serialh
New Member
Next year, I'm going to have the opportunity to sail a bilge-keeler. I've never dried a boat out before - I'd welcome some advice and some recommendations for favourite places to do this in the Solent.
Drying out in the Solent
- Thread starter serialh
- Start date
PaulR
Well-Known Member
we have enjoyed:-
Ryde-great beach immediately next to harbour and children loved it,
Newport- very welcoming
Bembridge beach- fun but can be busy
Ryde-great beach immediately next to harbour and children loved it,
Newport- very welcoming
Bembridge beach- fun but can be busy
VicS
Well-Known Member
If it is for a beach then East Head in Chichester is very good although there is plenty of room to anchor and stay afloat. Its nice to dry out on the beach for the afternoon and then anchor off for the night when the tide returns. Tide times allowing of course.
oldharry
Well-Known Member
Before drying out check what you are coming down on - a good sand beach normally offers no problems, but in places like East Head the beach is quite steep in places at the western end, and the boat will come down very awkwardly - its even possible on a really steep sandbank for it to fall over with serious problems when the tide returns. Drying out elswhere involves ensuring that there are no obstructions around - lumps of concrete, supermarket trolleys etc which could do damage.
Also dont dry out on an open beach except in settled weather. a number of boats have been lost over the years following unexpected wind changes bringing in a surf where there was none on the ebb. If drying somewhere like Ryde beach expect a large ship to pass just at the wrong moment! The wash will give you some bad moments as the poor old boat bangs around....
Bembridge harbour has a nice beach just inside where you can dry out in absolute safety - but at a price!
Also dont dry out on an open beach except in settled weather. a number of boats have been lost over the years following unexpected wind changes bringing in a surf where there was none on the ebb. If drying somewhere like Ryde beach expect a large ship to pass just at the wrong moment! The wash will give you some bad moments as the poor old boat bangs around....
Bembridge harbour has a nice beach just inside where you can dry out in absolute safety - but at a price!
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Bilge keels mean you can dry out, you don't have to.
There are very few places that you have to that are worth visiting.
Probably they are Newport, Ryde and Fishbourne. Just about everywhere else you can stay afloat if you choose to.
There are very few places that you have to that are worth visiting.
Probably they are Newport, Ryde and Fishbourne. Just about everywhere else you can stay afloat if you choose to.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
The best reason to dry out is for a mid season scrub down /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
jprstoney
Well-Known Member
We used to have a Westerly Fulmar and dried out each summer in Studland Bay towards Old Harry to give her a good clean. Great pub just up the path too. Level sand so no problems with rocks.
bilbobaggins
N/A
The Bramble Bank seems to attract its share of drying-outers.....
brianhumber
Well-Known Member
The first time you do it you will want to be in a quite safe secure place away from wash.
Extending the Solent to include Chichester to the East and Poole to the west, you can do a first time at say Bosham on the concrete pad. After that the area has lots of sandy creeks, gravel hards, and open beaches if its a calm weekend from Wareham/Swanage through to Dell Quay at the top of Chichester harbour. Some are peaceful havens and some are busily interesting!!
Enjoy
Extending the Solent to include Chichester to the East and Poole to the west, you can do a first time at say Bosham on the concrete pad. After that the area has lots of sandy creeks, gravel hards, and open beaches if its a calm weekend from Wareham/Swanage through to Dell Quay at the top of Chichester harbour. Some are peaceful havens and some are busily interesting!!
Enjoy
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Have they moved Studland to the Solent? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
tcm
...
yes, everywhere from chichester to studland, the whole lot, has been moved into the Solent, and quite a heavy task it was too, i imagine.
MrG_2
Well-Known Member
Can I request we have Brixham in the Solent too.
Could do it in one tide then and wouldn't have to get past Weymouth...
Could do it in one tide then and wouldn't have to get past Weymouth...
G
Guest
Guest
Priory Bay - just west of Bembridge ..... inside ..... lets you dry out on hard stone / sand ... Great BBQ beach. Step off - Step On when tide is right. Bit open to swell and waves when grounding - so boat can bang about a bit while settling. :>
East Head just inside Chichester Hbr to the east .....
In fact various places available in Chi. Hbr .. with pubs etc.
Bembridge beach just inside to east with cafe and town road .... fee payable to HM here.
It is not oinly beaches etc. that are dry-outs for visits ... even some marinas / moorings - but then they are normally stuck away in corners or spots that are not so attractive ...
I like Newport ... dry-out alongside the Town pontoons ....
Ryde Marina on the Seafront ...
Hurst Point - again BBQ .....
Main thing as others have said is beware of obstructions - difficult to see, so either try and have someone with you who knows that spot, cruise in company with another boat that has doen it before and knows the spot ... or best is to see it at Low tide before committing to it later ....
One point ... such as with Priory Bay ... the charts don't really show the shallow channels so well to access the inner waters ... so a word with others who have used that spot is a good way to find out how to get those few extra cm's of water to access .....
Enjoy it ... it's worth it.
East Head just inside Chichester Hbr to the east .....
In fact various places available in Chi. Hbr .. with pubs etc.
Bembridge beach just inside to east with cafe and town road .... fee payable to HM here.
It is not oinly beaches etc. that are dry-outs for visits ... even some marinas / moorings - but then they are normally stuck away in corners or spots that are not so attractive ...
I like Newport ... dry-out alongside the Town pontoons ....
Ryde Marina on the Seafront ...
Hurst Point - again BBQ .....
Main thing as others have said is beware of obstructions - difficult to see, so either try and have someone with you who knows that spot, cruise in company with another boat that has doen it before and knows the spot ... or best is to see it at Low tide before committing to it later ....
One point ... such as with Priory Bay ... the charts don't really show the shallow channels so well to access the inner waters ... so a word with others who have used that spot is a good way to find out how to get those few extra cm's of water to access .....
Enjoy it ... it's worth it.
dulcibella
Well-Known Member
When Newtown Creek is full, a bilge can always find a space in the shallower bits.
Rabbie
Well-Known Member
I've never been charged for drying out there Harry. Is this another cash-raking excercise?. Rab.
fireball
Well-Known Member
Hmm - where you aware of that lump of concrete when you dried out there?
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Drying out in the Solent - Bembridge inside beach
This is a pay to dry-out beach ... unless you get in / out before anyone see's yer !!
This is a pay to dry-out beach ... unless you get in / out before anyone see's yer !!
oldharry
Well-Known Member
Re: Drying out in the Solent - Bembridge inside beach
Yes Rabbie, harbour dues are payable for drying on the beach, though last time I used it they only came round once a day, and didnt bother to come back if you happened to be ashore. (Mass exodus often visible on approach of harbour launch...!)
Yes Rabbie, harbour dues are payable for drying on the beach, though last time I used it they only came round once a day, and didnt bother to come back if you happened to be ashore. (Mass exodus often visible on approach of harbour launch...!)
serialh
New Member
Re: Drying out in the Solent - Bembridge inside beach
Thanks everyone for all your suggestions.
Thanks everyone for all your suggestions.
