Boat Ramps Nearby

Boat ramp etiquette

Updated: October 16, 2026

Good ramp etiquette is mostly about time: keep the launch lane free for as short a time as possible. Prep and tie down in the staging area, use the courtesy dock only while loading, park in the trailer spots and leave the water behind you clean. Some of these rules are just courtesy. Others are written into state regulations, and the invasive species rules can come with fines.

In the parking lot

  1. Prep in the staging area. Loading coolers, taking off straps and putting in the drain plug all happen away from the ramp. See our launch checklist.
  2. Park where you are supposed to. Long spots are for vehicles with trailers. Cars without trailers take the regular spaces. Connecticut's rules for state access areas, for example, allow parking only in marked areas.
  3. Wait your turn. At a busy ramp, line up and don't cut in because your boat is smaller.

On the ramp

  1. Be ready when it's your turn. Everyone knows their job: driver, line handler, skipper.
  2. Launch, then move. As soon as the boat is off, the vehicle goes to the lot. The boat moves down the dock or away from the ramp.
  3. Courtesy docks are for loading. Tennessee's rules say launch docks are for temporary mooring while loading and unloading. Connecticut prohibits leaving boats unattended at the docks.
  4. No fishing or swimming in the way. Both Connecticut and Tennessee restrict fishing from ramps or launch docks when it interferes with boaters, and Tennessee bans swimming at ramps.
  5. Kayaks and canoes off to the side. Paddlers can carry boats to the edge of the ramp, the end of the dock or a beach. It keeps the lane free and is much safer than standing behind a reversing trailer.
  6. Don't power load. Driving the boat onto the trailer under engine power digs holes at the end of the ramp. Use the winch. Details in our loading guide.
  7. Help, don't hover. Offering to catch a line is welcome. Shouting advice from the dock is not.

When you leave: Clean, Drain, Dry

Zebra mussels, quagga mussels and invasive plants travel from lake to lake on boats and trailers. The national Clean, Drain, Dry campaign, run by Wildlife Forever with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service among its partners, asks every boater to do three things before leaving a launch:

  1. Clean off plants, mud and animals from the boat, trailer, motor and gear.
  2. Drain all water: bilge, livewell, ballast tanks, bait buckets. Dry everything before the next launch.

In several states this is the law, not just good advice:

StateWhat the law requires
MinnesotaDrain water-related equipment by removing the drain plug before leaving a water body. Plugs must stay out during transport. You may not launch with aquatic plants or prohibited invasive species attached.
MichiganRemove all drain plugs (bilge, ballast, livewell), drain the water and make sure boat and trailer are free of aquatic plants and organisms before transport. Civil fine up to $100.
WisconsinDrain all water from boats, livewells and buckets, remove attached plants and animals, and don't move live fish away from the water. Pulling the plug is recommended.

Rules in other states are similar and keep changing, so look for the signs at the ramp. Some launches have boat inspection stations or wash stations in summer.

Keep the plug where you can find it

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Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can I fish from a boat ramp dock?

Often not when it gets in the way of boaters. Connecticut and Tennessee, for example, prohibit fishing from launch docks or ramps when it interferes with launching. Courtesy docks are for short stops while loading and unloading.

Can I swim at a boat ramp?

Usually no. Several states ban swimming at ramps and launch areas, and it is dangerous anywhere trailers back in and boats maneuver.

Do I have to pull my drain plug after boating?

In some states, yes. Minnesota and Michigan require you to remove drain plugs and drain the water from your boat before you drive away. Wisconsin requires draining all water. Elsewhere it is still strongly recommended to stop invasive species.

Where should kayakers launch at a boat ramp?

There is no single rule, but the courteous way is to load at the side of the ramp, the end of the dock or a nearby beach, so trailers can use the lane. Better still, use a dedicated kayak launch if there is one.