Guides

Everything for a smooth day at the ramp, the put-in or the pier.

• 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.