Smoetimes you get what you deserve

[3788sam]

Went and took my lunch down at Wyatt Park (Lake Stevens) today and boat launch is packed.
One group of kids (18-20yrs) pulled the truck and boat up to the ramp got out and started to get the boat ready to launch Took them about 15 min. before they were ready to back in to the water.
While they are getting ready there is only enough room for one other boat to launch and they were backed up 6 deep! Couple of people expressed the displeasure and horns were honking.
One guy gave the horn blaster the "your number one finger."
They back the boat in- Lots of yelling- Yep no plug!
Pulled it out and I see them in the parking lot with a bilge pump and the water running out the plug full blast! :lol:

[Pegasis]

A few years ago I saw a van and double axle trailer with 8 flat tires, 4 on van and 4 on trailer. He must have really po'd someone that morning. The rig sat in the lot for a few days, not sure if it got towed or the owner finally managed to get air into all of those tires.

[3788sam]

Les Swab (sp) must have loved that phone call!

[Seapuppy]

a couple of weeks ago we were coming back from a cool weekend and noticed a couple putting a 24 ftr in the water and unfortunatly forgot to put the butt plug in.....the forklift had it about 5 ft in the air and water pouring out of the hole and the bilge pump was really shooting water out the side...wonder how long it took them to figure out it was taking on water......
my question is this....and I remove my butt plug to drain the bilge out but then immediatly put it back.....what moron forgets to put such an important piece if eqpt back into the boat!!! :shock: ..........it amazes me ....when we get ready to leave from dag's...the first thing I look at is the plug..then the drive...then I do my normal checkout....get the gear onboard and then we get the stuff stowed while the engine is running... :argh arrrrr

[Tedster]

It must be good to be perfect! :roll:

[Seapuppy]

Ted..YES IT IS.. :lol: ....a safe boater is a happy boater and admiral.....last thing I wanna be is a number to add to the insurance companies accident list.....In the industry I am in...you have a procedure....you know the procedure ..then finally...you follow the procedure..anything less can cause grief.........
details as simple as looking or doing a visual check can save a lot of trouble.....
I suppose you just jump in the ole boat and yell "HIYO SILVER" and away you go eh??......

. :argh arr

[SomeSailor]

Maybe that "ignore" button will work out for some of you afterall. :)

[beyond kelp]

About 5 years ago, I was at the launch at Kenmore at the bottom of the slough into Lake Washington. The Sheriffs Landing -craft style boat had followed a very intoxicated boater in from the lake for violating the no wake zone rule. By the time the sherrifs boat got to him he had it on the trailer with his companion driving the boat on it. After seeing that the man was drunk they took him into custody. He was complaining about needing to go to the bathroom so they escorted him towards the sanican. He broke free and was somehow able to get into his truck! He proceeded to crash his ford pickup into two cars and one minivan and one boulder as he escaped out of the parking lot! All this with the companion sitting in the drivers seat of the boat with glazed eyes. Yes he was still in there and the boat to my TOTAL amazement did not fall off of the trailer. No hold downs on the stern either! Talk about some mad cops! No car to give chase, only motorola. Last thing that stands out in my mind is the sound of the sirens in the vincinity as the police converged on the area. A year later a punk pulled a knife on me at the same location for telling his stepfather(all were drunk) that he is responsible for damage caused by his wake as he was gassing it where we were all waiting to pull out. The stepfather put a choke hold on the kid until he passed out, throwing the knife in the slough. The cops came and both arrested, lots of witnesses! Stepdad was charged with assault. Good entertainment down there on any sunny day, mostly incidents caused by people who take way to long to launch. You see people who get the trailer in the water and then begin to put their icechest and towels and stuff in that should have already been loaded etc or find their boat will not start or sometimes even crank and then they try to troubleshoot right there! Good grief! :roll:

[bradvo]

I went to Lake Samammish one time and that was it for me. The launch was huge and backed up for ever. My wife and I had a system when ready to go home, she would drop me off, i go get the truck and trailer , when trailer is backing in she has boat ready and drives it on to trailer. When I was backing down ramp I have a few Gorillas giving me crap about not hitting there boat which is tied to the dock- there buddy is 4 blocks back waiting for the line to move forward with the tow rig???? i think to myself -dumb sh*ts, they are really helping the process here.
So I tell them watch and learn kids- maybe next time you can try this and make life better for all instead of getting angry at us that have our rigs ready to catch our boats.
That was it for me at this lake, way to many drunk punks who have no idea of boaters etiquette. To bad the launch was not monitored like Coulan park on Washington.
But because of so many disturbing behaviors at the ramps and our love of boating is why we decided to move up and get moorage- Less Stress, it has a price however.

[3788sam]

We used to live on Flynn Hill in Bothell the slough into Lake Washington is free entertainment on a sunny weekend!
I saw a boat owner lose his radar arch going under the bridge here!
Amazingly he took it in stride- got out and looked it over, picked it up and put it his truck and left!
All you need is a fishing permit to launch there-Often I would see officials waiting for boats to return, check for permits and issue fines!

[Go Aweigh2452]

I guess it has to do alot with where you put in. Port Orchard is seldom full and no problems at Port Townsend either. I suppose its those lake ramps? I seldom do fresh water so not a biggie for me. I have done lakes but I normally don't put in when the "rush" is on. I try to get in early and out before the sunset rush... Then I sit back and laugh before going home.

Some very unique pull outs/put ins have been observed... Best was the guy who did not release his trailer tie downs and he could not get the boat off the trailer no matter how hard he pushed or how hard/fast he backed the truck down and slammed on the brakes. Then I guess he got hit by a lightening bolt and actually pulled it all the way out and saw his tie downs still attached, strained but still attached. He was a ***** cat after that!

[sunnydude2]

At the Kenmore launch we watched 4 high school guys back there chevy monza car and trailer back to get their boat. Obvious from the placement of blocks behind the wheels they didn't have a working emergency brake and didn't trust transmission to hold. Tie downs consisted of them using parachute cord to strap the boat down. I guess they were doing what it takes to get on the water.

[bradvo]

Doug, my first time at ramp i did that same thing. Then I backed in further and was wondering why it was not floating off the trailer. So I put my truck in park and brake on. Hop into boat and see the tie downs on. What I do next, i reach down and flip the tie down clamp and bang- it flies about 12 feet into the air like a sling shot. Lucky it did not take my head off, the boat is listing hard to one side, I freak and jump back into my truck and pull forward.
i did not think anyone else seen me :lol:
Oh I dove down into about 8 feet of water and got my tie down.

[Tedster]

Hey Ken I live on F-Hill, what was your cross streets when you were there? Ted :)

[3788sam]

Ted-We Lived off 100th in Stone Henge(sp) Town homes.

[Randygh]

While I worked for WDFW enforcement, we patrolled the launch ramp at Kenmore. Great place to write alot of paper. It's amazing the driver didn't notice the big red sign that states an access permit is required. At night dopers occassionally hang out under the bridge and shot up. Don't let your little ones wonder around the area while you are launching.

[3788sam]

Randy we're heading up to Chelan this weekend, any chance you might be going up lake?

[Randygh]

Ken--Sorry, we're heading over to Anacortes Friday after work. We'll stay on the boat in the parking lot Friday night and sling it in first thing Sat. AM. We're taking a week's vacation up to Nanaimo and will be back at Friday Harbor July 2 & 3.

[SomeSailor]

If you're up for a coffee on your drive by... the offer still stands Randy. If not, I'll see ya at Friday Harbor. Be careful coming over the hill.

[3788sam]

Well we'll see you in Friday Harbor next weekend then! Have a great time!