Rich D
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- Apr 30, 2001
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Ya know, after reading Rob's response about the trouble he had loading and no help from his club, posted under Tim's Bass Club message, I have to vent.
A couple weeks ago, I went for a day trip by myself, middle of the week, some people on the lake but not many. After an hour or so, the wind really kicked up and the lake got nasty. The lake has a horsepower restriction, so I was sitting on the rear casting deck using my kicker motor. I didn't feel comfortable with the conditions so headed in. Halfway there, I (breaking the law) switched motors and went to dock idling my 25 hp. The launch was down right ugly, on a point, getting pounded. As I was approaching a dock, a dealer with a new boat owner pulled up and backed into the dock I was approaching. O.k., not the most friendly move, but it was just him and me and there was another dock. After pulling in, one rope got away, and I almost killed myself trying to get control of the boat. After much struggle, I got tied down, with the dealer and customer sitting in their boat just watching. As I was backing my trailer in, another boat pulled up on the other side of my dock with a man and his elderly father. I hop in fight the wind and manage to barely get the boat on the trailer. After much struggling and pulling and pushing (from the water) I got the boat secured. Again, dealer and customer watching from their boat, man and father watching from dock. No offers to help, no toss a line I will help pull. I pull out to strap down, and watch the man and father try to load. Not a drive on trailer, father on dock, man at trailer trying to pull boat. Well, all I could picture was my dad trying to do this so, back in the water I went and loaded the boat for them. The response, "Thanks, but we could have got it." The dealer and customer didn't move.
Now, what kind of example is the dealer showing a new boat owner about helping other boaters? This is probably the guys first boat and I am sure at some point will need the help and advice of other boat owners. The man and father I already wrote off as miserable and set in their ways, but still!!! I am not an "old fart" remembering when, I am in my early thirties. (no offense to any old farts reading the board, LOL!) But what about sportsmanship? I am glad I had this trouble at the dock and not in the middle of the lake!
Sorry so long, but as I said, I had to vent.
A couple weeks ago, I went for a day trip by myself, middle of the week, some people on the lake but not many. After an hour or so, the wind really kicked up and the lake got nasty. The lake has a horsepower restriction, so I was sitting on the rear casting deck using my kicker motor. I didn't feel comfortable with the conditions so headed in. Halfway there, I (breaking the law) switched motors and went to dock idling my 25 hp. The launch was down right ugly, on a point, getting pounded. As I was approaching a dock, a dealer with a new boat owner pulled up and backed into the dock I was approaching. O.k., not the most friendly move, but it was just him and me and there was another dock. After pulling in, one rope got away, and I almost killed myself trying to get control of the boat. After much struggle, I got tied down, with the dealer and customer sitting in their boat just watching. As I was backing my trailer in, another boat pulled up on the other side of my dock with a man and his elderly father. I hop in fight the wind and manage to barely get the boat on the trailer. After much struggling and pulling and pushing (from the water) I got the boat secured. Again, dealer and customer watching from their boat, man and father watching from dock. No offers to help, no toss a line I will help pull. I pull out to strap down, and watch the man and father try to load. Not a drive on trailer, father on dock, man at trailer trying to pull boat. Well, all I could picture was my dad trying to do this so, back in the water I went and loaded the boat for them. The response, "Thanks, but we could have got it." The dealer and customer didn't move.
Now, what kind of example is the dealer showing a new boat owner about helping other boaters? This is probably the guys first boat and I am sure at some point will need the help and advice of other boat owners. The man and father I already wrote off as miserable and set in their ways, but still!!! I am not an "old fart" remembering when, I am in my early thirties. (no offense to any old farts reading the board, LOL!) But what about sportsmanship? I am glad I had this trouble at the dock and not in the middle of the lake!
Sorry so long, but as I said, I had to vent.