boat ramp loading reference.pdf

This document is a newsletter titled "Boating Access Today" from the Marine Board, focusing on boat ramp design and capacity considerations. The article, authored by Jeff Smith, P.E., Sr. Engineer, discusses the typical characteristics of boat ramps, noting that 95-percent of all boats in the United States are 26-feet in length or smaller. The Marine Board receives occasional requests to use boat ramps for non-conventional purposes, including launching and retrieving vessels such as 100-ton passenger vessels, 75-ton pleasure crafts, 35-ton fire boats, and offloading electrical turbines.

The newsletter provides technical insights into boat ramp design, highlighting key engineering considerations such as soil bearing pressure, concrete strength, and load distribution. The analysis determined a safe working load limit of 6,000 lbs per tire, with a typical boat ramp designed for recreational boats up to 26-feet in length. The Board does not encourage using public boating facilities for non-conventional purposes but is willing to help evaluate structural integrity and provide guidance. In related news, the Board approved a grant of $40,000 to OYCC to fund 23 young people across four counties to improve boating facilities, and is monitoring legislation affecting transportation funding and marine services.