Boat Ramp Etiquette 101
Last Updated on August 27, 2024 by Boatsetter Team
Using good manners and keeping things polite at the boat ramp means knowing boat ramp etiquette basics.
The world of boating brings with it its own special responsibilities, its own special safety equipment, and even its own special glossary and language. This goes for the boat ramp, too, even though you’ll be standing on dry land when you use it. Trailer boaters need to learn everything from how to back up a boat trailer to boat trailer maintenance. And after learning all that you’ll also discover there’s a special set of manners that boaters expect from one another, which includes behavior at that boat ramp.
The Golden Rule of Boat Ramp Etiquette
Besides being generally polite and pleasant, good manners at the boat ramp boil down to one golden rule: Don’t unnecessarily hold up your fellow boater, who arrives at the ramp itching to get out on the water and then returns to it tired out and ready to get home asap. Depending on the type of boat, the type of ramp, and the trailer boater’s skill level, there’s a wide variation in how long it takes someone to launch or retrieve a boat. In some cases it make be just a couple of minutes but in others it could be half an hour or even more. And it’s considered very impolite to make other trailer boaters wait, and wait, and wait… often for far longer than it would take them to get their own boat in or out of the water.
Prepping for a Boat Launch
One of the biggest faux pas one can make is to drive into the launch facility, back down the ramp part way, then sit there and prep for the launch. Prepping takes time; you’ll need to get gear out of the vehicle and load it into the boat, remove the safety straps, attach lines and fenders, and so on. Even for a practiced trailer boater the process will take several minutes and for someone new to the experience it might be half an hour before they’re really ready to launch. In the meantime, other boaters are likely to pull into the launch facility, and they may have to sit and wait while you’re blocking the ramp.
Any boat launch will have some sort of staging area or pull-off between its entrance and the ramp itself, and that’s where you should pull over and prep the boat. Similarly, when you retrieve the boat at the end of the day don’t just pull it out of the water and stop there on the ramp to prepare for the tow home. Drive over to a corner of the parking lot or a separate staging area where you can get ready for the road without blocking others from using the ramp.
Keeping the Docks Clear
After you have your boat afloat you can pull your tow vehicle out of the way and into a parking spot. That’s great, but if you tied your boat up right in front of the ramp other people still can’t use it. They’ll have to sit there and wait while you park, walk back to the boat, start up, and go on your way. At the very least, as soon as you get the boat into the water pull it as far away from the ramp as far as possible before tying it up. In many cases, just moving down the dock will allow someone else to pull in and get their boat off the trailer. If possible, move the boat to the far side of the pier and get it out of the way of the ramp entirely. At some launch facilities there will also be “courtesy docks” set up a short distance away from the ramp where you can tie up for a few minutes without holding up the show. And if you have other experienced boaters with you, another option is to let them pull the boat out of the ramp area and drift around as you park the vehicle. Then, when you walk down the dock they can nose the boat up to the pier and pick you up.
Learn how to properly dock a boat
Returning to the Ramp
When you come in from a long day of boating it’s likely to be at a time when many other boaters are doing the same. Again, the key to maintaining good boat ramp etiquette is to avoid holding up all those other people. Use those courtesy docks or have someone drop you off then move away from the pier while you retrieve the tow vehicle, to keep that ramp open. And when you pull the boat remember to drive away from the ramp and park out of the way before you begin prepping for the road.
Operating Your Boat Near the Launch Facility
We all know it’s no fun to get “waked” by someone zooming around close by, and this is never truer than when you’re trying to launch or load. Always idle away from the ramp making a minimal wake, and when returning, cut speed well before you run the risk of waking somebody who has their boat half on and half off the trailer.
Lend a Helping Hand
Spend any significant amount of time at a boat ramp and sooner or later you’ll encounter people who may be new to boating and need a hand or maybe some simple advice when launching or loading. You’ll also see people who are doing the job single-handed and could benefit from a friendly boater who can hold a line or fend a boat. It’s always courteous to offer a helping hand to someone who’s struggling at the ramp, for whatever reason.
Finally, always keep your cool and act courteous even if you’re the one being blocked from the ramp by somebody who doesn’t know any better. It’s not unheard of for people to lose their patience and land on the horn or shout at someone else at the boat ramp, but this accomplishes exactly nothing. You’ll have a much better day—and make a lot more friends—by walking over and saying “hi,” then explaining why they should prep for launch in a staging area or pull their boat away from the ramp as soon as it’s off the trailer. Because if everyone paid more attention to proper boat ramp etiquette, experienced and inexperienced boaters alike, we’d all have even more fun out on the water.
Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent a boat, list your boat, or become a Boatsetter captain today.
