease of launch, durability and such.
Anyone have any numbers or addresses for this? Some of the members in our PSA chapter recently did dome leg work in Gig Harbor to get some improvements on our ramp, and after going to some of the city officials, they found a rather nice sum of money just waiting to be spent on this project. It would not be happening if someone had not "nicely" prodded our government officials. My hats off to these guys, but then again, you will be having the negative reactions on this too. Like, "just what we need" more people finding and using "our" launch.
Oh Well, all we can do is try!

NG