Launch Ramp Idiocy: Discovery Park for example.

ripvanbl

This past weekend was my first time at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA. Great time, good water up at the north end of the Sac. river, great party on the American River. What really spolied it was the launch ramp idiots. I know this topic has been covered many, many times, but geezuz!

When I was at Lake Don Pedro for the 4th it was much smoother than this normal weekend at Discovery Park. I think in part because they had launch ramp directors (probably just for that weekend) at Don Pedro, and it seemed to make all the difference.

I wonder how feasible permanent/on demand launch ramp directors would be for some high traffic places? Just a pipe dream as I know financially it isn't feasible, but it would make life a little easier. No more standing in the water, blocking the ramp while waiting for the driver to get back or other blood pressure raising incidents like that.

Anyone have similar thoughts, ideas? More just venting, but it could be an interesting dicussion to see if anyone else has thought about this.

J-Ro · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 1:06 pm Post subject:

Disco is hilarious because its a relatively narrow ramp that launches into a small cove that has a current. Plus people are scared to drop off there driver and get away from the docks. So they just dock their boat and wait. Which makes it hard to drop someone off. Its a viscious cycle. You want a good time? Take a lawn chair to Miller Park and see how many people can beach their boats.

ripvanbl · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 1:09 pm Post subject:

J-Ro, Is Miller Park where the Sac and American meet? That sand bar/ beach area right there?
Tell me about the dropping off the driver issue Evil or Very Mad

. I actually had my wife climb across someone elses boat (I asked first of course, come on Razz

) to get her to the dock because most of the ppl holding boats against the dock were woman (sry to generalize, but it was true this weekend) who didn't know how to drive the boat and were just barley keeping it against the dock because of the current/wakes coming in.

BigRed · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 1:13 pm Post subject:

Relatively Narrow?

You should be able to launch 5 boats at the same time on that ramp. When we were pulling out both days I had a few choice words with people taking up space on the ramp. I wasn't rude, just matter-of-fact that they are holding everyone up and making the wait longer by only allowing one car up and down the ramp at a time.

I'd trade that for a smaller less crowded (and even more poorly kept) ramp anyday.

Speaking of that, we went north from Disco Park over the weekend and saw a small launch ramp across the river (about 2-3 miles up river) from the garden highway side a bit before you got to highway 80. Anyone know what launch this is and how to get to it? Seemed to be right by some great glass, and you skip having to 5mph it past all the marinas.

J-Ro · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 1:39 pm Post subject:

We launch at Verona, which is right where the Yolo and Sac meet. Its 2 lanes and a decent current but there are rarely people there.

A ramp is only as wide as the wallys make it

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

BigRed, sounds like the Yolo Elkhorn Launch - take the exit just after the bridge and make a right. It's a couple of miles down on the left.

Good news though, the ramp at the Sac Elkhorn launch is looking like it will be killer. They have a section of the river drained so they can pour it deeeeeep.

pureliquid · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 2:15 pm Post subject:

The Discovery Park launch is awful. It actually is pretty wide like BigRed said, but people are idiots. For some reason the docks are always full with people holding their boats. I don't know why they can't just drop their person off at the dock and just hang out in the cove or back out into the river and wait for the tow vehicle.

J-Ro - Verona is definitely the spot. Awsome water and the launch is never crowded.

J-Ro · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 2:17 pm Post subject:

pureliquid, Because they are too busy showing off their little D##ks...errr I Mean Big Boats. The best riding is out of Verona....less sheriffs all wadded up cause you were 2 feet too close to somebodys dock. Evil or Very Mad

pureliquid · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 2:21 pm Post subject:

The Discovery Park launch is awful. It actually is pretty wide like BigRed said, but people are idiots. For some reason the docks are always full with people holding their boats. I don't know why they can't just drop their person off at the dock and just hang out in the cove or back out into the river and wait for the tow vehicle.

J-Ro - Verona is definitely the spot. Awsome water and the launch is never crowded.

BigRed · Posted: Aug 23, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject: