Degree of Freedom
Active Member
Before going on with my rant I will say that I realize you can't paint everyone with the same brush, and this likely applies to the minority...
Ok, so this is not a new observation...it can be witnessed at busy boat ramps everywhere. It was very evident Friday morning at Clutesi and got me a little choked.
Low tide of almost 0 ft and the river running strong...boats on land lined up 4 wide and 6 deep waiting to launch, very limited dock space full of boats and a few lined up in the river flow at half throttle trying to stay put while waiting for dock space. We narrowly avoided a collision when one boat backed out of the ramp and ended up out of control and backwards ripping down the river.
Obviously a sticky situation for everyone. Here's where my question comes from: of all the fishermen on shore waiting to launch and all the people on the docks standing next to or in the boats already tied up, not one single person decided it would be a good idea to walk down the docks and lend a hand.
When I finally got waved in by the attendant I had 20' of dock space on the downstream side of the dock to stick my 24' sunbridge. We got it in there (on the second attempt after a full throttle abort on the first attempt) and the 150 lb dock attendant was the only one there holding 6000 lbs against a 5 knt current until we got the lines tied.
Our docking and loading went very smoothly thanks to that very helpful attendant...but how about the 20 dudes in the parking lot leaning on their bumpers with their arms crossed on their chests waiting to launch?! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the more helping hands, that faster and safer everyone will be on their way.
I know that many fishermen are very helpful and courteous to fellow boaters...but it was not evident at the time I was there on Friday during a time when it was needed the most.
Ok, so this is not a new observation...it can be witnessed at busy boat ramps everywhere. It was very evident Friday morning at Clutesi and got me a little choked.
Low tide of almost 0 ft and the river running strong...boats on land lined up 4 wide and 6 deep waiting to launch, very limited dock space full of boats and a few lined up in the river flow at half throttle trying to stay put while waiting for dock space. We narrowly avoided a collision when one boat backed out of the ramp and ended up out of control and backwards ripping down the river.
Obviously a sticky situation for everyone. Here's where my question comes from: of all the fishermen on shore waiting to launch and all the people on the docks standing next to or in the boats already tied up, not one single person decided it would be a good idea to walk down the docks and lend a hand.
When I finally got waved in by the attendant I had 20' of dock space on the downstream side of the dock to stick my 24' sunbridge. We got it in there (on the second attempt after a full throttle abort on the first attempt) and the 150 lb dock attendant was the only one there holding 6000 lbs against a 5 knt current until we got the lines tied.
Our docking and loading went very smoothly thanks to that very helpful attendant...but how about the 20 dudes in the parking lot leaning on their bumpers with their arms crossed on their chests waiting to launch?! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the more helping hands, that faster and safer everyone will be on their way.
I know that many fishermen are very helpful and courteous to fellow boaters...but it was not evident at the time I was there on Friday during a time when it was needed the most.
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.) My post was not directed at anyone in particular, and I expect that most of the contributors on here do practice good ethics on the water. After all, we all get started here asking questions, and we all stick around here offering assistance. I was really posting for the "viewers" of this site, some of whom probably don't quite get it yet. Hoping that maybe some of them will.
