Ramp stories

[Matt Garcia]

I have always wanted to sit by the ramp with a cooler full of beer and just watch people load and un load. Especially during the the summer holidays. Talk about some comedy.

[malarson]

I was going fishing one early morning and tied up to the dock were two boats one on top of the other. An aluminum jet boat had been coming back to the dock the night before and drove itself right through the middle of a house boat and came to rest right on top of it. The sheriff just towed the two boats together and tied them to the launch. I asked the officer the stupidest question "Was alcohol involved?" He only said "Ya-Think?"

[joe8395]

Matt -

Watching people @ the ramp is like the main event for alot of people out @ Havasu...I have to admit after I get my boat onto the trailer and cleaned up I can't help but watch.

So here is my story -

Last year @ Havasu I had my girl backing the tahoe down the ramp and I was in the boat...as she is pulling out the wheels aren't getting any traction because of how much algae is on the ramp and she still hadn't understood the concept of power to weight.

So as I'm floating in the boat I'm watching my brand new tahoe get lower and lower in the water...let's just say it didn't take me long to jump off the bow and swim like hell to the tahoe..the ramp was so slippery I feel down twice just trying to walk up it.

Got a bit of water into the back of the tahoe but nothing serious...let's just say my girl now understands the importance of not spinning the tires on the ramp....I also understand what it's like to not get any over a 4 day weekend for yelling at her.

[SummerObsession]

Originally posted by joe8395
Matt -

...let's just say my girl now understands the importance of not spinning the tires on the ramp....I also understand what it's like to not get any over a 4 day weekend for yelling at her.

Now THAT'S funny right there!!!

My local lake has a nice cabin area in which several retired folks come for the summer and also the ramp entertainment! On the busy weekends, they drive their golf carts to the ramp area, drink beer and watch the madness!!

It is great fun, I don't know how many skegs I have seen ground down, or how many yelling matches between husband/wife happen!

[raythompson]

I don't know how many skegs I have seen ground down...[/B][/QUOTE]Yep, I did that once, never to do again. I was by myself and forgot to raise the lower unit.

I saw one fella that had an airboat like they use in the swamps of Florida. He backed his trailer down and quite skillfully put the boat on the trailer. When he went to start his truck (a small Nissan) it would not start. So he put his wife in the drivers seat and got back into the boat. He started his airboat and used the propulsion of the propeller to push the truck and the boat up the ramp and eventually pushed the entire rig to the parking space.

I did not realize those boats had that much power. It was noisy as all get out and was blowing little rocks and dust all over the place. It did get the job accomplished.

Of course I have some of my own stories so I might as well embarass myself.

I have launched a boat and forgot the drain plug. Drove around a little bit, and then beached the boat. A couple of hours later that sucker is really beached with water half way up the engine. Had to dig under the boat to get the plug in. Started the bilge pump and about an hour later the boat is floating again.

You only have to do stupid stuff once to remember not to do it again.

[Lucky 275]

I left the plug out of my stars and stripes. Let my wife unload the boat from the trailer and I parked the jeep. I Looked down in the console and saw the drain plug. I sprinted about 200 yards to the boat yelling the whole way. I'm sure it was a site to see. Me running ,and shes sitting in a sinking boat clueless withno idea what to do.

Last summer I was loading the Landlock in the boardracks, got distracted, and forgot to bungee it in. Needless to say it bounces right out onto the boat ramp, and splits the side wide open. Once again all eyes on me...dumb@ss

[rob_and_trish]

Since we started boating my wife and I have a system - she gets in the boat - I back her down - she moves the boat off - I park the trailer get back to the dock and she gets me. When we get back - she drops me off - I get the trailer back it in - she parks the boat. Shes a better driver than most men I know.

One time Im waiting on the launch to get her from the lake - there is a fire/rescue crew there - they just got done doing training in the lake - it was a bit windy that day and it took the guy a few tries to get his boat on the back of their trailer.
They finally pull it out - and there are like 10 guys hanging around packing there gear up. I back in - and she heads for the trailer. They all stop and start watching her - she proceeds to put it on the numbers and we pull out. All the guys start applauding and ribbing the captain of their boat.
She gets off the give a bow to them.
Priceless moment!

[tigeone]

Ramp "Mishaps"

Years ago in Poulsbo Washington was headed out fishing with my buddy.Got to the ramp bout 5:00am,swung the truck and boat around and got out to check and happend to see 2 headlights beaming out of the sea water!!! Old 77 F250.Park pawl failed and the E brake wasn`t set.It sucked for him but I was just a young lad and had to laugh my a** off.Never seen it since.
Be safe everyone..

[CessnaCaptain]

It Happened To Me........

After a long day of boating at Lake Mead on my daughters birthday my wife took the younger kids and the older folks to return our rented pontoon while I took the experienced teens to recover our Tige'. We tied to port at the dock and the children started the drill of securing the boat for travel. I took the long walk to get the truck. Seems too perfect, doesn't it, just wait.

As I traveled over the hill to head down the ramp I saw all the(experienced teenagers) children running, waving arms, and screaming. I could see their was no blood, the boat was in place, and was at a loss as to what the problem could be. Well it seems that while they were hard at work, the boat behind ours (older Sanger flatbottom) was trying to pull out from behind us. In doing so he drove over the back, yes up and over, of my super strong Tige' and drove away. Luckily the kids had presence of mind to just fall into the floor of the boat. I now can understand their horror.

Next I called 911 to report the incident. As I did I was shown the offending boat and noticed he was driving away in the marina at a high speed. Then he started doing circles. I waited for Lake Patrol and they didn't come. So when he started to pull out of the marina I decided to take matters into my own hands and apprehend him myself. I apologetically admit to flying thru the marina. albiet safely, and verbally convincing the perpetrator to return to the dock area as the police would like to speak with him.

Upon returning my kids were unloading on the officer the strange events as were the bystanders. Amazingly the officer figured out what must have went through the offenders mind. He stated that the man was driving the boat like a car and didn't understand that it didn't have front wheels. Sounds logical. The other guy comes to find out was just trying out his very first boat with his family. After finding out that Tijauna style driving was not allowed he conviently could no longer speak english and was Cited for everything possible.

Damage to my Tige'? Minimal cosmetics. That says alot!
Day at the Lake with family on Tige', Priceless!

[dachbr]

One day in August we were waiting in line to launch our boat at a small ramp. There was a Chevy Tahoe and a bass boat in front of us and about four more boats behind us. The Tahoe lined up on the ramp and just sat there! It was hotter than hell and didn't take long for the "Ramp Rage" to get started. The vehicles behind us started honking and I was muttering to my wife something like "what's this ******* doing" .................... and then I saw him place his wheelchair on the asphalt by his drivers door. Talk about feeling like an ***! I jumped out and helped him from his wheelchair into his boat, backed his Tahoe in to launch him then parked and locked it in the parking area. When we got our boat in and I took him his keys he said he was sorry to be a bother but he wanted to fish and didn't have anyone to go with him. I told him it was our pleasure and asked him when he would be pulling out. We met him back at the ramp in the evening and helped him load up. Just a pleasant memory I won't soon forget.

[NICKYPOO]

Gold star for you.

[bfrank]

WOW dachbr
That is an awesome story!!!!!!

[whitlock87]

Our story takes place Katherine Landing on Lake Mohave
My wife was in the boat floating around waiting for me to back the trailer down,
I back the trailer down on the far right dock (as your driving to the ramp). There was a truck in the center lane waiting to load a jet boat, but his wife was having some problems lining up as there was a large crown line with its bow tied to the dock and it stern drifting out in the ramp lanes. My wife was about 10 feet behind her when it happened.

All of a sudden just as the jet boat got pass the crown line, the guy init decides to drop the bowline and slam the thing into full reverse!
My wife punches the throttle does a hard left and turns into the slips area.
(At this point I am waiting to her the sound of broken fiberglass, as she must have gave it full throttle.)
The guy in the crown line starts to leave, when all of a sudden I see my boat coming out of the docks bow first. Not sure how she did it, but she shoot the boat into the slip area and did a 180 and came back out.
After getting the boat on the trailer and listen to wife tell me how much of an a@@ the guy was, I noticed that my boat did not even get a scratch on it.

Ever since that day I have my wife put the boat on the trailer all the time.

[Wake Havasu]

And you have a nice boat too!

I saw it at Tige last Sat.

[wrangler]

Ok...I'll add a short one for the good of the order. When we first got our last deck boat (the one we just sold), we brought it home from Havasu after the purchase and took my parents out on it at Lake Perris on a Sunday afternoon just for a little spin and some afternoon snacks etc... It was October six years ago as memory serves me...

I put the boat in the water and had everybody climb aboard and hang out at the ramp while I ran the truck up to the parking lot. Mom, Dad, wife, two kids...all happily sitting there as the bilge was filling with water since I forgot to put the plug in with all my excitement!

I came walking down the ramp to see the boat looking a little low in the water...I thought, self, that boat looks mighty low in the water I bet you didn't put in the plug! Sure enough as I ran to the boat, I looked on the dash where I put the plug so I wouldn't foget it and there it sat... I ripped off my shirt, jumped in and put the plug in much to the dismay of my family who still hadn't figured out that anything was wrong... Their feet were about to get damp...but they couldn't see that yet...

Found out that day that the bilge pump only worked when the aux key was turned on...hmmmmm...who designed that piece of technology... But it did work once it had power and the rest of the day went without a hitch...aside from a good long pump out of the bilge! Nothing like a fresh lake perris water cleaning

My wife and I laugh about it now as we sit from time to time on our golf cart at Site Six and watch the family disharmony and yelling matches that seem to go with the territory at that public ramp!!!