Newbie needs to know where to go

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JaneOrganise

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Hi All, I bet you get asked this question all of the time but here goes. Some may call us daft but we're in the West Midlands (about as far from the sea as possible) and we've just bought an 18ft Chaperral LS. Now the question is where we can take it. I found a website that shows lots of lake and sea launches but its not clear without opening each link which of the lakes ones are suitable for our boat and which aren't. Can anyone recommend anywhere close (ish) where we can get in some practice before we hit the waves? :confused:
 
There are quite a few of us based in and around the Midlands so your not on your own,(being as far as possible from the sea), however your are centrally located which makes cruising in different locations simple.

There are very few inland lakes where you can use it, the ones which you can are members only clubs so not able to offer pay and play type arrangements.

A few which you could make enquiries:

Chasewater in Cannock (club members only), http://chasewaterski.co.uk/
Tallington Lakes (not sure about location) ,http://www.tallington.com/water/private-boat-owners
Windermere (10knot speed limit+ registration required)http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/windermere/windermereregistration.htm
Loch lomond (registration required)

When we owned a speedboat we found the easiest and most accessible cruising grounds were Torbay, Poole and the Solent, all around 3.5hrs from the Midlands, if you have a boat with cuddy then take it camping for the weekend or throw a tent in the boat!

If you need info on launching sites take a look at the local websites at where your interested.
 
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Welcome. There are some books listing launch sites in the UK, which might be easier to flick through than websites. I can't remeber the names of them but saw one in a chandler last weekend so they're pretty common. This one is 1p from amazon (though beware buying too old a guide as the info changes quite often in some places)
 
I'm not aware of any lakes near the Midlands where you can turn up and use a speedboat, or even any where you just need a licence. There are several ski clubs but you need to be a member, and some rivers where you just need a licence, but they're all speed restricted.

The best bet is to head for some protected waters on the coast, maybe near Liverpool, but I don't know this area too well
 
gormley

Nick_H said:
I'm not aware of any lakes near the Midlands where you can turn up and use a speedboat, or even any where you just need a licence. There are several ski clubs but you need to be a member, and some rivers where you just need a licence, but they're all speed restricted.

The best bet is to head for some protected waters on the coast, maybe near Liverpool, but I don't know this area too well
Click to expand...

If you go near crosby beach dont bump into the 100 statues at high tide !:D

http://www.aidan.co.uk/display_page.php?photo=LivFormbyAnotherPlace6x7115.jpg
 
JaneOrganise said:
Hi All, I bet you get asked this question all of the time but here goes. Some may call us daft but we're in the West Midlands (about as far from the sea as possible) and we've just bought an 18ft Chaperral LS. Now the question is where we can take it. I found a website that shows lots of lake and sea launches but its not clear without opening each link which of the lakes ones are suitable for our boat and which aren't. Can anyone recommend anywhere close (ish) where we can get in some practice before we hit the waves? :confused:
Click to expand...

To my knowledge Chasewater near Cannock has a water ski club, with facilities to launch, but you might need to be a member know a member. Kingsbury Water Park used to allow some mobo's but not sure if they still do.

You could try the river Severn, launching from the slip at Upton Marina, between Worcester and Tewkesbury. We took our first mobo there. You cannot (legally) exceed 6 knots, but you can get out on the water in safety, and learn how to launch and recover. From my experience, recovery was the harder of the two!!
 
Depending on where you live and what you are looking for options are:

North Wales I am sure someone will be along with details.

Cardiff: inside the barrage is great to get to grips with the boat then you can head out to sea through the sea lock. There are a number of marinas offering everything you need.

Portishead Marina: might not be so suitable for you but is an option.

Good lucky and welcome to the mad sport of boating
 
Nick_H said:
near Liverpool,
Click to expand...

I don't know the latest but when I were a lad you could turn up at the lakes in Crosby and Southport and pay a modest fee to launch and blat around with no speed limits. I did this many times in my yoof

Same also used to be true of Cosgrove Lake just north of Milton Keynes but poster oGaryo recently reported they had changed the rules so that you can't use Cosgrove anymore
 
The trailer will be very important

if you intend to launch and retrieve often. As Rafiki says it's recovery that is the harder. Ideally you should use a good multi-roller trailer. The self-centring arrangement makes getting the boat back onto the trailer much easier.

Go to a quiet location, early in the morning, midweek, and practice getting the boat on and off a few times, whilst there is little wind and tide to cope with. We spent 7 years towing and launching at various sites in Wales, the South West, South and East. Whilst it can be expensive, there are advantages in using a marina slipway - parking for boat and car is usually available, the water should be fairly still and there will be help available if you want it.

If you fancy the South coast try Northney marina in the northwest corner of Chichester Harbour. That was one easy launch site for us. But there's no substitute for building up your own knowledge of slips with the right characteristics, i.e. not too steep or shallow, good parking, other facilities etc.

Good luck.
 
You are 2 to 3 hours ish from one of the best launch sights in North Wales at Menai Bridge on the South of Anglesey
The 17 mile long Menai Strait is a great playground if you want the Sea.
The slipway is 24/7 virtually
The Strait is handy in that whatever the weather you can launch and go this way or that, dodging the worst of the weather.
Therefore your trip will not be wasted.
 
Thank you everyone

Just wanted to say thank you for all of the great replies. We have just had a bit of a nightmare journey towing the boat back to our house (old trailer needs some attention!) but I am sure once we are sorted we will have fun checking out the suggestions.

Thanks again. :)
 
Grendon Lakes and Tallington lakes would be my first port of call. Tallington in particular. Pick a mid week day and explain your situation. They may even be able to provide some form of tuition.

Hope that helps.

Henry :)
 
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