Duck Puntable places around the Solent

onesea said:
Dylan don't know how much I can add to the list but:

Langstone, Chichester, Portsmouth If you got it right you maybe able to sail between all three. Some one would tell me I am wrong but seems to me you have a couple of weeks exploring here. I am sure a kind forumite will lend you his garden to save taking the punt home every time...

Certainly if you come further west into the New Forest, I can supply a garage that can take a punt and a bit of a base.

Keyhaven, to Lymington and down to Tanners lake... If I am home I can supply transport between the two so you can park one end an you can go "one way".. If I am away I can know a characters that would probably be delighted help.

The pub called the Gun at Keyhaven has nothing to do with cannons but a Colonel Hawkers Punt Gun makes it a must...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hawker

Christchurch - there is a great short circular at the top mainly paddle but still worth it Google it or PM me can also advise on put ins for HW and LW expeditions.

Hamble River - Better than you would expect above the bridges not done it but well worth a visit.

River Yarmouth IOW - If you can afford the ferry fare, but you might get your punt on at bike rates if you can put it on wheels. Make interesting day out...

Beaulieu - As others have said Lord Monty might be an issue but I think Canoes Park At Leape Beach and Sail up with the tide I don't think its an issue. Google will help.

Launch at Eeling and explore up under the Redbridge flyover, I have always been curious whats up there...

Reminds me why when I get chance I must build a Punt.. In the mean time if you want an inflatable side kick I have an inflatable canoe...

Poole Harbour has weeks of options to, what is above the bridge at Whareham? A little open at HW but keep to the creeks than and explore the big bits at LW..

Itchen - Think the canal system is pretty much un-navigable I have walked a couple of stretches of it keep meaning to do it all..

If thats the one your settled on, I would say start at SO19 9EF, contact the sailing club but I m sure you can park on the street there for the day... But the river is still quite wide there, so it might scare you off! Further up Kemps are quite friendly, and so are Drivers wharf the other side....
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that is a bloomin brilliant offer

with the opunting it is best to start somewhere down tide at low water and then you sail up with the tide - get to the top as the tide turns and then run back down with it

If it is a river then I look for a day when the wind is blowing the opposite way to the stream

sail up against it and then beat back with it
 
prv said:
If you're wanting to emphasise the industrial history aspect of the lower reaches, you could launch from the disused (but still usable for a duck punt) slip tucked between the scrap-metal yard and the Chinese takeaway wholesaler.
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Actually, scratch that suggestion. I was passing it on my way to check the boat tonight before the forecast winds, so I stopped to do a little recce for you. It's got much more overgrown and full of rubbish since I explored it four years ago - still just about feasible to launch a punt there, but not really recommended.

Pete
 
prv said:
Actually, scratch that suggestion. I was passing it on my way to check the boat tonight before the forecast winds, so I stopped to do a little recce for you. It's got much more overgrown and full of rubbish since I explored it four years ago - still just about feasible to launch a punt there, but not really recommended.

Pete
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now, now,

getting me interested Pete
 
onesea said:
In the mean time if you want an inflatable side kick I have an inflatable canoe...
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Hmm, good point - so do I. It's a "Gummo-tex Palaver", product of the former Czechoslovakian State Rubber Company, and it's been sat in my shed for a couple of years since I decided it wasn't much use as a tender for Kindred Spirit.

Not sure it will keep up with a duck punt though, at least not unless I build a sailing rig for it...

Pete
 
prv said:
Hmm, good point - so do I. It's a "Gummo-tex Palaver", product of the former Czechoslovakian State Rubber Company, and it's been sat in my shed for a couple of years since I decided it wasn't much use as a tender for Kindred Spirit.

Not sure it will keep up with a duck punt though, at least not unless I build a sailing rig for it...

Pete
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build a duck punt

18 hours

D
 
dylanwinter said:
build a duck punt

18 hours
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18 hours goes a long way towards a rebuilt binnacle, a new electrical system, a bookcase that books actually fit into, or one of many other jobs for the main boat this winter. I don't want to succumb to PNM, after all.

Anyway, I don't have anywhere to keep a duck punt.

Pete
 
prv said:
18 hours goes a long way towards a rebuilt binnacle, a new electrical system, a bookcase that books actually fit into, or one of many other jobs for the main boat this winter. I don't want to succumb to PNM, after all.

Anyway, I don't have anywhere to keep a duck punt.

Pete
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mine hangs from the roof in the garage
 
dylanwinter said:
mine hangs from the roof in the garage
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But you have a lovely house with lots of space around it, garage, etc. I have an end-of-terrace with no side access and just enough space in front to get a VW Polo clear of the pavement. Not only is there no garage, it would be impossible ever to build one.

Pete
 
prv said:
But you have a lovely house with lots of space around it, garage, etc. I have an end-of-terrace with no side access and just enough space in front to get a VW Polo clear of the pavement. Not only is there no garage, it would be impossible ever to build one.

Pete
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I built a kayak in the lounge whilst the other half was away.......where theres a way............
 
About five years ago while on our swinging mooring at Burrow Island in Portsmouth Harbour two outboard powered dinghys with fellow club members on board passed close by.
We had a little chat-as you do-and discovered that they had spent the day circumnavigating said harbour.
Apparently there is a route which goes on some little known areas that can be navigated at lowish tides only due to headroom under a couple of bridges.
By all accounts they had had a great time on a day not suitable for much else.
If the DP's mast drops easily it may be an interesting little film......................
 
rotrax said:
About five years ago while on our swinging mooring at Burrow Island in Portsmouth Harbour two outboard powered dinghys with fellow club members on board passed close by.
We had a little chat-as you do-and discovered that they had spent the day circumnavigating said harbour.
Apparently there is a route which goes on some little known areas that can be navigated at lowish tides only due to headroom under a couple of bridges.
By all accounts they had had a great time on a day not suitable for much else.
If the DP's mast drops easily it may be an interesting little film......................
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brilliant

the DP has an Optimist rig

it just drops out

freeboard is about eight inches

so I reckon I can do it

how far is it

how exposed is the outer bit?

D
 
People have sailed round Portsea Island and Hayling Island in dinghies by dropping the masts and rowing under the bridges. But the seaward side across Hayling Bay and Southsea Front is exposed and can get pretty rough. You would need to pick your weather carefully for those bits in a punt. The harbour entrances will be difficult too, particularly Portsmouth due to heavy traffic.

But there could be an interesting route from Fareham across the upper reaches of Portsmouth Harbour then under the bridges into Langstone Harbour then continuing across the top of Langstone Harbour and under the Hayling Island bridge into Chichester Harbour and ending up at Emsworth. Might need more than one tide though.
 
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DJE said:
People have sailed round Portsea Island and Hayling Island in dinghies by dropping the masts and rowing under the bridges. But the seaward side across Hayling Bay and Southsea Front is exposed and can get pretty rough. You would need to pick your weather carefully for those bits in a punt. The harbour entrances will be difficult too, particularly Portsmouth due to heavy traffic.

But there could be an interesting route from Fareham across the upper reaches of Portsmouth Harbour then under the bridges into Langstone Harbour then continuing across the top of Langstone Harbour and under the Hayling Island bridge into Chichester Harbour and ending up at Emsworth. Might need more than one tide though.
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It's not called Portsea Island for nothing! I think RKJ has also done it - and no doubt many others.

At Langstone SC we used to have Round Hayling races, starting one side of Hayling Bridge, finishing the other.
 
Twister_Ken said:
At Langstone SC we used to have Round Hayling races, starting one side of Hayling Bridge, finishing the other.
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Earlier this year we shared a visitor's mooring at Itchenor with two plywood Lysanders (four youngish guys and a swarm of kids) who had just circumnavigated Hayling Island (including under the bridge). The kids thought it was a brilliant adventure :)

Pete
 
rotrax said:
IIRC the guys stayed within Portsmouth Harbour.
I dont have any charts handy but perhaps the Camber is linked to the creeks at the back of the Naval Dockyard.
Worth a view on Google Earth perhaps?
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That is not the case.

You can get from Portsmouth Harbour under the M275 into Tipner Lake, from there under the road at Murder Circle, along and under the rail bridge and under the Eastern Road into Langstone Harbour.

On the upper reaches of the Hamble at Botley you can cross the road and try to get to Bishop's Waltham where the river rises? That would be worth doing.
 
DJE said:
People have sailed round Portsea Island and Hayling Island in dinghies by dropping the masts and rowing under the bridges. But the seaward side across Hayling Bay and Southsea Front is exposed and can get pretty rough. You would need to pick your weather carefully for those bits in a punt. The harbour entrances will be difficult too, particularly Portsmouth due to heavy traffic.

But there could be an interesting route from Fareham across the upper reaches of Portsmouth Harbour then under the bridges into Langstone Harbour then continuing across the top of Langstone Harbour and under the Hayling Island bridge into Chichester Harbour and ending up at Emsworth. Might need more than one tide though.
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Wow.. interesting trip ...and no need to stop in Emsworth (though it's a good spot to stop) - you could continue all the way and end up in central Chichester via the canal? :)
 
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