South coast storage and launching recommendations

[Bjohnson]

Hi all, collect my new boat next week after a couple years off the water. I'll be keeping my boat in Devon for the remainder of this year, but thinking next year may move to the south coast, Poole, Solent etc. for a change in scenery.

Can you let me know any recommendations for boat yards and/or dry stack?

I normally launch and recover myself, but also looking at dry stack options to try for the year.

Boat is 6.5m on trailer, I don't want to leave in the water as don't want to start anti fouling.

I've had a quote for swanick and gosport dry stack, but would welcome other recommendations.

[36valley]

Southampton Dry Stack, just found the corner from Swanick. Not as posh but a lot friendlier and cheaper. I was there for while before moving to Devon recently. There's a few guys on here that have been there for a while now.

[Iain Davies]

SDS [emoji106]

[Bjohnson]

Originally Posted by 36valley

Southampton Dry Stack, just found the corner from Swanick. Not as posh but a lot friendlier and cheaper. I was there for while before moving to Devon recently. There's a few guys on here that have been there for a while now.

Thanks. I'll get a quote

[Nos4r2]

Driver's Wharf is worth a chat to as well-boat stays on the trailer when not in use and is launched by crane. Separate storage and launch fees. Very spit and sawdust, but really nice people there.

For my Ballistic 7.8 it worked out significantly cheaper there than in SDS if I didn't use it every week-and there's a bloody good outboard guy just outside the gate.

[Simonh66]

Try Universal on the Hamble. SDS is 1/2 Hour from the Solent

[Wightdiver]

Originally Posted by Bjohnson

Hi all, collect my new boat next week after a couple years off the water. I'll be keeping my boat in Devon for the remainder of this year, but thinking next year may move to the south coast, Poole, Solent etc. for a change in scenery.

Can you let me know any recommendations for boat yards and/or dry stack?

I normally launch and recover myself, but also looking at dry stack options to try for the year.

Boat is 6.5m on trailer, I don't want to leave in the water as don't want to start anti fouling.

I've had a quote for swanick and gosport dry stack, but would welcome other recommendations.

I am in Eastlands boat yard on the Hamble River, good slip, its tidal but there are pontoons so you can launch when convenient and leave it in the water.

Andy

[Dry Run]

For comparison, annual cost for unlimited launch and recovery here at KB Dry Stack at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour is £3,120 (inc vat).

[Bjohnson]

thanks for the replies. i got quotes from a variety of locations and visited SDS early this week.
They were incredibly helpful and engaging with reasonable pricing, so i'll probably be taking the boat there. Just need to make a decision on timing and whether to move boat next month or wait until later in the year/early 2020.

[Simonh66]

Originally Posted by Bjohnson

thanks for the replies. i got quotes from a variety of locations and visited SDS early this week.
They were incredibly helpful and engaging with reasonable pricing, so i'll probably be taking the boat there. Just need to make a decision on timing and whether to move boat next month or wait until later in the year/early 2020.

They are a good bunch but remember there are no facilities as such & it’s a half hour Motor just to reach Southampton Water.
We were going to use them but got the same deal from Universal. I could be in Cowes before you have reached SWater

[36valley]

Having kept a boat at both Universal (albeit 30 years ago) and SDS I doubt there's much difference between the time to get down the Hamble and the time to get down the Itchen. You then have a ten minute run down Southampton Water before you get to the mouth of the Hamble. Whilst it's true facility's at SDS are a little basic they do have toilets and somewhere to make a hot drink if you need them. For me the choice would come down to the car journey to reach either and the attitude of the staff.

[Iain Davies]

The run down the Itchen is only 20 mins and this gives you time to let the engine warm up at low speed, carry out radio checks, plot your course, get your crew familiar with the boat etc. Before you know it you are good to go at Southampton Water [emoji106]

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Iain Davies

The run down the Itchen is only 20 mins and this gives you time to let the engine warm up at low speed, carry out radio checks, plot your course, get your crew familiar with the boat etc. Before you know it you are good to go at Southampton Water [emoji106]

Ah. You've just explained the whole 'solent' radio check obsession... They are all finding things to do while getting to the sea

Crew familiarity - I think is reasonable. But lots of people will be with same crew each time.

Course plotting... A ball ache underway. For short passages in the solent you can usually go by eye. For big passages, I would have a plan before I got to the boat.

Do you have 20minutes of putting the boat away on the return? No radio check, no unplotting, no defamiliarising...

[Iain Davies]

Enough said [emoji848]

[Ribtecer]

I only live a short hop from Southampton/Hamble and have always used Warsash for launching my Ribs.

However since having a short break from Ribbing I now see they are charging £4 per launch and can't even guarantee a parking space.

I now have a boatshed at home built specifically to keep my boat out of the weather, so stacking/storage does not interest me. Does anyone know of a Solent launch yourself service with secure parking for car and trailer.

I seem to think Hamble Point offer this but i would be very interested to hear of others.

Just for reference, my brother used SDS and loved it there, only moved because he relocated.

Many thanks fellas.

[Simonh66]

Originally Posted by 36valley

Having kept a boat at both Universal (albeit 30 years ago) and SDS I doubt there's much difference between the time to get down the Hamble and the time to get down the Itchen. You then have a ten minute run down Southampton Water before you get to the mouth of the Hamble. Whilst it's true facility's at SDS are a little basic they do have toilets and somewhere to make a hot drink if you need them. For me the choice would come down to the car journey to reach either and the attitude of the staff.

Theres a big differance!

[36valley]

"There's a big difference"

Not on my chart! The distance from SDS and Universal at displacement speed before you can open up is 'about' two miles for both. You have to come a fair way out into Southampton Water from the Hamble before you lose the 5 knot speed limit.

[Simonh66]

Originally Posted by 36valley

"There's a big difference"

Not on my chart! The distance from SDS and Universal at displacement speed before you can open up is 'about' two miles for both. You have to come a fair way out into Southampton Water from the Hamble before you lose the 5 knot speed limit.

[ribber]

Interesting debate....

My only observation is that Hamble is quite difficult to get to. One road in and one road out. Add to that, holiday traffic following satnavs etc. I guess I would rather be in the boat travelling along, rather than sitting in the car. Besides, the infamous Imperial and Empress Roads out of St Denys late at night is all part of the experience, when over that way...

[Simonh66]

Originally Posted by ribber

Interesting debate....

My only observation is that Hamble is quite difficult to get to. One road in and one road out. Add to that, holiday traffic following satnavs etc. I guess I would rather be in the boat travelling along, rather than sitting in the car. Besides, the infamous Imperial and Empress Roads out of St Denys late at night is all part of the experience, when over that way...

Warsash doent have that issue Simon. I can be in Universal in 10 mins from Botley