I feel ya skeeter and I hear what you are saying. I always block the parking lot as opposed to the ramp to undo my straps, transom saver, ect.... Heck, sometimes I'll undo that [censored] in the whataburger drive thru 15 miles from the ramp just to speed things up.

now, now, everybody was a rookie at one time

HAHA This is awesome.

It is about being considerate and not having the attitude that this is my boat ramp once I get there. I understand problems with motor starting or accidently forgetting something, or having to retry getting the boat on, but you don't load on the ramp. You should not get in line to launch or load unless you are ready to backup and move the boat.

I was waiting to load and a truch was backed up with this person in the water appearing to have a problem with a jet ski. After over 5 minutes his buddy comes from the store and they f@rt around for at least 5 more minutes before deciding to move.

Problems arise but just be cosiderate of those waiting in line and of those who are having geniune issues.

Just got my new Tracker 165 a month ago and I love it and love my wife for getting it for me. Before I took it out on the water I searched the internet for videos and instructions on launching and loading a boat and what etiquette was. It was very helpful. I've also practiced backing the trailer up and am getting pretty good at it. BUT, I've always had my wife to help.

Tomorrow morning, I'm taking it out by myself for the very first time. I'm excited. Just put a new Humminbird 597 ci HD di on it yesterday. Anyway, it's taken a month for me to build up the courage to go it alone because of reading comments about people being furious about us newbies. I'm scared. Very scared! Less about launching that re-loading. I don't think I can do it by myself. The wife called around to various ramps and we found a couple that will help people out with loading and unloading.

I hope there's no one who's impatient at the ramp at Conroe in the morning. You see, I have scleroderma. It's a skin disease that makes it difficult to use my fingertips because of severe pain. Soooo....it's going to take me a little bit longer because I've never launched by myself.

What I hope is that if I'm having problems and getting frustrated with making people wait that someone will help me instead of staring me down.

I get the idea of having your boat prepped before backing up and I do that. What ya don't know sometimes, is WHY it's taking someone so long. Some of us have practiced and watched videos but it may take us a bit longer for reasons of which you're unaware.

Even us diseased folks like to catch fish....from a boat, which has been a life-long dream :-)

If I piss you off tomorrow morning at daybreak at Stow-A-Way marina, please accept my apologies in advance.

Damn will yall please read the comment carefully. I didn't say anything about backing the boat or being new to fishing. I understand I have only had my boat for a couple of yrs and I have my own horror stories. But I fished with my grandpa for ever and I have manners and I am considerate towards other boaters. This is solely about taking care of pre launch activities before backing down ramp. You know if I saw someone having trouble I would help them because I hope they would do the same for me.

My comments weren't directed at you xxSKEETERxx. :-) There are folks who DO get frustrated with those of us who are new, or launching by ourselves for the first time or have other issues like I have. And they don't help. I see them at the ramps sitting in their trucks a-gripin' and a-moanin'.

Like I said in my post, I get the point of your post.

Here's to tight lines!!!

Can't we all just geT along

Absolutely!

Well I managed to launch and retrieve my boat today without too many problems. The two problems I had were:

At launch, I tied the bowline to the trailer like I was supposed to to keep the boat from floating away. BUT, I forgot to disconnect the winch strap! LOL Wondered why it wouldn't move off the trailer in reverse.

At recovery, I had the trailer a bit too deep in the water. Had to lift the bow and turn the winch handle to get the tip of the bow to seat correctly.

Not too bad for my first try, I suppose. About 10 minutes for each part. Partly because the water is soooooo low. I'll feel much more comfortable next time. I'm especially proud that I remembered to put the drain plug in. HaHa!

Two slaps on topwaters and two taps on a stick bait, but no fish. Was still fun to get to know Miss Toby(my boat).

Tight lines!!!

the biggest problem turn off headlights when its dark and your on the ramp the rest of us are blinded

I try to have all my stuff loaded and my boat ready to float before I get on the ramp because.............I KNOW I'm not the best backer.

I'm hoping the effort to be ready will give me a few points of forgiveness when I'm backing. From the sound of things here, I'll get those points.

Hardest part for me is backing the empty trailer. Can't see it out the back glass. Yes, that's me: The guy that hasn't learned to use the mirrors.

Here's what I do to compensate: I drop the tailgate. Then I can see the trailer.

I'm gonna learn to use the mirrors at the house before this Spring's fishing season. I swear!

wish me luck!

+1

My only advice is PLEASE turn off your headlights at the boat ramp so others can back down safely without worrying about hitting you truck/suv/car/whatever. Yes it is rude to not have all your gear in the boat before getting on the ramp, but turning the headlights off to parking lights only is a must.

My wife is great with the boat, loading and unloading but on those days that are slow and want a confrontation and maybe some makeup sex, I'll ask her to back the trailer down. She always gets frustrated no matter whatever I say or don"t say and I am to blame. The perils of being a man!

I load everything beforehand but I'm a terrible backer-upper. Just started to learn how to back the boat up.

I'm OK if I can have the WHOLE ramp, but if someone is already unloading in one of the lanes, I'll let someone else with more experience jump ahead of me.