Page 10 - Experience Oregon Boating Handbook

Boat Ramp Etiquette for Boaters
The following tips are offered to assist you in launching
and retrieving your boat to avoid unnecessary delay and
blocking the ramp. Conduct these operations in the“staging
area,”as much as possible.
Staging Area
1. Be sure all required safety equipment and certificate of
number are on board. You must also carry a boater education
card if the boat motor is over 10 hp.
2. Load your boat with your gear and supplies.
3. Make sure the trailer tongue is securely fastened to the ball
hitch, remove all tie-downs and un-plug the trailer lights.
4. Check condition of battery, motor and angle of drive unit
(tilted up). Also, make sure your bilge pump works.
5. Make sure the boat plug is firmly in place.
Launching (retrieving is in reverse order)
1. Slowly reverse the boat trailer down the ramp, and stop just
before the stern hangs over the water.
2. Disconnect the winch strap and remove any pins or other
devices used to prevent an outboard motor from tipping down.
3. Back the boat trailer down the ramp until the trailer wheels
are submerged. Have a helper take a bow line, or tie it to your
vehicle or winch handle.
4. Power or float off the trailer. Once the boat is away from
the trailer, tie your vessel to the dock with the bow line.
Experienced boaters will have someone move the boat away
from the dock until the driver has parked and is ready to board. Dockside Safety Checklist
5. Always run the blower for four minutes before you start the
engine. You can begin this process at the staging area to reduce
your wait time.
Be courteous! The less time you spend on the ramp or at the
dock, the more other boaters will appreciate you.
Loading and Stability
“Stability”is the resistance of a boat to forces that tend to
induce a boat to“tip”from one side to the other. Smaller boats
tend to have less stability based on the center of gravity of
the boat, AND the individuals in the boat. People, gear, and
environmental conditions have a greater stability impact on
smaller, lighter boats. Small boat operators need to pay close
attention to weather conditions, water conditions, how their
boat is operating, gear weight and most importantly, their
own impact on overall stability. Never stand up quickly, even
when landing a big fish! Keep your center of gravity along the
center line of the boat as much as possible. Falls overboard and
capsizing are the primary contributing factors of accidents and
fatalities in Oregon.
Operators are responsible for carefully loading supplies and
seating passengers properly. Remember:
1. Spread weight evenly.
2. Fasten gear to prevent shifting.
3. Keep passengers seated in designated areas. Sitting on the
gunwales, bow, or transom of a boat that’s underway is unsafe
and illegal.
4. Don’t overload the boat. Follow the boat manufacturer’s
capacity plate.
10 Example of overloading.
Trailer requirements
Oregon law requires a two-year trailer registration,
when the loaded weight of the trailer and boat exceed
1800 pounds. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
registers trailers.
Trailers, including boat trailers, must have stop, tail
and turn signal lights with two red reflectors mounted on
the rear of the trailer. They must also have side reflectors
and marker lights: amber on the side at the front, and
red on the sides at the rear. These lights and reflectors
may be separate units or installed in combinations. If the
trailer is over 80 inches wide, it must have clearance and
identification lights. If the trailer has a license plate, it
must have a license plate light.
Booster brakes are best with heavy boats. The driver
of the towing vehicle must be able to safely stop in a
reasonable distance.
Adequate tie-downs are needed at the bow and stern.
Temporary bumper hitches are not recommended.
Hitches should be welded or bolted to the frame of the
towing vehicle.
One or two safety chains or cables are required,
connected to prevent the tow bar from dropping to the
ground in the event the toolbar or coupling device fails.
The chains or cables must have a tensile strength equal to
the weight of the trailer, and long enough to permit proper
turning of the vehicle. Practice maneuvering and backing
in an open area before launching at the ramp to develop
proficiency. Keep in mind, backing down a ramp in a
straight line is more difficult than on level ground.
for Boat Rentals
All persons operating a rented watercraft greater than
10 hp must carry the signed portion of the Watercraft
Rental Safety Checklist if they do not already possess
a boater education card. All other provisions of the
Mandatory Boater Education Program apply, including
minimum operator ages and supervision. The livery, or
rental facility, will have each boat operator complete this
form and walk through basic boating safety items on this
checklist with a qualified staff member. Your signed copy
of this checklist acts as a temporary boater education card
only during the operation of the rented watercraft.