'Stay in Your Lane:' Rules for Launching a Boat

”Boat Ramp Etiquette” really got the guys fired up on a recent episode of the Florida Sportsman Action Spotter Podcast. I host the podcast and always enjoy getting fishing reports from around the state—but I especially enjoy when the captains get passionate about our weekly special topic.

Here were a couple of highlights from the regional guides.

“Stay in your lane,” was what Northeast Florida guide Capt. David Borries contributed. Each boat ramp is designed to accommodate a certain number of boats at a time. Pick your lane and stay in it.

“Headlights off while backing down a predawn boat ramp,” said bluewater captain Craig Sutton, with decades of experience in Florida.

Captain Jim Ross, of East Central Florida, was adamant about people doing their prep work, either at home, or in the staging area.

Captain William Toney launches by himself for his charters in Florida’s Big Bend, so he sets up a leash to the trailer, drops the boat in the water, and grabs preset dock lines, getting out of the way ASAP. Something that should be obvious, but obviously isn’t, is the need to tie your boat as far out the dock as possible. If you’re alone and can’t stay away from tying off at all, at least pull your boat out far enough to make room for the next boat.

Consensus among our podcasters is, no corner of Florida features enough boat ramps to accommodate the surge in boat ramp traffic we’ve seen in the last five years. That means we have to change our techniques for launching and retrieving our boats. It’s rare to see open dock space at today’s ramps, and my plan is to never need it anyway. If you’re fishing with someone who knows how to either back up a trailer, or a boat, have them do one or the other. Drop your boat in the water, back it off, and idle in open water till your driver walks out to the end of the dock. It’s the easiest way to get everybody launched as fast as possible. Just reverse the process when you get back. Have your driver get in line to pull you out, while you idle within eyesight.

If you’re starting off with a rookie crew, spend a Sunday afternoon at a vacant lot. Teach your “launcher” to put their hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, and move their hand the direction they want the boat to go.

Captain Kevin Lanier, in Northwest Florida, brought up another idea I’d never thought about. “Today’s four-stroke motors are so easy to start, you’re not going to hurt them by turning them over,” he said. “You can make sure your batteries are up to par, and your motors are ready to run.”

“Don’t get sideways by tying off the bow only, when you’ve launched,” Jim Ross brought up next. The entire process grinds to a halt when a boat blocks the ramp by getting sideways.

If I had to pick a common thread throughout the guys ideas, it would be to load and prep your boat before you even get to the ramp. Assume the ramp will be crowded and you won’t have time get ready when your time comes. You should be able to take off the straps, check the plug, and splash.

Inform any guests you have coming to the ramp where the “Cars Only” area is. Nothing gets my goat like your Prius parked in the last trailer spot!

Our Florida Sportsman Editor Jeff Weakley, in Southeast Florida, is more than aware how busy his local boat ramp is. You won’t find him launching at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. No matter how busy your ramp is, if you change your fishing schedule, you’ll be able to avoid the worst of the rush.

I’m going to assume for this epistle that it’s not at all easy to find spots to build more boat ramps. If that’s true, there’s still ways to improve traffic on the ramp. How about some clear rules posted at the entrance? You know, simple stuff like where the loading zone is, and what needs to be checked before you start backing down the ramp.

Hey, here’s an idea. Some ramps are built to launch three or four boats at a time. How hard would it be to paint lanes on the ramp, just like I-95? Sure would be easier to stay in your lanes if we painted the lanes. I might even buy the paint.

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