Ferry Nab

Assuming you mean Ferry Nab on Windermere, its here

They (The lake wardens, based at FN) have a tractor which uses long straps to launch deep boats, so i assume they would allow you to use your own. Come to think of it i'm /fairly/ sure the lake licence included 2 uses of the tractor per year.
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If Lakesailor dosn't mind me pluging his video, the slipway is shown here:
 
Yep, I used a strop to avoid dunking the car too deep.

They will launch with the tractor for you, using their own straps if needed, although the tractor has a man-platforn at the front with a tow ball ahead of that so you can get pretty far in. That costs you.
Or you can go ahead and do it all yourself.
The wardens are very helpful and if you do get a bit stuck will sort you out.

Or just help with handling lines if you are short-handed.

There is a mast crane which you have to pay for and they operate, but again that's all extra hands to help.

Details here

You can follow the Lake Wardens here



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Thanks, we are coming up to Hammerhole for a week in May with the Europa.

The mast shouldn't be a problem but the crucial thing is depth. We need about four feet before she floats off. I guess I'm going to need a LONG rope!? It definitely draws more than that Bene!

Any recommendations for good places to visit by water or places to eat would be very welcome...

Cheers
Jon
 
The slipway at Ferry Nab is probably one of the best in the UK. Excellent gradient, lots of room to move the boat around, nice and wide and plenty of parking.

With normal lake level, 4ft draft should be no problem, you might need a short rope if you dont have a 4x4 or prefer to keep the car dry.

Lots of places to go on the lake, pick up a lake chart from the Wardens office when you get there (not expensive £4/5 ?).

Not been up for about a year but Wateredge Inn at Ambleside was good with its own jetty, as was Low Wood hotel. Free jetties at Bowness next to cheap and cheerful Crown Carvery.
 
Can't remember. It's almost a J80, but it's not. I do remember seeing it on a yard trolley and thinking "I didn't know they did sport boats"

Little Racal. 4ft will launch easy with a rope on the trailer or just using the warden's tractor. All the sport boats launch on Sundays for the Frostbite Series. Some of them (Cork 1720s etc) have huge keels.
My Foxcub drew 3' 3" , so with the trailer that is about 4ft or so and wasn't a problem with just the tractor..
In fact look at the pic and the waterline must be at least 5ft above the ground.

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I'd get some mudguards, unless you already have fitted some.
That'll be a target for the plod.

I usually put a second rope around the stern as well. Not because I need it but the plod like to think they know better. (I did think of making a metal strap to go behind the keel on the trailer-keelbox)
 
The Levens is very slow flowing but there is a bridge at the Swan Hotel which you won't get past. Just as well as there is a weir beyond it.
Not sure about your draft though. Kids play in the mouth of the river where it leaves the lake at Fellfoot Park. On the other hand there are a lot of boats at the marina at the Swan Hotel.

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On Lakies pic of the Swan and the bridge, I just managed to get a First 18 lift keel in to the left of the line of boats. I didn't need to tie up though as we were well aground and had to lean the boat and drag her in the last yard.

There is an S bend in the river where it's good to have someone on the foredeck directing where to steer but mostly there is more water in mid channel. I haven't tried to take the Centaur down as that draws 3', it won't get there.

There is usually a good crowd BBQing at the Wardens on a Saturday evening, don't be shy, join in.

What "landlockedpirate" said too.

Don't worry about water levels, it can be up and down like a fidler's elbow.
 
Lake is a bit low, but as Aquaplane said,dont worry about it. You can get pretty much everywhere on the lake regardless of water level with the exception of The Swan. But the lake's over 11 miles long, theres lots of public landings including 4 lots of public jetties, and more business jetties - hotels and parks.

This is last weekend at the South end of the lake, about 15m from the entrance to the river leading to the Swan. We draw about 3ft and we didnt hit the bottom (Just follow the ferry in if you dont know the route).

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It is down a bit. I went out to the boat today and launching the tender is a bit of a struggle as the lake bed shelves less steeply after the normal waterline.
Probably nearly 2 ft below normal
 
I'm not sure what normal is (!) but this is why I'm interested:

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I was told we'd get on the end ok... I suppose we can alwats anchor off and use the canoe... :rolleyes:
 
The first shot is a little lower than normal.
The second shot is a bit higher.
Pray it doesn't rain for a couple of weeks. That spot got well drenched in the last floods.
The main shot on their web site shows normal lake level.
 
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