Swanage slipway

Channel Ribs · 30 October 2009, 18:11

Does anyone have any insider tips on the slip at sunny Swanage?

I have had a look on Boatlaunch but it is a bit bare.

Dirk Diggler · 30 October 2009, 18:12

I haven't used it for 20+ years, but it's very steep!

Steve_B · 30 October 2009, 19:50

Very ackward to use, not much space to maneouvre and if any sailing races on, almost impossible to get to.

Other than, that it's great .....

Simon B · 31 October 2009, 00:42

There are 2, free on beach and council one by lifeboat station.

Channel Ribs · 31 October 2009, 08:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon B

There are 2, free on beach and council one by lifeboat station.

Is one of them useable?

(Thanks for all the comments so far)

Simon B · 31 October 2009, 16:26

Both are but the free one goes onto beach. The council one also has trailer parking (for a fee) you can then either take your motor off somewhere else or stick it in te nearby car park think it's about £5 a day.

At low tide there there's not much water by the jetties so be careful and keep leg up or prop will ground. There are moorings but have never found out if any of them are available. I think a poster here Blueboy has something to do with a sailing club there.

More interestingly there's a female gig crew who launch off the beach, they'll brighten any day!

AndrewH · 31 October 2009, 17:03

Malthouse ... do you have to launch at Swanage. There are plenty of options just round the corner at Poole and as we are in "off season" now there is no speed limit in Poole harbour. Therefore, there isn't the agonising crawl to get out into open water. Also its a good excuse for a hack round Old Harry

Steve_B · 31 October 2009, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewH

Malthouse ... do you have to launch at Swanage. There are plenty of options just round the corner at Poole and as we are in "off season" now there is no speed limit in Poole harbour. Therefore, there isn't the agonising crawl to get out into open water. Also its a good excuse for a hack round Old Harry

As I learnt today, be careful the "no speed limit" only applies in the main channels and is still in force past the chain ferry and other parts of the harbour. David (Avocet) found ut the hard way

AndrewH · 31 October 2009, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by 250kts

David (Avocet) found ut the hard way

Ugghhhh - tough luck. There's always some traffic-warden wannabee about to spoil your fun

Sorry to hear you guys got nabbed

oracle · 31 October 2009, 22:21

We used the one by the lifeboat a few weeks back. You do need to leave the motor in the car park (£4) but can leave the trailer down by the slip. There should be a charge for launch and trailer park but as the season is drawing to a close the attendant may well not be there.

Channel Ribs · 01 November 2009, 08:01

Thanks all

Any alternatives to the west at all?

tinker · 01 November 2009, 11:54

Kimmeridge Bay is the next one along, search for it on boatlaunch

zookeeper · 01 November 2009, 21:17

how big is your boat? the fees for launching at the lifeboat slip are around £25 plus your car parking.The free slip by the square is really awkward to get at and rocky at one side. Try ocean bay watersports at the other end of the bay. you can drive your car on the beach and launching is a dream. Charles the owner charges £17 for a boat over 3m and will give you a tow out if needed. I use it all summer. Old harry just around the corner.

Pete7 · 01 November 2009, 21:51

How big is the boat, Kimmeridge a nightmare at LW springs and carparking can be busy at the weekends. Their used to be two at Kimmeridge but the tree huggers stuck a series of low posts in front if it. thankfully the diff clearance on a landrover is higher and we drove over the top.

Suggest if you need a good slip to the West then Portland Harbour has several options best being the sailing Academy or Weymouth under the bridge and on the right. Portland having the biggest with plenty of space to park etc.

Pete

Channel Ribs · 01 November 2009, 21:53

Thanks again for all the suggestions, keep em coming.

The boat is only a tiddler, under 6m.

Pete7 · 01 November 2009, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

The boat is only a tiddler, under 6m.

Really, the Irish use smaller ribs to cross the Atlantic

Where are you coming from or going too? Calshot and Lymington have big wide slips.
Pete

John Kennett · 03 November 2009, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by zookeeper

how big is your boat? the fees for launching at the lifeboat slip are around £25 plus your car parking.The free slip by the square is really awkward to get at and rocky at one side. Try ocean bay watersports at the other end of the bay. you can drive your car on the beach and launching is a dream. Charles the owner charges £17 for a boat over 3m and will give you a tow out if needed. I use it all summer. Old harry just around the corner.

I was there this summer, and I'd second what zookeeper says. The town slip really isn't a good option, but Ocean Bay seems to be a popular choice. They'll launch with their 4x4 for a few quid extra which could be handy. www.oceanbaywatersports.co.uk

Channel Ribs · 03 November 2009, 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

www.oceanbaywatersports.co.uk

Looks like an excellent option.

Thanks John