So I am a forming a new organization everyone is welcome to join all that is needed is a little bit of common sense and curtesy for your fellow man.
My organization is the Society Against Morons At Boat launches or S.A.M.A.B. Cause you know what I can't believe how utterly stupid and inconsiderate some people can be, it's just utterly unbelievable and it's getting worse every year. What is it about people that they think it's alright to pull up in front of a boat launch, block the ramp and then get their boat ready ?? Like my God. I have seen so much of this this past summer it's crazy. It's to the point I really try and avoid the lakes on weekends and evenings, I just don't have the patients. I have gotten into a few spats this summer already cause I just don't care anymore I have started to set people straight. Take this past Sunday, I go out for an evening fish, I get to the launch and am getting my boat ready off to the side, this moron pulls up ahead of me, backs halfway down the ramp then gets out with the kids and all the coolers and what ever and starts getting his boat ready, I am like wtf is going on here. So I pull up as usually there is room for two boats on the ramp, but not with this moron, he has her down the middle. Then he starts waving his hands around at me like I am the goof. So I jumps out of the truck and get in his face. I am like look buddy whats is the problem here, I go on to tell him calmly about proper boat launch ethics and he gives me the old I don't give a f#ck, well no shit buddy. I came so close to spudding that man in the head he has no idea, he's damn lucky he was with the family. But I walk away, after he was launched and I launched I caught up with him as he was coming down the hill from his truck, I think he could tell it wasn't his time to beak off and he starts making excuses,, what ever I let it go and again politely go over a few rules with him. What ever, water under the bridge. But it just never ends. Today I was launched and out of the way but waiting for a friend to come. This guy pulls up and backs his truck down the ramp and has his boat in the water, then he gets out his wallet and gos to pay for the ramp fees lol.. I didn't say anything but come on man, use your head. That guy had the ramp tied up for a good 10 min and totally oblivious to the rest of the world you know he is the only person alive. These are just a few of the examples of what I have seen this past summer.
Come on people let's get it together now.
Rule number 1 - get your boat ready off to the side of the ramp do not occupy a ramp or block a ramp any longer than is absolutely necessary. All you need is one strap on you boat when you back down the ramp and that's your bow hook.
Rule number - 2 - after you are launched do not tie your boat up (unless absolutely necessary) on the inside of a dock blocking the ramp area, tie your boat up either on shore or on the outside of the docking area.
Rule number -3 - when loading your boat, after it's loaded again do not block the ramp. Hook up only your bow line and then pull up out of the way and proceed to tie down and wrap up your boat.
These are three simple rules that can really make a huge difference at a launch, these are all common sense issues you would think anyone with any respect for other people would be aware of what they were doing.
Why is it that when we have to right a boater exam these few things aren't part of the exam, this should be the most important part. I know why, because the boater license is nothing more than another tax grab by the government they could give a damn about anyone's safety it's only about the money.
