Weymouth or Lymington

fjc2013 · 23 May 2018, 18:59

Hi all, I’m taking my 6m rib to the south coast for week in August.
I’m stuck between Lymington and Weymouth, was wondering what everyone’s thoughts are?
I’m looking for easy launching with plenty places to go visit with my wife and 4 year old son.

wellhouse · 23 May 2018, 19:53

i would probably say lymington if you've got a youngster, more to do if the weather turns 'narly'!

pauldee007 · 23 May 2018, 21:41

Lymington for sure, lots of places to visit on this side and on the island which isn’t far away at all and well worth a visit on the boat

Nos4r2 · 23 May 2018, 23:19

From memory, neither public slip at Lymington or Weymouth are particularly easy regarding slipways.
Lymington is expensive and has no flush point, and Weymouth is expensive and you have to separate the car and trailer and park the car in a multistorey opposite.

Might be worth a weeks berth at one of the marinas? You only have to launch once then.

paulbrown22 · 23 May 2018, 23:45

I love both, but especially with a wife/4 year old, I'd probably say base yourself at Lymington. More destinations within easy reach in the relatively protected Solent waters, e.g. Yarmouth, Keyhaven, Newtown Creek, Beaulieu River, Cowes, etc. All very short passages, and you can pick destinations with pontoon walk ashore access if that's what you need.

Staying in Weymouth, Lulworth and Kimmeridge are lovely (but no walk ashore access), or you're coming right round to Swanage/Studland/Poole (walk ashore in Poole).

boristhebold · 24 May 2018, 07:59

If you stuck between choosing lymington or weymouth then there is an alternative, that being Poole Harbour, being about half way between both you then have the best of both worlds in that you can go east or west to explore and if there are days when the sea state is rough then there is a lot to see and do in the sheltered waters of Poole Harbour.

Poole Harbour
Brownsea Island
Wareham River
Poole Quay
Arne

West of Poole
Studland Bay, Old Harry Rocks
Swanage Bay
Durlston Castle, Lighthouse
Jurrassic Coast
Keyhold Cave, Bat Cave, Dancing Ledge, Seacombe, Whinspit
St Aldhems Head, Chapmans Poole
Kimmeridge
Warbarrow Bay
Mupe Bay
Lulworth Cove
Durdle Door
Weymouth
Portland

East of Poole
Sandbanks
Bournemouth
Hengisbury Head
Mudeford
Christchurch
Hurst Castle
Alum Bay / The Needles
Lymington, Yarmouth,
Beaulie River,
Cowes, Southampton

fjc2013 · 24 May 2018, 15:34

Thanks a lot everyone, we’ve decided and booked in at Lymington for the week.
I’ve had a look round on the internet and found Lymington public slip, Nos4r2 said it not the easiest slipway. Is there any others in the area which maybe better?
If the weather looking good for more than 2 days I will just pay for moorings.

Also where is best to store my Rib?

Thanks everyone

pauldee007 · 24 May 2018, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjc2013

Thanks a lot everyone, we’ve decided and booked in at Lymington for the week.
I’ve had a look round on the internet and found Lymington public slip, Nos4r2 said it not the easiest slipway. Is there any others in the area which maybe better?
If the weather looking good for more than 2 days I will just pay for moorings.

Also where is best to store my Rib?

Thanks everyone

I've been launching boats since i was about 10 at Lymington (im now 40ish

) the slip is wide, there is plenty of space, i've never had a problem.... Might even show up on google street view if you have a look. If you get stuck for trailer parking, you can book it in with the yacht haven or berthon both 2/3 mins drive away, worth considering keeping the boat in the water, harbour office usually have a mooring, call them its worth it to save pulling the boat in and out. as its nearly as expensive to launch as it is for a mooring per night. If you get stuck with the trailer, PM me, I have a small holding 10mins from the slip, i can keep it safe for you for a couple of days.

Edit... Also you can obviously keep the boat in the water with yacht haven or berthon, a little more than the harbour office probably but still at a guess only £8 or £9 more then the slip fees which i think are just under £22 per launch for visitors.

fjc2013 · 24 May 2018, 17:20

Thank you pauldee007 that’s great bit information

Nos4r2 · 24 May 2018, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjc2013

, Nos4r2 said it not the easiest slipway.

Launching at Lymington lifeboat slip is easy-it's even got a pontoon next to it. It's finding space to park etc, plus the hassle of no taps to flush that's a pain in the neck.

I'd take the offer of trailer storage and leave the boat in a marina for the week. It's so much easier.

fjc2013 · 09 July 2018, 15:47

Is Lymington ramp restricted by tides?

pauldee007 · 09 July 2018, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjc2013

Is Lymington ramp restricted by tides?

You can use it at all times but its shallow for a longer distance at low tide and turns stony and slippery at the end of the slip. I've seen people struggle when its low unless you have a good heavy 4x4.

Best to plan for either side of low i've always found.

treerat · 10 July 2018, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Launching at Lymington lifeboat slip is easy-it's even got a pontoon next to it. It's finding space to park etc, plus the hassle of no taps to flush that's a pain in the neck.

I'd take the offer of trailer storage and leave the boat in a marina for the week. It's so much easier.

Agreed - we end up using Birthon marina. Very simple. Launch at public slip, take car and trailer to Birthon whilst some one else takes teh boat up, or leave on council pontoon and drive up / walk back.

They have water flush, trailer parking, showers and loads of parking. Worked out not a lot of difference when adding daily slip, parking etc.

Old seahorse · 10 July 2018, 21:06

I haven't used Weymouth as parking is potential issue, but have used the sailing academy slip ( Olympic sailing venue)in Portland harbour for some years. Good slipway with pontoon, full wash down facilities, and toilets, with showers in the main building. Good access by north channel into Weymouth bay, with plenty of interest in both directions. Plenty of parking and nearby cafe, and marine trades if required.

jeffstevens763@g · 10 July 2018, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old seahorse

I haven't used Weymouth as parking is potential issue, but have used the sailing academy slip ( Olympic sailing venue)in Portland harbour for some years. Good slipway with pontoon, full wash down facilities, and toilets, with showers in the main building. Good access by north channel into Weymouth bay, with plenty of interest in both directions. Plenty of parking and nearby cafe, and marine trades if required.

+1

fjc2013 · 15 August 2018, 11:00

Hi all, just wondering when your enter Yarmouth and Cowes do you need to radio or just follow other boat users?

FoxZulu · 15 August 2018, 11:53

No, you don't need to radio going into Yarmouth. The birthing master will direct you to a pontoon and collect payment or you can walk up to the Harbour Masters office to pay. We go there regularly and find them very friendly.

paulbrown22 · 15 August 2018, 17:21

No need to radio for either. As above, Yarmouth typically there'll be a harbour launch waiting at the entrance anyway, who will approach you and ask how long you're staying, etc. Short stays there is a single pontoon straight ahead as you enter that they typically raft up RIB's on.

Cowes, depending on where exactly you're going (or maybe you're heading up the river to the Folly Inn, or just having a scenic river cruise) there probably won't be harbour launches to guide you. If you're going upriver, then head on up, just avoid the little chain ferry just after Cowes town. If you want to stop in any of the marinas close to Cowes, go in and report to the marina office, or radio your arrival and they might allocate a berth over the VHF.

fjc2013 · 15 August 2018, 19:48

Great stuff, thank you [emoji106]