Boating guides

Plain, step-by-step help for new and nervous boaters.

• How to launch a boat at a ramp
  A step-by-step guide to launching a boat from a trailer at a public ramp, from the staging area to backing in and pulling away.
• How to back up a boat trailer
  Simple techniques for backing a boat trailer down a ramp, including the hand-at-the-bottom-of-the-wheel trick and how to practice.
• How to load a boat back on a trailer
  How to retrieve a boat at the ramp: trailer depth, driving on versus winching, securing the boat, and clearing the ramp fast.
• Boat ramp etiquette
  The unwritten rules of public boat ramps: prepping away from the ramp, sharing docks, parking, kayaks and busy holiday weekends.
• How to launch a kayak or canoe
  How to get into a kayak or canoe from a shoreline, a boat ramp or a dock without tipping, plus where to launch at busy ramps.
• Boat launch checklist
  A printable checklist for a smooth day on the water: safety gear, paperwork, trailer checks and what to do at the ramp.