Downings Landing - What a shame.

NH_boater · 09-29-2013, 09:32 PM

I have been a seasonal customer of Jon and Nancy for a few years and they always ran a good business. Nancy organizing the launches and trailering. Jon organizing the parking, keeping parking in the lines and in the right size spaces.

Today we likely to find cars in trailer only spaces, or trucks & trailers in car-top only spaces, Parking across the lines, in at funny angles, docks falling in the water, boats at the docks overnight, boats and trailers parked overnight, etc.
But worst of all, the inconsiderate and the ignorant have power loaded the hell out of the ramp leaving a 3-4" step down off the concrete ramp top and a steep crater right behind it. The mound of relocated bottom has resulted in a very shallow pad at the end of the dock, maybe 30" deep or less, where it used to be 6' or more. I trimmed up out at the end of the dock.

I have used this ramp hundreds of times over the years without incident. Maybe a touch of an angle if you backed in too much to the right but very smooth and the right angle. Today, my F150 struggled to pull my 23 footer up the steep ramp, especially at the step up that was never there before. A few more ignorant power loads and the ramp will be basically unusable for most boaters, until the ramp is repaired. Based on the deteriorating docks in only one year, my guess is that the F&G won't be spending much to repair the ramp. Without anyone present to provide direction and/or authority, Downing seems to be headed straight into the crapper. This is a shame for a business that worked so well for years.

I miss Jon and Nancy, and of course, wish them well. Too bad the new owners don't seem to have the interest, knowledge or budget to maintain this formally great facility. Jon and Nancy are friends, they must cringe as they see this business basically fall apart in only a year. I hope next year the F&G proves to be more active in maintenance and management or this ramp will be very poor or dangerous.

09-29-2013, 09:32 PM	#1
NH_boater Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 298 Thanks: 14 Thanked 147 Times in 62 Posts	Downings Landing - What a shame. I have been a seasonal customer of Jon and Nancy for a few years and they always ran a good business. Nancy organizing the launches and trailering. Jon organizing the parking, keeping parking in the lines and in the right size spaces. Today we likely to find cars in trailer only spaces, or trucks & trailers in car-top only spaces, Parking across the lines, in at funny angles, docks falling in the water, boats at the docks overnight, boats and trailers parked overnight, etc. But worst of all, the inconsiderate and the ignorant have power loaded the hell out of the ramp leaving a 3-4" step down off the concrete ramp top and a steep crater right behind it. The mound of relocated bottom has resulted in a very shallow pad at the end of the dock, maybe 30" deep or less, where it used to be 6' or more. I trimmed up out at the end of the dock. I have used this ramp hundreds of times over the years without incident. Maybe a touch of an angle if you backed in too much to the right but very smooth and the right angle. Today, my F150 struggled to pull my 23 footer up the steep ramp, especially at the step up that was never there before. A few more ignorant power loads and the ramp will be basically unusable for most boaters, until the ramp is repaired. Based on the deteriorating docks in only one year, my guess is that the F&G won't be spending much to repair the ramp. Without anyone present to provide direction and/or authority, Downing seems to be headed straight into the crapper. This is a shame for a business that worked so well for years. I miss Jon and Nancy, and of course, wish them well. Too bad the new owners don't seem to have the interest, knowledge or budget to maintain this formally great facility. Jon and Nancy are friends, they must cringe as they see this business basically fall apart in only a year. I hope next year the F&G proves to be more active in maintenance and management or this ramp will be very poor or dangerous.