This is a holiday weekend public service announcement from Pickled Northern, just offering a little helpful advice, from one friendly local to one tourist; you know, arm around the shoulder thing, possibly a beer later...
BOAT LANDING ETIQUETTE
While these rules apply to everyone, I write this hoping maybe some of you "holiday/occasion only" type boaters who think the locals are crabby all the time, might get some insight. If you follow these few simple rules/guidelines (suggestions) you might find us a whole lot more pleasant.
-Your boat is not as fancy as you think it is. That eighty year old with the fourteen foot Lund and the 9.9 horse Johnson IS going to outfish you, and he really isn't noticing you one way or the other.
-Have your crap ready to go. This means:
Boat is unstrapped, and plug is in.
Your crap is loaded up.
Your motor has run this year.
Your wife's tote bags, change of clothes, case of toilet paper, book of the month, floppy hat, large sunglasses, babies, coolers full of healthy snacks, etc.... ARE IN THE BOAT before you take up landing space. You might also point out to her that she doesn't need to stand their and watch you unload, she could unhook the boat, catch a bow line, and hols the damn thing while you go park the truck.
-Your dog running around on the beach is only cool to you. We've seen dogs before. Get him in the boat and get gone.
-Nobody is going to drown at the dock. No game warden is going to cite you if you move 75 yards off shore and put on life jackets. Move people.
-It doesn't matter if you are the only one at a boat landing. Please treat it as if there are people waiting. One should always assume that as soon as you block the landing, another truck will pull in.
-Train your people. My kids could put a boat in the water faster than most people at a landing on a holiday weekend. We have a two minute rule. In and out. This is not extreme. We seldom come close unless I have to park a long way from the dock.
-Fuel efficient cars with kayaks, canoes or other self propelled watercraft strapped to the roof, do NOT belong at boat landings, or in parking spaces meant for vehicles pulling trailers.
*Nobody cares if you have trouble backing up a trailer. We care if your poop isn't piled neatly.
WHEN LOADING YOUR BOAT:
-If your boat isn't centered perfectly on the trailer, it will not hurt it. You are more likely to end up hurt if you keep trying to center it while people are holding up offshore waiting to land.
-When you pull up out of the water, GET THE OUT OF THE WAY. Your wife's stuff will not blow away just because you moved a few hundred feet away from the landing. Your boat will also not fall off of the trailer if the back end isn't hooked down. Again, I promise.
All it takes is just a little bit of pretending that you care what is happening to everyone else around you. Please boat safely, and enjoy your weekend. Oh, and please get the Hell out of the way.



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