I did a search on this and only came up with one useful bit of info.
Does anyone know if there is a slipway suitable for launching a 7m RIB in East London - the further east the better. We are staying in Greenhithe overnight, and want the closest slipway possible. Boatlaunch reviels there is one at Erith, but I've been told that's not suitable. Does anyone know of any others?
Tim try calling these people as they are just down the road from Greenhithe but depends where your using the boat
Gravesend appears to have a slip at the location
Dartford and Gravesend Builders MerchantsGravesend Kent DA12 2QL Tel: 01474 566999. Discount Builders Merchants Clifton Slipway Stuart Road Gravesend Kent DA11 0BZ Tel: 01474 569874. G H Supplies ...
If they cant help they should know the best slip for you, if all else fails try calling the River Thames Police
here is the River Thames Authority who cover all the thames
Environment Agency
Kings Meadow House
Kings Meadow Road
Reading
RG1 8DQ
Telephone : 0118 953 5000
If linky doesn't work , try a search for Bargehouse lane , usable only at high tide with a 4X4 .
It's the only one I know of on the Northern Bank of East London.
More info on Boatlaunch .
Codders , the PLA et al will tell you that they do want the Thames used as a leisure resource , but it's really not that easy to get on the water ( but well worth it once you do ).
If you select "birds eye view" you get low level aerial photos you can see from 4 different angles.
Here's an example of a stunning slip that's closed off and going to waste in East London - why don't councils realise what a great asset they are???
I used to pass this slip a few times a day whilst working on the thames and look at it for use as its got to be the widest slipway on the thames!
The issue is the debris at the bottom at low tide as well as the shingle that is below the highwater mark, in all but the best of 4x4s you would get stuck on this slipway!
The other issue is the houses surrounding the slip would object to it being used!
We went for the one at Poplar rowing club in the end. Advice for future users of that slip - you will need at least one 4x4. We launched the boat at low tide with my discovery. The top part of the slip is covered with gravel and rubble - thats the tricky bit. The lower part of the slip is concrete so no problems there. You may need a rope depending on your trailer as it isn't very steep. We recovered the boat a few hours later without any problems, until we got to the band of gravel and rubble at the top. The car got stuck the first time, so I reversed back down and gave it a bit more of a run up. This time I got through, but probably took 3000 miles off my tyres judging by the smell of burning rubber. I thought we were going to end up towing my car out with the other disco we had with us.
Parking was OK - there is space at the top of the slip for the use of the rowing club. I asked one of the rowers who said it would be fine to park there, although you do have to detach your trailer and wheel it into a space which isn't easy as its on a slope. You will want a wheel clamp, hitch lock and chain (to chain it to the lamp-post) as the slip is at the back of a dodgy looking council estate.
