Boat_Ramp

Boat-ramp usage

The Briggs Farm Beach/Marina facility includes a small Boat-Ramp. This Boat-Ramp is for the exclusive use by BFIA Members. Non-members, which includes all renters, are strictly prohibited from using any of the Beach and Marina facilities, including the Boat Ramp.

The Boat Ramp is locked with a chain and combination-lock. To obtain the current lock combination, a member must pay an annual $50 Boat-ramp usage fee to the BFIA and submit a copy of the registration for the water-craft they intend to launch, showing that the craft is registered to the member, and provide a current certificate of the water-craft insurance naming Briggs Farm Improvement Association as the certificate holder.

Note that all dock slip holders have already submitted this information as part of their annual renewal application and their dock-slip fee covers the boat ramp usage fee. However, if the slip-holder owns other boats they wish to launch at the Boat Ramp, they must submit the requisite information for those boats also.

Once the information is received, the member will receive the current lock-combination with the understanding that they:

Will NOT share the code with anyone else, member or non-member, nor will they open the lock for anyone else.
Will NOT offer to let their friends use the Boat Ramp to launch their water-craft.
Will promptly re-lock the chain after using the Boat-Ramp.
Will only launch boat(s) that are pre-registered with BFIA {i.e., the requisite paperwork has been submitted}.
Will not launch boats 30 feet or longer.

The Dock Chairman may, from time to time, change the boat-ramp chain combination. If and when he does, all dock-slip holders and members that applied for boat-ramp usage, will receive an email advising them of the new combination.

The BFIA Boat-Ramp is only suitable for launching small and medium sized water-craft. Boats 30 feet in length or longer are NOT to be launched at this Boat Ramp. Members are asked to please be careful when using the ramp and note that use of the ramp is at the owner's risk.

BFIA is not liable for any damages or injuries sustained while using the Boat Ramp.

Access and Parking - Once launched, the member may only park their vehicle+trailer along the side of the Beach/Marina road in designated areas indicated in yellow on the diagram below. The vehicle must display a valid Hang-Tag registered to that vehicle. Vehicles+trailers not displaying a current valid Hang-Tag registered to that vehicle, or vehicles+trailers parking in any area not 'designated' for vehicles+trailers, are subject to towing at the owner's expense.

The Marina can accommodate 5 or 6 vehicles+trailers. If all of the designated vehicle+trailer parking is in use, the member must take their trailer home. Members failing to comply with the Boat launching preauthorization, parking restrictions or Hang-Tag system; or members falsifying any information; may lose their "member in good-standing" status and their membership may be revoked.

Security Guard - It is imperative that BFIA strictly limit the use of the Boat Ramp to BFIA members. Exposure to liability, additional wear-and-tear and facility crowding are all reasons for us to judiciously limit the use of the Boat Ramp and enforce the rules that bar non-members. BFIA will, from time to time, post a hired Guard at the Marina entrance, who will be checking hang-tags and ID of all persons arriving. Please be patient and cooperate with the guard as this is for your benefit. This guard will interface with anyone attempting to launch or pull-out a boat and he will confirm that the proper information (member identity, water-craft registration and proof-of-insurance) are on-file with BFIA.

Dogs, Swimming, Kayaks - The Boat-Ramp if to be used exclusively for launching and pulling-out trailered water-craft. It is not suitable, not should it be used to launch kayaks, canoes, paddle-boards, etc. Swimming is prohibited in the area of the Boat-Ramp - people or dogs.

Transit Dock - The dock adjacent to the Boat-Ramp is called the Transit-Dock. It is to be used exclusively to aid in launching and pulling-out watercraft. Swimming and fishing from this dock is strictly prohibited and no-one should be on this dock unless they are involved in the launching or pull-out of a watercraft. Note that boats may tie-up to the Transit-dock for up to 15 minutes. Boats left longer are subject to removal (towing) by the Narragansett Harbor Master at the owner's expense.