i sometimes go to a landing that has multiple lanes. Is there a policy on which one to use if more than one is open?
I guess that would depend on your experience level. Me personally don’t give a ratz arse. I can launch from any lane. I’m just that good.
cool…my choice is tide movement dependent.
I just thought I would ask in a general sort of way, to avoid some poor unsuspecting soul from getting yelled at by someone more experienced at a ramp
In that case, I guess we both could have shared to our less experienced boaters… When able load the lane furthest from the dock when the current is flowing towards it. Or … Hey newbee’s try and pick a slack tide to learn launching and landings in.
DOn’t fish like I used to, when I head to the landing I seldom care what phase the tide is in.
I prefer the down current side of dock because I have a solo operation with children. Up current side and boat will rest against the dock. If the up current side becomes available while I’m in the ‘get ready lane’ I will walk to the next in line and explain and tell them they can go around. I’ve been boating over 30 years so my solo system is around 5 minutes from backing in,hooking to dock, parking truck and boating away from dock.
I had two guys at Dawhoo last week plowing twenty foot boats from opposite directions while I was tied off with young kids on the dock. I was about half way from parking the truck and had to holler at the kids to prepare for the big waves that were about to hit the floater. If my boat was on the upstream side there could have been serious injuries and damage from my boat slamming into the dock.
I used to be completely against marine driver’s licenses. Now, I am completely convinced that they are needed to prevent loss of property, injury, and death. I’d have a section in the training about how boat ramps work.
I have been on the water around Charleston for 50+ years and am completely safe in my 14’ Bentz when it comes to me and the natural environment. But, recently, launching at Wappoo Cut can get exciting.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
I used to be completely against marine driver’s licenses. Now, I am completely convinced that they are needed to prevent loss of property, injury, and death. I’d have a section in the training about how boat ramps work.
I have been on the water around Charleston for 50+ years and am completely safe in my 14’ Bentz when it comes to me and the natural environment. But, recently, launching at Wappoo Cut can get exciting.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
If I thought it would help anything I would be in favor as well. Driver’s license certainly don’t seem to help much with people doing stupid stuff on the roads. Unfortunately I don’t think it would change much of anything. I think so many people do not have any idea or care if there actions are affecting other people or not. You can see it in just about anything where you have to wait in a line on others. It is kind of like the person that goes in the 10 items or less line at the store with 20 items because “they” are in a hurry or my new favorite, people who take a cart with 100 items and clog up the self checkout because there was a line at the regular checkout line.
I would not go out on the boat on the weekend at all if I did not have my boat sitting at the dock. The boat ramps ruin it for me.
I used to be completely against marine driver’s licenses. Now, I am completely convinced that they are needed to prevent loss of property, injury, and death. I’d have a section in the training about how boat ramps work.
I have been on the water around Charleston for 50+ years and am completely safe in my 14’ Bentz when it comes to me and the natural environment. But, recently, launching at Wappoo Cut can get exciting.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
If I thought it would help anything I would be in favor as well. Driver’s license certainly don’t seem to help much with people doing stupid stuff on the roads. Unfortunately I don’t think it would change much of anything. I think so many people do not have any idea or care if there actions are affecting other people or not. You can see it in just about anything where you have to wait in a line on others. It is kind of like the person that goes in the 10 items or less line at the store with 20 items because “they” are in a hurry or my new favorite, people who take a cart with 100 items and clog up the self checkout because there was a line at the regular checkout line.
I would not go out on the boat on the weekend at all if I did not have my boat sitting at the dock. The boat ramps ruin it for me.
But one thing the driving test to get a driver’s license does lend itself to is enforcement. However inept, you must go through a “training course” to get your driver’
I used to be completely against marine driver’s licenses. Now, I am completely convinced that they are needed to prevent loss of property, injury, and death. I’d have a section in the training about how boat ramps work.
I have been on the water around Charleston for 50+ years and am completely safe in my 14’ Bentz when it comes to me and the natural environment. But, recently, launching at Wappoo Cut can get exciting.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
If I thought it would help anything I would be in favor as well. Driver’s license certainly don’t seem to help much with people doing stupid stuff on the roads. Unfortunately I don’t think it would change much of anything. I think so many people do not have any idea or care if there actions are affecting other people or not. You can see it in just about anything where you have to wait in a line on others. It is kind of like the person that goes in the 10 items or less line at the store with 20 items because “they” are in a hurry or my new favorite, people who take a cart with 100 items and clog up the self checkout because there was a line at the regular checkout line.
I would not go out on the boat on the weekend at all if I did not have my boat sitting at the dock. The boat ramps ruin it for me.
Anyone that can afford a boat can buy one, drive straight to the ramp, and put it in the water.
Was at Wappoo Cut, maybe ten years ago. Had launched and parked the t
Palmer I guess I worded my statement poorly. I was not disagreeing with you. I was just being a little cynical about how little respect people have for each other these days. I agree that some training and requirements are better than none. I was fortunate enough to grow up here and have a dad that taught me all of the rules of the road and also taught me to respect other people. My son took the boaters course online and we spent quite a bit of time with him learning to back a trailer and launch a boat. We’ve also gone over trailering etc. I guess you are correct that there is the ability to just buy a boat and throw it in the water with no experience required. I remember back in the day (not that long ago) when the boat ramps did not have lanes, things were even crazier. People just put the boat anywhere they could fit them on the ramp.
I used to be completely against marine driver’s licenses. Now, I am completely convinced that they are needed to prevent loss of property, injury, and death. I’d have a section in the training about how boat ramps work.
I have been on the water around Charleston for 50+ years and am completely safe in my 14’ Bentz when it comes to me and the natural environment. But, recently, launching at Wappoo Cut can get exciting.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
If I thought it would help anything I would be in favor as well. Driver’s license certainly don’t seem to help much with people doing stupid stuff on the roads. Unfortunately I don’t think it would change much of anything. I think so many people do not have any idea or care if there actions are affecting other people or not. You can see it in just about anything where you have to wait in a line on others. It is kind of like the person that goes in the 10 items or less line at the store with 20 items because “they” are in a hurry or my new favorite, people who take a cart with 100 items and clog up the self checkout because there was a line at the regular checkout line.
I would not go out on the boat on the weekend at all if I did not have my boat sitting at the dock. The boat ramps ruin it for me.
Well said, Fred. We can’t (shouldn’t) overlook the “genetics” of boat operators. The sad fact of the matter is even people that have been operating boats for a while are a part of the problem too. If they’ve never been taught properly, you can rest assured anyone they pass it on to won’t be taught properly either. That would be the one obstacle for “grandfathering” anyone in. Just because someone has been doing something for a long time doesn’t mean they’ve been doing it right the whole time.
Instead of a blank slate grandfather clause, maybe someone with “X” amount of years of boat operating experience would simply have to take and pass a written test. To that, the first question that comes to mind is, how do you verify a person’s boat operating experience? Do you base it on how long they’ve owned a boat? I’ve only owned a boat for a little over 2.5 years but I have years of experience operating boats. That said, I wouldn’t have a problem taking the test if it meant one would be made mandatory for all “new” and/or inexperienced boat owners/operators.
Palmer I guess I worded my statement poorly. I was not disagreeing with you. I was just being a little cynical about how little respect people have for each other these days. I agree that some training and requirements are better than none. I was fortunate enough to grow up here and have a dad that taught me all of the rules of the road and also taught me to respect other people. My son took the boaters course online and we spent quite a bit of time with him learning to back a trailer and launch a boat. We’ve also gone over trailering etc. I guess you are correct that there is the ability to just buy a boat and throw it in the water with no experience required. I remember back in the day (not that long ago) when the boat ramps did not have lanes, things were even crazier. People just put the boat anywhere they could fit them on the ramp.
I guess we are energetically agreeing with each other.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
Well said, Fred. We can’t (shouldn’t) overlook the “genetics” of boat operators. The sad fact of the matter is even people that have been operating boats for a while are a part of the problem too. If they’ve never been taught properly, you can rest assured anyone they pass it on to won’t be taught properly either. That would be the one obstacle for “grandfathering” anyone in. Just because someone has been doing something for a long time doesn’t mean they’ve been doing it right the whole time.
Instead of a blank slate grandfather clause, maybe someone with “X” amount of years of boat operating experience would simply have to take and pass a written test. To that, the first question that comes to mind is, how do you verify a person’s boat operating experience? Do you base it on how long they’ve owned a boat? I’ve only owned a boat for a little over 2.5 years but I have years of experience operating boats. That said, I wouldn’t have a problem taking the test if it meant one would be made mandatory for all “new” and/or inexperienced boat owners/operators.
“…be a man and PM me.”
Makes sense. I wouldn’t be opposed to taking a written test. Maybe add to it a course in backing a trailer, I know a few that still can’t do it.
