Lift & scrub, central Solent -where?

Dockhead

Dockhead

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I'm trying to get the old boat ready for our season-opening cruise, which starts 26 March. We overwintered afloat and naturally it's time for a scrub, anodes, and sea cock service. Our overpriced Hamble River marina is fully booked for lifting, so where to go?

I understand Cowes has a 99 squid special going on for lifting and scrubbing. I don't know whether they will let us labour in the slings for a couple of hours. Any of you guys have any other suggestions for a good place to do this?

Cheers, Dockhead
 
I've just seen this Sealift thing in Cowes. That looks pretty interesting! Are there other decent variants?
 
No slings at sealift you just get sandwiched between two posts.... and raised out of the water on a moving platform.

I've used sea lift for the last few years for a quickie..... and would recommend.

your £99 will only get you an hour and a jet wash off. yes your aloud to do what ever you want underneath...

make sure you book a slot at the end of the day just in case you go over your time. or book a double slot.
 
Thanks, that's useful information. The 99 pound deal is not Sealift, but Cowes Yacht Haven, I think a normal travel lift. Maybe they are forced to compete with Sealift -- ah, isn't the market a lovely thing (on the rare occasions when it works).
 
For what it's worth, the travelift at Kemp's Quay on the Itchen seems to be rarely in use. I doubt they routinely do lifts for non-berthholders, but they're a small family business who seem reasonably flexible, so a phone call couldn't hurt if you're stuck.

Pete
 
Give Quay Lane Boatyard a go in Gosport, my boat is based there. They way they work is it's a tidal drying yard, and they back a big cradle into the water at HW, and then pull it out with a tractor when you're on. Sit in the cradle for a bit and relaunch at next HW...I had to replace my transducers recently and they got the boat out for me on Friday, so she was sat on the cradle all weekend while I worked on here, and then stuck her back in on Monday. Prices are very reasonable, however access is bit limited draught wise...you might need to time it very much on springs if your boat is big.

http://www.quaylaneboatyard.co.uk/
 
Dockhead said:
I'm trying to get the old boat ready for our season-opening cruise, which starts 26 March. We overwintered afloat and naturally it's time for a scrub, anodes, and sea cock service. Our overpriced Hamble River marina is fully booked for lifting, so where to go?

I understand Cowes has a 99 squid special going on for lifting and scrubbing. I don't know whether they will let us labour in the slings for a couple of hours. Any of you guys have any other suggestions for a good place to do this?

Cheers, Dockhead
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Sealift 'thing' is still moored up river for winter.

You could of course, lay alongside the post in the middle of the Bramble bank, that might be considered "central solent". :-)
 
You can get a quickie done at Gosport Boatyard ... lift and clean and back in or longer for a/f etc .... I think they do a deal on Saturdays but you'd have to check. .......... Come to think of it you'd probably get a cheap quickie in Gosport on a Saturday night as well !!!
 
Dockhead said:
I'm trying to get the old boat ready for our season-opening cruise, which starts 26 March. We overwintered afloat and naturally it's time for a scrub, anodes, and sea cock service. Our overpriced Hamble River marina is fully booked for lifting, so where to go?

I understand Cowes has a 99 squid special going on for lifting and scrubbing. I don't know whether they will let us labour in the slings for a couple of hours. Any of you guys have any other suggestions for a good place to do this?

Cheers, Dockhead
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Does it have to be a lift? Have you considered drying out somewhere - it's much cheaper? :)

There are scrubbing piles at Warsash and also further up the Hamble (AFAIR) - talk to the Harbourmaster. Also there are several scrubbing grids belonging to Hardway Sailing Club in Portsmouth harbour. I have used the latter and, for a small additional fee, they will hire out their (industrial grade) pressure wash system. However, you may have to be a member of Hardway to use the facility these days. I did it through a third party who was a member so don't know what the current arrangements are.

If you've never dried out before it can be a bit daunting the first time but there is plenty of advice elsewhere how to do it properly (and safely). It would give you around 5 hours or so to do the work.
 
Re Hardway, I'm pretty sure that when I was there a few weeks ago there was a non-members price quoted for drying out.
 
Playtime said:
Does it have to be a lift? Have you considered drying out somewhere - it's much cheaper? :)

There are scrubbing piles at Warsash and also further up the Hamble (AFAIR) - talk to the Harbourmaster. Also there are several scrubbing grids belonging to Hardway Sailing Club in Portsmouth harbour. I have used the latter and, for a small additional fee, they will hire out their (industrial grade) pressure wash system. However, you may have to be a member of Hardway to use the facility these days. I did it through a third party who was a member so don't know what the current arrangements are.

If you've never dried out before it can be a bit daunting the first time but there is plenty of advice elsewhere how to do it properly (and safely). It would give you around 5 hours or so to do the work.
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Interesting idea. I am new to the UK with its huge tidal range. Where I come from there is not enough tide to dry out so drying out is an alien practice.

But isn't my boat a little large for that? 7'6" draft, 22 tons, 54' LOA.
 
Dockhead said:
Interesting idea. I am new to the UK with its huge tidal range. Where I come from there is not enough tide to dry out so drying out is an alien practice.

But isn't my boat a little large for that? 7'6" draft, 22 tons, 54' LOA.
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er just a tad :D I'm pushing my luck at 40 foot and 2 metre draft
 
Well, there seem to be scrubbing grids all over. Maybe Lymington? They look quite substantial -- piles on one side, quay wall on the other . ..
 
Dockhead said:
Interesting idea. I am new to the UK with its huge tidal range. Where I come from there is not enough tide to dry out so drying out is an alien practice.

But isn't my boat a little large for that? 7'6" draft, 22 tons, 54' LOA.
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Not necessarily, although it may be a bit ambitious to try it with a boat that size for the first time. ;)

Tidal range in the Hamble at Springs is around 4.5m so there is sufficient drop to allow for a 2.3m draft.

Does your boat have a long keel? If so, drying out should not be too difficult.

If you have a short fin then probably best to go for a lift.

If your keel is OK, it might still be worth a call to the Hamble Harbourmaster to get his view on drying out a 54 footer. IIRC the hard at Warsash is concrete with substantial piles, so it could still be a viable option. :)
 
Dockhead said:
Interesting idea. I am new to the UK with its huge tidal range. Where I come from there is not enough tide to dry out so drying out is an alien practice.

But isn't my boat a little large for that? 7'6" draft, 22 tons, 54' LOA.
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I used to dry out with my old 44 foot 6'7" draft no problem. The only real issue is your draft, which you will need to pick a good spring tide for, but it would work on the piles I use on the hamble.
 
Playtime said:
Not necessarily, although it may be a bit ambitious to try it with a boat that size for the first time. ;)

Tidal range in the Hamble at Springs is around 4.5m so there is sufficient drop to allow for a 2.3m draft.

Does your boat have a long keel? If so, drying out should not be too difficult.

If you have a short fin then probably best to go for a lift.

If your keel is OK, it might still be worth a call to the Hamble Harbourmaster to get his view on drying out a 54 footer. IIRC the hard at Warsash is concrete with substantial piles, so it could still be a viable option. :)
Click to expand...

It's a fin. I guess it would be pretty scary tied up just to one side, although maybe less so if there are piles on both sides.
 
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