trailer parking at Lymington

[oGaryo]

Hi, I've launched from Lymington the past two weeks and there's a couple of thing'a that's beginning to get my goat..

1. access to the slip is a nightmare, narrowed streets due to car's parked both sides of the road resulting in stop start driving for a mile or so to get to the harbour. maybe I've not found a good route in yet?

2. trailer parking once launched.. this week there was no way to park in the car park adjacent to the slip (full of cars) and I couldn't find anywhere nearby.. I'd left it in Berthon the week before but this week the HM said he couldn't help me. I ended up driving the trailer back to Hurst View campsite two miles away through the narrow streets... it took an hour to get there and back.

the upshot is it ended up being more hassle than it's worth.. I was knackered at the end of the day with all the faffing about with the trailer and I was self launching for the first time (just me and the 9yo out this time) which was an 'experience' in itself.

Anyone got suggestions to make life easier next time re getting the trailer sorted. are there any alternative all tide slips to Lymington with better access and parking facilities if that's just how it is at Lymington? Keyhaven? Christchurch maybe? or is there somewhere in Lymington to safely, legally and realiably leave the trailer?

A real shame as apart from the above, it's an ideal location.

cheers

p.s. I've launched from Mercury which is great for trailer parking but it's a naff slip wrt tidal access. I'd go there again but prefer Lymington if I'm honest.

 

[andy59]

Most people seem to park their trailers on road up past the mayflower pub or the one that goes down to the yacht haven but it does get busy on nice days and weekends .Do consider residents access tho .Lymington back streets are not designed to encourage trailboating /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[oGaryo]

my thoughts exactly, I was tempted to dump the trailer off with the rest of them at the side of the road but decided to take it out of town.. if I were a local, I'd be less than impressed if someone dumped a trailer outside my house.

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

hi gary...sugest the best of both worlds. launch from mercury go by boat to lymington. done it loads. its a nice ride too (about 1hr).....at the end of the day thats what its all about. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[epervier]

Try Calshot activity centre,

Activities Centre


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General information:

Long: -1.3088321685791
Lat: 50.8201275102349

Nearest Place: Calshot
Country: UK
Region: South East inc the Solent

Web Site: www.calshot.com/publicservices.html#Launching



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Slipway information:

Phone Number: 023 8089 2077

Ramp Description: Excellent all-tide access to the Solent. Plenty of space and never too crowded. Ramp is located at Calshot Activities Centre run by Hampshire CC. The slip is very wide, (originally built to bring flying boats up onto the land). Lower ramp is tarmac but has to be cleared each Friday of shingle. New concrete slip has been built and extends the tidal range use of this massive slipway, try to keep to the left side, as the RNLI share the slip. There is also a small slip for half tide use by narrower trailer sailers such as McGregors, located at the south end of the fishing quay facing the power station, access 80m on left as you enter main car park. This is concrete and well sheltered. Use of the third slip, north end of Sunderland hangar, not recommended for vehicles as too steep and uneven. Marine info pack available from Reception 7 days a week.
Directions: From M27 Junction 2, take A326 signposted Hythe and Fawley. Calshot Activities Centre is well signposted.

Post code for satnav SO45 1BR
Ramp Type: Wide concrete ramp.
Upper Area: Concrete
Lower Area: Shingle
Suitability: Large trailer needs a car
Ramp Length: All of tidal range
Facilities: Calshot Activities Centre - toilets, showers, cafeteria, bar, parking etc. No pontoon to tie to, single handed recovery very difficult. Normally quiet, busy on school days.
Charges: Public - Daily fee, including car to 7m and trailer parking, use of toilets/showers, fresh water wash off, £14.50 per boat up to 6m Length overall or per PW craft, £18.50 per boat over 6m LOA, one week pass £58.00 (under 6m), £74.00 (over 6m). Daily rate canoe, wind surfer inc. parking £6.00 (additional boards/canoes on same car £1.00 each.), one week pass £24.00.

Cruising Area: Solent
Navigational Hazards: Main shipping channel up Southampton Water. Calshot Spit (dries at low water).

 

[Firefly625]

Gary

www.boatlaunch.co.uk do use this website, it is very good!

.. but a couple of places that I launch (as well as Mercury), where parking is not an issue;

Itchenor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General information:

Long: -0.867399
Lat: 50.807488

Nearest Place: Itchenor
Country: Unknown
Region: South East inc the Solent
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Slipway information:

Ramp Description: Wide expanse of hard shingle that is suitable for large boats and car. The gradient is shallow higher up so may be best to launch larger boats at low tide on a steeper gradient. There can be a swift cross current. Nearest Clubs Itchenor Sailing Club. Site Manager, Chichester Harbour Conservancy. The main access point for trailed craft using Chichester Harbour.
Directions: Head for Chichester and take the ring road and follow the signs for the Whitterings. On the road to the Witterings go past Chichester Marina and follow the signs for Itchenor. The ramp is at the end of the road.
Ramp Type: Public hard
Upper Area: Shingle
Lower Area: Shingle
Suitability: Large trailer needs a car
Ramp Length: All of tidal range
Facilities: Car parking limited at hard, but large pay and display car park nearby. Boat parking within car park. Clean toilets are beneath the Harbour Office and there is a water hose at the top of the hard.
Charges: Yes
Cruising Area: Solent
Navigational Hazards: 8 knots speed limit. Water skiing prohibited and those caught waterskiing will be prosecuted.

and a very good spot, Hythe:

Hythe Marina Slip
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General information:

Long: -1.39794588088989
Lat: 50.874099295651

Nearest Place: Hythe
Country: UK
Region: South East inc the Solent

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Slipway information:

Phone Number: 023 8020 7073

Ramp Description: Wide south facing slipway. A well appointed and maintained facility.
Directions: Off A326, signs to 'Marina'.
Ramp Type: Public slipway
Upper Area: Harbour
Lower Area: Sand
Suitability: Large trailer needs a car
Ramp Length: 3/4 tidal
Facilities: Ample parking for car and trailer. Public toilets. Showers and laundry facilities for berth holders only. Cost of berth; less than 4 hours, £5.50; overnight £2.50 per metre. Petrol, diesel, boat hoist, chandlery and general store on site.
Charges: Pay and display, £5/day for car and trailer.
Cruising Area: Solent
Navigational Hazards: 6 knots speed limit north of Hythe Pier. Keep 130 metres from Fawley and Hamble jetties. Very busy area, where large commercial vessels have limited manoeuvrability. Small craft should give clearance of 1000 metres ahead and 100 metres of each side of large vessels.

Slipway is top right, loads of parking, you don't even need to uncouple the trailer, The New Forest is on your doorstep so lots of campsites around within a few minutes drive..

 

[realslimshady]

Gary
I wouldn't advise Calshot, especially if it's just you and 9 y.o. Had a nightmare there last year trying to get back on the trailer in the swell.
I would suggest Bucklers Hard-it's closer than Lymington, cheaper, has parking, toilets, etc, and if you avoid low tide (about +/- two hours I recall) launch recovery is not bad. Of course you've got a 25 minute ride down the river, but hey, the scenery's nice /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[realslimshady]

Re Hythe slip-public toilets? In town, unless you're a berth holder...and nowhere to tie up while you park car and trailer...and get back aboard somehow...

 

[Firefly625]

[ QUOTE ]
Re Hythe slip-public toilets? In town, unless you're a berth holder...and nowhere to tie up while you park car and trailer...and get back aboard somehow...

[/ QUOTE ]

Gary, pm me if you decide you will give Hythe a go as I can solve toilet/shower issue. Plus I could speak to the guys in the harbour office, I am sure if I ask nicely they will let you tie up on the waiting pontoon for a few minutes, there was a rib on there this afternoon when I came in...

 

[strakeryrius]

If you don't mind a liitle extra travel a little further west you could try Baiter Park free slip.

Clicky

Its free to launch and the car park is about £8 a day, with spaces big enough to accomodate car and trailer so you don't have to unhitch. Might be worth a look when you get bored with the Solent or just for a change of scenery.

 

[Wiggo]

If you like Lymington that much (and there's a good campsite nearby) have you thought about doing a deal with Berthon and storing the boat and trailer there for the summer? That way you would have somewhere to park the trailer after you launch and you wouldn't have to drag it to and from MK. If you fancy a weekend somewhere else, then obviously you'd have to pick up from Lymington first, but...

Christchurch is nice, but the tidal access can be a pain at springs. With what you draw, you would be OK most of the time, though, and there are camp sites locally.

 

[Moonshiners]

Were based in Lymington and can imagine the problem trying to stash a trailer, I know of some people that gave up with Lymington and started using Hythe. I'm pretty sure the slip is outside the marina and all tide, with designated trailer parking.
They usually have a good website.
But the suggestion of a deal with Berthons sounds good if you can get it...

 

[Wiggo]

Good trailer parking in Hythe, but not a whole lot else. Also, for a 17' bowrider, it's a long way from Hythe to anywhere interesting.

Do a deal with Berthon or LYH or try Christchurch, would be my advice.

 

[ChrisE]

As a Lymington resident I really appreciate your concerns about leaving trailers outside people's houses. They are real pain.

I wish I could offer you a venue around here but this time of year the whole area does become a bit of a circus. Keyhaven is possible but the parking is, if anything worse, than Lym and the slip is fairly restricted especially at high water when you have no real space at all.

 

[jhr]

As already mentioned, try Buckler's Hard. Roughly the same journey time by road as to Lymington and can be used at most states of tide, particularly at Neaps. Plenty of space to park and a lovely trip down river (though more like 40 minutes to the river entrance than 25, if you obey the speed limit /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)

Then about 15 - 20 minutes to Lymington/Yarmouth, depending on conditions.

 

[andyc]

If you want to go a bit further and nearer to poole harbour and that, try Rossiters boatyard at Christchurch.We have a mooring there and there are quite a few boats turn up ,launch and leave the trailer ,some leave the boat and trailer there.
No Idea how much though.
It is a bit shallow at low tide so research is essential.We are 43 ft and have no problem at 2hrs either side of high ,sometimes more , so a trailer boat should be able to get out most of the time.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

as another resident, fully agree with you especially when 4WD's and trailers are parked up on the pavement as well. I wish the traffic wardens would get down to Stanley Road and dish out a few tickets.

With regard to the OP's question about a route in, it is important to follow the brown signposts to Riverside and Marina or you will find yourself either on the High St (a no go zone on a Saturday) or coming through Captains Row and Bath Road to the slip - to be avoided at all costs, IMO.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I suggest avoiding Lymington Slipway this weekend.

Our club have an RS Open championship, involving up to 100 dinghies .... arrving on trailers !