Perfect backing!

I am good enough getting my boat in an out of the water so I cause no problems on a ramp. I am alone most of the time so I take longer and that sometimes causes a slow down, can't be helped. Now and then someone objects. I try to be polite but if some jerk persists I just walk up to him with my dog on a leash. That usually ends the problem as the dog does not like me to be threatened.

I like a challenge. Does not matter whether it is our single engined inboard boat or the 5er.

Boats don't have brakes. You can't get out & look. At near 17,000# ours is not one that can be fended off from crashing into a dock with bare hands. The trick is to stop motion of the boat so that you don't even feel it touch the dock.

Boat ramps are always a location having great entertainment, especially at haulout time. The number of incompetent, inconsiderate, drunk & thoughtless trailer boaters never ceases to amaze.

Trailer parking can be entertaining too. There she is, right behind the trailer where he can't see her, shouting a screaming at him while doing some sort of ostrich mating dance giving directions which he cannot see. Then there is the guy who pays no attention to the DW who is giving good directions till 'CRUNCH'. He has hit something.

Love it all. Even the ones who nail it on the first go. No muss. No fuss. As boring as can be.

Went fishing with my family when I was just a kid. I remeber sitting in my grandpa's boat watching an elderly couple launch their boat. The husband was in the boat and hisnwife a 2 poodles were backing then carndown the ramp. Yes I said car, must have been an early 70's towncar. Well this old gal was backing up just fine, but for whatever reason just failed to stop. I will always remeber the sight of her with water up to the windows and the 2 poodles going nut. Not to meantion what her husband was yelling. We all stopped laughing long enough for grandpa to pull them out.

I decided years ago the best way to back anything up is to give my wife one of the 2 way radios we use and tell her to let me know if I am going to hit anything. I do the rest myself.

Even more fun at night when there are really big pine trees and you can't see your hand in front of your face. I watched for thirty minutes while a couple tried to back there fifth wheel in. After lots of screaming and yelling I and another camper went over with flash lights to help. It was a good show. They were gone the next morning.

TyroneandGladys wrote:
x2 Watching other people backing down a boat ramp IS a spectator sport.
Do believe I have seen some divorces started from backing up.

The best viewing time is Sunday afternoon when there is often alcohol involved.

We used to watch often.

Most entertaining.

On a serious note -

My father was the worst, and took it out on my mother. It was horrible to watch as a kid.

I taught myself to do it alone, and ask my family to just give a warning if I am going to hit something. I got very good at it fast. This includes hitching up. Every once and a while I'll let another camper try to help - all it does is confuse me, and I have to ask them to just watch.

With some cones and a big parking lot you too can be an expert!

Max

This is still my best backing job with our TT. The turn to get into the spot was very tight. The camp host happened to be at the spot across the street and came to give me tips as soon as he saw us pull up.

owenssailor wrote:
At our marina we had a guy back down the launch ramp and slam his brakes on. He had disconnected all the ties for the boat. Boat slid backwards onto the concrete launch ramp.
Then he threatened to sue us because the ramp was on a slope.
Endless fun

ROFL, I saw two guys launch a 12' Seaking rowboat on the busiest launch ramp of a popular lake. By the time they were done, one guy was drifting across the lake and the driver had the backseat of their tow car under water. You can't make this stuff up!:B

At our marina we had a guy back down the launch ramp and slam his brakes on. He had disconnected all the ties for the boat. Boat slid backwards onto the concrete launch ramp.
Then he threatened to sue us because the ramp was on a slope.
Endless fun