If you’ve got a DIY boat ramp, then you need to know when you’re going to be able to leave it out, and when you’re going to need to take it down or store it. Sometimes it can be a little more tricky to know when this is the case, and it can come down to your judgement if you’re worried. But, in this article, we’re going to be taking a look at when you need to take down a DIY boat ramp so that you know for sure.
The Weather
We’re going to start by talking about the weather, because this is a huge factor. Freezing temperatures are a major reason to take down your DIY boat ramp. As such, if freezing temperatures are forecast, you need to make the decision to remove your boat ramp so that it doesn’t cause an issue.
Freezing temperatures can end up causing cracks in the framing or twists in the ramp due to ice expansion. Or, that moving ice sheets can actually end up ripping out the boat ramp entirely. On top of that, the freeze/thaw cycle will end up loosening the anchors over time, which is simply not what you need.
If it’s just going to be raining, this isn’t too much of an issue. As long as the temperatures are not too low, you don’t have to worry about rain too much. Just be aware that this can be a slip hazard when you’re boarding your boat in the future.
Seasonal Water Level Changes
If your ramp is on a lake or a river, and it has fluctuating levels, it’s important to know when you should be taking your boat down. For example, if the current is extremely fast, this can undermine the base, causing you issues and potential breakage. Water drawdown is a very real issue for those who have their boats on lakes and rivers because it can leave the ramp completely unsupported, hanging there, and potentially cause it to break completely.
Spring flooding can also wash the ramp away completely if you’re not careful, so it’s important for you to consider this if you’re in an area where this is a concern.
A general rule to go for when looking at seasonal water changes is if water drops below the ramp base, or you can see erosion, then it’s time to pull it and store it.
If It’s Broken
You need to remove or rebuild the ramp if you notice any of the following:
- Sagging sections
- Shifting base
- Soft or rotting lumber
- Rusted bracket
- Washout or undermined soil
You should be checking the different areas of a ramp to ensure that it’s secure. A falling ramp is dangerous for the boat, so needs to be sorted asap.
Violation Of Environmental Regulations
If the ramp is causing problems such as erosion, destruction of local habitats, sedimentation, or anything like this, chances are that it’s going to need to be removed. The damage has to be fairly significant for you to need to move it, so it’s important to keep an eye on.
Overall
While you now have all of this information, we’re going to round off with a few simple rules of thumb to help you determine when you need to take down a DIY boat ramp. So, consider the following:
- Is there an ice or flooding forecast?
- Is there a strom or extremely strong winds forecast?
- Does your permit require seasonal removal?
- Are the water levels changing rather dramatically?
- Is it deteriorating?
- Is it firmly supported?
These questions are fantastic guides for helping you determine if you’re going to need to take down your DIY boat ramp, or if you’re all good to leave it as it is at the moment.
So, these are some of the instances in which you’re going to need to take down a DIY boat ramp. Hopefully now, you feel as though you have a solid understanding of when this is going to be necessary, and when you should be all good to leave it out. Whether you just take it down, or whether you store it during these conditions is up to you, just make sure you’re keeping your eye closely on all of these elements we’ve talked about above.