Lauch ramp making me contemplate selling

[ahopkins22LSV]

Do what you guys feel comfortable doing. Our ramp is nuts too so some times my wife helps and some times she doesn't feel comfortable so she doesn't. Doesn't make a difference to me because we both leave the ramp still in a good mood with each other now. I also take the @Ndawg12 and @shawndoggy approach. It is what it is. I find most things comical now at the ramp rather then get frustrated. 

Edited August 19, 2016 by ahopkinsTXi

[Michigan boarder]

10 hours ago, Fred4 said:

This thread is really making me appreciate living on the lake and being able to have my BU on a lift under a canopy.  Don't sell, it will get better.  Be thankful you and your wife share the interest in boating. Families that boat together stay together!

I swore that I'd never own a boat if I had to trailer it like all the other people I witnessed at the ramp at my lake, after having our own place, own dock, lift, etc.  It's not that big of a deal really, like Shawn said, set your expectations realistically.

That said, since we moved we pay $850 per year to keep our boat on a lift at a slip.  The launch is only 1 mile away from the slip, but to me that $850 is worth avoiding the launch altogether.

[Sunscape fan]

51 minutes ago, Michigan boarder said:

I swore that I'd never own a boat if I had to trailer it like all the other people I witnessed at the ramp at my lake, after having our own place, own dock, lift, etc.  It's not that big of a deal really, like Shawn said, set your expectations realistically.

That said, since we moved we pay $850 per year to keep our boat on a lift at a slip.  The launch is only 1 mile away from the slip, but to me that $850 is worth avoiding the launch altogether.

I agree with you.  A slip would be well worth the money.  And if my local lake or a lake within even a one hour drive from me had a marina with slips, I would consider it.  Unfortunately that's not the case.  So I'm stuck having to figure out a solution.  We are going out on Sunday.  It's supposed to be gorgeous and close to 30 degrees.   It's my daughter's birthday so the whole extended family is going out.  Will be close to 9 ppl on board.  I'm planning to be on the water by 8am and then just come back to pick up the extended family when they arrive.  So I will be driving the boat when its busy at the ramp.   So when I'm launching, it shouldn't be busy at all.....I hope.   And my plan is to return and retrieve at about 230-3...that should be right in the middle of a lull at the ramp.   That way my wife shouldn't have to do anything as she gets nervous, especially in front of family

[Bigstic]

Other people don't make my wife nervous when she launches or loads the boat.  When I stand and watch is when she gets nervous.  Figured this out early on in our relationship.  Launching she and the kids are in the boat I back it down just far enough so she can start the engine and I can unhook the winch.  I get back in the truck and back in until she floats and she backs the boat off and I park.  When it comes time to retrieve the boat she lets me out and I back the truck in.  Once i feel the boat slide up the trailer I jump out and hook the winch and chain and pull it out.  Guarantee if I am watching her she gets anxious and messes up.

[wheelman]

2 hours ago, Sunscape fan said:

I agree with you.  A slip would be well worth the money.  And if my local lake or a lake within even a one hour drive from me had a marina with slips, I would consider it.  Unfortunately that's not the case.  So I'm stuck having to figure out a solution.  We are going out on Sunday.  It's supposed to be gorgeous and close to 30 degrees.   It's my daughter's birthday so the whole extended family is going out.  Will be close to 9 ppl on board.  I'm planning to be on the water by 8am and then just come back to pick up the extended family when they arrive.  So I will be driving the boat when its busy at the ramp.   So when I'm launching, it shouldn't be busy at all.....I hope.   And my plan is to return and retrieve at about 230-3...that should be right in the middle of a lull at the ramp.   That way my wife shouldn't have to do anything as she gets nervous, especially in front of family

Have you ever boated in the deas slough or surrounding channels?they have 2 marinas there and before I had my lake place I moored my boat there for 6 years and never have I ever used a boat so much. 

[Sunscape fan]

Just now, wheelman said:

Have you ever boated in the deas slough or surrounding channels?they have 2 marinas there and before I had my lake place I moored my boat there for 6 years and never have I ever used a boat so much. 

No I never have.  I have always thought the Deas Slough was brackish water and never wanted to put my boat in it. 

[mattpoland]

If I were in your shoes I would do both. Tied the boat to the dock, leave the misic going, back the truck in and then drive the boat on.  Then claim your really picky about the process and your wife is off the hook.  It's not that much extra work to do the whole thing if the other option is going to wreck the day. 

[vanamp]

We get the pleasure of going to te ramp once or twice a week but luckily my wife is not stressed by it she can back up trailer better than most at the ramp and can dock and load the boat too. 

 

Funny twist to the typical ramp situation last time out.  My friend was helping helping out a lady who's husband left her with the boat after launching and of course she is not strong enough and boat was almost washing up on concrete ramp.  Husband comes back and drops his keys in water and amazingly my friend finds them and returns them.  

The funny part is the lady tells my friend he would make a good son in law and tells him her daughters name and to find her on Facebook. 

[braindamage]

Definitely don't sell the boat!!

We trailered for 4 summers and learned that when the ramp is busy the only good option is to wait until there is a break in the action.

Everyone is out there to have a good time and nobody likes being "that person" at the ramp.

Then when it's your turn model the behavior you seek. Sometimes I help others without judgement or anger. Almost always they are appreciative.

I remember our first July 4th fireworks when on the boat. We waited until 1am thinking the ramp would be quiet.

Wrong.

It was too late to wait any longer so I asked my then 13yr old overtired son to drive the boat because I am the only one who knows how to back down the trailer and it was waay too busy to have me do it all. 

I climbed as far way out into the water as I could to catch the boat. He didn't do perfect but to this day I congratulate him. 

I learned that night that if I want my wife and kids to drive the boat or tow rig I've got to be calm and thankful.

[Steve B.]

It's usually just me loading and unloading. So it takes me longer, get the truck, get the boat, etc. Anyway, the guy I kinda held up had an 89 Euro F3 in very nice shape as it turns out.

Young kid and his crew. Reminded me of me 20 or 30 years ago. They went rope free. Young man had the wake dialed in ! Nice to see a young crew rocking the classic boat and so good hearted.

Steve B.

[Sunscape fan]

Today we went out with the family at the same launch.   It was not too bad cause we went out pretty early.  My wife even decided to back the boat off the trailer and picked up the whole family at the dock.  She did it like a pro.  Then came back and got me after I parked the truck.  

When we came back, the launch was busy.  The weather was coming in as it has turned over cast and the wind had picked up.  So my wife dropped me off and went a fair ways away from the launch till I got the truck.   While I was in line, I looked to the north as the launch is in the south end of the lake.  It was like a fleet of boats coming back!!!  We had gotten to the launch JUST in time.   I dumped the trailer in the lake, walked out to the dock and my wife came in.  She got all crossed up but calmly I gave her instructions "forward, neutral, reverse, no neutral again, turn it hard to port and go forward" etc.   She listened very well and brought the boat right up to the dock.   Unloaded the family and I put it on the trailer.  While I was maneuvering, there was a guy floating 20' from the launch waiting, another boat coming to the dock to drop ppl off when there was no space, a skidoo doing donuts just to the left of the launch and two canoes paddling across the launch.   What a fricken zoo.    And the floatila was decending on the launch!!   I put it on the trailer and got the heck outa there!!!    

 

But all in all, my wife did an awesome job today and has said she is willing to practice and if it's not busy, she will practice putting the boat on the trailer.    Today, I had to leave the truck/trailer on the ramp for longer than I'd prefer and I'm sure I annoyed some people...but at the end of the day, my wife's comfort and my family's comfort is more important than if I annoy a perfect stranger.