Guides

Everything for a smooth day at the ramp, the put-in or the pier: step-by-step launching and loading, ramp etiquette, safety equipment, licenses and fees. Each guide is based on official sources like the U.S. Coast Guard and state agencies, linked at the end of every article.

• How to launch a boat from a trailerStaging checklist, how deep to back in, starting the motor and launching alone.
• How to load a boat on a trailerWinching on, why power loading damages ramps, and the checklist before you drive home.
• Boat ramp etiquetteStaging, courtesy docks, kayaks at the ramp and Clean, Drain, Dry rules.
• How to launch a kayak or canoeFrom a beach, a dock or a ramp, plus life jackets and state permits.
• Fishing pier tipsWhen you need a license on a pier, what to bring and where fish bite.
• Boat launch fees and permitsFree ramps, Corps of Engineers fees, park passes and county ramp passes.
• How to back up a boat trailerThe hand-at-the-bottom trick, mirrors, spotters and how to practice.
• Required boat safety equipmentThe U.S. Coast Guard checklist: life jackets, extinguishers, signals and lights.
• Boating license by stateWho needs a boater education card, visitors, renters and age limits.