Boat Ramp Etiquette

Good manners matter and that goes for boating too, specifically at the boat ramp. Your behavior around this busy and critical area affects others and may even cause a hazard so learn boat launching best behavior and you can even make friends in the process.

What is etiquette at the boat ramp?

A boat ramp is a public area and that means a long line of people waiting to use it on most summer weekends. There are usually people on shore waiting to launch or load their boats and people on boats on the water waiting to be loaded. Ramp etiquette is a set of unwritten rules or courtesies for safe and civil behavior and an efficient launch/load process.

For boats waiting in cue on the water, they must “keep station” (which just means to stay in place) even in wind or current and perhaps amid other boats so there’s already the possibility of a collision or loss of control. For those on land ready to back down the ramp, there are safety issues as well due to limited visibility or perhaps insufficient backing skills, so following defined steps is important.

16 tips for good boat ramp behavior

1)    Use the staging area to prepare the boat to be launched. Have the plug in, have the cover and tiedowns off, and make sure the boat is loaded with safety equipment and the day’s necessities.

2) Make sure the engine is operable, so you don’t get stuck with a non-working boat on the ramp.

3) Don’t load gear or people onto the boat while it’s on the ramp.

4) Move the boat to a dock or out onto the water and away from the ramp once it’s launched.

5) When the boat is off the trailer, pull the vehicle up the ramp and to a parking spot that’s out of the way of other ramp traffic.

6) When retrieving the boat from the water, tie it up to a courtesy dock and then ready the tow vehicle or have the boat driver stand off until it’s your turn. Don’t use the courtesy dock for longer than the time needed to pick up and drop off crew or passengers.

7) Be respectful of the ramp cue and don’t cut in line.

8) Load the boat onto the trailer, secure the winch and bow hook, and pull up to the staging area to unload, wipe down or cover the boat for transport.

9) Don’t unload the boat while on the ramp.

10) Don’t chat with your crew or other boaters while on the ramp. There will be plenty of time to socialize later.

11) If launching or loading in the dark, turn on the navigation lights on the boat.

12) Always motor slowly up or down the ramp. There may be kids or dogs running around and it’s usually chaotic.

13) It’s best to have one person on/with the boat and one in/with the tow vehicle.

14) We recommend not to power load. This is when you throttle up to push the boat onto the trailer. It’s dangerous, damages the ramp and environment, and in some cases, it may be banned. Instead, use the winch and strap to pull the boat the rest of the way up after getting the bow on.

15) Be sure to check if the boat ramp has specific rules. Each ramp is different and may recommend some extra precautions.

16) If you don’t know how to launch a boat from a ramp, watch others at the ramp, learn from online videos, ask your dealer for a lesson, or have a knowledgeable friend help you.

Good overall boating behavior includes appropriate ramp etiquette. It’s not hard to learn and it may win you some friends (rather than enemies) right at the start (or end) of your day.