Boat Ramp 101

Boat Ramp 101 (aka, how not to be a dick):

The sport of kayak fishing is quickly growing, and so are our kayaks!  It's no longer unusual to have kayaks in access of 13 feet long and over 150lbs.  Moving the kayak from the top of your Subaru and onto a trailer pulled by a 3/4 ton pick up is more common than ever.  With more and more of us abandoning the long haul across the beach with our kayak dollies and opting for a simple trailer-launch at the boat ramp, it's time that we lay out some simple rules of boat ramp etiquette.  It's important to note that you don't need a trailer to launch at the ramp.  Car-toppers are more than welcome as well, and most (if not all) of these rules apply to you as well.  Follow these simple rules and you'll never have to worry about becoming the star of the show at the boat ramp:

Staging area/before you get to the ramp:

-Load your gear into your kayak.

-Take off the straps.  Leave just one for security if needed.

-Make sure any drain plug is inserted.

-Make sure any electronics you have power up correctly (lights, graph, ect.)

-Tie a rope to the bow to use for tying up after you've launched.

-Disconnect your trailer lights.

Backing down the ramp:

-Turn your headlights off.

-Stay in one lane (practice backing down your trailer ahead of time in an empty lot).

-Back down to the water's edge and disconnect the last strap.

-If your kayak sits on the trailer upright, back down far enough to where you can slide your boat right off the back safely into the water.

-Using the rope you tied on earlier, pull your kayak over to the dock and secure both the bow and stern to the dock.

-Get your vehicle out of there quickly.

-Don't turn your headlights back on until you are off the ramp.

Retrieving your kayak:

-Turn your headlights off.

-Stay in one lane.

-Back down to the water's edge.  Again, make sure you're far enough down that you can slide the boat onto the trailer easily.

-Untie your kayak from the dock and pull it into position and onto the trailer with the rope.

-Use that rope to quickly tie off to the trailer.

-Get back in your vehicle and pull up to the loading zone.

In the loading zone:

-Move quickly if people are waiting.

-Unload any gear back into your vehicle.

-Pull the drain plug.

-Wipe down the hull and check for any invasive species that may have attached themselves.

-Strap your kayak down securely.

-Reconnect your trailer lights.

Common Courtesy:

-Prepare for launching/loading away from the boat ramp.  Unless it absolutely has to be done at the ramp, you can do it in the parking lot, or out in the no-wake zone.

-Turn off your headlights while on the ramp.  It makes it incredibly difficult for others to back down the ramp looking into your headlights.

-If you are not there to launch/retrieve a boat, get off the ramp!  On that note, get your dog off the ramp too!  He doesn't have any thumbs, he is of no help when it comes to any activities on the ramp.

-Never leave your vehicle or kayak unattended on the ramp.  That's what parking lots and courtesy docks are for.  If you leave your kayak sitting unattended on a busy ramp, you deserve to have your paddle stolen.  You don't see guys beach their Skeeters up on the ramp, you don't get to either just because your boat is smaller.

-The line is formed by vehicles with trailers, not by the boats in the water.  This is just common sense.  If your trailer isn't here yet, get out of my way!

-Move quickly!  Nothing is more annoying than watching a young, fit, able-bodied 25 year-old taking his time at the ramp, BSing with his buddies while finishing his last beer for the road home.  If you're an old geezer with arthritis and gout, we understand if you don't move as quickly.

-Communicate with other boaters.  If the person in front of you in the staging area isn't ready yet, but you are, ask them if they mind if you jump ahead of them.  Assuming they won't mind will just make you look like a wiener.

-Don't be afraid to ask someone for help backing down the ramp if you suck at backing down trailers and it's busy.  I'd rather just do it for you than have to wait longer.  Just present them with your man-card.  They will tear off one corner and do it for you.  After all four corners are torn off, you will need to re-apply for a new man card, or be forced to wear a dress each time you go to the lake.

All I'm asking is, don't be "that guy".  Be courteous at the ramp.  Be friendly.  Be helpful to others who are struggling, and if you're the one struggling, be "man enough" to ask for help for the sake of everyone in line behind you.  Together, we can make Ramp Rage a thing of the past.

Thank you.