Most ramps have a launch lane and then a retrive lane so thats usually marked. Its a bit tricky though when you get to places like Bundegi though and there is only one ramp - and then it goes on trailers, so get your trailer into the queue asap!

Thats a tricky one and folks have different ideas,,i guess the best idea i have heard for retrival is do not tie up to the ramp when coming in, drop off your driver and keep the ramp clear until he backs down,,,theres a couple problems though,,you could be solo or the boat driver could also be the car driver so tie up near the end of the ramp and keep it clear for people launching until you back your car down,,,

IMO for speedy recoverys and less time clogging up the ramps the person whose car backs into the water first gets first bite at the cherry,,no matter if you arrived they first,,you were either dithering around or had to walk further to the carpark,,so don't complain that you were they first as they are saving time,,just give them plenty of room.

The only other idea is have retrival and launch bays marked at all boat ramps,,but make retrival bays launch bays up until 9am to save 20 boats quequed in the launch and none in the retrival early mornings.

Anyway i launch anywhere at anytime with the kayak,,so i don't really care what folks do,,it can be good entertainment value

I see i have not answered your question,lol  how do you know if folks are coming or going ?  i have no idea,,lol except hopefully the boat circling are coming in as soon as the driver gets back,,

Shits me at hillarys, when people dont take off there tiedown straps, lift there motor ect  BEFORE you pull into the launch lanes in front of the fingers. Also when you launch your boat..take it right down the back of the finger, so another boat can launch, while you are parking your car.

I feel better now

is to learn how to reverse the trailer...........

many a heated argument starts as poeple waste time trying to reverse......

plenty of places to practice rather than a busy ramp

Agree with Wade, shits me when you do the right thing and hang back getting off straps, shackles, attaching bow/stern rope etc. Just before your finished some jerk comes in front parks ON the ramp and proceeds to fart around untying and prepping making everyone wait, poor form IMO

all good points raised guys. I think we have all seen the people mentioned above. Agree Wade we have all seen them. Shorty raised a good idea about the timed launch. Has anyone actually seen any signage?

Hilarys this morning between 5 and 7, I think there might have been a few short tempers!! They say patience is a vertue, but a bit of common sense goes a really long way .

yes common sense should prevail however some people really dont have a clue. I wonder how many boat yards go that one step further after selling a boat then showing the new boat owner reversing, launching and even boat ramp etiquette? I have bought three new boats over the years and that was never asked or offered? Maybe thats where some of the problem lays......training??

PJAY hit the nail on the head "Training"...... Etiquette should be part of the RST, not just the launch and retrieval side of things once the boat is in the water.
But then again I have seen a few incidents at the ramp where "The BIGGEST, MEANEST guy" goes first lol.
Cheers,
David

dont know how many times we have come in and found 1 boat tied up right on the end of the jetty while someone is just standing there waiting for the trailor to show up. even when someone is hanging just out of the jetty to move on they dont even move up.imo if there is noone else at the ramp in front you move up as far as you can , down at point peron there is enough room for 4 boats on every ramp and some people just dont get it. and then you get the jet skiers yeah well they have a rule of their own, lets just push in right up front and stuff the rest

I've spent many hours at boat ramps over the years and have seen the best and worst of boating. I try/tried to obey boat ramp ettiquite all the time but sometimes you just need to say "stuff it" along with everone else. I know this is not the right thing to do but sometimes when fishing solo you need to leave your boat in the way to get the car. Metro ramps are ok as there's usually pontoons to tie up to but beach launches/single finger ramps you just need to anchor the boat, get the car and inconvinience everyone else for a few minutes.
My advice for those amongst us who want to do the right thing- offer help (winching/ holding the boat etc) to someone retrieving on their own or those who look like they don't know what they're doing (constructive advice). They might knock it back but it's usually most appreciated and will save a lot of time for everyone else, and you might even get ride out with them next time.

Pretty much what Tim said & don't stand around talking while on the ramp, including to fisheries officers. I have had them want to inspect the boat @ Peron just as I am about to pull it up the ramp, I kindly pointed out to them you are welcome to jump up, once I am off the ramp & in the clean up area.

nothing a sign at the ramp in the boat prep area wouldn't fix one would have thought. thankfully it seems most of the locals in the north know the deal and are courteous with boat prep, moving up, back etc

I must admit I tend to treat the launch/retrieve signs at the ramp "as a guide only". If its 4 in the arvo and there is no one launching I think why not use the launch ramp, and vice versa in the morning. If someone comes in going the "correct" way, I let them through if I am not too far along. I call it commonsense, others may call it breaking the rules.

Cammos you make a good point and I have thought along the same lines but have avoided the temptation.  But yes it does make common sense.  So who are the "Ramp Police" who has jurisdiction?  Can you be prosecuted for using launching only ramp to retrieve?

i was thinking more about handy hints to make launchign and retrieving easier for all. tips like don't move inot the lanes until you have the boat ready to launch. move as far down the jetty to allow others to launch, move up when retrieving etc. Launch ramps and Retrieve ramps are a good idea but i guess it really comes down to enough ramps to do both and a good area to either set up or pack up once the day is done. I know i had a good read of the signs at Woodman Point due to it being a very popular ramp and not wanting to upset locals.

what wade said

boat must be ready to launch before pulling onto the launch lane.

and it shits me when people pull their boat out and sit in the retrieve lane

tying it down

i am guilty of pulling next to jetty and getting car quickly but the missus is always there to move boat forward as boats in front are pulled.

basically get yourself out of others way

Yeah, down here some people seem to gin around getting there boats in and out, especially coming back out and down at Quindalup ramp, not so bad at Port Geo with 4 ramps. Used to have a great little money maker at the Cockburn Power Boat Club on a Sunday arvo ripping boats out on the beach when all the boats were coming in when the sea breeze popped up. We reefed them out for $5 a shot over the sand with my CJ5 with a 351 in it. Made for some very good Sunday Sessions at the Hammy.

Cheers
Dale

Thanks all for the comments. So i guess common sense prevails and until some form of structured advice or training is forthcoming we just need to do what we are doing and try to educate those who don't have a clue?

Dave (dagree) the RST idea is a good one.......taking it one step further.

As a dealer i can say we water test every boat and always explain at length the ramp procedure and best method of quick and easy launch and extraction. I push this hard as it is one of the biggest sticklers for most people. I will say though there is no need to rush just because someone is pushing you. But you do need to have a plan and it needs to be a easy and precious as possible.

When i launch myself i always get it in and out on my own including parking in less than 3 minutes. With two people I'd suggest about 30 seconds.

So to my weekend just gone and my whinge. I got to Mindarie and it was full launching all lanes so i backed a mate into the retrieve lane, unhooked and as was pushing of a, boat was pulling up at the end. One of the deck hands proceeds to give me a serve. My mate slipped of and was gone even before he had almost started. So my point is this bloke who was so full of ramp etiquette than proceeded to tie up to the very end of the jetty and once we were gone he stayed there and didn't move forward as would have been the right thing to do so that the bloke behind him could have more than 1 foot of jetty to pull up on. 

Some people honestly need to learn to pull there heads in..Plan and simple

do have club rules to launch/retrieve, Launching take boat right to the end of the jetty and wait for skipper to come back from parking car/trailer, then if the ramps are pretty full anybody coming in knows that the boat at the end of jetty is going out and they can come in to retrieve their car/trailer.

Coming in if jetty is free they must walk their boat to the beginning of the ramp so that people that want to launch know they are waiting for car/trailer.  Number one ramp (nearest the public ramps) is for drive on/off only, for safety reason the committee decided on keeping just one ramp for drive on/off.

But unfortunately a lot of club members do not read their club rules and sometimes infringement notices are written via the bosun or a friendly reminder from the bosun on ramp launch/retrieve rules.

We also have a break down area to get boat ready for launching.  Yachts have to get ready in the car park in front of club rooms before launching or the break down parking areas, as you know how long yachties take to prepare to launch. 

Think I got it right.

Sounds far too cleaver for the average joe Roberta..

Perfect system.

Its just folks today do not give a shit about anyone but themselves,I do on the ramp what suits me if the ramp is free and someone is stuffin around getting his boat ready I just pull in frount.when I come in I drop someone of on the jetty and they get the trailer, Some days you have 20 boats all going around ,all needing to use the jetty .Icome down the other side ,as most folk are to usless to use the side with no jetty.I have had some good barnies with people on ramp etiquette ,so now I dont have any ,works for me..

Paul G I agree with your comment with respect to the lack of consideration shown by others, not only at boat ramps but life in general.  Frustrating at the very least and even more unfortunate is that it is very unlikely to improve.  Having said that I'm not convinced that joining them in the f.. u attitude is the most considerate thing to do either.  Perhaps I am misinterpreting your post, I hope so. 

so if there are so many idiots out there what can be done to change their mindset..........education, brochure perhaps on ettiquette or do we just keep putting up with it??

I know I jumped the queue once but I had a blown gasket and had no idea how much longer the boat would run. Once I explained the others were cool.

I am all for common sense, but there are just too many a/holes out there looking after themselves only.

Yup, a subject done to death, but always worth repeating constantly until folks get the message (IF that ever happens - I live in hope!).

As has been said, there is NOTHING done about informing folks on this which is why I wrote an article on this in FWA some time back. 

Apart from the obvious (idiots that load/unload at the finger(jetty) - my #1 hate is those that must fly past you at the last minute to be the first back at the ramp (ignoring speed and wash rules in the process).

I know the Dept of Transport (no longer DPI) head marine guy down at Albany pretty well and must suggest a flyer on this subject with boat/trailer registration renewals. It's a pitty DOT don't use that option more often. Such a great educational opportunity not used.

Hey! Maybe we should bring in marine demerit points LOL - 12 and you loose your skippers ticket!

Ahh I might have to chip in on this one ...

Last dive with Alfred out of Hillarys on Friday, we're in one of the retrive-only lanes and some ass-clown launches in front of us and makes us wait and go around him. Pretty sad given how clearly the lanes are marked there and how empty the rest of the facilities here.

There were no less than 4 empty lanes the guy could legitmately use not to mention one other retrive-only lane the guy could use with no one even in it. Some people you have to wonder if they're just being a prick for the attention.

Think i would sell my boat if i had to deal with that shit

Its not that bad. Just makes your day more intresting. Im all for educayton.

After a few times of blowing steam out of my ears at the ramp, my boating buddy suggested be get some deck chairs and a few beers, park ourselves up at the ramp and watch the calamidy. It would be entertaining but i'd sooner deal with amatures hour and actually get the boat in the water

i have found the worst time of year is when the crays are just starting their run , you get loads of boats that have gone out to check their pots and are now coming back in while there are loads of others that are launching. Pt Peron has no such thing as launch and retrieve lanes , its a free for all.makes it a bit tough when all you want to go out and enjoy the day and it starts out with arguements about who has right of way

My boat is the second pen at Mindarie so the whole ramp is my back yard. Sitting and watching on the weekend again with a cartoon and some friends it really is amazing just how bad people actually are..

I have a question for everyone though. I obvously do this for a living and honestly can get it done with one hand behind my back and blind folded and i always hate to see people struggling, especially with the simple things. Sometimes i will offer advice obvously telling people qickly my back ground and i am always polite and approach friendly but my wife hates that. She says i should mind my own business and let people be. So would you mind if someone was to offer some quick simple easy tips?

Nah mate, no problem with someone giving advice as long as they are friendly about it and not being a smartarse then I welcome advice.

I guess like you say, you approach the situation in a friendly way and especially if you explain where you come from then it should be all good.

As Gus said, offerred in the right manner, no problem, welcome it.

I've been with other people launching their boat when some total know it all started spouting tips and that was a little infuriating.

However I've met you and I don't think you're likely to come across like that Rod so keep it up!

i'm with you gus.......but i guess the whole purpose of this post was to identify who's responsibility it may be to educate people who simply don't know or plod along aimlessly at the ramps. there are some tips on the dpi website (i think) to do with boat launching but i think it should be better promoted ??

I asked this in an earlier post but no one responded so I'll try again.  Which body has jurisdiction / authority at public boat ramps? DOF / DOT / Police?

i can honestly say i wouldnt have a clue who has responsability at the ramp and have never even thought about it before, maybe all of the above have their share

Sorry Alan must have missed the post.....i tend to agree with FF above however i expect that each agancy woulf expect the other to have the responsibility??  Then we are back to square one?

Below is a fairly long article about launching and retrieving. I borrowed it from the Fishing wa website and the author has been credited for a very sensible article. Does anyone know if the boatsmart courses mentioned are still going?

  Launching & Retrieving Your Boat

So you've been out with your mates fishing and enjoying what summer has to offer on the water. You've persuaded your family that a boat is needed for family fun, gone and spent good money for a family fun machine and headed off to the local waterway only to find that the only real stress zone is getting the boat in and out of the water.

Nothing goes to plan, the wind is always wrong, the boat doesn't behave, people are short tempered, you think to yourself there has to be an easier way than this. Then, to add insult to injury, some marine head launches a twenty foot cruiser by himself and makes it look easy. Not to mention the whole process has taken him less than 10 minutes, from arrival to driving the boat away. Well this month I'm giving away all of his secrets.

LAUNCHING

To start with, launching and retrieving any trailer boat takes practice. I can assure you the gun operators out there had to start at the beginning just like the rest of us, they've just had more practice. As I have had heaps of practice, this is what I do to make the transition from land to water as painless as possible.

The derigging area - Most ramps have them marked and this is the place where you take the trailer lights off, any hold down straps off the boat, attach bow and stern lines for launching, plug in any electrics and fuel lines, trim up the outboard or stern drive and last but not least,   the bungs go in.

My mates and I have a saying, “If you say you haven't launched without the plug put in you're either a liar, or you haven't been boating long enough to do so.” With all that taken care of you're ready for the next stage.

Launching - This is one of the most testing times and this is when I usually slow down a bit and not let other people rush me along. If the ramp has a jetty alongside the ramp (as most of them do), I get a crew member on the jetty with the bow and stern lines.

With my boat at my desired launching depth I then undo my winch line and push the boat off the trailer. I never take the winch line off the boat before I reverse it down the ramp. I have seen too many boats launched on concrete this way. As I drive my vehicle away, the crew member moves the boat to the end of the jetty for the next boat to launch, ties the boat up and waits for me to walk back to the boat. Think about this again.

As I drive my vehicle away, the crew member moves the boat to the end of the jetty for the next boat to launch, ties the boat up and waits for me to walk back to the boat.

There is NOTHING more annoying than someone who launches a boat and just keeps it there at the bottom of the ramp so nobody else can get in.

Departure - As I have already run my boat the night before at home, I know that the boat is primed and ready to start. All I do is hop aboard, start the boat and wait two minutes for the stern drive to warm up. Then I collect my crew member(s), untie the ropes and reverse the boat out.

RETRIEVING

Berthing - Upon arrival back at the ramp at the end of the day, the seabreeze is usually blowing fairly hard. The first thing I look for is a jetty or patch of beach that is upwind of the ramp. Whether the ramp has a jetty or not I still tie a bow and stern line to the boat as this gives the person handling the vessel greater control of the whole boat, not just control of the bow.  

When I do bring the boat to the jetty I always travel at dead slow speeds. Good boat handling skills are very helpful in this situation, but if I'm caught out, a short burst of reverse and or crew fending off usually results in no damage to my boat nor boats around me. Above all else, the skipper should keep a cool head, as yelling at the crew may be entertaining to passers by, but it's a good way to confuse the crew and damage the boat. Plus you look like a tool.

Retrieving - With the boat safely tied up or beached, I then go up to get my vehicle and trailer and reverse the trailer into the water until my second last roller is just touching the water. Then it's just a matter of putting the winch on back spoo, and pulling the towing hitch behind me as I walk down the trailer. When I am in position I then give the crewmember the signal to bring the boat to the trailer.

When the boat touches the first roller I then connect the winch cable and as I walk up the trailer I keep tension on the cable so the boat doesn't float off the roller. Once I have taken up the slack with the winch, my crewmember throws the rope into the boat. Even if the boat is not straight to the trailer at this stage, all I need to do is crank the winch a couple of times slowly and the boat naturally straightens and comes up the trailer perfectly.

Rerigging - Once the boat is safely secured on the trailer, I then tow it away from the ramp to the derigging area and proceed to put my lights back on, pull the plug and do all the tasks I need to do to tow the boat home. If you are on a ramp with no such designated areas, just pull the boat far away enough to allow other boaties to use the ramp.

Courtesy - One of the biggest problems I see when using public ramps, especially at the end of the day on a peak time is courtesy. Everyone is tired, sun burned and they just want to go home. This is when the inexperienced boaties get into strife. So rather than abuse the poor bloke, offer him a polite hand and it's amazing how fast it becomes your turn.

Training - If you would like to get some hands on training, the Department of Transport has an excellent course called Boat Smart . The people running these courses are very professional, and will give you all the info you need not just to launch and retrieve, but how to safely get the most out of your vessel. Call 9216 8253 for more information.

Safe boating and see you on the water.

By Blake Perpoli

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