Don't you just love it when your trying to launch or pull your boat out of the water and some Idiot ties up the boat ramp while he unloads all his gear onto the ground from a pick up or car then launches or picks up his boat and then reloads the gear back into the boat or vehicle all the while tying up the ramp so no one else can use it.

Or how about the guy that can't drive a car muchless back a trailer up trying to back down the boat ramp to launch or retrieve his boat.

I feel your pain man. My biggest pet peave is the guy that takes way to long backing his boat down the ramp. Another one of mine is the jackass that has his wife do it for him. She launches a boat once a year,and he procedes to make her look like an idiot,by yelling and swearing at her,cause she is having problems.

Even the ramps that have reminders posted,as to how to launch in a timely manner,are always clogged up with these yahooo's.

I believe that the topic title is an oxymoron....

This could lead to an interesting discussion as I'm one who is "back-up challenged" and since our trailer is a ride off type trailer, my wife will be the one to back it down the ramp.

I wouldn't even consider criticizing any of her efforts though.

I did have an fun time one year trying to back our trout fishing pram down a ramp over at Burke Lake. The ramp slants off to the side and the trailer was behind the camper where I could only see it when it was way too far at an angle. After about 5 stabs at trying to get it down the ramp, I finally quit and dragged the boat from the trailer down to the water. Should have done that in the beginning. I did/do have a little dolly that goes under the boat for that exact same purpose. It's slick.

We've got a Neah Bay trip in the plans for this Memorial Day and the new boat will be behind our camper. Only difference is this new boat is big enough where I think I'll be able to see it beyond the sides of the camper.

Boat ramps are always good for a laugh, people are so stupid and rude.

The locks are always good from some cheap entertainment too.

I've had some cars I couldn't get around on the freeway... and one had the bumpersticker "I may be slow, but I'm ahead of you"

Bill don't worry, I'll cheer you on when you come up here.

Go to the Redondo launch, in July, on a Sunday, around 11 AM, when there is a minus tide.

HEY ZEN,

I can sympathize with the "by the time you see it, it's tooo late" syndrome, when backing up with the camper. One slick fix for this is to put a trailer hitch on your front bumper. It only takes a second to swap the trailer to the front bumper when you get to the ramp, and then you can see what's going on when you launch. Don't try this on the freeway though!!!!

I still think of the two Oriential gentleman from Bremerton who launched their brand new fiber glass inboard/outboard boat about half way down the Fort Worden boat ramp on a minus tide a number of years ago. They were backing down the ramp hit their brakes and launched it on the ramp.

I can also remember more than one boat owner at the same ramp who had jumped line on boats waiting to get at the launch dock coming back with their trailer to pick up their boat only to find it floating some distance from the from the ramp dock some of the old boys up here played a little ruff especially if someone jumped line and there was twenty or thirty boats waiting in line to ge to the dock.

you know... that's a good tip of the ball in the front of the truck.

I don't have much of a problem backing a boat up when I don't have the camper on... but when the boat is narrower than the camper, and the ramp is slanted sideways.. I have problems.

I'll find out for the trout opener how backing this new one down a ramp is. I suspect since it's either as wide or wider than the camper that I'll find it easier.

I could cheat and go over to the local mall one evening when it's deserted and practice backing the boat up into a parking spot. Naahhhh.... that would make actual fishing trips too easy..... I forget who gave me that tip. It may have been from this board. Might have been Carl.

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=011800

I understand being upset with the guy who loads his boat when its his turn instead of while he's waiting, but not everyone was born with the ability to back a trailer their first time.
Not to say there isn't some people out there that played hookie the day common sense was handed out.

For those with campers you could get a Stable Lift system and load or unload your camper in about 10 minutes. I have one and it works like a charm.

I got an fun story from my first trip out with my Lund. We were over at Sekiu and headed back to camp after the first trip out fishing. I was attempting to turn it around between the mooring docks and doing a poor job of it. Almost whacked another boat. Those boat owners rushed to the corner of their boat to push me off so we wouldn't hit.

The woman said "my... that's sure a nice looking boat but you can't operate it worth beans".

I replied.... "yeah... I just got this boat. Plunked down my money, got the keys and by virtue of plunking down the cash.. I'm a qualified boat operator. Scary isn't it?"

We both laughed after that.

I did lots better swinging it around after the evening trip out.

Now, it's no big deal.

Yep, the more you do it the better you get. My wife can now back me down the ramp pretty darn good which works great because then I can get the motor running and get out of everyones way that fast. Then I just run up to the bank or ramp when she is ready, grab her and go. Works pretty good, and the ladies on the ramp give her a big cheer. Took awhile to train her to do it, she really worried a few folks at first. It is now a real team effort! She decided she would rather learn to back the trailer than how to start the boat.

This past summer was my first time to back up a boat trailer. I've always tried to avoid doing so but got brave one day and told my dad that I'd need to learn sooner or later so I took the initiative. One thing my dad told me is when backing up a boat trailer w/ or w/o a canopy is to open up the tailgate and/or canopy door to see what you're doing. I can say that for my 1st time backing up a boat, it helped me tramendously!!! I'd highly suggest others to that as well if they're not as experienced as I am. My dad is experienced at backing up a boat but he still does the method mentioned because it's easier and you can judge your distance from the dock or anything else you might wind up hitting.

The only thing that would concern me in backing up a boat is parking it in a small lot with a ton of other vehicles. If I can get that solved, I'm set!

Fish On,

SFJ

I have to use the tailgate down tecnique,when I don't have the boat on the trailer. The trailer is so narrow and short,I can't see it in the mirrors or thru the back window. I learned that trick along time ago.