Hamble point MDL slipway Q?

B

blues-n-twos

Active Member
Joined
26 Dec 2014
Messages
64
Location
Beaconsfield, Bucks
Visit site
Hi all,

I'm new to boating and have just completed my level2 powerboat training on the Itchen/Hamble/Solent.

I'm launching my newly refurbished Shetland Family 4 on Friday and I'm with MDL at a Penton Hook berth M33 if ya passing :-)

I plan to trailer my boat to Hamble point when I've gained some more confidence and looked at the slip from the training rib. It initially filled me with fear and trepidation but has anyone used it with a standard rear wheel drive car? Any tips/advice? I'm assuming a launch and recovery at high tides to avoid slipway slim and a BMW floating down the Hamble :-/

All comments welcomed.

Happy boating

Jon
 
It depends on the state of cleaning of the slip. When we passed last saturday it was covered in weed so will be like "ice" below the high tide mark. Either launch at high tide or use a long rope to let the trailer down whilst keeping the car wheels on the dry part.

So...

1. reverse roughly into position.
2. Chock the wheels of the trailer (the brakes will NOT hold it)
3. Connect the rope between the trailer and the car
4. Un-hitch the car (note that this is AFTER securing the rope!)
5. Pull the car forward and take the tension.
6. Remove chocks and reverse car letting the trailer enter the water.

Its straight forward and keeps the wheels on the non-slippery bit. Having said that, being a rear wheel drive, you will have the weight on the correct wheels anyway so it will be better than a front wheel drive car.

Martin
 
Hi Martin, thanks for the advice.

I've fitted a ball and hitch to an 8' length of aluminium scaffold pole due to reading about the rope trick.

My fear was the boat would lift the jockey wheel but I guess as long as you don't move the boats position on the trailer the weight should remain forward until it starts to float so removing the chance of the extension pole and jockey lifting up. I guess the car would normally hold the trailer down if the weight shifted back before floating.

Regards

Jon :-)
 
The hitch and jockey wheel do not tend to lift during the launch, probably because the boat usually goes off the trailer quickly. However it does lift when winching it back on the trailer if you cannot get the trailer deep enough. I usually stand on the hitch to counter this before it happens.
 
blues-n-twos said:
Hi Martin, thanks for the advice.

I've fitted a ball and hitch to an 8' length of aluminium scaffold pole due to reading about the rope trick.

My fear was the boat would lift the jockey wheel but I guess as long as you don't move the boats position on the trailer the weight should remain forward until it starts to float so removing the chance of the extension pole and jockey lifting up. I guess the car would normally hold the trailer down if the weight shifted back before floating.

Regards

Jon :-)
Click to expand...

Important advice if you are planning to use the scaffold pole idea.
IIRC, that slipway rises over the height of the sea wall - effectively making it part of the sea wall.
It then slopes back down again into the boat yard/ car park.

I once watched a speedboat being recovered by a brand new Land Rover using your proposed scaffold pole idea on that same slipway.
Everything worked well but the Land Rover didn't stop at the top of the slope - continued on into the boat yard.
As soon as the speedboat (on its trailer) got to the top of the slope, it started to run down the slope on its wheels and jockey wheel.
It couldn't go directly forward because of the scaffold pole so it veered off to one side.
That was until the scaffold pole wrapped itself round the Land Rover and the front of the trailer ended up embedded in the front wing of the Land Rover.

Not funny but the comical thing for bystanders was that there was a guy still in the speedboat who was (instinctively) trying to steer the speedboat (on its trailer)

The idea is good but....
Be Careful.

Stop your car at the top of the slope - chock off and re-hitch.

Have fun anyway.
 
That did make me laugh but I also feel his pain.

Great tip re chocking wheels once boat on trailer and removing the pole.

Thanks for the advice. It seems that newbie boat owners are easily spotted and an almost comedy factor on slips. Oh now the pressure is on :-/

Jon ;)
 
PERSONALY speaking, I would not use that slipway at all..as you said your self, you are new to this sort of "recreation" and that slip has and does catch the most experienced trailer/sailors...the probs are that you get continual wakes from passing traffic, serious current trying its best to pull you in its direction and its expensive.. I always use mercury marina slipway (no financial connection), about 1.5 miles upstream which can be used HT +/-2hrs and 3hrs with experience ..its very sheltered and has no wake probs and is about £11 each way ...hope this is of some help....if you need more specific info about mercury marina, feel free to PM me.......
 
I did notice how exposed the slip was at Hamble, and my berthing "with tide" at the fueling pontoon was interesting. My instructor wanted to use the small berth as yatchs queuing up and basically I got shoved by the tide with little control. No damage etc but a valuable lesson.

I will pm you later for more details as in car and trailer parking etc.

Cheers all for all the tips and advice.

Jon
 
blues-n-twos said:
Wow that's great value. £63 for 7 days car and trailer parking plus slip usage. I can use my freedom berthing pass to overnight the boat at one of the MDL Solent marinas :-)

Thanks for the link, that's now saved.

Jon :-)
Click to expand...

Calshot has two slipways as well.
One facing up Southampton Water the other into the Solent
We aware of Calshot Spit though - easy to avoid - just know about it.

I've run several events from Calshot.
There is also a good bar inside the Activity Center.
Used to have some great bar food - the bar manager's Philippine wife used to cook a great Thai Curry.
 
You need to be aware of currents at Calshot as well though, also the wash from large passing ships and fast cats!
 
Hythe is very good with great facilities. i used to launch my first rib there with a Golf GTI and never had a problem!

Calshot is a very long way down (think at least half an hours drive from Hythe) but also good i believe.

Mercury marina is ok i believe, Steve launches his Sealine there. (there was a video on here recently also)
 
We have used Calshot and Mercury.

Calshot has the correct slope etc. and is a good slip but has two failings. The first is no mooring/pontoon so once you are launched, you are launched! The vehicle driver has to get on board the boat somehow!. The second is if the wind/chop is onto the slip, the boat can bounce hard on the trailer.

Mercury is a shallow angle so it can be hard to get the boat off some trailers.

Martin
 
Wow, an awful lot to consider here. Thankfully I will be at Penton Hook for a couple of months to build confidence and boat handling skills.

All my planning has revolved around MDL and the freedom berthing it offers. Mainly due to my best mate living in East Cowes who has a Leisure20 at the Folly and I would love to be able to take my boat across the Solent to meet up rather than the red funnel :)

Being able to park my car and trailer and use a slip is key and with the freedom berthing I should be able to get a berth on one of the MDL marinas. I've only got an 18' Shetland so maybe I could park it like a smart car in between a couple of monster princess's :D

Jon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top