My first time out on the water for the 2010 season unfortunately didn't start without me scratching my head, wondering... What are people thinking?
When places like LaSalle Lake and Braidwood Lake open for the first time for the season, there are always a whole lot of people who want to launch their boat.
But what's so nutty about this is that boaters never checked to see if their outboard would start. They never prepared for the first time on the water after a long winter.
Too many anglers will get in line, pull up to a ramp, then start thinking about taking their transom saver off, unlatching the hold-down straps, and putting their gear in the boat.
All of this should be done off on the side somewhere. Take all the time you want, but don't block the ramp. In the time it takes for you to get ready with all those things that you should have done earlier, 2 or three other boats could have been launched.
I was coming off the water today. I got the truck and started to back out of the parking space to go down the ramp. There was a boat on the trailer that just pulled out. It was at the top of the ramp. The two guys were just standing there with their arms on the gunwale of the boat and talking. They stood there and watched a couple other people use the other two ramps.
I'm okay with people using ramps. But when people are waiting, why do you have to block the ramp for 10 minutes for no apparent reason. Yes, I thought for a moment that they my have had a problem, a breakdown, who knows. But it was as case of nothing more than two inconsiderate people who should be banned from the lake for their stupidity.
Come on guys and gals. Let's be aware of the fact that others want to use the boat ramp. Launch your boat or pull it out then clear the area so someone else can get it.
I can't wait to see what happens at Heidecke Lake when it opens up on April 1. It's almost a guarantee that there will be two or three people there who will either have a boat that won't start or they be spending 15 minutes trying to back down the ramp. Practice in a parking lot will ya!!!
I'm done.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: boat check, Boating, Illinois Outdoors, launch ramps
Don, I couldn't have said it better.....being a boater this topic really gets my goat. I dont think people intentionaly tie up the ramp....but if they had just done a little prep work etc all would be happy! This post kinda sounds like a "speak your peace" topic.
basserjim, I guess you can say that tis is a "Speak Your Peace" topic.
I've seen this at Heidecke Lake many times, not to pick on that park. It's a great lake, great park, and the people there do make this one of the primiere outdoors locations in Chicagoland. But it seems that early in the season, the big fault is boaters who don't know how to back up a trailer.
On a couple of occasions, I've seen people go up to others having trouble and tell them get out of the truck and let me back it in for you. And they have.
Guys and gals, if you are not experienced at backing a trailer, practice in an empty parking lot.
One trick I've learned is to keep one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Back up S-L-O-W-L-Y. Speed is your enemy when backing up. If you need to turn left, lift your hand on the wheel to the left. Need to go right, lift your hand to the right. With your steering hand at the bottom of the wheel, your trailer will move in the direction you move your hand. Really simple but still needs practive.
Dude thats like totally insane
Jess
www.anon-vpn.net.tc
Insane? Well, I hope that's a compliment. Blocking ramps for no good reason is... Crazy. Unless you're talking about my tip on backing up a trailer. Sure, it's a bit nutty, but it works.
Thanks for jumping in on this one.