The Perfect Slipway

Peter J · 09 September 2004, 19:23

In my humble opinion there ae 8 things needed to make the perfect slipway.
My 8 are:

1. Its free of charge to use and park.

2. There is always room to park and to park with the trailer attached.

3. The parking is close to the slipway.

4. Its is nice and wide, wide enough for two boats at least.

5. It has a nice steep slope so you can leave the trailer attached to the car.

6. It is available at all states of tide.

7. It has a fresh water wash down facility.

8. It has a pontoon to moor at to get your crew on board.

The one I mostly use has 5/8. I think Calshot may have 7/8 (not free, not sure about a pontoon). I have never yet come across a slipway that gets a perfect 8. Has anyone?

Louise · 09 September 2004, 19:28

I reckon you'd struggle to get 8/8 in this country; I think point 1 is the main stumbling block for a public slipway. I'd have a modest bet that you'd find an 8/8 in France, though! Any ideas, French members or Francophiles?

Edit: point 9: it would have a pub/bar nearby!

Tim M · 09 September 2004, 19:50

I think the one at at the back of the Harbour master's office in Yarmouth IOW might score 8; It's free, and if you park across the road I don't think you have to pay, and I'm pretty sure there is a hose you can use to rise off with. The others are all covered (as long as the two boats arn't too wide

)

Louise · 09 September 2004, 19:54

That gives me yet another reason why Yarmouth is one of my favourite (if not THE favourite) harbours. Thanks Tim!

So let's all move to the IOW! Prepare for the invasion!!

Tim M · 09 September 2004, 20:01

Quote:

That gives me yet another reason why Yarmouth is one of my favourite (if not THE favourite) harbours.

Same here

Louise · 09 September 2004, 20:02

It's good for point 9 too!

codprawn · 09 September 2004, 20:03

Has anyone come across locked or blocked off slips? There seem to be quite a few in the swansea area!

Aging Youth · 09 September 2004, 20:22

Hi All,

IMHO, there are only 2 candidates for the title:

1, the Camber Dock although not free, accss is an all states tide, plenty of parking for car & trailer.

2 is the ECA slipway although a club for which a membership fee is payable. Is an all states tidal accss, wide enough for 2 at a time launching plus plenty of parking,fresh water wash downs, shower block and lockers, workshop facilities and a very cheap Bar & Resturant on site what more would you want.

Cheers

willowkis · 09 September 2004, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Has anyone come across locked or blocked off slips? There seem to be quite a few in the swansea area!

There are two slips that have been blocked off by bollards,

1. Just off Kew Bridge (along Strand-on-The-Green)
2. The other end of Strand-on-The-Green.

A real shame!

The Windsor slip is great, but it's a shame it's not near the sea!

Kim

Andy · 09 September 2004, 23:12

There was no mention of having a pub next to it so you can get a beer after recovery!!!! And a good bog, for the pre-cruise dump! And Maybe a local cafe for the pre-cruise early morning bacon butty!

Tim M · 09 September 2004, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

There was no mention of having a pub next to it so you can get a beer after recovery!!!! And a good bog, for the pre-cruise dump! And Maybe a local cafe for the pre-cruise early morning bacon butty!

All to be found at Yarmouth

Richard B · 09 September 2004, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by timofengland

All to be found at Yarmouth

Ssshhh!!! You'll spoil it if you tell everyone!

Mr-d · 09 September 2004, 23:27

9. A slipway that does not have a drop off at the end
10. A slipway that has an Edge to it so you cant fall off..
11. A slipway that has rings on the side to, if nescesary secure the trailer to
12. A slipway that has a large tractor/4wd on standby for Front wheel drive cars with overloaded hitch point.

You guys should take a look at the new slipway on the Isle of Muck!
It's HOOOOOGE (about 6M wide), has the rings, is quite shallow, accessable throughout the day with the tides... then again it is the main ferry slipway

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/23133.html

http://www.highland.gov.uk/cx/pressr...all_isles.html

swginn · 10 September 2004, 00:14

Well, my local slip at Baltimore gets 8/8 plus it has plenty of great pubs

where you can see the boat from. Plus there are rings on the side to attach a trailer to, there is a sailing club tractor next to it and it's extremely wide, you could launch three RIBs at the same time.

The best bit, if this slip is busy you could always one of the other two slips, both of slightly less gradient in case you've got Fwd.

Clyde Rib'r · 10 September 2004, 01:30

Well the nearest public slip to me has to get the award for worst slip way, let me see, access road in is extremely narrow,you have to bump the trailer up the curb then reverse or walk the trailer down a usually strewn slip with drift wood and other washed up crap, also its always so slippery with sea weed and on the odd occasion theres lovely bits of metal sticking out of the water,other than that its great if you know what u are doing and what to expect, and its really only a high tide slip unless you want to be puling your trailer off the sea bed oh and it has some rather lovely rocks either side so picking up crew is always a mission, the signs of a good council that want folk to use the wonderful stretch of water called the Clyde

Other than that, the Inverkip Marina is very good,a tad narrow but good and is all tides

I will find out on sunday when me boat comes out the marina

bpevans · 10 September 2004, 03:07

Well here in the US of A you would find our slips 8 of 8 most places. Although we call our pontoons "docks" on this side of the pond. Although RIBs are so scarce stateside you'd be launching a hard boat.

-Barry

Rogue Wave · 10 September 2004, 06:44

I live in Southampton and as Hampshires leading maritime city we are spoiled for choice with our slipways. We have 7 on the Itchen of which two are excellent.

I have recently used the slipway at Dartmouth and was most impressed with that until I opened my door and hit a metal post with it.

But to me the perfect slipway is the one that belongs to your house (I wish!)

TQBoater · 10 September 2004, 07:23

I believe you have all missed one vital point

No one else should be using it and getting in your way

The Jackeens · 10 September 2004, 07:38

Prefer Haslar to Warsash because of the privacy element and the little pontoon just yards away...

If we muck it up we don't have to listen to every expert sitting on the pub wall regaling their mates with a running commentary

Bloomin tidal effects at Warsash can make it all very hairy at times

Prefer not reversing into a big shore break as Zeb fills up quick

or trying to drive on in the same conditions (bang!!!bang!!!)

Prefer also when there aren't hidden hazards built into the slip

Missus

tcwozere · 10 September 2004, 11:02

Lee-on-Solent slip looks fine.. Apart from when it isn't full of poseur's at the week-end.. It also gave me a chance to see that a Searider will still float when filled with water.. (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. The slip isn't anything to write home about, but I managed to get my trailer down at high tide.. Then out into Portsmouth harbour in a matter of minutes.. Never seen anyone else use it though.. (And that's possibly telling me something I don't know, but should know..

)..

Haslar looks good.. (The guy doing the Level II yesterday walked me round it for the launch and recovery section), We were going to keep the rib at the boatyard there, cept for a couple of extra pennies a week, we could keep it at Clarence in the water..