Last reviewed: 2026-05-10 > Quick answer: The Harris Boat Works launch ramp at 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd in Gores Landing is two concrete lanes, open 24 hours, with parking, washrooms, and full marina services on-site. $20 daily, $200 season pass. 30 minutes from...
Last reviewed: 2026-05-10
Quick answer: The Harris Boat Works launch ramp at 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd in Gores Landing is two concrete lanes, open 24 hours, with parking, washrooms, and full marina services on-site. $20 daily, $200 season pass. 30 minutes from Peterborough, 20 from Cobourg or Port Hope. This page is the practical guide. What to do before you back down the ramp, what to expect when you get there, and who it's for.
Who this guide is for
- Anglers heading out for Rice Lake walleye, bass, or panfish
- Cottagers and day visitors from the GTA, Cobourg, Port Hope, or Peterborough
- Trailer boaters from elsewhere on the Trent-Severn looking for an easy access point
- First-time launchers who want the steps before the audience
If you've never backed a trailer down a ramp on a Saturday in May, this is the page that helps you not be the story everyone tells later.
Before you back down the ramp: checklist
Run this in the parking area, not at the water's edge. The line behind you will appreciate the silence.
- Drain plug in. Most ramp horror stories start here.
- Straps off. Bow strap stays on until the boat is in the water.
- Battery on, key works. Quick test in the lot beats trouble at the dock.
- Fuel level. Top up at the on-site pumps before you launch if you're low.
- PFDs aboard. One per person, accessible, the right size.
- Safety kit. Paddle or oar, bailer, sound device, throw rope, waterproof flashlight.
- Boating licence (PCOC) on whoever's driving. Not just in the glove box at home.
- Fishing licence on every angler over 18 (or 65+ resident). Ontario rules apply on Rice Lake. HBW does not sell them.
Do this once on the way to the ramp and you'll do it automatically every time after.
What's on-site at the HBW ramp
You don't have to drive 20 minutes back into town if you forgot something:
- Marine gas station with ethanol-free 89-octane. Outboards run cleaner on it.
- Three washrooms with showers, plus a 24/7 port-a-potti for after-hours
- Mercury and MerCruiser service on-site if something goes wrong (in season)
- Snacks, ice, and accessories
- Boat rentals if you forgot the boat. Yes, that happens.
- Courtesy docks for loading and unloading
The two-lane concrete ramp means you can launch and retrieve simultaneously, which matters on a busy weekend. Single-lane public ramps have you waiting for the trailer ahead of you to clear before you can back in. We don't.
Parking: daily and overnight
Parking is included with your launch fee:
- Daily ($20). Launch, park your trailer and tow vehicle, come back, leave. Pay in the office during business hours, or use the after-hours honour-box. Cash, debit, credit, e-transfer, Bitcoin all work.
- Season pass ($200). Unlimited launches all season. If you launch 10+ times a year you're already saving. Anyone running Rice Lake regularly should have one. Pays for itself by the second long weekend.
- Overnight ($20/night). Leave the trailer or rig overnight if you're staying on the lake.
- Long-term parking available for trailers and tow vehicles for boaters keeping their boat in the water all season elsewhere.
A note on the ramp itself
The concrete ramp is the lane you drive on. Beside it is a metal lip. Do not step on the metal portion in shoes. It gets slippery, especially when wet, and people land on their backsides every season. Stay on the concrete.
Who else launches at HBW
Most days the ramp sees a mix of:
- Aluminum fishing boats heading out for walleye, bass, or perch
- Pontoons running cottage families to a beach for the afternoon
- Wakeboard and ski boats from cottages on the south shore
- Personal watercraft (jet skis)
- Kayaks and canoes (the courtesy dock is friendlier than wading from a public access)
- Small sailboats
The ramp is open to all of the above. We don't gatekeep.
When the ramp gets busy
A few realistic notes from running this ramp for decades:
- First warm Saturday in May is the busiest day of the year. Plan for it. Or come Sunday.
- Walleye opener weekend (mid-May, dates change) the parking lot fills early. If you want to be on the water at sunrise, arrive at sunrise and not at 7 a.m.
- Long weekend mornings are busy 8-11 a.m. and slow after lunch. Inverse on the way home: quietest before 4 p.m., busiest 5-7 p.m.
- Off-season (Oct-Apr) the ramp is open and quiet. Cold water rules apply. File a float plan, dress for water temperature, not air temperature.
Why people choose HBW over public ramps
This isn't a knock on public ramps. They exist for a reason. But here's the trade-off:
| What you'd compare |
Public ramp |
HBW ramp |
| Wait time on busy weekends |
30-60 min common |
Two lanes, minimal wait |
| Parking |
First-come, often full |
Reserved space included |
| Lanes |
Usually one |
Two concrete |
| Hours |
Restricted at some |
24/7, year-round |
| Marina services on-site |
None |
Gas, service, rentals, accessories |
| Washrooms |
Variable |
Yes, with showers |
If you're trying to get on the water before sunrise on a derby day, that wait-time difference is the whole game.
What HBW checks if something goes wrong
If you launch and something's not right (motor won't start, alarm coming on, prop sounds wrong) bring it to the dock and find a staff member. We're a working Mercury service shop. We'll look at it. Sometimes it's a five-minute fix. Sometimes we say "this needs the bench, leave it with us." Better than driving home with the boat on the trailer and a problem you didn't diagnose.
Questions we hear at the counter
Is the ramp really open 24 hours?
Yes. 24/7, 365 days a year. The honour box handles after-hours payment.
How deep is the water at the end of the ramp?
Deep enough to launch most boats safely even in low-water years. We don't get the prop-strike calls common at shallow public ramps.
Can I pay by e-transfer?
Yes. Cash, debit, credit, e-transfer, or Bitcoin during business hours. After hours, use the honour-box or e-transfer.
Is the ramp in good shape?
Two lanes of concrete, lit, with security cameras. Maintained. It has to be, we use it ourselves daily.
Can I get a discount on a season pass?
$200 flat. If you launch 10+ times per year it's already cheaper than daily. We don't run launch promos. The pricing is what it is.
Can I launch late at night?
Yes. Headlights and a flashlight help. The ramp is lit but the parking area gets dark.
What about overnight on the boat?
The lake is fine. The ramp area is for launching. If you want to overnight on the water, dockage is by waitlist.
Where to go next
If you're heading up from the GTA and have questions: (905) 342-2153.
If you don't have a boat but want to fish Rice Lake or take the family out, boat rentals are next door.