Powerboating in the Solent

[garethdeb]

Hi Folks
I appreciate this will probably fall on many deaf ears as most of you are citizens of the beautiful US but, for all the Brits out there, are there many of you who regularly launch their speedboats on the Solent or generally along the south coast of the UK?
I did my RYA level 2 powerboat course a couple of years ago then spent a lot of time away from home working but now I have some time at home so I have bought my first speedboat. Plenty of fettling and servicing to do but in the next few weeks I will be attempting my first launch.
My first decision is where to launch. Obviously I'd like somewhere quiet so I don't get too many onlookers laughing at me! Secondly a slipway that is easy to launch from using an Audi A4 as a towcar, so preferably a concrete slip. Thirdly I plan on taking a day off during the week with a mate of mine so we can do it during a quiet weekday so as not to annoy anyone else by taking too long on the slipway.
So, for all you Brit southeners out there, if you have any advice on my mad plans then I'd love to hear from you.
Oh, and Hi to all from a sunny but ruddy cold Saturday morning in Portsmouth!
Regards
Gareth

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Powerboating in the Solent

Welcome to iboats forum. How are things across the pond? Enjoy your chilly maiden voyage.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Powerboating in the Solent

welcome to i boats and 'Howdy from Texas"

you seem to have a good plan! have every thing ready to go, take your time, be safe, and have FUN!

Good Luck,
Joe

 

[AJ163]

Re: Powerboating in the Solent

Gareth,

can't give you much help with the Solent other than suggest you check on the motorboat section of ybw.com forum. Theres a motorboat section with lots of info about the Solent and surrounding areas.

Whilst I'm still fairly novice in terms of boating I've learned a lot in the last few months myself. Unless you have a really light boat my advice would be to look for a very shallow concrete ramp, as you may struggle without 4WD to get back up some of the steeper ramps. I'm out in Cyprus and most of us use a Land Rover or Jeep to launch and recover.

Also, if you don't want to ruin the car by reversing it slightly into the water, for certain ramps, it may be worth taking a good length of strong tow rope. If need be, you can tie it off to the trailer, put it round the car's tow hitch, unhitch the trailer and use the rope to let it gently roll into the water till deep enough to launch.

Good Luck