Anyone used the slipway at Golant? (Fowey)

F

FairweatherDave

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Sep 2009
Messages
2,089
Location
Solent
Visit site
Golant is very tidally restricted and I know motorboats have little problem with clearance under the railway, whereas with a Wayfarer either the mast goes up once on the river or you use the other slipway. But where to store the trailer/trolley for a few hours? At high water the road can flood, and its only at high water you can sail. So after studying google earth too I thought I'd take a chance and ask here. (Yes I can ask the harbour authorities and yes launching at Caffa Mill Fowey is probably what I'll end up doing. But the holiday cottage is in Golant. Nice problem to have :). Where do you store the trailer?
 
Could you launch from the trolley / trailer at the beginning of the holiday - having found somewhere to securely stash them by asking around beforehand - then sail to and from the slipway by heeling the boat to get under the bridge ?
 
Ha! That is one low bridge, you would need to capsize it........ easier to drop the mast backwards. Even then at HW I don't think you can get clearance at Springs.
Yes. Finding the secure place to stash the trailer is the issue. I think I could borrow a vacant mooring at the time of year I'll be there (and leave my phone number).....But I can't ask around until I arrive and it is very much "locals territory" mixing with "us holiday makers".
 
I think Seajet's idea is viable. The small Catapult catamaran-dinghy uses a multi-part tackle on each shroud to cant the mast laterally. This has been used successfully for many years, and could readily be adopted for a Wayfarer. My recommendation is to have a look at how it's done on a Catapult, ask an owner to demonstrate how easy/reliable it is, then have a think....
 
Nope! If you know the bridge the only way is to fully drop the mast. The issue is there are two or three launching points, one over a level crossing where from memory trailer storage is very poor, (I was launching a kayak there), that is the good slipway, the others are into the basin behind the railway line in front of the village.
There's lots of parking spaces you pay for where I might be able to leave the trailer for the day at a price but I was trying to dodge that. I was wondering about the north end of the basin and was after local knowledge.
 
Hi Dave,

I have a mooring at Golant. If you just want to store the trailer for a few hours, why don't you just leave it on the road-side? The road is only unpassable at more than 5.2m (Fowey) give or take for mb pressure, and even then I often just plough straight through it as long as its not too high (gives something for the drinkers in the Fishermen's to gawp at!).

More convenient would be to just leave it on one of the metered parking places adjacent to the railway crossing.

Failing that you could contact the people who run the moorings on the roadside, they may have some ideas.

Good luck
 
Thanks Lizman, that is reassuring. The issue is I can probably find a place to leave the combi trailer for a day sail as you suggest but since my holiday let in Golant does not have private parking the question is either where to store boat and trailer ashore or where to store just the trailer (leaving the boat afloat). It will also be Easter week so parking will be a bit under pressure. I guess it is an easy problem to solve once down there with people to talk to but ideally I like peace of mind ahead of time if I can when my priority is supposed to be keeping the family happy after a long drive:).
 
Understood.

I think the best bet would be to moor the boat (contact Fowey Harbour office), then you just have to park the trailer up for the duration of your holiday. At that time there are loads of spare moorings, so I am sure Fowey Harbour will fit you in somewhere - they're pretty accommodating.

There is more pressure on parking over the holiday periods as you say, so use the paid parking during the day if you have to, then in the evening when everyone's gone, find a free space on the road. I'm sure it will all come out in the wash.
 
Wayfarers are usually happy on moorings in decent weather - though as it's over a British bank holiday a self draining model would be good - so if you can get a mooring as close as poss, stash the trailer and trolley - nb security of the latter doesn't seem to have been mentioned, I'd want a hitch lock, if poss lock the lot with a chain around to something solid and maybe take a wheel or two off; remember you have just advertised on an international forum ' free trailer & trolley going at Golant this Easter ' !

All that sorted, an inflatable dinghy - even a cheapo beach type should do - and you're away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top