The Perfect Slipway

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by tcwozere

.. (lesson 1 learnt last week, never try to recover with a lee wind.. great fun though, my two girls and I ended up soaked to the skin, plus we provided 30 minutes entertainment for the jet-ski crowd.. )

There's very narrow slip at the end of Weevil Lane in Gosport Kathleen. Just below the new footbridge over to Priddy's Hard. ....................... we could keep it at Clarence in the water..

Lee is not fun in the wind... Bit of a shore dump sometimes...

Will check with P about that slip...ta.

We like Clarence...Zeb's been there most of the summer...and the people running it are very friendly and helpful.

(How did the course go? )

Missus

[tcwozere]

The course was excellent, thanks. So many glaringly obvious basics that you don't realise untill someone points them out.. Went upto Port Solent for lunch on the thurs, had to plot the course.. Fortunately we didn't stick to the route plotted, otherwise lunch would have ended up as a very late supper..

Is Zebedee the one moored to the left as you walk down the gangway onto the pontoon? If so, thats the rib the girls keep asking after, "When are we going to get one of those??"

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by tcwozere

Is Zebedee the one moored to the left as you walk down the gangway onto the pontoon? If so, thats the rib the girls keep asking after, "When are we going to get one of those??"

Probably not!!!! It's the filthy little one further along ...left.

Let us know when you want to go for a spin neighbour.

Missus

[tcwozere]

It doesn't look that filthy or little..

Mine is in the bottom left corner, tho at the moment nowhere near any water.. Hopefully next week or so tho.. But if you have anything planned, and want an extra hand, that would be great..

[The Jackeens]

Is that the big Carribbean thingy on the right?

Serious hull.

Always feel very tiny passing it in

We're 'out' most weekends Tony. Give us a shout anytime at all.

Missus

[Bittentobuggery]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

We're 'out' most weekends Tony.

I heard you were "out" more than Dale Winton...

[tcwozere]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

Is that the big Carribbean thingy on the right?

Serious hull.

Always feel very tiny passing it in

We're 'out' most weekends Tony. Give us a shout anytime at all.

Missus

yeah, the 10mil toy.. i wish i had the tender to the tender off that thing..

Thanks, weekends are full of work until October, but will hopefully be able to make time..

[The Jackeens]

Brian...put down that fruity Bulgarian this minnit cos half's mine. No reneging

Tony & family ...see you soon.

Missus

[limeydal]

I know it's not a UK ramp; but thought you may like to see what the USA has to offer.
We have a large inland waterway here in San Diego and this is the largest of the 5 ramps that serve it..
We pay a boat registration fee over here, that finances a lot of the facilities.(Think it works out to about $15 a year. But after that it's free to use whenever you want.So in response to Peter's criteria,
1) It's free to launch
2) it has parking for 350 trailers(attached)
3)Parking is right at the top of the ramp
4) wide enough for 10 launches at once.
5)nice and steep and zig zag concrete traction.
6)always available (less tidal range here)
7)Ok ,so no wash down water (as we are in California, it's illegal)
8) Long pontoons either side of ramp.

Oh ,other drawback no pubs in sight!!

But does have facilities block(top center) with restrooms,showers,wash sinks ,sewage dump and cold drinks machines.
Best thing of all ,it's nearly deserted after October when all the locals think it's winter(still 65 degrees or so).
Plus every summer night you get a free fireworks show to end the day (Courtesy of Sea World; right next door).
Cheers Dal

[codprawn]

Thats the way - will have to try to post some pics of our slip in Swansea to give you an idea of what sort of tides we are up against!!!

A few years ago we had some friends staying over from Texas - we took them down to the Mumbles which is a lovely sea side town - really pretty. They loved it and took loads of photos - a few days later we went down and they were truly amazed - they couldn't believe the sea had vanished - only a few days earlier the tide was right in and no sand in sight - then all of a sudden there is a beach 5 miles across with the water half a mile out!!!

[limeydal]

Yes, big differance!!
We just had friends from the South of England visit and they couldn't believe how much more convenient launching is over here.
In fact he sent me a photo(below) of his usual launch site for comparison.

Anyone recognise it?

No matter what the facilities are though it's the people that make the differance. You dont get that "club feeling" you do over in the UK ; in fact launching a SIB or RIB, you are looked on with some amusement over here. Like you couldn't afford a "real" boat.!!!!
Hope that changes soon ,as apart from the Coast Guard and Harbor Police I have only ever seen 2 other decent RIBS over here(Not counting small yacht type tenders).
Sure they will catch on soon!
cheers Dal

[robin]

hmmm.....top end of the Hamble at Swanwick mebbe, near Moodys.....erm think it's called 'the Hard, Lower Swanwick'

[Peter J]

Limeydal,

I can't believe it - such lovely slipways in the USA and no RIBs to launch from them.

Robin,

I agree it looks very much like the gravel slip next to Moody's in Swanwick.

Free but very very shallow some parking close by but not much nothing else to make me want to use it.