Ramp Rules 2025
done reply :
Hey guys,
PLEASE do not take me as being overly defensive on this. This is not meant to be that way, purely informative for newer boaters.
On the topic of ramp rules, I can honestly say, I got a lot of new ones over the last few months, because of fellas who were nice enough to take some time to chat with me a bit on some of the courtesies at a ramp.
Here are the ones I have please add some on guys for anyone else. There is no course for these, and while some are obvious, some are not.
1. When unstrapping your boat, particularly on a crowded ramp, do as much of the unstrapping in the parking lot BEFORE getting on the ramp.
2. When landing, focus. Once you are blocking the dock/ramp, do not stop and chat, lollygag, etc. Get your boat trailored and out of the ramp area and then chat.
3. When landing, get your boaton the trailer then proceed away from the ramp to complete strapping down (this allows others to use the ramp).
4. if you notice someone having trouble launching/landing/trailoring, if you can take a second (especially if you are having to wait for them), give them a hand. you may teach them something that will help them be all the more quicker next time.
fishfordollars reply :
Here's another: When backing down the ramp to load or unload in the dark TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF!
Red reply :
i saw this TWICE!! two days in a row by the same couple! do not approach the dock way to fast while driving directly over the concrete part of the ramp that is under water, then over the rock "point" separating the ramp from dock area, the whole time smashing and crunching the prop of what appeared to be a top of the line bass rig, and then drop your hubby/boyfriend off to get the truck WITHOUT the keys!!!
;D
i agree with the headlights off thing too
Cliff
Tin reply :
You forgot to laugh at others for stupidity...
And when on a gravel ramp, put it in 4 wheel drive and not destroy it!!!
BassChump reply :
Here is one for ya. Just start your boat. Don't rev it up in gear at the ramp. It creates a buildup of gravel or dirt about 20 feet out from the ramp and props tend to get dinged up. Jet boats are guilty of this far more than bass boats.
Just a peave of mine.
Also, put all your junk in the boat BEFORE you get on the ramp, not while your there.
Another peave of mine.
I've seen more people just sit there waiting and once they get their boat in the water, they spend 10 minutes putting all their stuff in there. Drives me nuts.
DADto4 reply :
One more...
Practice backing your launching and loading during the winter, NOT during the spring and summer when the ramp is full of more experienced and less patieint boaters!
Jig Man reply :
Your #4 around here is not a good thing. Our "can't launch/load" red necks don't want anyone to give them a hand and show that their manly way of doing stuff is wrong or can be improved.
done reply :
Good point, I would ask if they want a hand first. At least around here 99% of folks will either say "sure" or "No thanks". On the rare occasion I have gotten a look or something I just walk away.
One thing I LOVED when I started camping is how folks look out for each other. When you got somone having issues getting in or out, or hooking up, or something horrendous goes wrong, it almost seems like a secret society how folks help out.
done reply :
QuoteOne more...Practice backing your launching and loading during the winter, NOT during the spring and summer when the ramp is full of more experienced and less patieint boaters!
The only thing with this is when folks buy their boats in spring. I would not expect them to sit on them until winter. If possible probably finding a slower/less busy ramp would be a good idea.
CFFF 1.5 reply :
QuoteHere's another: When backing down the ramp to load or unload in the dark TURN YOUR HEADLIGHTS OFF!
I guess you would be ticked at me when I launch. My headlights won't turn off, unless the truck is off.
done reply :
One of the ones I an guilty of sometimes is loading the boat on the ramp (takes me about 3 minutes) and unstrapping on the ramp (takes about 2 minutes).
The launch I use just sucks the way it is laid out. If i stop anywhere to do it before I am on the ramp (there are 6 launches divided into 2 sections), I end up blocking access to one or both of the sections where the launches are.
One the rare occasion it is crowded though, I will unstrap and load while waiting in line.
Jig Man reply :
QuoteGood point, I would ask if they want a hand first. At least around here 99% of folks will either say "sure" or "No thanks". On the rare occasion I have gotten a look or something I just walk away.One thing I LOVED when I started camping is how folks look out for each other. When you got somone having issues getting in or out, or hooking up, or something horrendous goes wrong, it almost seems like a secret society how folks help out.
You are so right about the campers, but they are a different breed than the ones who expect their wives or inexperienced buds to back the truck down the busy ramp while they have their butts parked in the boat and yell orders.
done reply :
yeah....you definitely get those folks everywhere. I remember when I was growing up in Buffalo, my father had a boat, so I had a good deal of experience back then, saw a dude with 1 26 footer launching into the niagara river, he totally forgot to put his plug in. So I tried to tell him, he kept telling me leave him alone, he knew what he was doing. He was actually a dick about it and the Niagara River is not a place you want to get in trouble in.
I eventually gave up, he motored out, then turns around floors it back to the ramp, bailing water out, barely got it back on the trailer. LOL, that was funny and he was lucky he did not get in more trouble.
Bud reply :
QuoteI guess you would be ticked at me when I launch. My headlights won't turn off, unless the truck is off
On my Chevrolet all you have to do is put the emergency brake on to the first click.
surfer reply :
Rules
#1 While using the ramp nobody else can, so do just what is necessary to launch and then get out of the way. Everything else should be taken care of while out of the way of the ramp thereby allowing someone else to use the ramp. There is only one ramp and this is what must be done to get as many boats in and out in the shortest amount of time.
#2 refer to rule #1
Saftey note:
Roll down your windows while backing. If someone sees something you don't they will yell to try to prevent an accident. You will want to hear them.
One thing I see from time to time is a truck under water. Not sure what causes that.
done reply :
QuoteRules#1 While using the ramp nobody else can, so do just what is necessary to launch and then get out of the way. Everything else should be taken care of while out of the way of the ramp thereby allowing someone else to use the ramp. There is only one ramp and this is what must be done to get as many boats in and out in the shortest amount of time.
#2 refer to rule #1
Saftey note:
Roll down your windows while backing. If someone sees something you don't they will yell to try to prevent an accident. You will want to hear them.
One thing I see from time to time is a truck under water. Not sure what causes that.
LOL! Awesome point on the windows. I saw a dude back his truck up so far his rear bumper was under water. If his boat was a foot longer or the lake 6 inches lower, his trailer would have been off the ramp.
Absolutely no idea what he thought he was doing. I keep mine open and the last foot or so I am hanging out it so i can see my rear tire.
SnowBass23 reply :
Most if not all of my irritations come from pleasure boaters. It seems most fishermen will happily help each other out, and NOT be the biggets jerks in the world on the ramps. I can't say the same thing for guys with huge ski boats. They seem to be the ones that end up with either the wife or teenage son backing the trailer while he screams and yells from the boat helm. Then they proceed to gun the engine as hard as possible to get the boat on or off the trailer.
I was one of those unthinking guys that bought a boat on Friday, and then launched on Saturday, warm summer weather without any practice. Luckily an older fisherman helped me out and taught me a lot in about 10 minutes. Now I will happily help someone at the ramp when they have a problem.
Calcutta reply :
All the docks at my ramps have signs that say "No fishing from dock" And of course they are all covered with people with numerous lines in the water blocking everything. I dont know what to say to these irritating people because I was at on time boatless too. Do yall have this problem?
32251 reply :
Regarding #4. I would ASK if the person needed help. Just heading on in and helping.....not this day and age. Better to inquire and then help, unless there is a situation happening where someone could get hurt.
TommyBass reply :
The GIANT pontoons always seem to have loading and unloading issues. I definately agree about practice... I loaded and unloaded my little jon boat hundreds of times in strip pits with bascially 0 ramp activity before I ever did it on the bigger lakes and my bigger boats. But thats not always an option for some people so help is always good. Windows definately a good idea, i usually open the back sliding glass on my pickup. Although its not really a pet peave, one good thing is to check your plugs... Ive seen 3 boats sink on ramps since ive started fishing due to this. Seen many of trucks backed too far down also... actually one of my friends backed mine down way too far onetime after hitting the gas instead of the break. Only the very top of the tailgate was visible.. 
that was the last time I let him drive. 
surfer reply :
One more note. Power loading.
Don't throttle heavily to get you r boat up on to the trailer. Your prop wash will wash the sand away from the end of the ramp when you do this. This is what creates the hole at the end of the ramp. In many cases this hole becomes big enough that the ramp collapses into it.
If you notice next time you are on a private ramp where people don't power load you will see the concrete ends and the sand begins. You can back your trailer out on to the sand without any problems as long as your truck tires remain on concrete.
Triton21 reply :
QuoteOne more note. Power loading.Don't throttle heavily to get you r boat up on to the trailer. Your prop wash will wash the sand away from the end of the ramp when you do this. This is what creates the hole at the end of the ramp. In many cases this hole becomes big enough that the ramp collapses into it.
If you notice next time you are on a private ramp where people don't power load you will see the concrete ends and the sand begins. You can back your trailer out on to the sand without any problems as long as your truck tires remain on concrete.
With the boat I have I have to power load on most ramps especially in low water. I only use enough power to get the boat on trailer.
Bass Dude reply :
I can sum up this up into two rules:
1. USE COMMON SENSE
2. BE COURTEOUS
I understand that people lack both common sense and common courtesy, but to me, if you go by those two rules, you shouldn't have any problems.
ThomasL reply :
I may be the only one that does this but i feel safer since most times i am by myself or with the wife that knows nothing about loading or unloading.I will back the boat in the water with a rope tied to the bow eye and just push it off and tie it up,on my return to load it back up i tie back up go get the trailer backed in and pull the boat up to the trailer with the trolling motor and letting it drift on til i can get up front and hook the winch to the bow eye,and yes i have a drive on trailer but still feel safer doing it this way.When my dad was alive he would back the trailer in and i would drive the boat on with him guiding me on,i don't have this option anymore... :'(
surfer reply :
QuoteWith the boat I have I have to power load on most ramps especially in low water. I only use enough power to get the boat on trailer.
cool. i understand it is nescisarry on ramps that already have a hole at the end, but just an FYI for the ramps that dont have holes at the end. if posible dont power load. its bad for the ramp.
Glenn reply :
Quick tip on loading your boat: Back the trailer in all the way - get all the bunks completely wet. This usually means the fenders on the trailer go under water. Then pull it back up to "normal" level for loading. (To the observer, you "accidentally" went in too far, and then pulled up.)
With the bunks wet, power loading usually isn't needed. The boat glides right on as you drive it in under idle speed. If anything, a short burst is all you'll need. This also saves wear and tear on your bunks.
Our boat is 6 years old and bunks look brand new, despite heavy use.
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