“You can tell a new boater when”

dwna1a

dwna1a

Well-Known Member
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Apr 23, 2012
5,981
James River
Boat Info
88 Weekender 300 "Seahorse"
Engines
Twins 350
Just to make folks smile I thought I’d start a new thread. Feel free to add one in

Yesterday while working on my boat when this one came up, even my daughter, who works for the marina was shaking her head. The boat had put in early to going fishing did everything right, no issues at all. It’s when he came back. He came up to baby and I and wanted to know how much was it to remove the boat? He paid to put in but thought he was to pay again to take her out.

I had to walk away and let baby handle that one.
 
Some marinas charge each way to use the ramp. Some even have a gate at the ramp that is like a parking garage. Most don’t though. I paid $20 in and $20 out at Deep creek lake MD but if you launch at the less convenient state park you pay only once.
 
blaster said:
Some marinas charge each way to use the ramp. Some even have a gate at the ramp that is like a parking garage. Most don’t though. I paid $20 in and $20 out at Deep creek lake MD but if you launch at the less convenient state park you pay only once.
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me, really?
 
Okay, out of respect to @dwna1a, I'll start with this:
derailed-zps7021e6af.jpg

I pay ten bucks a year to get a state park pass which gives us unlimited use of the ramps. Most of them are pretty nice.

As for new boaters, you can pretty much pick them out by how long they tie up the ramps. The last wake boat we got stuck behind tied up to the ramp side of the dock, pulled out all of their gear onto the dock, and it wasn't until that was all done that the driver finally waddled up to retrieve the truck/trailer and pull it out of the water. Why couldn't they pull the boat first, then unload their gear up at the parking area? Dorks!
 
Wow, I used to go to launch ramps with my brother-in-law decades ago when he has a 24’ Wellcraft we used for lots of Chesapeake Bay fishing, it was pay for put-in only. That was three decades ago, tho. I’ve only owned Sea Rays that we kept in marinas, so never had to deal with launch ramps. That seems really wrong to me, double-billing, I’d do everything I could to avoid those ramps, including driving a bit further, paying more in fuel, to take business AWAY from the bandit ramps,
 
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We've all seen the fenders flapping in the wake. You can often spot a new boater by their marina habits. Leaving dock water connected when they leave the boat. Tying the boat hard against one finger, in double finger slips. Leaving the anchor light on during the daytime. Then there are those helpful dock mates who inform you your boat is sinking when they see the water coming out from the HVAC.

Full disclosure; I've been guilty of most of these things.
 
I always pull up my fenders, I have the OCD about flopping fenders….. I DO cinch our girl up against one finger in our two-finger slip, intentionally though,(which makes it OK, LOl) because the Admiral is a beautiful gal of 5’. So……that helps for her boarding and I do everything I can to keep our boat time as enjoyable as possible. Naturally, so it will continue as long as possible……my parents did raise some fools, but they were all girls…….:p:cool:
 
Nater Potater said:
Okay, out of respect to @dwna1a, I'll start with this:
derailed-zps7021e6af.jpg

I pay ten bucks a year to get a state park pass which gives us unlimited use of the ramps. Most of them are pretty nice.

As for new boaters, you can pretty much pick them out by how long they tie up the ramps. The last wake boat we got stuck behind tied up to the ramp side of the dock, pulled out all of their gear onto the dock, and it wasn't until that was all done that the driver finally waddled up to retrieve the truck/trailer and pull it out of the water. Why couldn't they pull the boat first, then unload their gear up at the parking area? Dorks!
Click to expand...

Yea, ramp etiquette is a dead giveaway
 
“I always pull up my fenders, I have the OCD about flopping fenders….. ”

I am with you …. I think fenders flapping and dragging in the water spoil the look of the boat…but in the Thousand Islands nobody seems to worry about looks anymore.
Then again, with a Seadoo on the platform, a paddleboard along the rails, a kayak on the hardtop, and a rolled up floaty pad on the cabin top, dangling fenders don’t really matter, I guess.
 
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I must say that my trailering skills are not the best. People must think I am a new boater. I leave our SPX210 in a slip on a lift all year. I pull it once a year for the annual maintenance. We live 10 miles from the marina. After the maintenance is done, the trailer is parked for a year. My skills get rusty.
 
Don't get me started on the bouncing fenders.

How about dragging a 25' dock line in the wake on plane?

I have an older newbie couple next door as of August. The never ending string of questions that imply that no research whatsoever was done pre purchase is getting old. Worse is his assumption that I'm now his personal mechanic.

I'll have to create some distance next season somehow without creating tension.
 
Soulshine said:
Don't get me started on the bouncing fenders.

How about dragging a 25' dock line in the wake on plane?

I have an older newbie couple next door as of August. The never ending string of questions that imply that no research whatsoever was done pre purchase is getting old. Worse is his assumption that I'm now his personal mechanic.

I'll have to create some distance next season somehow without creating tension.
Click to expand...
We had a person pulling a tube with someone in it though the marina. They were following the no wake, but still they had 60 feet of rope behind them. Sometimes there is a lot of traffic in and out, not only did I have to watch out for boats, but I had to watch out for the tube. I guess it gets back to people only think of themselves anymore.
 
Let's not forget kids jumping off the swim platform in the marina, sitting on the bow while under way, etc.

I live and boat in a place where a solid 90% of owners don't have a single clue. The rest of us try to avoid them.
 
My "CSR" at the marina, who has "been boating all her life" called me last week and said my bilge pumps were not working. As if they should be constantly running.

Turns out that she was referring to the HVAC pump cycling with the units. "It's the third hole from the back". I had to explain to her about water source heat pumps, how the pump cycles, and why it was not on. Toward the end she says "Oh, it came back on, I guess it's OK".

Turns out her "life of boating" was a short stint as a "stewardress" on a Lux yacht for a few months.

Do not understand why she is still there.

But she's the one that measures the docks three times a week to check incomimg boat fits. I told her they never change. Floating sections are 8', 2"between, with2' for therollers at the end. Yup, they don't change.

Dumb bitch.
 
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