Veradock System

[Sheppy]

I'm seriously considering one of these Versadock systems for my boat.
http://www.versadock.com/

One of the problems I suffer from is excessive build up of fouling and so thought this might make a worthy investment. When you consider a good clean and re-antifoul can cost £400-500, spending £3.5k doesn't seem too bad. I'll be able to slurry blast my hull back to smooth gel coat thus a saving in fuel too, while also increasing my top speed.
I'm on a swinging river mooring however and so would need to winch her on and off, but I suspect it'll only take a couple of minutes to do once I have everything in place. If I add a couple of cleats at the rear corners I can use the same winch to effectively push her off too. I've confirmed with the manufacturer that these can be used on swinging moorings.
I really just wanted to know if anyone has any first hand experience with these systems or whether I’m missing a better solution?

John

 

[mjf]

I have one of these on the tidal Thames at home.

Its moored between two pontoon fingers and it does what it says on the tin.

Great kit and huge extra buoyancy, launching is a bit of a worry first couple of times and is esp a challenge if I have to reverse off into a fllood tide so effectively 2/3 knots astern into a 3/4knots tide and of course the stern enters at an angle with bow in the air.

Coming back just line up and power down the middle - first time |I thought I was going to
jump over the pontoon james bond style and head of up the river but of course the engine would prevent this and actually the boat stops itself ok before it properly reaches is moored position. Kick ahead and its slides further up the floating dock.

I was going the winch route but have the winch but never fitted it.

BTW - the versdock peeps are very helpful and knowledgeable so will find a solution that will suit what you need. Good Luck and enjoy - what size are you thinking?

 

[Sheppy]

Thanks mjf for your reply,

I have a 19' Fletcher Sports Cruiser GTO. She's quite high sided which I thought was a worry but Versadock suggest adding some tubes under the hull if I feel she's a little unstable.
I'd have to go with the winch route only because I'm on a swinging mooring.
The other problem I've thought of is whether my local harbour authority decide it’s a pontoon and try to ban it. I've read their policy but they only restrict pontoons and shore based landing stages.

John

 

[Sheppy]

I found that one local river won't allow them. Although not the river I'm in, I see this as pretty short sighted. Due to increasing regulations, the chemicals used in antifoul paint have been getting less and less over the years, which is why most antifoul paints are pretty useless these days. I would have thought river authorities would have welcomed a far more environmentally friendly solution to antifoul paint and would have embraced the idea. What on earth will we all do when the EU/EPA ban antifoul paint which I'm afraid is inevitable - certainly for private users anyway.