So I got into a bit of a argument with a guy while taking out at Shilshole today.

My standard procedure is to tie up at the far outer end of the dock, go get my truck, and then back down whatever lane happens to be available and power load my sled. Takes me all of a couple minutes to get loaded and on my way.

Do the usual today, but in the unoccupied lane there is a boat pulled all the way forward, so I just back my trailer in beside it and go get my boat. As I’m sliding up to my trailer the owner of the boat comes down and starts jawing at me for blocking him off and taking “his lane”.

I try to inform him that it doesn’t matter where your boat is, boat ramps operate on the basis of where your trailer is. The next in line with their trailer has priority for any open lane. Not to mention that parking your boat at the very front of the dock and then going to get your trailer is pretty rude as it mostly ties up the lane for any other people until you return with your trailer. It gets a little heated with me suggesting he should keep his trap shut until he learns how boat ramps operate (inserting a large quantity of expletives).

The kind of ironic thing is he ended up wasting more of his time jawing back and forth with me then it took me to load my boat and be on my way.

I operate under the same premise as you. But remember, you cant fix stupid. Its Labor Day weekend, and Shilshole is full of dipshi%s. I have had similar verbal exchanges over the years, nowadays I usually just load it up and pretend I am deaf/mute, which my wife says I do rather well.
Catch any fish?? I was good to me last weekend.

The nice weather tends to bring out all the uninitiated douchebags.
They are usually too lazy to get up in time to screw up the put-ins but they're always around at take-out time.

Most of the time I do not power load my boat. Also most of the time my wife is with me. But if I were alone I may have done the same thing he did. I am sure to get flamed here but show me anything thats says the boat launch opperates on were the trailer is. Flame on but at places like Potlatch it runs like that guy you were talking about all the time. Ok flame on.

Name another one for you. Solo Point, people who have nicked a few props on shallow launches don't power load there boats. they load just like us. Hate to say it but he had a point.

I never said anything about having to power load your boat.

But just because you parked your boat at the front of the dock, doesn't mean you've reserved that ramp lane for your private use until you return with your trailer.

What happens if you're parked a 10 minute walk away or like often happens at Shilshole your truck is blocked in by someone tieing down their boat, no one else gets to use that lane until you get back with your trailer?

Or what if there is a long line of trailers waiting to take out, does everyone have to wait to use that lane until the trailer five trailers back in line can get to the boat parked at the front of the dock?

So if I have a buddy and decide to not tie up any dock space and just idle out aways until my trialer arrives and someone comes in after me and parks at the front of the dock I need to wait for them to get back with there trailer until I can load?

I could go on and on as to why boat ramps work best when boats are loaded in the order trailers are lined up to take out instead of the order boats are lined up at the dock.

If you power load your boat you just have more options on which lane to use when taking out. If you don't power load you just need to wait until the lane your boat is in to come free, but to expect no one else to use that lane until you get back with your trailer is ridiculous.

Sound like you just need people who werent there to say your not an a hole for yelling obsenities in public at the shilshole ramp. I launch there all the time. Lots of guys do what your talking about. Just back the trailer down between the lanes if your going to power on. No big deal. That place is a zipper launch for locals.

You have a lot of what ifs. He was there first and you didn't want to wait. I would have jumped on your ass had it been me.

i will never jump anybodys ass at a boat launch or have any conflict I can back away from. There are people in life who will not do things they way you would like them to do it. I agree that parking your boat right at the ramp is silly but lots of people do it.

The major problem I see is on the put in side of things. Guys who put the boat trailer and boat on the ramp and THEN load all the stuff etc.

Actually, I was there first (both to the dock and in line with my truck). I just parked my boat at the end of the dock, instead of sliding it all the way forward so no one else could use the lane. And for the record he was the one who started the confrontation not me.

When you're in line with your truck/trailer and you're up, you take whatever lane is open.
If you're too inexperienced to figure out how to get your boat to the trailer then you should practice at non-peak times.

The position of the vehicle/trailer determines order of launch as well as takeout.

He was nowhere first....his sissy, incompetent ass tried to tie up the lane because he can't load with hugging the dock.

It's good I wasn't there, that selfish sh!t gets me mad as hell.

God, i hate fishing on Sundays and Holidays! THere's always some ding-dong who loads the boat while on the launch, or ties up and goes back for more crap, or takes 1/2 hour to back down several times. Just as bad on the take-out.

I no longer fish Sunday, happy to be retired and fish weekdays. I see both sides of the above argument, but had it been me, I'd have ignored the guy and taken out as I wished , doing the deafmute number.

I fish a lot by myself and loading my 24' boat solo can be a little difficult at times, although I have gotten it down to usually no more than 5 min on the ramp. When I pull in or take out (I usually use Kingston) I try to use the outside ramp since I am by myself and feel I take a little more time than most and for some reason a lot of people don't like the outside ramp. I then tie up using the middle cleats. Some may say a dick move but I feel it gives enough room for someone else to launch and there is another set of cleats behind me if someone is coming into the dock while I am parking the dock. Not sure if I do it right but no has said anything to me, at least to my face.

Never understood some of the people that own boats, they did not get any lessons when they bought them and figure they can do whatever they want and take as long as they want!

I power un-load and power load my sled.
Tie a rope to the bow and to the trailer, back up and slam on the brakes and she is in the water. pull forward to beach the boats, untie the rope and park. Maybe 5 minutes total if I am alone.

Loading is a bit quicker! Back up the trailer into the water a bit and jump in and start it up and drive it up on the trailer, lean over and clip the safety chain and pull it out, finish out up in the parking area away from everyone. Maybe 5 minutes if I am alone, much quicker if I have someone to back the trailer in so I can stay int he boat with the engine running!

Cracker weekend.......moving on.Good luck,

SZ

BW, you are part of the problem. Seriously.

Be ready, always. Trailer had the right of way. Always. 1-3 minutes max for load or unload. By yourself in a sidewind, add a bit. Dont be too proud to accept help, and you need it, if you are alone Always offer to help the solo guy, but be prepared to learn something from the guy launching by himself.

Everybody else is not on your slow assed timeline.

September 16 and on, Region 6 boat ramps could be a real pain. My concern is the parking problem.....while the Port of GH has talked about the launch, at 28th Street, and the related parking problem.......nothing major has been done!!!!

Bring camera.....could be a real cluster xxxx......

BM -
The issue occurs when the launch becomes a major "take-out" with lots of traffic.

When I return to the launch and see a boat at the end of the finger pier am I to assume that it is ok to park in front of that boat as I retrieve my trailor or should I look for one where I can get in "line".

Nothing messes up a orderly take during busy times than a boat out of line along the loading dock for those looking to load their boats without driving on.

I understand how your method is the best for you in terms of getting a quick exit and it should work great when there is empty dock space. However if all/most the docks are in use it can slow things down for the "fleet".

Just my thoughts as an gray beard that fishing alone a lot.

Curt

Here in PT there are no ramps with more than one lane to launch/retrieve boats.......far from ideal. So we end up with boats going and coming and the only way I know of to attempt orderly process is to "ask" loudly....."Which way you goin'?".....and then act appropriately. I am very efficient at put-in and take-out, but many are not.....patience and being helpful benefits all.

If in doubt......ASK....it's better for everyone.

The top of my "get irritated" list is trailored sailboats.......grrrrrrrr

If you tied up the the end of the dock and went for your trailer, where did you expect anyone else to tie up so they could get theirs?

If I came into the dock and saw a boat tied out by the end I would assume that they were just leaving and or coming right back to go out.

Patience and maturity is what is needed at these ramps and to tell the selfish oafs not to LOAD their boat on the ramp!

Fishy