Using a boat ramp at any tide

Why tide height matters at a ramp

On tidal water the waterline moves up and down that slope through the day, in some places by several metres (many feet) of height, and what lies at the water's edge changes with it.

The end of the ramp. Many ramps stop short of the lowest tide level. At low water the hard surface may end near the waterline, with soft mud, loose rock or a sudden drop beyond. Trailer wheels that roll off the end can be very difficult to recover.

Slippery growth. The lower part of a ramp spends most of its time under water and collects weed, algae and silt. It can be extremely slippery for feet and tyres.

Shallow water. At low tide there may not be enough depth to float the boat off the trailer, or to lower the engine without striking the bottom.

Very high water. An unusually high tide can cover the top of the ramp and nearby parking, and leave less room to manoeuvre.

The lowest low waters and highest high waters come with spring tides, the larger tides that occur around new and full moon. A ramp that is comfortable at an ordinary low tide may be unusable at a spring low. Fresh water is not exempt: reservoir and river levels rise and fall with rain, drought and dam releases.

Current and wind across the ramp

Where a ramp faces a river or a tidal channel, water may flow across it. A cross-current pushes the boat sideways as it comes off or onto the trailer, which makes lining up difficult and can press the boat against a dock or another vessel. Wind does the same. Current is generally weakest around slack water, the period when the flow changes direction, although the timing differs from place to place.

Check the tide for the return, not just the launch

An easy mistake is to check only the launch. A boat launched without trouble near high water may come back some hours later to find the tide near its lowest, the ramp end exposed and a long stretch of weed between the trailer and the water.

Before leaving home, look up the predicted height at both ends of the trip. If the return falls at a tide too low for the ramp, change the plan in advance: return earlier, move the whole trip to a different part of the tide, or use a ramp that works at all states of tide. Wind and atmospheric pressure can make the real level differ from the prediction, so leave a margin.

Prepare away from the ramp

The ramp itself is for launching and retrieving, not for getting ready. Use the preparation area, or a quiet corner of the car park, to do everything that can be done on dry land:

Fit the drain plug and check it.

Load equipment, fuel and safety gear into the boat.

Remove the transport tie-down straps, but leave the bow attached to the winch until the boat is at the water.

Attach bow and stern lines, and put fenders out if there is a dock.

Make sure the engine or drive is raised clear of the ground.

Agree who is driving, who is handling lines and what signals will be used.

On the ramp, reverse slowly and in a straight line, stop when the boat just floats, and apply the parking brake firmly before anyone gets out of the vehicle. Keep everyone clear of the area behind the trailer, and of the winch cable or strap while it is under load.

Sharing a busy ramp

Good ramp manners are mostly about time. Wait in turn, launch promptly, move the boat clear, and take the vehicle and trailer straight to the parking area. On return, wait off the ramp until the trailer is in position, load the boat, then pull well clear before securing straps and stowing gear.

Offer help rather than advice to anyone who is struggling, and practise reversing a trailer in an empty car park before the first real launch.

Ramps differ, so check before travelling

No two ramps are quite alike. Surfaces range from grooved concrete to gravel, sand or bare rock. Some are gentle, which means reversing a long way to float the boat; some are steep, which demands good traction and brakes. Parking for a vehicle with a trailer may be generous, limited, charged for, or closed at certain times.

Look for information from whoever manages the ramp, such as a harbour authority, local council, park or club: usable tide range, fees or permits, opening hours, size limits and any closures. Rules and charges vary by country and region and can change, so check those that apply. CatchWindow lists nearby boat ramps on location pages where they are known and marks ramps on its map using OpenStreetMap data. That is a starting point for finding a ramp, not confirmation that it is open, suitable or usable at a given tide.

Before the trailer leaves the driveway

Check the predicted tide height for launch and for retrieval, find out how the chosen ramp behaves at both, and prepare the boat fully before joining the queue. If the ramp looks marginal for the return, pick another ramp or another time. The tide is only one part of the picture, though: the pre-trip conditions checklist covers the rest.