Like it or not, we’re heading into July and the peak
season for fishing, boating and water recreation. As such, there’s no shortage
of reminders for buying a fishing license, making sure you have enough life
jackets in your boat.
As we’ve seen the expansion of water across North
Dakota we’ve also seen the number of watercraft registrations swell. More water
and more boats, pontoons and personal watercraft, in addition to kayaks, canoes
and paddleboards can create congestion on any water. And not just during a hot
summer holiday weekend.
And that’s why every year the North Dakota Game and
Fish Department also reminds boaters that patience and understanding are two
key personal characteristics that might be needed on any random trip to a boat
ramp.
The reason is simple and I witnessed it many times
early in my career when I was a game warden at Bottineau and spent a lot of
time at Lake Metigoshe, one of the busier waters in the state. On any given day
the line-up of boats waiting to get in or out of the water could include
veterans who could back up a trailer blindfolded, and others who were driven to
high anxiety by the prospect of launching a boat for the first time.
As an example, a collegue recently told me the story
of his first boat launch last year, when he forgot to unhook the tie-down
straps at the back of the boat, and had to pull out of the water after discovering
the reason the boat wouldn’t move off the trailer. An experienced husband and
wife waiting in line told him not to worry about it, and offered their help if
he needed it.
The second attempt went smoothly. Pretty much everyone
who’s ever been responsible for backing a boat down the ramp has experienced
the same situation. But, as a reminder …
When Launching…
●Don’t pull onto the ramp until your boat is ready to launch.
●Prepare for launching in the parking area. Remove covers,
load equipment, remove tie downs, attach lines and put in drain plug, before
backing onto the ramp.
●When ready, pull into line to launch. Wait your turn. Be
courteous.
●It takes at least two people to efficiently and courteously
launch a boat: one to handle the boat and one to take care of the tow vehicle.
●Offer to help others who look like they may be having
trouble.
When Loading …
●Don’t block the loading area with your boat until your tow
vehicle is ready to load. Wait until you are clear of the launch area to unload
gear.
●As soon as your trailer is in the water, load and secure your
boat to the trailer.
●Remove boat and trailer from the water as quickly as
possible.
●Get clear of the ramp. Pull into the parking area to finish
securing your boat, unloading gear, draining all water and inspecting for and
removing any vegetation. Remember to leave plugs out when transporting boat.
