Launching Ramp Demand The demand for launching ramps, as derived from the questionnaire survey, is considered to represent at least 90 percent of the total demand for these facilities. This is based on other studies and random interviews with operators of marinas located throughout the area. The demand shown in Table 17 reflects a high use by transient boaters of ramps located in the West and North Divisions. Boaters commented on the back of their questionnaires that additional and better planned launching ramps were required in most subareas. A need for breakwater protection adjacent to the ramps was also indicated. Launching or retrieving pleasure craft during windy periods becomes hazardous where no protection is afforded. The difficulties encountered during rough water tend to aggravate congestion at ramps as well as increase boat damage and personal injury potential. Boaters encounter delays at some ramps at low tides if the end of the concrete apron is short of the water and an exposed mud flat exists. A sandy beach off the end of the ramp will usually support vehicles and low tide launching can still be made. Launching Ramp Need Launching ramp needs were developed to reflect boater demand by subarea and the average annual number of launchings that now occur or would occur if facilities were available. Boaters would launch their craft from trailers about 833,500 times annually with 75 percent of this activity occurring on weekends or holidays. Since at least 33 percent of the boaters use their craft all year, a 365 day boating season was considered in developing the average day use of launching ramps. A ratio of peak to average use of 5 to 1 (4) was employed to estimate the number of lanes needed. Although this ratio was developed for the State of California, its use was considered appropriate to the Puget Sound area. A check made of demand at several ramps for which trailer boat use data were available indicated that the California ratio would provide reasonable results. Corps of Engineers standards for boat launching ramp design specify that one ramp should be provided for 40 launchings during a peak day. Therefore, for a 5 to 1 peak to average day ramp use ratio one lane is provided for 8 average day launchings. The trailer boat launching ramp demands are shown in Table 17 for each subarea in terms of ramp lanes. A total of 92 additional lanes of launching ramps are needed in the Puget Sound area. This represents an increase of about 42 percent over the existing facilities in the area. Of the three Divisions the Central Division has the greatest deficit of ramps, with 51 more lanes required to meet present needs. The North and West Divisions need 13 and 28 additional lanes, respectively. These values could be increased to allow for non-resident, non-registered trailer boat use, however, the values shown in Table 17 are considered to be reasonable reflections of total needs. Two acres of land are considered necessary for each lane of launching ramp in order to provide adequate parking, maneuvering space, and access roads. On this basis approximately 184 additional acres along Puget Sound waterfront are needed to meet the present launching ramp needs. Where more than one lane is provided, land needs for access roads and maneuvering space remain nearly constant, necessitating only an increase in parking area. Future Launching Ramp Needs Future gross launching ramp needs were also assumed to follow the same rate of growth as pleasure boat ownership. The peak to average day use ratio was assumed to be constant in the future as was the present pattern of launchings with respect to the geographical areas. The total number of launching lanes required in 1980 is expected to be about 410, twice the number now in the Puget Sound area. By the year 2000, as shown in figure 31, nearly three times as many ramps as now exist will be needed. Puget Sound Area Owners may have indicated the desire for launching ramps in more than one subarea. |