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Know the ins, outs at the ramp

Get your day on the water - and everyone else's - started right by prepping for launch on land and following ramp rules.

By DAVID A. BROWN
Published July 29, 2006

I'll never forget the feeling of complete helplessness and complete humiliation.

My buddy had just backed his boat down to the ramp, unhooked the winch strap and "bumped" the boat into sliding off the carpeted trailer bunks. A few moments prior, he had handed me the bow line and asked me to secure the vessel while he parked the truck.

Well, it sure sounded like a simple plan. But as the boat slowly drifted backward, I stood there expecting a tightening that never occurred. Seems my buddy had tossed one end of the bow line onto the bow but forgot to cleat it off before launching the boat.

Fortunately, a fellow angler was passing by the ramp and responded to my surely pathetic plea of "Could you please bring me that boat?"

This is but one of several items that need to be addressed prior to launching a vessel. From drain plugs to sunscreen, each boater should make a list of all prelaunch details.

But do so before it's your turn at the ramp. Tuesday mornings in February aren't so bad. But weekends, holidays and just about any day during the summer will have boaters lined up 10 deep at local launch sites.

It's generally accepted that because boating skills vary, launch times will also vary. As long as someone is doing his best, most folks will keep a lid on their impatience. But if someone holds up the process while they load their boat at the ramp, then things can turn ugly quickly.

Boat ramp etiquette requires boaters to prep their boat prior to launch. Load all your tackle, food and beverages at your home or while you wait in the ramp line. When it's your turn to launch, an in-and-out maneuver keeps the flow of boaters moving smoothly.

Regarding bow lines, always check and recheck the connection. If your boat has a bow rail, pass the bow line under the rail before fastening it to a cleat. Running a bow line over the rail, then fastening it to the cleat results in an elevated line angle for the person on the dock. This makes it harder to control the boat, plus the unnecessary pressure placed on the bow rail can loosen the fittings.

On dry land, not many people can shove around even a 16-foot flats skiff. But a floating vessel is easily influenced by firm tugs. Nevertheless, when a boat slides off trailer and wind and/or tide hasten its drift, don't attempt to suddenly halt and redirect the boat with a straight-arm pull.

Make a half wrap around the nearest tide pole and let the solid wooden post absorb the shock and bear the stopping burden. Once the bow line comes tight and the boat stops drifting, smoothly guide it in your direction with measured pulls.

Remember, you don't want to accelerate the boat to a speed that you can't stop - otherwise, the hull will scrape against the rough ramp surface and you'll have to explain the gel coat damage to the boat owner.

Also, note the position and movement of other boaters. Call out polite advisories as needed and most fellow boaters will oblige.

(Tip: If you need to get a fellow boater's attention and you don't know their name, calling out "Captain," is a generally accepted method of courteously requesting attention.)

Other summer boating concerns include:

Portable power: Few frustrations equal that of turning the key and finding your battery is dead. If you're all alone at the dock, you may be out of luck. But carrying a portable battery pack in your tow vehicle can save the day. (This mostly applies to small, single-engine boats.

Weather watching: Knowing what conditions a day may hold will help you plan your course and trip duration. "Dodging" storms is often a necessity, but using this as a justification for tempting bad weather is foolish. If the sky grows angry and you can make it back to the ramp, do so.

Lighting likes boats because of all the metal. Ducking down in the cockpit doesn't provide much protection.

An experienced inshore tournament angler once told me that when he and his partner find themselves trapped in a lightning storm, they've actually gotten out of the boat and crouched neck-deep in the water 20 yards from their anchored vessel.

For general boat operation and boating safety topics, contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at www.cgaux.org or the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Safe Boating.

[Last modified July 28, 2006, 22:35:25]