SabrToothSqrl
Well-Known Member
Well now that spring is here and it's boating season again...
Today's episode of Tales from the Ramp is brought to you by, the "non-boater".
The non-boater is someone (or often a large group of people) who is at the launch facility, who neither owns a boat, nor expects to be on one. The non-boater is often found near muddy river banks swimming in no swim areas, or fishing in no-fishing areas.
It was a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon in the dirt and gravel covered parking area adjacent to the facility broadly referred to as the PWC launch. (More on that in another episode). After an hour or so riding on an open body of water I was returning to the launch. To my dismay there was a vehicle parked partially blocking the path leading to the ramp. A dark blue Nissan sedan.
I tied my ski up near the launch to an anchor I placed there earlier. Since this is the shanty launch facility, there are no docks. I proceeded to my vehicle, backing up the trailer, narrowly missing the non-boater parked beside the ramp. When my vehicle and trailer was quite close to his, he shot me a look of disgust from his seat reclined position talking on his cellular phone. I sarcastically asked him to "park a little more in the way next time". This of course resulted in a shouting match. Because... if you are parked in the way, of course people should be nice and polite to you, right? It's the American way.
The perpetrator proceeded to exit his vehicle, all the while children apparently under his supervision played in the 'no swimming' area dragging large chunks of wood and limbs around and on to the ramp. At this point the man was standing outside my passenger door, while I attempted to use words to deescalate the situation, while simultaneously taking the safety off the pepper spray in my left hand. Luckily for all involved another group of PWC owners were in the area who assisted in loading my ski such that I could keep an eye on old shouty here. Calling 911 an officer arrived just in time to watch the person leave. I of course having given the officer a description of the man, woman, and two children, along with the vehicle and it's out of state plates. No pepper spray was discharged, and no charges filed.
Stay tuned for more Tales from the Ramp!
Today's episode of Tales from the Ramp is brought to you by, the "non-boater".
The non-boater is someone (or often a large group of people) who is at the launch facility, who neither owns a boat, nor expects to be on one. The non-boater is often found near muddy river banks swimming in no swim areas, or fishing in no-fishing areas.
It was a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon in the dirt and gravel covered parking area adjacent to the facility broadly referred to as the PWC launch. (More on that in another episode). After an hour or so riding on an open body of water I was returning to the launch. To my dismay there was a vehicle parked partially blocking the path leading to the ramp. A dark blue Nissan sedan.
I tied my ski up near the launch to an anchor I placed there earlier. Since this is the shanty launch facility, there are no docks. I proceeded to my vehicle, backing up the trailer, narrowly missing the non-boater parked beside the ramp. When my vehicle and trailer was quite close to his, he shot me a look of disgust from his seat reclined position talking on his cellular phone. I sarcastically asked him to "park a little more in the way next time". This of course resulted in a shouting match. Because... if you are parked in the way, of course people should be nice and polite to you, right? It's the American way.
The perpetrator proceeded to exit his vehicle, all the while children apparently under his supervision played in the 'no swimming' area dragging large chunks of wood and limbs around and on to the ramp. At this point the man was standing outside my passenger door, while I attempted to use words to deescalate the situation, while simultaneously taking the safety off the pepper spray in my left hand. Luckily for all involved another group of PWC owners were in the area who assisted in loading my ski such that I could keep an eye on old shouty here. Calling 911 an officer arrived just in time to watch the person leave. I of course having given the officer a description of the man, woman, and two children, along with the vehicle and it's out of state plates. No pepper spray was discharged, and no charges filed.
Stay tuned for more Tales from the Ramp!
I'm pretty sure anything said to this person would have resulted in the same situation...
