Boat Ramp etiquette?
Submitted by Cold Feet on Wed, 2015-10-21 11:25
Hi Guys,
My wife was chatting to a retired old bloke yesterday that has been fishing and boating for years around WA, and he mentioned boat ramp etiquette, that us "younger blokes never adhere to..
He said that on a double boat ramp, like Sbay, with a jetty in the middle, left is always for launching and right is always for retrieving the boats...? Is this just an old guys tale, or is/was this an unwritten etiquette expectation from years past in WA?
I did my skippers ticket about 5 years ago, and don't remember anything about his, so may be pissing heaps of blokes off at the ramp on the weekends?
Not sure how this would work either - I just launch and retrieve according to the wind on the day - easiest ramp in and out?
____________________________________________________________________________
Cheers,
Cold Feet 
Oldbull
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 21/09/15
makes sense
No hard a fast rule for ramps without signage but what he says makes sense particularly for solo retrieves when you can pull up to the jetty on the skippers side
Swompa
Posts: 3974
Date Joined: 14/10/12
The system at the Woodman's
The system at the Woodman's Point public ramp seems to work very well where as the Anarchy at Point Peron could do with some instructions.
It is the only place where I have seen something written.
Generally, when I go with someone else, I launch so my boat blows off the jetty, and retrieve the same way. When it is just me, I launch to drift onto the jetty, and retrieve the same way...unless it is otherwise signed.
Or I just go to the ramp that has the fewest boats at it.
D_d_001
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 09/03/13
I think generally what the
I think generally what the old fella is saying is right (peak periods when ppl are launching and retrieving) but if not sign posted like that and the right has no one coming in ...launch.
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
Mindarie
If you are looking from the shore side it is signed right side to launch, 2 lanes, Left to retrieve, 2 lanes. If it is after midday and the wind is howling then i see no problem retrieving in a launch lane providing nobody is using it.
I have copped some abuse a few times in the last year up at two Rocks. 5+ boats waiting in the marina to retrieve, only 2 can fit on the jetty, pull up nose to the jetty, to drop the driver on the jetty to get the car and trailer so we can retrieve on the outside of the ramp, cop the abuse of pushing in. IMO if you have the skills and ability to retrieve driving on then go for it. It will speed it up for all those behind anyway.
After the Anarchy of trying to retrieve after the perth skyshow everything else is a walk in the park..Lol
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
Absolutely I don't drive
Absolutely
I don't drive on but encourage people to do so that way the line moves faster
sea-kem
Posts: 15109
Date Joined: 30/11/09
My boy actually drove my
My boy actually drove my boat on the trailer at Dunsborough the other week. I backed the trailer down and he said he'd drive over but ended up geting halfway up the trailer perfectly, job done. But back to the issue a bit of common courtesy and manners goes a long way when there's no markings etc.
Love the West!
carnarvonite
Posts: 8686
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Two Rocks
Son Jeff used to drive our 24 foot ali on and off the trailer at the Two Rocks ramp when he was about 10 years old. Had taught him how to do it properly when we had a smaller boat.
All I had to do was back the trailer down and unhook the chain and winch cable, park the car and walk down the end of the jetty for him to pick me up and when time to come in he would drop me on the jetty, back out of the way then drive straight on the trailer, all done and dusted in under 2 minutes.
.
aaasnapper
Posts: 218
Date Joined: 15/01/10
Simple
Ramp etiquite is quite simple. Whoever, is next in line with their trailer ready to go has the prority. (Within reason of coarse)
null
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
If there is no one coming in
If there is no one coming in use both ramps for leaving
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
Same in the arvo if no one
Same in the arvo if no one is launching use them for retrieving
little johnny
Posts: 5363
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Left side put in
Right retreive. Not many do it . Guilty myself few times
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
If its not marked and no
If its not marked and no obvious launching / retrival taking place, its a case of using wind and current to your advantage, whether thats to get alongside or float you boat easily onto the trailer. I have been boating since 1973 and never heard of one side for launching the other for retrieval (except where signed).
Fish! HARD!
Meeuwissen
Posts: 755
Date Joined: 29/03/13
you don't need a sign to know where to retrieve
and where to launch, neither do you need a sign to know to.stay to the left of the footpath. Launching at leguminous boatramp the day of the Rottnest swimming was interesting no one seemed to care about the rules.
Down the Line
Catch the Experience
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
I got abused at Mindarie once
I got abused at Mindarie once for using the launch lane when launching my boat - figure that one out ?? I was backing down the ramp and a guy comes into the lane and yells abuse at me as he was there in this paticular lane first and wanted to retieve his boat before i launch ! I pointed to the sign and said that you are in the wrong lane ! Told me to get f-kd and then switched lanes haha !! Get this - we were the only two people there
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
Boat ramps are the best
Boat ramps are the best
MarkTheShark
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 16/06/12
Driving onto trailer
I have never done the drive onto trailer technique.
How far in the water does the trailer have to be?
Any advice on what can you can do wrong when doing it?
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
Make sure your trailer is
Make sure your trailer is set up for it! Practice! But not when there is a line of boats behind you!
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
Here's a hypothetical
Here's a hypothetical question.
Say your at Hillaries 5am on a Saturday morning. The two launch only lanes are being used, the two launch/retreive lanes are being used and the two retreive only lanes are sitting empty. Theres a queue of about 10 boats behind you.
Do you just say screw it and launch in the retreive only lane or follow the instructions and wait holding up everyone behind you?
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8156
Date Joined: 07/05/12
You'd probably be ok, with my
You'd probably be ok, with my luck in life some bikie type guy would come in just as I let go of the winch
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Use the retreive lanes
If there are no boats using the retrieve lanes or approaching the retrieve lanes, they should be used to launch vessels from.
By doing this you are easing congestion at the ramp, you are not interfering with the recovery of vessels (no vessels waiting to be recovered or approaching the recovery ramp).
It is IMO good practice and is optimising the facilities to maximum capability and everyone is on their way quicker.
Now having given my opinion on this, I have been involved in using the recover ramps at Rockingham and had adverse comments directed at me for doing so, when I have confronted those people who have moaned and groaned about using the retrieving ramps and pointed out to them that by doing this everyone benefits it's amazing how quick they have dropped their adverse view of the using retrieval ramps to launch and joined me in doing so.
In fact some ramps now have signs say to the effect if the retrieval ramp is not in use you may use it to launch.
Bryce Day
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 01/06/15
Launch in the retrieve
Launch in the retrieve lane!!!! Pretty simple
Cold Feet
Posts: 120
Date Joined: 04/08/15
LOL.. so no real rules...
Unless signposted - thats what I thought..
Cheers,
Cold Feet
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
I have seen some ramps that
I have seen some ramps that are signposted "retrieval only after xxxx hours" usually 1200 hours.
Fish! HARD!
sandbar
Posts: 704
Date Joined: 25/10/09
Ok, so we know when to launch n retrieve
but what about the people who park in the lanes and start to derig and set up rods, place the esky, get some bait ready, tie a rig or 2
BEFORE farken launching!
Or sit at the ramp when retrieving having a chat to old mate about the sh1tty chop out there today.
I love boat ramps, good place to sit and have a beer on a perfect boating day.
Swompa
Posts: 3974
Date Joined: 14/10/12
I go around them. Generally
I go around them. Generally I am out of their way before they tie on the bow line...