Where can I go?

[B175Chris]

Hello again /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Wondering if you could help me, just bought a new 4m dinghy, first ever one, and I want to test it out and have some fun in the UK before anything, its my first experience with one so i have things to learn

Is there anywhere (as close to birmingham as possible, which i know will still be ages away) on the coast etc that i can go to try it out, blow it up, maybe take a few friends that is either cheap or free?

I dont ask much do I? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hope someone can help /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Thanks

Chris

 

[Bunny]

Have you considered chasewater in staffs or llangorse in s.wales? Dont know about prices, but chasewater certainly isnt too far from the second city.

 

[B175Chris]

Hi, thanks for the reply, not sure about wales, I'll check it out though, and I'm actually a member of Chasewater because I used to use my bayliner there before it went to france, but they don't allow Personal watercraft, which apparently a dinghy is /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Its about £700 a year i believe so probably a bit much for the odd weekend /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Chris

 

[whisper]

How about the River Severn at Stourport ?? Or is it speed you're after?
If it's sea you need then I'd head for Conwy.

 

[Superflid]

Not so fashionable (or scenic!) but Skegness Watersports, Ingoldmells, has a slip which allows jetskis.

 

[Nick_H]

There's a jet ski lake at Kingsbury water park in Tamworth (not the same as the water ski lake but close by). Alternatively write "RESCUE" on the side and take it for a spin on Edgbaston reservoir when the sailing club are out.

 

[mjkinch1]

I used to take my Fletcher speedboat down to Chester - there is a good concrete slipway on the river Dee to launch and a floating pontoon used for teh ferry that you can tie up to whilst you put itall away. Plus plenty of parking for trailer and car.

You can potter downstream and moor up, there is a pub and a public mooring area, or you can potter up stream, and when you are around the corner, you possibly could then open up and whizz up stream for quite a way - its really very nice further up, and quite remote. (Ahem I think there may be a speed limit) We used to blast up river for a good mile or so, and in fact you could get all the way to Farndon, but we never went that far as it looked a little shallow in places.

In the winter after rains, the river can run quite high and fast, so you are best choosing your times carefully, I would guess its OK at the moment. bringing the boat back on the trailer can be interestingwhen you have the river flowing, but we always managed.

At weekends there is a warden in the summer and you have to pay £10, but other than that its all free.

Here is a picture of it

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/images/dataimages/10963/491___Selected.jpg

Here is the other info from the boatlaunch web site

Ramp Description: Two ramps, the left one has a slightly better drop if you have a larger boat. There is a trailer parking area. No Jetskiers allowed.
Directions: The Slipway is in Sandy Lane, go past Sainsbury's (on the ring road - Whitchurch direction), turn right at bottom of road. Slipway is about 1-2 miles alongside the Dee after the Yacht Club.
Ramp Type: 2 Ramps both Concrete - left one slightly deeper.
Upper Area: Concrete
Lower Area: Concrete
Suitability: Large trailer needs a car
Ramp Length: Non-tidal
Facilities: Toilets and Park with Kids pool etc. Also there is a floating platform to moor your boat with a ramp to the bank, so you can load up and/or park the car.
Charges: Up to £10 if Warden on-site, mostly weekends.
Cruising Area: Down to Chester and upstream for 3-4 miles. There are two pubs that can be moored up for a drink. Up river is very quiet, once you leave the main area you rarely encounter other boats


Hope that helps

Martyn

 

[B175Chris]

Thanks a lot, thats great stuff!

Martyn, thanks for such a lot of info, really appreciated /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Chris