Questionable Parenting

zip · 12 September 2015, 15:10

Father: Honey, why don't we take the kids to the water today?
Mother: Sounds good to me.
Kids: YIPPEE!

6 kids in the water at the base of the boat launch ramp.

Me to parents: Excuse me, I'd like to launch my boat right now.

Parents have a very bewildered and confused look on their faces.

If possible, pictures to follow.

Phil M · 12 September 2015, 20:35

Some people have no idea. I was recovering the boat a month or so ago on a busy day in town (harbour town) and some guy tried to walk between the truck and trailer, whilst i was driving. Several others walked or pushed prams in front of me whilst manouvering. Thankfully the air for e came to the rescue (they bad a display stand there).

Phil M

TorontoDiver · 12 September 2015, 21:00

My 3 year old comes out with us. She either stays strapped in her seat while launching or stands beside my wife on side of launch. Why do kids have to pay for stupid parents

zip · 13 September 2015, 02:12

This is what I saw in my rear view mirror as I prepared to back down the ramp to retrieve my boat.
A baby in a diaper at the bottom of the ramp, with no parent in sight.

ncp · 13 September 2015, 02:13

Looks like a safe place to play.

cgoing · 13 September 2015, 12:53

I see that all the time at the ramp in my town. Worse yet is they bring bread and try to feed the ducks in the ramp. The tourists love it and are too stupid to realize some of us actually use it to launch our boats.

jonp · 14 September 2015, 00:30

Everyone needs to learn somehow, some people are able to lend a hand or advice without being a pompass ass while others sit back feeling all high and mighty.

Ive been at ramps over here where there are in excess of 2500 launch and retrieves per day, not all of these are from experienced users. Im also aware that as I reverse my own boat into the water children often play on the ramp as its the most interesting place to search for sea creatures.

Parents with several kids on holiday tend to let their guard down and relax. My kids can all drive boats and have passed their boat licence courses from the age of 12 as well as their Padi scuba licences. With trips out in our boat of around 4 times per week my kids can drive the boat on and off the trailer first time very time meaning we are out of the way extremely quick. This doesn't mean we can sit back and not offer help or advice in a friendly manner.

Jon

jyasaki · 14 September 2015, 05:14

Not a parenting thing, but today in Ft Bragg, I pulled the boat from the lot to the top of the ramp approaching from the right side (as you look down the ramp), hung a left to get lined up. A Jeep waited for me to clear the lane, and proceeded to drive down the ramp to the waterline, where the driver got out to take pictures of the boats docked on the other side of the river. I sat a few minutes until he realized I was waiting; I got a sheepish wave as be backed up the ramp back onto the street.

jky

jonp · 15 September 2015, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Not a parenting thing, but today in Ft Bragg, I pulled the boat from the lot to the top of the ramp approaching from the right side (as you look down the ramp), hung a left to get lined up. A Jeep waited for me to clear the lane, and proceeded to drive down the ramp to the waterline, where the driver got out to take pictures of the boats docked on the other side of the river. I sat a few minutes until he realized I was waiting; I got a sheepish wave as be backed up the ramp back onto the street.

jky

Thats what you get from Jeep owners

!!!

Jon

TorontoDiver · 15 September 2015, 02:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonp

Thats what you get from Jeep owners

!!!

Jon

Lol! I'm a jeep owner learning to launch his first boat, that must make me the official nightmare

Sonar · 15 September 2015, 07:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgoing

I see that all the time at the ramp in my town. Worse yet is they bring bread and try to feed the ducks in the ramp. The tourists love it and are too stupid to realize some of us actually use it to launch our boats.

So when you was a kid you never fed the ducks ?

Grow up man ducks can not tell your waiting to use a slipway..

mick · 15 September 2015, 07:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by zip

This is what I saw in my rear view mirror as I prepared to back down the ramp to retrieve my boat.

A baby in a diaper at the bottom of the ramp, with no parent in sight.

Now that's a nice ramp we could do with some like that over here

Dadeo · 14 September 2023, 02:29

Swimming around a marina with electrical hookups is never a good idea. Have you ever seen someone jump off a boat into water that's been electric-fried by faulty marina electrical system? It can be a mild to severely shocking experience. At least that ramp seems far from the docks.

Whoops old thread. Sorry. But funny.