Weekday or Weekend outings?

[sonny1]

hi @bbutty i reckon id get away with about .75. could you tell me what you know about the slipway and parking for a van and trailer , also a postcode so i can look on google earth ,,, thanks very much

[bbutty]

hi @bbutty i reckon id get away with about .75. could you tell me what you know about the slipway and parking for a van and trailer , also a postcode so i can look on google earth ,,, thanks very much

with that draught you should be fine a couple of hours after low tide I would think. I will confirm once I'm back in the area and using the boat.

As for Slipways, I use the Slipway at Wick. This is quite narrow and is relatively hard packed gravel, but has a fairly shallow gradient and unless the tide is well in there isn't much depth there. There is no parking at this slipway but there is space to drop off gear before parking on one of the nearby roads or a couple hundred meters up the river there is a pay and display car park. I'd say this is ideal for sibs and small craft who can hand launch and don't require too much depth. Doable with a car launch but not for bigger vessels. BH6 4JZ

Another more suitable option is The slipway at Christchurch quay (almost directly opposite the wick slip on the other bank) is a concrete slip which is wider and suitable for bigger craft such as yours. There is a small drop off at the bottom of the slip but as far as I am aware, it is usable at most tides. I haven't actually launched here so hopefully someone else will be along to offer advice on this one. The slip is free to use, and there is a pay and display (mayors mead) carpark right by the slip which I believe is ok for trailers too. BH23 1NY

There is also a slipway off of bridge street but is only useable with a reasonably high tide so probably out of the question.BH23 1AZ

Other option is to skip the 15min trip through the harbour and launch from Mudeford quay but can be very shallow, pay to launch and pay to park. BH23 4AB

https://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/

So, I'd suggest trailer users to use Mayors Mead at Christchurch Quay, Smaller boats (E.G. sibs or hand launchable boats) to use Wick Slipway though parking can be a bit difficult.

If anyone has any differing info on these slipways then please do let us know! hope that helps

[sonny1]

very comprehensive , thanks very much . i will look into this , may even drive down to check it out ,we have about 5 weeks ,so plenty of time . im quite looking forward to a trip like this . ta very much

[ChrisParish]

I’ll add this one to the diary. Here’s hoping for some good weather.

[Froglet]

I'd be very interested in coming out to play. I'm keen to get to know these areas better and get more sea hours under my belt. The last few times I've been out the weather has conspired against us. Don't mind a dull day, but fingers crossed for less wind.

[sonny1]

hi @bbutty ive looked at mayors mead and it looks good ,im just a little surprised that its free to launch/use the slipway , very unusual

[harrison]

Hey @bbutty thanks for all the excellent launch links....bleedin ace
Like @sonny1 Mayor’s Mead looking favourite for us at the moment. Bringing ‘Stumpy’ the little 340 on road trailer, probably light enough to hand ball launch at Wick but parking looks a bit remote.
Charges at Mayor’s Mead ok at £24 for 12hrs (car and trailer) as long as we can get in...not many trailer spaces by the look of things. Just have to get there early suppose...not as early as @sonny1 though!

Might bring along first mate, No1 son, if that’s ok.

[sonny1]

hey ian @harrison you say there are,nt many trailer spaces , i presume you just put the trailer in a space and pay double or did you find out something about parking trailers specifically?

[harrison]

Looks like you need to use the designated trailer area to me, could be talking ballcocks though.

[bbutty]

Glad the slip info was of use to all. Mayors mead does seem a popular choice for trailered craft. As I say, never used it to launch but will check out trailer parking spaces once home. Definitely not many options for parking a trailer if launched at wick so best kept for sibs set up from the boot. I'll be launching from Wick but no distance at all from Mayors mead as its just across the water.

As for timings, a 9:30/10am start is looking likely with the plan to reach Swanage for a picnic at anchor after taking a look at Old harrys. Need to be back into Christchurch harbour by 4pm to make sure there is enough water left at the entrance.

Other than parking costs, there is no Launch fees or harbour fees at Christchurch unless using the Mudeford slip.

All welcome to join, ribs, sibs, hard boats. As long as it doesn't need more than .8m ish of water and can plane.