Can't say I have ever used a ramp with a courtesy dock in my 60 yrs of boating, so I would not have known either. My curiosity is....where are these rules posted ? Have been to many ramps that have specific traffic patterns and have always found a little map or instructions posted for all to see. If nothing is posted, how is one to know what the rules are ? Not long ago, I took the boaters safety course with my grandkids so they could operate my boat. No discussion or rules at all about courtesy docks ! I often run into new boaters and offer help or try to educate them on my experiences, but to get into a shouting match when no rules are posted.....what ever happened to manors ?