Patience at Busy Public Boat Landings

[Kwassy1]

This past weekend I got a chance to take my girlfriend fishing for the first time, she has never fished before, but is very eager to learn.  Needless to say she also has no experience driving a boat, or backing up a trailer.  At the end of the day, we made our way back to the access, like usual it was busy, there were a few boats waiting, so we just hung out, and waited for the ramps to slow down a little bit.  When I felt like we had some time I pulled up to the dock, I jumped out and went to get the truck, while she held the boat.  By the time I got the trailer backed in there was a handful of boats waiting, along with one guy who was clearly disgusted at the amount of time it was taking to get out of HIS way.  I jumped in the boat, loaded it, and pulled it out.  This whole process was only a few minutes, and I thought it went pretty well, but again it was made VERY clear by this guy that it took me too long.  After an awesome day on the water, it was completely ruined by one guy not being patient enough to wait a couple extra minutes.  For the sake of my girlfriend, who now felt terrible because she thought she did something wrong, I stayed as calm as possible and I went about my business with the rest of the process.  Boat ramps are already one of the most stressful parts of the fishing process, I think we all as a group need to calm down and relax a little bit, it doesn't always have to be a battle.

[ozzie]

Sorry about your experience at the landing!  Don't let one impatient person ruin your day at the landing.  I am use to the zoo at a landing so I have become really tolerable of many when watching what goes on at the landing.  You had done all you could do to make it as smooth and quick of a process as possible and that is all anyone can ask.  If a person is having troubles at the landing I have found it better to offer a helping hand rather than be impatient and get all huffy puffy about things as that doesn't change the situation at all.  There are instances that still annoy me at a landing but a person doing what they can but just happen to have to do it all (back trailer and land boat) I never have issues with as  one person can only do so much.  Hope that one person doesn't change your girlfriends mind about getting out on the lake!!

[ANYFISH2]

No doubt, I hope this doesn't discourage your girlfriend.  Unfortunately, everyone is in such a hurry all the time, look at the speed on our roads.  I try to help other whenever it is appropriate, and leave myself time if things get hectic at the landing or I, myself have issues loading the boat.  I just try to ignore the impatient.

Hope your next trip is even better than your last.

[Juan Grande]

I'm very patient at the ramp because I realize some people don't launch their boat often and it takes them a little longer.  It also takes longer when you're by yourself or have someone with you who isn't comfortable driving the boat on or backing the trailer in.  Like Ozzie said, I'm more likely to offer a hand to someone who is struggling than to get impatient with them.

That being said, nothing is more annoying than people who are inconsiderate and block the launch because they're talking, tying down their boat or whatever.  Once your boat is on the trailer and is secure, move along!  

[HNTNBUX]

If someone is doing things in a competent way whether by themselves or in tandem I have no problems waiting.  Broken or damaged boat/trailer again, no problem.  Start loading or unloading coolers, clothes, etc....unstrapping or other things best done in the parking lot and yes you are now wasting my time.  I make sure my boat is set up for efficiency at the landing as I will never be that guy.

 

I am biased as this summer I watched that guy landing his new bass boat with his new crew cab 2500 diesel.  Based on the parking arrangements and to be polite to the guys waiting behind me I parked next to that guy.  I knew it was a mistake but it was more important to me to not leave the last parking place at the landing next to that guy as it would make the angles difficult for the guys behind me.  After watching that guy race around the lake driving his boat with the motor trimmed up way to much I returned to the landing to find that he hit my trailer with his truck.  

 

So keep in mind not all of these less than competent people at the landing are harmless.  

 

[sunniewally]

sometimes a little help when an old goat "me" to land a boat is helpful when its somes hard to be in two places at one time. really does make it faster for all concerned when its windy.

[gunner55]

I spent 4 hours at the PA, helping the lake assoc. do AIS monitoring, on our lake for the walleye opener of 2015. We had almost 30 units in about 3-3.5 hours. There was a few impatient people but everyone kept their cool. What surprised me the most was the number of trailers going either up or down the ramp without the safety chain being hooked up. There was also few who  forgot to put the plug in. Both I attribute to them being in a hurry/alone and/or at least 1 member of the group being uncomfortable with the situation. Im of the "lend a hand mindset" rather than sit & watch while getting PO'ed