Matthew Potter
Senior Engineer, Maritime & Waterways
NSW BOAT RAMP GUIDELINES UPDATE
Overview of Draft Guideline Document
Boat Launching Ramp Guidelines Update
Draft Guidelines Presentation
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Presentation Outline
Need for the update
Boat Ramp Performance Enquiry
Content outline of updated Guideline sections
Drawings
Questions and Comments
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Need for the Update
30 year old document
Increase in size of trailerable boats
Changes to typical facilities and
amenities at boat ramps
Australian Standards
All-ability access
Environmental management
“NSW Boating Now” funding
program ($14M/yr over 5 years)
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Boat Ramp Performance Enquiry
Objective – prioritisation of ramp features and common
performance issues
Boat Ramp User Survey distributed to Working Group
members (BOA, RFA, MAC, RVAG reps)
Phone interviews
o Fishing club reps (2 urban, 2 rural)
o RMS Boating Safety Officers (BSOs)
o Asset owners – Local Councils, National Parks and Wildlife
Service
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Boat Ramp Performance Enquiry
Key Findings
o High importance of adequate car/trailer parking
o Toe depth is a key ramp feature
o Rural vs urban ramps
o Consider ramps in inland rivers and dams
o General support for use of pontoons (larger facilities)
o Good signage essential for managing ramp etiquette and
car/trailer parking conflicts
o Guidance needed on facility maintenance
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Table of Contents 1985 GUIDELINE DOCUMENT UPDATED GUIDELINE DOCUMENT
1. Location and Alignment
2. Accessways, Manoeuvring and Parking Areas
3. Launching Ramp (a) Dimensions (b) Gradient (c) Surface (d) Structural Design
4. Boarding Jetties, Pontoons and Holding Beaches
5. Ancillary Ramp Amenities
6. Boat Launching Ramp Development Program (a) Subsidy (b) Conditions Attached to Subsidy (c) Drawings Required for Subsidy
7. List of District Offices
Drawings
Foreword - background - objectives 1. General 1.1 Objectives and Scope 1.2 Relevant Standards 1.3 Preliminary Planning Considerations 1.4 Overview of Approvals Process 2. Boats and Trailers - modern boating configurations - RMS trailer rules 3. Facility Scale 3.1 Urban and Rural Facilities 3.2 Regional and Local Facilities 4. Facility Location and Exposure 4.1 General Considerations 4.2 River Flow 4.3 Wave Action 4.4 Wind Exposure 4.5 Sedimentation 4.6 Open Coast Settings
5. Boat Ramp 5.1 Conceptual Layout 5.2 Ramp Surface Finish and Construction Methods 5.3 Foundation Design 5.4 Structural Design 5.5 Reinforced Concrete Details 5.6 Maintenance 6. Accessways, Manoeuvring and Parking Areas 6.1 Car and Trailer Parking Numbers 6.2 Car and Trailer Parking Arrangements 6.3 Rigging and Manoeuvring Areas 6.4 Accessways 6.5 Surface Treatments and Water Management 6.6 Typical Layout and Dimensions 7. Pontoons, Jetties and Holding Beaches 7.1 General 7.2 Pontoons, Jetties and Gangways 7.3 Holding Beaches 8. Ancillary Ramp Amenities 9. Glossary Drawings
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Section 1 – General
Preliminary Planning Considerations
o Ramp classification (local/regional facility)
o Stakeholder identification
o Demand assessment (existing ramps, registrations,
emergency services, commercial use)
o Separate facilities for non-powered craft?
o Environmental constraints
o Land-based supporting infrastructure
(services, road access)
o Planning approvals, permits, licences
o Overview of relevant legislation
(typ. Part 5 under EP&A Act 1979)
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Section 2 – Boats and Trailers
NSW boat registration statistics (93%<8m)
Limitations on trailer size imposed by legislation and
practical aspects (7.5m trailer road parking)
Car/trailer dimensions
o 7.5m long trailer, 2.5m wide
o 5m long tow vehicle
o Total length of car/trailer around 12.5m
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Section 3 – Facility Scale
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Section 4 – Facility Location and Exposure
Listing of preferred ramp siting characteristics (PWD 85’)
Exposure to wave action <0.2m (AS 3962)
Ramp alignment – direction of winds, waves and currents
(avoid cross direction)
0-15 degree typical (30 max.) downstream rotation in rivers
Sediment transport processes (highlighted)
o Shoreline inspection
o Consultation with local user groups
o Review of historical aerial photos
o Review of previous technical studies
Siting in open coast setting not recommended
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Section 5 – Boat Ramp Design
Number of lanes
o Accommodate weekend demand during peak boating season
o Often dictated by available car/trailer parking area
o 30-40 launching/retrievals per day max. per lane (basic facility)
o Greater efficiency with boat holding structures and
rigging/de-rigging bays
o Impact of pontoons on ramp activities (extra lane?)
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Section 5 – Boat Ramp Design
Lane width (as per AS 3962)
o Single lane 4.5m wide (no kerbs)
o Single lane 4m wide (with kerbs)
o 3.7m min. width multiple lanes (4m recommended)
o Line markings recommended to define lanes
(reflective markers for ramp surface)
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Section 5 – Boat Ramp Design
Toe Depth
o 1.0m below design low water level (> PWD 85’)
o Impact of dams or water abstraction on DLW
o Useability assessment if criteria cannot be achieved
(80% useability practical min.)
Ramp Slope
o Range of 1:7 to 1:9
o Preferred 1:8 (as per PWD 85’)
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Section 5 – Boat Ramp Design
Crest Height
o Tidal areas – 0.5m above HAT (as per AS 3962)
o Non-tidal areas – 0.5m above 1 year ARI water level
o 6m long vertical curve – prevent trailer hang-ups at ramp crest
(US guidelines)
Ramp Length
o 10m length exposed at mean high water level
(as per PWD 85’)
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Section 5 – Boat Ramp Design
Surface Finish and Construction Methods
o Above mean water level – cast in situ concrete with 25mm
grooves (as per PWD 85’ and AS 3962)
o Below mean water level – grooved precast planks,
cavities used for fixing to be filled with concrete (not gravel)
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Section 5 – Boat Ramp Design
Foundation Design
o 200mm thick layer of 50-100mm sized igneous rock
o Placed on geotextile fabric
o Scour protection measures – cut-off walls along edges of cast
in situ portion of ramp and rock protection
o Scour protection at ramp toe to prevent ‘prop dredging’
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Section 5 – Boat Ramp Design
Maintenance
o Removal of marine growth, application of protective coatings,
cleaning of metal elements, removal of
debris/rubbish/sediment (site specific)
o Maintenance program/budget to be prepared
o Deterioration mechanisms for boat ramps, pontoons, jetties
and gangways are outlined
o Provisional inspection program is provided
(6 month, 1 year, 3 year and 5 year inspections)
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Section 6 – Accessways/Manoeuvring/Parking
Parking Space Numbers
o Initial assessment 25-30 car/trailer spaces per boat ramp lane
o No. car/trailer spaces for high use areas consistent with
AS 3962 (rural/urban ramps different)
o 1 ‘car only’ space per 5 car/trailer spaces
o 2% of ‘car only’ spaces allocated to all-ability access (1 min.)
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Section 6 – Accessways/Manoeuvring/Parking
Parking Arrangements
o Angled car/trailer spaces 3m wide and 12.5m long
o 90 degree car/trailer spaces 3.5m wide
o Grassed trailer areas recommended
o Schematic for geometry of 45/60/90 degree parking
o AS for geometry of ‘car only’ and all-ability access spaces
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Section 6 – Accessways/Manoeuvring/Parking
Rigging and Manoeuvring Areas
o 1.5-2 rigging bays per lane, 3.5m wide and 20m long
o 20m long straight-line reversing area behind ramp, graded
towards ramp (1-5%), minimal crossfall (0-2%)
o De-rigging bays provided along ramp exit accessway with
washdown facilities and garbage bins
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Section 6 – Accessways/Manoeuvring/Parking
Accessways
o 5m wide for one-way access, along ramp entry/exit (PWD 85’)
o 8m wide aisle width btw 45/60 degree parking (PWD 85’)
o 10m wide aisle width btw 90 degree car/trailer parking (new)
o Reference to car/trailer turning path template in AS 3962
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Section 6 – Accessways/Manoeuvring/Parking
Surface Treatments and Water Management
o Minimising sealed surfaces
o Grading to direct runoff into landscaped areas
o Use of dish drains and vegetated swales (vs kerb/gutter)
o WSUD elements – permeable paving, Landcom publications
o Proprietary devices at washdown areas (oil/grease separation)
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Section 7 – Boat Holding Facilities
Pontoons o Favoured for their easy access
o Popularity of traditional pontoon/gangway now
shared with on-ramp pontoons (ORP)
o ORP – when not in middle, preferably located
along vehicle driver side,
except in rivers where upstream side (protection)
o ORP – at least 1.5m wide
o ORP – Usable Berth Length at DLW = 1.5x design vessel length
(larger facilities – require longer/multiple ORPs)
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Section 7 – Boat Holding Facilities
Gangways
o Minimum clear width 1.2m
(NSW DoT)
o 1V:14H or flatter at least 80%
time for unassisted access
o 1V:8H for assisted access
o Consultation with local
accessibility committees
recommended (e.g. Sailability)
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Section 7 – Boat Holding Facilities
Jetties
o Usually more resilient structures than pontoons
o Unlikely to be feasible where WL fluctuates with season or
control structures (e.g. dams)
o Should provide at least 1.5m clear width
(major urban/regional ramps 1.8m min. preferred)
o Deck level as low as practicable, not greater than ramp crest
o Incorporate meshed surfacing to reduce shading, if req’d
o Usable Berth Length at DLW = 1.5x design vessel length
(as per ORP)
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Section 7 – Boat Holding Facilities
Accessibility
o Desirable for pontoons/jetties to be accessible to all boat
users (including wheelchairs/mobility scooters)
o Slip resistant under all weather
(excessive texture can interfere with wheelchair rolling)
o Consider edge protection
o Reference to removable davits for lifting
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Section 7 – Boat Holding Facilities
Holding Beaches
o Natural beaches favoured (ramp siting)
o Caution required with artificial beaches – uncertainties re
natural stability of sand / excessive maintenance
o Removal of rock can improve conditions for boat holding and
soft launch craft (jet skis, inflatables)
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Section 8 – Ancillary Ramp Amenities
Signage
o Legally enforceable and concise
o Targeting etiquette (e.g. rigging, pontoon use)
o Boating safety information
o Map of facility and local waterway area
o Consultation with insurers of facility (liability)
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Section 8 – Ancillary Ramp Amenities
Garbage facilities – located along ramp exit accessway
Lighting
o At ramp for night/early morning use
o In large parking areas
o Solar powered beacons for remote/isolated areas
Fish Cleaning Table – located away from waterway areas
with rubbish bins or disposal chutes for fish waste
Amenities Block – close to boat ramp and all-ability access
Landscaping – improve visual amenity
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Drawings – General Arrangement Plan
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Drawings – Detail Plan and Typical Sections
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Drawings – Typical Details
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Acknowledgements
RMS
o Terry Young
o Kym Warner
o Indee Chandrawansa
Working Group
o BOA, NSW RFA, MAC, RVAG representatives
RHDHV
o Gary Blumberg
o Richard Plain
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Questions and Comments
Current status
o Final Draft (reviewed by Working Group)
o Under review by RMS
o Out for broader consultation to selected organisations
- Local Councils
- Maritime Management Centre (NSW DoT)
- Asset Standards Authority (NSW DoT)
- NPWS
- Marine Rescue
Your comments and suggestions are welcome!