RIBnet New England Meet Plan B - Oakland to Newport - Sunday 1 July 2007

learning to fly · 13 June 2007, 01:39

I do hope that we can get together for the ride, I also wanted to say that if the shirts were made up I will gladly pay for mine, I had asked for 3 and dont want anyone to get stuck with them. If they are made up let me know and Ill send you a check. We will take the ride so they are still needed.

I also wanted to let any one interested know that I am thinking of taking my boat out to see the tall ships in newport RI. They are there the weekend of the 30th of june. I am thinking of going that sunday for when they sail out of the bay. Anyone interested can let me know. It is suposed to be the largest gathering of the ships for a long time. I will see if I can find any other info out.

ribfan · 13 June 2007, 03:45

Learn to fly: My wife and I may be interested in Newport. Is there ramp to launch the boat from near you or somewhere nearby? It's a long way by boat from Long Island Sound area where we usually launch in the ocean. It would be a great ride, but with the price of gas and all I'd rather put her in closer to Newport.

Let me know.

Bill

learning to fly · 13 June 2007, 04:18

hello, There are plenty of ramps around here, I last put in at oakland beach in warwick RI and figure I could get to newport in about 30 minutes, there are a few choices around. It would be better to lauch a bit away and boat over because it will be crowded anywhere close. I will check into seeing if there is a public ramp at quonset point. It is an old navy base and would be a nice ride to newport harbor from there. If we figure out when they are leaving we should be able to see a great show. Im going away the week before that and come home that sat. The boats are leaving that Sunday and I am hopeing that I get a chance and enough ambition to take a ride to see them sunday. from what I have read it will be one of the largest amount of ships for about 20 years at one time. Ive never seen them there but figure it will be a zoo on land. The only way to see them would be from the sea

MtStPipier · 13 June 2007, 13:58

I was planning on heading down to Newport by car to check them out, but now that you mention it, trailering the RIB down might be more fun. Good idea.

I'm money-good for the T-shirt too, if someone's looking for $$$

ribfan · 13 June 2007, 14:17

Thanks, let me know what you find out regarding boat ramps. Then if it's a go arrange to meet.

Bill

dctucker · 13 June 2007, 19:01

There's a great ramp and plenty of free trailer/vehicle day parking at Fort Adams. No overnight parking though.

I could be in for Sunday 7/1, possibly. Need to check with my wife about other stuff going on that weekend.

learning to fly · 14 June 2007, 00:01

that is a nice ramp but I dont think you would get anywhere near there that whole weekend, I thought it would be better to launch and take a short ride over but I could be wrong. Id hate to drive there and find it so crowded there might even not be many spaces left. This in my humble oppinion. I have not been to newport when the ships are there but even on a normal nice day in the summer it can be buisy. I will look for some different options for anyone.

ribfan · 14 June 2007, 02:09

I think you are right. We would also enjoy a cruise to and from Newport. What ramp do you use to put in in that area?

Bill

ribfan · 14 June 2007, 02:27

I must be getting old, I missed your post the other day where you mentioned the Oakland Ramp. I found a review of it and it seems to be a decent ramp. Warwick is less than two hours for me and sounds ok.

We can call that a plan if that sound good to you. We can set a time to meet and call it a plan.

Bill

learning to fly · 14 June 2007, 03:16

yes, I have used the oakland beach ramp and it is a great ride to newport. The ramp is a double cement with a large dock that will allow 2 or 3 boats to unload and tie up on both sides, even when it was buisy it went very fast in and out. there is a preety good amount of parking there also...

ribfan · 16 June 2007, 04:06

LTF, Dctucker;

Are we good to go for 7/1? How about a time? Do you know when the big ships sail? Meeting at 10:00 am would work for me, any thoughts.

Wait to here from you.

Bill

learning to fly · 16 June 2007, 05:15

I will be there on 7/1 unless something happens, I do not know the time the boats sail but will work on getting that. I looked at the list of ramps around and do believe the oakland beach ramp is the best, its a twin cement ramp and very easy to launch from. It is also a nice ride right to Newport from there. 10 should be fine, Im only 30 minutes away from there and love the ramp. everyone is welcome to come on the trip.

dctucker · 18 June 2007, 14:41

Looks like I should be good to go. Just need an address or directions to the ramp from Boston, and a time. Wife will be in CA training, so it's me, the 7 y.o. and 19 m.o.

This is assuming my boat arrives from FL on Wednesday as scheduled. Should be picked up today...

ribfan · 18 June 2007, 22:22

The ramp is in Warwick RI. Here is a link with info and partial directions, http://www.risaa.org/newsletter/boat...and_beach.html. It looks like an easy drive from Boston area.

Hope this helps, let me know if yor need additional info.

Bill

learning to fly · 19 June 2007, 04:00

those are good directions from boston or south of ri. There is a park and ride as soon as you take the exit on 117. lots of room for trailers. If anyone wants we could meet there and head to the ramp together. The ramp is pretty easy to find but I would be glad to show anyone that wants to follow me.

dctucker · 19 June 2007, 17:22

I'll try to leave Marblehead at 7:30. Google Maps says 1:53 driving time. I should be there around 9:30 if that's true! Of course, my normal M.O. is to arrive somewhere at the last minute, screeching in on two wheels!

Looks like a nice little scoot down the Bay to NPT.

I have to take a look, but I think I've got an old Narraganset Bay chart on my sailboat. I've very familiar with the waters between the East Passage and the Naval Station in Middletown, but not above that.

Here's the site with info on the ships and schedule: http://www.tallshipsrhodeisland.org/index.html

learning to fly · 20 June 2007, 03:50

Dctucker, I hope that you get your boat back this week. It would be great to meet you and your boat.

I know the area pretty good down to the passages. From the boat ramp we will pass by Prudence island with quonset point to the right of us. you can see newport and jamestown bridge from there. I just am not sure the best place to view the boats as they leave. I am hopeing to talk to a couple of people who have seen them and get any helpfull ideas. It should be something special to see them leave the bay. We could always put on some blue strobe lights and escort them out......
If you want we could meet right off the highway and follow eachother to the ramp. Ill gladly give you a hand since your crew seems a little young and maybe a little inexperienced...

as for my new toy, just dont let my wife know how many "model" there are of the avons......
The boat was bought with only seeing one pic. I know I will need some patching, but hull was said to be solid. Didnt look like it was bottom painted and came with a jocky console. Paid $200 for it so if after picking it up and getting it back home it needs too much work Im not out a lot of money. Besides after reading about some of the projects on this site almost nothing is impossible. I wouldnt mind practicing repairs on a boat I dont have a lot of $ into. I just need to get a trailer and figure a time I can get down there to pick it up..
also I would never deprive you of the joy of rehabbing a boat yourself.................

dctucker · 21 June 2007, 03:12

My boat is sitting in the street in front of my house right now. Finally!

Probably splash it and go for a ride with the 2 little crew tomorrow. My 7 y.o. daughter Dana wanted to go out as soon as we got home with it at 5:00 pm today. She loves to drive the boat.

They may be young, but they're both plenty experienced. Both have been growing up spending lots of time on RIBs, following Mom around race courses the world over.

From looking at the site, there may be two good spots - Gould Island where they'll turn around, or whichever Passage they'll head out. Though I suspect there will be tighter control over spectator boats in the Passages. Blue strobes would help.

Where on earth did you find a $200 boat?

ribfan · 21 June 2007, 03:41

Good to hear your boat arrived. So, that makes three boats so far. I've never boated in that neck of the woods, but my gpsmap 498 is pre-loaded with all of the charts. That should make the going easier. Glad to hear that the kids enjoy the rib. My son is 23, now living in Philly, he too enjoyed boating until his teens, by which time doing anything with dad is not cool. Appreciate it while it lasts.

We plan on arriving before 10:00 and are looking forward to a great day on the water, See you then.

My cell is 860-726-3551 if there is need to contact.

learning to fly · 21 June 2007, 14:32

Im glad to hear your boat is back dctucker. I am leaving this sat and wont be back until next sat. The time seams perfect to meet. If anyone want to meet right off the highway Id gladly meet them. There is a park and ride right off the exit. if now we can just meet at the ramp. there is a nice beach you can pull up on after launching to wait for others. My # is 401 699 1888 if anyone needs to contact me. Im only 30 minuts from the ramp. I will check this forum next sat to see if anything has changed. But I do plan on being there
As for the boat I foubd for $200 I found it on craigslist. Just got lucky. Ive only seen one pic but the hull looks fine. one tube leaks air preety good from another patch. The other tubes hold air for a day or two. It also has a jocky console included with steering. I hope its worth it. Its going to cost me more to get it back to RI than it did for the boat. I just hope its worth it