Here are a few questions about what YOU would do in certain situations.

1. you find all the rocket launchers on your tackle box loaded with other passengers rods?

2. The rental rods YOU are using, and stored in YOUR rocket launchers are all missing?

3.10-12 rods are stacked over the top of your tackle box in THE prime spot, much delaying you in getting re-rigged in the middle of a wide open COW tuna bite?

4. Smart aleck crewmen, ridculing you, to your face, in a bad fashion, not in the " Laugh with you " fashion.

5. What do you do when PHYSICALLY accosted, unanounced, by a seriously drunk, unruly passenger? Mixed Beer and whiskey.

And remember. Sticking up for yourself means you are an a-hole in the eyes of the crew.

How do you react to these situations?

Do not hold back and be completely honest.

1. you find all the rocket launchers on your tackle box loaded with other passengers rods?



I don't know about the other LR boats but on the RRIII it's discouraged to use tackle box mounted rocket launchers to store rods. I was using mine to hold my rods when tying on hooks and it worked so well that the others around my box started using it too. Everyone was polite and offered to move when I came to get something out of my box and it worked out well.



2. The rental rods YOU are using, and stored in YOUR rocket launchers are all missing?


Not an issue for me as I prefer to have and use my own equipment. I did "loose" a loaner rod on the 0'6 15 day trip but it just got moved down the line a few rods and because it was a loaner I went around the boat looking for it, passing the rod a few times before I slowed down (and pulled my head out of my ass) and found the rod. Things get confused at times and gear occasionally gets misplaced.



3.10-12 rods are stacked over the top of your tackle box in THE prime spot, much delaying you in getting re-rigged in the middle of a wide open COW tuna bite?


Not an issue on the RRIII trips I've been on but I can see it as a big problem.


4. Smart aleck crewmen, ridculing you, to your face, in a bad fashion, not in the " Laugh with you " fashion.


I've never seen this happen, the crew on the RRIII are all professional as well as being good guys. They do tease some of us a bit, I'm "Lambo", Hoggem'in is "Potsie" and I have some photos of some horseplay when one of the fishermen on the boat fell asleep on deck with his plate on. The "victim" had it coming as he's a big perpetrator of horseplay himself and a long time RRIII coustomer, as well as a friend of the crew and another good guy.



5. What do you do when PHYSICALLY accosted, unanounced, by a seriously drunk, unruly passenger? Mixed Beer and whiskey.


I'd talk to the chief mate or captain, there is no call for this kind of behavior. Getting intoxicated on a boat is another problem, not a good idea, a few drinks is ok but getting drunk on a boat is stupid and dangerous.



And remember. Sticking up for yourself means you are an a-hole in the eyes of the crew.

I think this is probably true too often. It also depends on your past behavior and how well the crew knows you. If you are a whiner then walking the plank is probably too easy but if you have a legitimate problem most crew members should understand and help.



I looks to me like you have been on the"wrong boat" or you take many LR trips. I've only had two minor problems and one was part my fault (the problem was between two others but I had a part in the "misunderstanding". The chief, Julio, got between the two that had the problems and I went in and straightened out the misunderstanding, the one I was partly responsible for. As far as I could tell the issue was put aside. The other "problem" was me getting crowded to the rail when I had a nice wahoo on and could not move to follow the fish. Well when there are 3 wahoo on at the same time you MUST follow your fish or bad things happen...like cut offs. Oh well, there are more fish out there and I can always replace a Marauder. I did get uncaristicly pissed at those that locked me to the rail but it only lasted 30 minutes or so and I made the dissision to drop it. In fact I even helped them when they weren't "catching" or didn't have the right gear.

I don't know what boats you have fished but the problems you list haven't happened on the RRIII trips I've been on, only three trips so I'm in no way an expert.

I do think that if you go on longer trips there won't be as much BS. In the future I plan on doing only 15 day or longer trips. This makes it so i can't go as often but the quality of the longer trips makes it worth the wait. I'd like to do a 30+ day but I don't see any listed and the cost factor would put out of my range.

Okay. To clarify the " Rocket Launcer " scenario.
I use what is now an accecpted form. The SKB tackle boxes with the professional launchers.

The boat I rode, is the same, with both being 10 day trips. I am not of the income bracket that allows for many trips. I am only afforded a trip every 2 years.

I keep hearing these stellar reviews of the Rooster, The R.P. and the Polaris Supreme.

How has anyone else's trips been on the Indy?

Plus, is there anyone scheduled to fish the Intrepid who will post a review for us all?

quote:

The SKB tackle boxes with the professional launchers

I have the large SKB box with their rocket launchers. Next trip I'll probably take 2 of them off to make a bit of room for other boxes.

On the RRIII it helps to book and pay early as thay use a number system for boarding and gear/rod storage. It's not good for those that come later but it's "fair" if everyone uses a minum of space and has some concern for thoose that are behind you in the line. I've been #27, #26 and #3 and I'll let you know that #3 was FAR BETTER than #27 but having been at the end of the line and having to put up with bad locations for my boxes I made sure I didn't take up more than my aloted space on the deck. Everyone needs to think about those that are behind us, either in line or first come first served, and then things should go better.

Thanks to Hoggem I'm booked early (like a month before the Jan '07 trip left the dock) for the Jan '08 15 day trip. I just have to come up with a few more $$$.$$ and I'm paid in full, still lots of time to come up with the cash. I might have to get a paying job to pay for the fuel surcharge and truck fuel for the 1800+ mile round trip drive to SD, look for a gurumpy old fat guy with a limp at the enterance of a Wallmart in Southern Oregon.

This is the first time I have really brought this up, but it seemed appropriate given this topic. With the exception of one year, I have taken one trip a year on the Rooster for the last 6 years. Prior to that time, I took about 15 years off from LR fishing, but rode the Rooster back then as well.

Just about every trip with them was stellar. However, my trip last year was an abomination. I booked a trip on an early 7 dayer. Two other people joined me--a buddy of mine and his daughter. It was supposed to be a limited load trip with 27 passengers. I paid my deposit immediately. Sent it in a couple of weeks prior to my friends. When I get to the boat, they have me as #28. My buddy an and his daughter are nos. 20 and 21. Huh?? I asked about it, but Sara did not have a great answer--so I let it go. Who cares, I am going fishing. However, after I check in, I realize that there are actually 29 passengers not 27. Ok, so I was a bit slow. Found out later than one guy traded services for his spot and the other one--who knows
Anyway, we get on board and I see that my buddy and his daugheter have been assigned one of the smallest staterooms on the boat. Another Rooster regular (more on him later) has been assigned one the larger two man staterooms. He is all by himself. Stores his rods on the top bunk. Not really the most fair solution. Give the guy his own room, but not the biggest and not when you have a guy with his daughter in the smallest one .
This regular proceeds to let everyone on the boat know he is the best fisherman and order everyone around. Yelled at everyone who was fishing that they wewre not doing it correctly. Ordered me out of one of the booths in the galley so he could get in and finish a game of cribbage that he has started earlier but had not been in the galley for a couple of hours. I laughed at him and finished a card game I was playing while he stood over me trying to get me to move. When I finished, I told him, all you had to do was to say please. He didn't like that answer. Normally, would have gone straight up to talk to Andy, but one of the senior crew was there saw the event. I talked to him about it and the response was pretty much that that is how this guy is. Don't worry about it. Very odd for the RRIII crew which I have always thought was one of the best in the business. Basically, the crew let this guy run roughshod over everyone and anyone who brought it up was dismissed.
After being such a loyal Rooster guy, this was really strange. I am not telling anyone to stay away from the Rooster. Certainly a great boat, but customer service on my trip, fake limited load and office foul-ups made for a less than pleasurable trip. For the first time a long time, I am riding another boat this year. Will let everyone know what my experience is.

LT

The same happened on the STar with the Drunk in question. He was a VERY, VERY, V E R Y loud, obnoxious New York drunk and let the entire boat know about " How great " New Yorkers were.

It gets better. He and his Sons were on the same trip last year so the Crew is VERY excited to see him and we'll see why soon.

This lunatic, gets lit one day, early on in the voyage......then proceeds to display, why all these hundreds ( while holding a shitload of hundred dollar bills in his fist ) means nothing to him, then proceeds to peel them off in rapid succession, throwing them on the deck with the 2 word phrase " Duck em "

The passengers were just watching a moron while two crewmen picked up Hundreds trying to give them back. When flicked off by a wave of the back of his hand and a " Keep it ".....
the money, lots of it, went in their pockets.

Hmmmmmmm, they say that money isn't an object on these boats?????

The more a person tips......the worse they can behave and the more the Crew brushes the rest aside.

I'd rather be poor and polite than wealthy and known as a Dork! ( politely said.)

True that. II did the same and some of the crew thought I was an asshole.

The drunk onboard grabbed me without warning while I was seated watching a movie, head phones on my laptop. I proceeded to snatch him up and the scrum was on.

There is a lot that I will take in life. 2 very, very bad things I hate and will not take no matter what or where I am at.

Serious intoxication followed up by unwarranted assault.

It just sucked that the crew continued to let this butthead, drink to excess, every single day. Including his 16 year old son.

Ifit's illegal onshore, just because they leave U.S. waters, does that make it okay on a U.S. Registered vessel?

In fact...the drinking started at the bait receivers. sheesh. we left in the late morning.

my top secret on longranging is this.
1 i never bring rod holders
2 i only bring whats nessasary
3 i leave my tackle bag in my room and only carry out what im going to use
4 i drink with the groups who are drinking that way , nothing to be said.
5 i always put my stuff were no one else wants to put it( avoiding rod buildups).
6 who gives a shit about what the crew thinks about you ( no tip ) if thats the case.
7 you must be riding the wrong boat, cause i really never had that much of a problem.

Yup on that.
I only take the needed equipment with the storage over other stuff in my cabin.

Don't drink, ever, soooo, no compliance there.

I only use the alloted rod holders on the side of the vessel associated with my #.

I don't care who thinks what of me. I have stiifed for crap behavior. After all...the crew is paid by the boat, not me. Tipping is a form of flattery for hard work, politeness and courtesy and attention to detail above and beyond.

I hate how the boats have made Tipping Mandatory. Total crap. If they removed that stupid rule, I'll bet the crew's would be better on certain boats.

I am looking forward to fishing the RRIII and the INtrepid next year.
Finances due to EXCESSIVE medical bills post head on crash have put a spiggot on my bank account. Should settle the case by this fall freeing me up to do a MASSIVE, HUGE, WOMAN LIKE spending spree at the CHARK.

I am looking at ALL new Super seekers for 16 day trips, reels, everything.

chaaaaaaa ching....

you ought to try the r/p on fatherday trip. i usualy do that trip but not this year. there a whole mess of the coolest regulars on that trip you would ever meet in a years worth of boating.they sing, laugh, drink, and share ideas with each other. the coolest group i ever fished with. if you screw up they will not yell or embarrass you in public. they will help you when needed in a gental manner.anyways i,ll be on it again next year.tight lines.

Yes the boats pay the deck hands but it is not very much and if you consider the hours worked in a day ( im not meaning all 24 hours ) they make squat per hour. But that said all passengers should be treated with respect unless the passenger is a asshole, and they should not have let the guy be obnoxis or let his son drink.

Faather's day trips don't work for me. I have no children and would be bumed as I lost my Dad at Christmas.

I really want to go with the Chark crew on the RRIII. That would be a hoot. I have this feeling their are hi-jinks galore and one awesome group on the 10 day trip.

Hoggem..when are you going in 2008. I am now looking at the RRIII end of the season 15 dayer. They hammered the wahoo this year on their end of LONG season trip.

As for most of these questions-they have been adequately answered. As for crewmen-they usually walk a watch alone. Walk with them, talk with them-if you can't iron out your diffs, I'd say that the problem either was partly your fault or the guy needs to swim.

P.S.
Every boat has detractors, yet they all keep selling out to guys that love them. If one boat isn't to your taste, switch-bitching don't help!