BigBendFishing.Net

I've been informed that the Keaton Beach public boat ramp will be closed untill mid November. Paving the parking lot, making a picnic area, etc. Might want keep it in mind if your going to Keaton.

Improvements good. Closed.

That means KBM will be even more of a mad house.

My point exactly chugbug.

Dang, I was thinking of going this weekend. How's the crowd been since scallop season been closed ? Is the ramp closed already ?

The ramp is closed already. The crowds have fallen way off, but now the fishermen are moving back in, so the time of the hour wait at the lift is coming fast.

Do they not also have a small single ramp to launch from.

They do. It's a pain in the butt to use though. Short, steep, and very narrow. Plus, there is no dock space after you launch.

I've used the KBM ramp with my 15' john and CapeHorn 17 with no problems, but there was not a minus tide for the CH launch.

There is a long floating dock, but it is a short walk from the ramp.

It's not perfect but I've used worse ramps.

(I do have 4WD and that's a plus for recovery there.)

I launch a good bit of the time by myself. That ramp is not self friendly at all.

I use the little ramp at KBM quite often. Its not great but much faster than the lift
and a lot less channel to navigate. There is a dock to right of the ramp
but one of those long crab boats is always docked along it.
When I get down to the lift if there are more than a couple boats ahead of me I just stop go inside pay my $5.00 and use the little ramp.
It would not be a good ramp for large boats.
SH

I can live with the lift in the morning. I'm usually the first or second boat there. It's lifting out in the afternoon. 10 boats floating around in a little cove waiting thier turn at the lift. little dock space to hold onto while you wait your turn. If you don't have a trolling motor, it sucks.
Might need to get used to it though. All the private building planned for the canal next to the Public ramp is going to make it crowded to get in and out of the canal.

Only launched and recovered once there by myself.
You have a point CSM.

Guess I just fish somewhere else till the ramp is back open.

I fought that lift at the marina for a lot of years before they opened the public ramp. (Which has only been a couple seasons now.) I don't see any reason to drive anywhere else. The lift at the marina is 5 minutes from my camper.
They do have a tendency to tear stuff up on your boat lifting it.