Best Boat Ramps in the UK

Vandad · 04 October 2011, 00:19

Guys, need your help and especially those who launch/recover their ribs with a 2WD not 4x4.

Can you please name a few sites that you HAVE TRIED yourself, and found it easy to launch/recover with a 2WD? Any advice on parking availability etc. is also welcome.

Mainly south coast and Wales (North/South), but also West Coast, East Coast and of course Land of Lochs and Glens!

Thank you.

Poly · 04 October 2011, 00:33

I assume you are familiar with Boatlaunch?

I only ever launch and recover with a 2wd, now neither my boat nor car is massive. I've never* had a problem with launch recovery with 2 people and a rope anywhere in Scotland. (I don't launch across shingle / sand). So you could end up with a very long list. I'd focus on where you want to go, rather than on where you can go.

* technically that is not true - I did have a very tricky recovery once using a rope because there wasn't enough nose weight on the trailer to keep the bow down - but since I improved the trailer set up its been fine.

CJL · 04 October 2011, 00:56

Calshot Spit - Good parking - Nice gentle slipway
Lymington Town Quay (I think its called this) Good parking (expensive) - Nice slipway
Plymouth (Mt Battern Centre) Free parking - nice gentle slip - wooden sleepers at the bottom very slippy.
Plymouth Queen Anne's Battery - Plenty of parking (Expensive) - Excellent slipway
Marlow (River Thames) - Lots of parking a short walk away - Good slipway
Walton (River Thames) - Lots of parking at Cowey Sale - Good slipway, can get slippy at the bottom.
Hamble Point Marina (Expensive!) Good parking and slipway
Torquay (Well steep) No parking and felt almost vertical
Exmouth Lifeboat Slip (Dont bother!) Very sandy and pay and display parking
Knott End - Very shallow and has parking nearby.

Pikey Dave · 04 October 2011, 06:47

Bridport (£15 ish)
Portland(expensive!! round about £30

)
Whitby (£20.20 includes parking)
Brixham(£ don't know, it's been a long time)
Ty Calch (about £15, tractor launch, not worth getting your car wet, bargain!)

9D280 · 04 October 2011, 09:16

As pol says. I also use a mid size 2WD to tow, and guess I have about an extra 100-150Kg on the back compared to Pol.

For "non paved" slips I have a pneumatic jockey wheel and a long rope. Having said that, if you are travelling all the way up here, boatlaunch & the locals can point tyou at a "decent" slip when you have narrowed down your location.

Paul Cannell · 04 October 2011, 09:26

[QUOTE=Pikey Dave;423861]
Portland(expensive!! round about £30

)
QUOTE]

Portland Castletown slip, Free

, concrete>sand/shingle. streetside or pay & display next to Aqua Hotel, used by locals & dive boats.

Scrottocks · 04 October 2011, 10:55

Also have a 2wd (Mercedes E280) and have launched and recovered my 5m RIB with no problems at Littlehampton (in front of the RNLI station), Rye Harbour, and at Dover in front of the RYA (?) - very narrow slipway and slippery lower down (use a rope). Parking within 100m in all cases.

Had a couple of weeks on Skye and loads of places. Best of all is that when you're towing the RIB on single-track roads everything else gets out of the way - buses and lorries included!!!! Not sheep though.

Happy RIBing.

Arthur

PS. From 'Pikey Dave' - Portland Castletown slip, Free , concrete>sand/shingle. streetside or pay & display next to Aqua Hotel, used by locals & dive boats. The entrance is very narrow, blocked by big concrete blocks. But little used, so quiet. Only use near high tide as the shingle is very soft and even 4WD have a problem.

Steve_B · 04 October 2011, 11:30

Agree with above plus, Christchurch Quay (you only pay for the car park (£8ish), Weymouth Harbour (trailer park, car has to go else where), Baiter Park Poole(£9)
Steve

Markyboyo · 04 October 2011, 14:16

Falmouth watersports centre. Probably the best slip in Cornwall.
£10.50 to launch and a fiver to park the trailer so not the cheapest but I think the best.

Stole this pic of the net but it gives you an idea.....

View image: P1000315 ( Large)

Downhilldai · 04 October 2011, 15:50

Neyland public slipway, nr Milford Haven.

Room for 6 or 7 boats side-by-side, free to launch, free to park, a pontoon during the summer months and yacht club facilities on site.

Nos4r2 · 04 October 2011, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by 250kts

Agree with above plus, Christchurch Quay (you only pay for the car park (£8ish), Weymouth Harbour (trailer park, car has to go else where), Baiter Park Poole(£9)
Steve

Baiter is £10 now.

Personally I like Baiter, apart from the jetfleas. Calshot is excellent-nice easy launch with anything, and unlike most slips both Calshot and Baiter have taps for flushing/washdown.

Mike B · 04 October 2011, 19:20

Cardiff Bay,

Ramp at Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre.

Fantastic slip way with perfect gradient - pontoons for boarding and parking for trailer and cars.

£6.75 + £5 deposit iirc.

Access to Cardiff Bay at all states of tide and free use of the barrage locks for access to Severn Estuary.

Mike

Bongy · 04 October 2011, 20:22

Lake Road in Poole - free and street parking

Near a fish & chip shop too!

Nos4r2 · 04 October 2011, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongy

Lake Road in Poole - free and street parking

Near a fish & chip shop too!

Assuming your boat fits under/through the rather restrictive barrier.

Bongy · 05 October 2011, 07:12

The wonderful world of Sibbing!

Cookee · 05 October 2011, 08:42

Salcombe has a great slipway but you need to be aware of the charges and parking availability for the time of year.

jezza2011 · 05 October 2011, 09:10

Dale in pembroke is a good slip but does get a little dry at very low tides.
launched there many times with various 2wd cars no issues.
QAB in Playmouth is good but expensive.
Camber dock in portsmouth is good and parking is ok.
Brixham harbour is steep but still managed no problem with my 5.35 and the x-type but no where to tie up to so need a 2nd pair of hands to hold the boat.

Pikey Dave · 05 October 2011, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jezza2011

Dale in pembroke is a good slip but does get a little dry at very low tides.
launched there many times with various 2wd cars no issues.
.

And the Rag & string brigade hate ribs (or they used to, especially dive ribs) & launching anything of any size is a right PITA due to the one way system & the tight corner by the pub. Gelliswick is further up Milford Haven & less stressful But you do need a 4wd....... which defeats the OP

jezza2011 · 05 October 2011, 13:02

Pikey been launching at dale for 20 years+ never had any issues but yep can be tight but not too tight as you can turn right at the top of the slip and not go via the pub route now.
car park is good also..

as you can see from the piccy you can drive right from the slip.note the give way signs and signposts.

check it out on google earth.

Nasher · 05 October 2011, 13:13

The Camber dock in Portsmouth is my favorite, but at anything below half tide you really need a 4x4 or a long rope because of the weed/slime.
I think it's still £2.50 in a slot to lift the barrier, but most people leave it up anyway, so you'd be unlucky to actualy have to pay.
The trailer park is free, but can get crowded, and car parking is @£8/day.

I also like the public slip by the upper ferry in Dartmouth, but you need to make other arrangements for parking.

Nasher.