who was right?

[jimmy4218]

Yesterday I was on my way in my boat to meet my friend who was driving my truck and trailer at the landing. On the way there I passed a guy in another boat fishing- didn't think much of it at the time. When I got to the landing, another guy (who was taking his sweet time) was launching his boat- so I got in line. I see another truck waiting to back down the ramp next to my friend with my truck. Just figured he was waiting for his buddy who was the guy I passed on the way there who had pulled up behind me five minutes after I got there. The second the lollygagger (he had backed into his parking spot a bare minimum of four times- no kidding) had backed away from the dock, I pulled in (This landing only had one lane) and as I did, late fisherguy's buddy cuts my friend off and backs into the water. I waved my hands as he did this and he looked right at me, but didn't seem to care. So I pulled my boat to the side and watched as these two knuckleheads fight to get their boat onto the trailer. Took 15 minutes. By this time I was infuriated and after they pulled out the guy from the boat says to me "how's it goin?". I didn't say anything as I walked by which is very unlike me because I knew if I said anything to this guy it wasn't going to be "well it sure is a nice day, isn't it?" These two were from Indiana and this was on Shagawa lake in Ely, MN so I don't know if these two were amateurs or if that's how it works in Indiana (NOT a rip on the state or it's residents) as in trailer first, then boat because as far as I know, it's who gets their boat to the dock first (remember- the guy cut my friend off as he was backing in). The reason I was THAT mad too was I was running late to pick up my Son from my Mom (the fishing had finally picked up after that cold front moved in Thurs. night). Was I in the right or is it trailer first, then boat?

[Terroreyes]

You're right, but it won't be the last time unfortunately.

Happens around here on a regular basis. Watched a guy do it over the weekend to a pleasure boater, then hammer the boat full throttle out of the ramp area and gave everyone the finger on the way out. Amazing some of the stuff you see and bungholes encounter at the boat ramp.

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[trailer first]

Whatever truck/trailer that is next in line goes.

[vetspet.ind]

since they were from indiana, i'd say they were in the right because i've noticed hoosiers are way nicer and smarter than wolverines which are nocturnal, sneaky, and kinda pushy animals...in indiana we grow sheep...very kind hearted animals...except hoosiers who went to indiana university...they seem rather slow witted and very obnoxious and most of them came from the state of minnesota i think...steve..maybe it has to do with the superior education we get here vs in minn...i think joe smith will even agree with me on that one...

[bountyhunters]

the only right person in this set up was YOU, you left it slide by and kept your tongue in your mouth , who;knows ,now days people get shot for alot less ,

[Vikings Fan]

Excellent point. Dead right is still dead. Walking away from a potential altercation was a good move. Remember, the life you save may be your own. Road rage can happen anywhere. A few minutes waiting for an inconsiderate or thoughtless individual will not end your life. Hard to do at times, but the best response was what was done here.

[big_john]

are you kidding me...?

I carry iron with me...Glock 9 under the seat of my '06 Chev....and yes I have a concealed weapons permit. If this guy got hot with me, I'd a got hot right back at im.

[jimmy4218]

Like I said- this isn't a rip on people from your state- and look up your states position on education VS MN.. Chill out.

[Dakotadaze]

What is this, the wild west ??

I agree with an above poster....how about acting like a civilized, educated adult in this situation? You folks out east are running on an entirely different wavelength than here in the west. A situation like this wouldnt bother any of us whatsoever. A western guy would probably pull his jiggen rod out, and kick his feet up for the 10-15 mins it took the other boys to clear out. (If not dock on the other side, and give em a hand)

You eastern guys start talking about pulling guns on each other. Cripes sakes! Get a grip, .....take a prozac...whatever you do, dont move out here.....wish we could export every one of ya!

[jimmy4218]

Oh and by the way- wolverines represent Michigan- in Minnesota it's Gophers.

[Yup]

Yup, that is the way it works everywhere I have ever been.
I been a lot of places.

[lund115]

I agree bountyhunter,
A guy like that obviously has no courtesy for anyone else on the boat ramp or lake. If you say something to him, all you do is feed the fire. People like that are always looking for an argument and love confrentation. Your silence will prolly piss him off more, than if you would say something. I have had plenty of problems putting the boat in and off the water with idiots like this. It is better to not get upset with these guys or get them upset at you. You have to remember that your trailer and truck are parked in the ramp all day, if you are putting your boat in the water. It doesn’t take much for these guys to put a key down the side of your truck, or put a knife in your tire when it is parked.

[Unlogged T-Mac]

Unfortunately there are no written rules for launching at most public ramps. We rely on common sense, common courtesy or etiquette, and good manners.
Some folks don't have any of that.
It is a problem, for sure.
Education is all you can do about it. Everybody needs to be on the same page at a busy ramp.

I always try and get newbies up to speed on "ramp etiquette" whenever I take them out in their new boat for their orientation session.
If they are new at it, they aren't offended...they WANT to know.

[John in Mn]

I'm on the "You need to chill out side". This kind of thing is just a fact of life. Deal with it.

And the guy with the Glock. I don't see how that is going to help at all. You get into a verbal with the guy and he kicks your ####. What are ya guuna do. Grab a gun? Right!

[jimmy4218]

My point exactly. I believe I did the right thing by not saying anything, but I wish people use just even common courtesy at the ramp. What these guys did was just plain rude.

[Smitty]

At face value it sounds like he was just inconsiderate.... But, if the "late guy's" buddy was already in the truck to put the trailer in maybe he'd already dropped his buddy off at the ramp and was just out there waiting for him to get teh truck/trailer(so he actually was the first boat to the ramp). Not trying to disagree, just a possibility.

I try not to get too wound up at the ramp any more (and trust me, some days it's tough). I'm out there for relaxation, if I want stress I'll stay at work.

[WAZ]

I agree with trailer first.

[Unlogged T-Mac]

10-4
The order is based on who is in line with truck and trailer.
A good partner jumps out of the boat and RUNS to the truck to get it in line. (Seen them do it)
Meanwhile...the guy in the boat puts stuff back in order and tidys the boat (tackle, etc) and stays out of the way of other loaders until his trailer is coming down the ramp.

[bigstick]

My dad always said trouble is everywhere!! All you have to do is find it!! I've gotton mad at the landing many times the two time i let it get to me I bent the door on my truck in half,the 2nd time i put a nice gouge in my bow for not being centered for lack of concentration (worried about some tourist at the landing) just go have fun. I have made a concerted effort to not let anyone have any influence on my fun ....at the landing,on the road, or on the lake ...

[jimmy4218]

There's no question I have relaxed- ten years ago I would definately have said something, but the older I get, the more I realize things like this are not worth getting into a fight. I guess when I started this post, I was just venting and it felt good to get it out.

[bigstick]

ATTA BOY !!!!!

[Chad]

Truck/Trailer position determine loading-unloading order. Too hard to figure out who was there with the boat first and then you have a cluster with guys hopscotching ahead of each other to back down.

Tourney organizers always go in order of truck/trailer.


ChadM

[Jim Ordway]

I vote for the 1st in line with the truck as well. It should follow that the guy in line with the truck should have the guy in the boat ready to load as well.
As for the glock guy, I am all for the right to carry, but question whether his attitude does anything to support that right and especially the public perception about same.
Take care,

[unlogged Rod Holder]

It would seem that the guys in that other boat had actually gotten to the dock ahead of you and instead of tying off there, they withdrew out away from the dock waiting on the partner they just dropped off to go get the rig. Common procedure as I have seen is the order for launching/loading goes by what order the truck/trailer is in line. I have seen where situations can get screwed up some. When my brother fishes with me, he lets me out on the dock and then withdraws away from the dock to wait for me to go get the truck/trailer and stay out of the way of other boats coming back. BTW T-mac, I'm one of those guys who hustles to go get the truck as I don't like wasting time myself. I have seen where guys tie off their boats to one side of a dock while one guy goes after the rig. This tends to happen when the guy who goes to get the rig also is the only one who will operate the boat and the only skillful backer. Happens a lot with husband/wife teams where wife doesn't have a clue on operating a boat or backing a trailer. That isn't a slight, either. Every partnership works out their own system. Time spent waiting depends a lot on whether there are pleasure boaters trying to launch or load. They seem to struggle the most of any boaters. Jet skis are a close second due to the extremely short turning radius of a jet ski trailer and folks struggle backing down in a straight fashion. Life is too short to get your shorts in a knot.

[overdalimit unlogged]

Any person who is so eager to use his gun has never had to use his gun.

[truckfirst]

trucks and trailers dictate the order. tell your buddy to hustle up the next time.

[Wow]

Seems like there are more important things to worry about than who got their boat on the trailer first.

Just think if you would have fished for 20 more minutes, there would have been no waiting.

[FreeByrd]

It usually works best when the line / order is dictated by the truck & trailer at the launch. There are some rare exceptions and a facility that doesn't have drop off dock can make it even tougher, but in general if the truck/trailer ready at the ramp takes precedence it will go quicker overall.

[jerry bark]

hey vetspet,

know why they are called hoosiers?

cause when two guys from indiana meet up they say:

now who's your mama???

well who's your papa??

dang boy!! we must be kinfolk!!!


cheers
jerry

[jimmy4218]

In the post I said that the guy cut my friend off- indicating that my friend was first. My friend was in position and when the guy who had unloaded pulled away- the guy in the truck cut my friend off. I was first in both positions. That's what got me so mad.

[vetspet.ind]

i kept thinkin about that and at first thought it was the loon...that woulda been funier but i messed up on the wolverine..darn...gophers, lets see...they are hateful little critters who ruin yards and boat ramps may be on their list of stuff they like to destroy...whereas nobody really knows what hoosiers stand for...but our state bird is the cardinal and nobody on this site would ever say anything hurtful about a cardinal...would they?...loons on the other hand could have many things said about them and the people of minn picked this bird so they must be looney too...steve..chill out...open up a can of slack...and remember that purdue will kick minnesotas butt in football this yr..steve

[Jack G]

Sometimes it can be confusing at a busy ramp.

Years ago at Mille Lacs I was fishing alone. I came in to the ramp on a busy weekend day with a storm threatening to cut loose. Lots of families fishing that day. One lane ramp with a small dock. About 10 boats idling around by the ramp. I could not tell which one had got there just before me and more were arriving behind me. I figured most of the boats had probably let off the truck driver and were waiting for their trailer to back down the ramp. Waves were coming in onto the rocky shoreline so I squeezed up as close as I could to the rocks and tied to the dock. I left the main part of the dock available for others to use. When I got to my truck I realized that only three truck/trailers were in line but I got in line and as I approached the ramp I was chastised by some guy who just came off the water who informed me that he was next. I pulled aside so he could access the ramp.

I was confused about how they were trying to keep track of who was next and I really had no intention to cut in front of anyone but it was not something to get all bent out of shape over.

On another day, still fishing alone, I came into a ramp at the start of a heavy rainfall. Multiple boats were coming in. Hardcore fishermen this time. One lane ramp, no dock and heavy waves pounding straight into the ramp and rocky shoreline. All the other boats were letting off the truck driver at the ramp and idling back out to wait for their trailer. Since I was alone I would have had to beach my boat on the foot of the ramp, which would have blocked it while I went for my truck. Consequently, I just pulled my hood down tight and idled around until everyone coming in was clear of the ramp.

As far as I know the rule is that the trucks/trailers line up to approach the ramp and that is how the pecking order goes for who is next. Sometimes it is just not that easy.

Jack

[GR]

geez, no glock please !
Just purchased my "first" trailerable boat and my initial docking was very ugly and slow. I picked a day blow day to practice. I do most of my boating solo, and sure hope people have patience with me !!!
When there's no courtesy dock space available, what's a ""solo"" guy to do? I am more worried about this than I thought I would be, and now "I" could be the target of all the rage I've witnessed at docks as passenger on friend's boats.

GR

[AlW]

Always thought it was trailer first, can't blame the other guy because your late, even if he did cut you off.

Things like this happen, usually not to often and when they do happen to me, I just think the other are morons and let it go at that, ain't gonna make much difference anyway, talking about what..10 minutes extra? Not enough to get upset and ruin your trip over.

btw, the guy with the Glock scares the #### out of me, I have a permit also, but if I ever mentioned I'd use a gun to settle a boat landing dispute, I hope to God someone takes that permit away from me.
Thanks for setting gun rights back 20 years...
You evidently weren't listening during any gun trainning you might have had.

Al .. who hopes to #### never to use his .45...never.

[big_john]

I dont think you all understood me. I'm not going to be pulling a gun on anybody. I carry it for the protection of myself and my family. I read the post as though the fellow cutting people off was hostile...... Maybe I misread.

I"m about the most responsible gun owner you'll ever find. Just feel a lot more secure with it, than without it..we live in a crazy world anymore.

[bhul]

Maybe I'm missing something......I'm afraid I dont see a post anywhere that indicates John was going to "unholster". He just stated that he carry's for the protection of his family. I think most of you just dont like the fact that everyday civilians can/and maybe armed.

Please refer to the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

[mike_simmons]

>You sir are an idiot!!!!!!!!!!
>
> To state in a public forum that you would think to unholster
>your sidearm is unacceptable. Having worked in healthcare for
>numerous years and having seen the results of fools such as
>yourself, settling minor disputes with weapons I pray that you
>lose your right to carry. I truly believe a psych test should
>be mandatory before people are allowed to have a weapon.

He didnt say he was going to unholster it! He said he carried it for protection, and that if need be, he has it available!

I agree, most are just suprised to hear an everyday citizen is packing heat. It's not so uncommon where I'm at....nearly everyone has a shotgun or rifle under the seat.

Settle down DEWYG.

Mike