Boat Ramps

 Intro   |   Considerations   |   Ramp Surfaces   |   Cast-in-place Ramps   |   Push Slab Ramps

Click here for a printable version of this publication: Boat Ramps for Privately Owned Ponds and Lakes

Many smaller ponds and lakes can be enjoyably fished from the shoreline, but larger impoundments are usually more easily fished from a boat. Some landowners keep small boats on-site, but many anglers fish a variety of waters and tow their own boat and trailer from lake to lake. Access for other recreational boats for skiing and water sports may be important in some impoundments.

An easily accessible improved boat ramp provides convenient access to impoundments for anglers, water sports, and management purposes (fish sampling boats, liming, aquatic vegetation control, etc.). A properly located and constructed boat ramp not only provides convenience, but also helps prevent bank erosion caused by dragging boats and trailers in and out of the water at multiple locations. A safe, long lasting, improved boat ramp is an investment that increases both user enjoyment and the value of the property.

The guidelines in this publication help ensure successful location and construction of boat ramps in ponds and lakes. Ideally, a boat ramp should be created during pond or lake construction. It is preferable to build the ramp while the pond is dry, since this provides maximum control over all factors involved. It is possible to construct a boat ramp in a fully impounded pond, but the process reduces control over slope, location, and surface type. Boat ramps may be as simple as prepared earthen slopes or more complex, all-weather surfaces of gravel, crushed rock, stone, or concrete. Regardless of surface, location of the ramp in the pond is critical for maximizing convenience, utility, and long-term stability.