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Ramp Etiquette

16358 Views 66 Replies 37 Participants Last post by  DoStep
there have probably been many threads on this in the past, but after today a small rant seems required!

why do some people insist on pulling their boat right up to the takeout ramp when it will be 20 minutes or more before they get their boat trailer to the ramp? why do people with kids have to let their kids play all over the ramp when there are trailers backing down? why do people feel the need to de-rig their boat while it is on the trailer on the ramp? and yet others that decide to park their truck and trailer in the loading zone while they have a barbecue?

keep your kids off the roadway and the ramp! do not bring your boat over to the ramp until you are ready to remove it from the water. load your boat and pull your truck and trailer out of the way, you can lash it down and clean out the cooler while NOT blocking the ramp. when it says loading zone, load and unload there and then GET OUT OF THE WAY!
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I think you are preaching to the choir here on the Buzz. At least I hope so. Last week on the Big Hole two boats plugged a swift-water take out and didn't even have there shuttles run yet. We had to wait on an island for them to do so. 40 min +. I really wish there was signs or bulletins at put in/take outs to better educate these people. I believe some are just unaware of their poor etiquette.


Jim
I agree about more signage, but with lack of , I take the responsibility upon myself! lol. Im all about educating folks on the water/ski hill. lol.

as someone who paddles small crafts... I know what you mean... drives me nuts sometimes... it usually takes me less than 5 min to de-rig a trip. if I had to backup a trailer, and wait for all the yahoos to get out of the way, id go crazy! luckily I just pull my little boat up wherever there is space and carry it right past all the yahooos. ( happened to me today at s canyon take out). aint nobody got time for that~!!!! but yeah, why wait for mtn buzz, if there is people being inconsiderate at takeouts...Tell em!!!
it was at Two Rivers park in Glenwood today.

one group had a like new 4 door dodge pickup (orange-ish color) backed into the area near the port a potties perpendicular to the ramp. they had a trailer attached to the truck and were taking up a lot of space and making the approach to the ramp risky for their truck. they had two duckies that said blue sky on them, a 12' cat that looked new, along with dry bags, and other gear spread all over. from the time i parked my boat to the time i was loaded strapped down and leaving, they had not moved. It was at least 20 minutes that i was there and their boats were dry when i got there.

then there was a group of Up Tha Creek boats along the west side of the road going to the ramp. 3 rafts, a pile of life jackets and other gear, then they parked two vans, one with a trailer along the curb (yellow) and proceeded to SLOWLY figure out how to load their gear. one guy was backing toward the ramp and had to go over the curb because of the Up Tha Creek crew. i mention to one of the van drivers that he was parked in a poor spot, i got a dumb look back.

there were 3 boats that came down the fork just as i got to the confluence, one cat, and two rafts full of kids. one woman on the cat told everyone to keep their kids clear of the ramp, but apparently no one listened. the first raft guy got his boat loaded and cleared the ramp quickly, then it was my turn. when the car got on the ramp and i could see the back of the trailer , there were 2 or 3 kids on the ramp behind my trailer, one little girl right in the middle of the ramp facing the other way with no parent saying a word. she was only a few feet from the trailer. i honked my horn and got out about the same time as someone shooed the kid away. numerous kids were at the edge of the water (in the way) when i waded out and got my boat. i pulled my boat out and up to the pavement where i then tied it down. the dodge truck was still there, and the other raft guy was backing over the curb thanks to the commercial idiots.
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Perhaps instead of sitting there stewing just go talk to the parties in a friendly manner and educate them a bit on ramp etiquette - just a thought. If they are newbies, and we all were at some point, they might just appreciate knowing how they should make use of the ramp.
it was at Two Rivers park in Glenwood today.

.
there's a surprise.

the ramp gaper quotient is nearly always inverse to the river's difficulty. so a popular,easy class II run is going to be a class IV gaperfest at the put in's and take outs.

got it? ;)
I don't mind bulldozering right into the gaper takeout scene and pushing their shit aside. Gotten plenty of bad looks but never has anyone said anything. I figure they'll learn to move their boats aside because some brutish asshole will likely come busting in and knock them loose.
Ok - I will say it.

Stay home if you are going to be the grumpy guy on the river and at the boat ramp. I can just picture everyone having a good time and you kicking the ground pissed off, because you have to hang out on the river another 45 minutes.

Talk to people, they are not doing it on purpose and will more than likely help you load if you are nice. They might even give you a beer as a sorry.

It's the river, they are just trying to have a good time and forget about life like the rest of us. They don't need their boss showing up and giving them a hard time. I always love how the grumpy guys efficiency is more important than everyone else good time.

I am not saying that having a shit show on the ramp is the way to do it, but being the guy that bring the dark unspoken negativity cloud over the ramp is just as bad.
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The Real Problem is that all of you are in Rafts.
I knew my post would draw flames from some kind brother. But it's not my responsibility on my day off to educate gapers. Nor do I really have the time. I find it much more efficient to just do it my way. It's not that I'm dark and negative about it I just tend to mosh my way through stuff. After I budge someones shit aside I'll gladly hand them my flask.
Ok - I will say it.

Stay home if you are going to be the grumpy guy on the river and at the boat ramp. I can just picture everyone having a good time and you kicking the ground pissed off, because you have to hang out on the river another 45 minutes.

Talk to people, they are not doing it on purpose and will more than likely help you load if you are nice. They might even give you a beer as a sorry.

It's the river, they are just trying to have a good time and forget about life like the rest of us. They don't need their boss showing up and giving them a hard time. I always love how the grumpy guys efficiency is more important than everyone else good time.

I am not saying that having a shit show on the ramp is the way to do it, but being the guy that bring the dark unspoken negativity cloud over the ramp is just as bad.
I'll agree with talking to people and helping them along. That works a lot better than getting pissed off but as for "getting to spend another 45 minutes on the river" - BS. If your loading your "getting" to spend 45 minutes on the ramp, in your truck, anticipating your river time... If your at the take out, your likely tired, hungry, ready to get going. The last thing I'm going to do is just "chill dude". I will ask first, tell second and do third. I always want to get away from the ramp ASAP. It's my least favorite place on the river.

The best thing we all can do is educate, if that be via civil conversation or angry tirades either works (though I personally believe civil works much better) The clueless folks slowly get better. I know it's always worse at the beginning of the season and gets better. The other way to educate is to lead by example. When it's your turn show them how quickly and efficiently you can load/unload and get off the ramp. I know I can do it typically in less than a minute and I pride myself on that. I've heard folks say "That's how you do it" and that makes me happy. That guy will try next time to do it quickly and efficiently...
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I'll agree with talking to people and helping them along. That works a lot better than getting pissed off but as for "getting to spend another 45 minutes on the river" - BS. If your loading your "getting" to spend 45 minutes on the ramp, in your truck, anticipating your river time... If your at the take out, your likely tired, hungry, ready to get going. The last thing I'm going to do is just "chill dude". I will ask first, tell second and do third. I always want to get away from the ramp ASAP. It's my least favorite place on the river.
...
Well said. The ramp is also the most dangerous place on the river. The majority of slips, falls, cuts, breaks, etc. usually come from someone not paying attention in a wet and sandy crowded area with trucks, buses, boats, gear, and people. Ramps should be cleared as soon as possible, it's a matter of safety not recreation.
Ramps are'nt just for rafts. Pick any boat ramp and some guy is usually yelling at some girl, for doing it wrong. Some boaters prefer to crank the boat onto the trailer, whilee others drive them on. I have a 24 foot pontoon that I can have loaded and off the ramp in just a couple of minutes. New boaters as well as new rafters just need to learn, offer to help.
it was at Two Rivers park in Glenwood today.

one group had a like new 4 door dodge pickup (orange-ish color) backed into the area near the port a potties perpendicular to the ramp. they had a trailer attached to the truck and were taking up a lot of space and making the approach to the ramp risky for their truck. they had two duckies that said blue sky on them, a 12' cat that looked new, along with dry bags, and other gear spread all over. from the time i parked my boat to the time i was loaded strapped down and leaving, they had not moved. It was at least 20 minutes that i was there and their boats were dry when i got there.

then there was a group of Up Tha Creek boats along the west side of the road going to the ramp. 3 rafts, a pile of life jackets and other gear, then they parked two vans, one with a trailer along the curb (yellow) and proceeded to SLOWLY figure out how to load their gear. one guy was backing toward the ramp and had to go over the curb because of the Up Tha Creek crew. i mention to one of the van drivers that he was parked in a poor spot, i got a dumb look back.

there were 3 boats that came down the fork just as i got to the confluence, one cat, and two rafts full of kids. one woman on the cat told everyone to keep their kids clear of the ramp, but apparently no one listened. the first raft guy got his boat loaded and cleared the ramp quickly, then it was my turn. when the car got on the ramp and i could see the back of the trailer , there were 2 or 3 kids on the ramp behind my trailer, one little girl right in the middle of the ramp facing the other way with no parent saying a word. she was only a few feet from the trailer. i honked my horn and got out about the same time as someone shooed the kid away. numerous kids were at the edge of the water (in the way) when i waded out and got my boat. i pulled my boat out and up to the pavement where i then tied it down. the dodge truck was still there, and the other raft guy was backing over the curb thanks to the commercial idiots.
Sounds typical for Two Rivers Park. ;)
Some people are selfish. They will never get it unless enforcement happens. I walk over there shit and don't feel bad about scratching their car as I pass.
Some people are selfish. They will never get it unless enforcement happens. I walk over there shit and don't feel bad about scratching their car as I pass.
And you think they are the jerks? You are sure teaching them a lesson on thinking they are special.
The rio is church for almost all of us. Leave your bad attitude at home and and share the love with all your fellow river rats.
Waaa Waaa Waaa. You scratch my car and you'll likely get a paddle embedded in your forehead asshole. You all are a bunch of big freaking babies. You crybabies are the ones that make public activities tough. You expect everyone to conform to your ideas and get mad if it doesn't happen just like you want it.
Waaa Waaa Waaa. You scratch my car and you'll likely get a paddle embedded in your forehead asshole. You all are a bunch of big freaking babies. You crybabies are the ones that make public activities tough. You expect everyone to conform to your ideas and get mad if it doesn't happen just like you want it.
So, could you elaborate on how all of us are babies? You cut a pretty big swath with that post.
If your lower lip extends out past your upper lip when you are complaining, with or without crocodile tears, you might be a baby. The amount of protrusion is proportionate to the level of immaturity. I would say you know who you are, but the fact is that you will not be able to discern if you are a baby, however, others will know.
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