I'm lazy. It's only ~8miles to the Washburn Marina to trailer Vela to the ramps. Or ~9 miles to Thompson's West End Washburn Boat Club ramps. Or ~5 miles to the ramp in Bayfield (Blackhawk). So I seasonal on the trailer store the boat at the Washburn marina. No need to step the mast every trip. I'm lazy.
But this season. Received an email from the Washburn Marina. Major plumbing and parking lot repair. The ramps will be closed at least all of April. The water and sewer lines run under the ramp approach. A large section of the parking lot at least through May will be closed. Assuming repair and construction finishes on time. Which pretty much never happens up here for any Spring construction. The WEATHER. Like now. Winter weather advisory for the next couple days. Washburn Boat Club lot is very small. Maybe room for 6-8 trailers. With the Marina ramp closed the local fishing folks will all need to use that ramp. Add the too many outsiders that come up for Spring fishing. So thinking the alternative would be BlackHawk. Normally drop down Mannypenny and hook a right hand turn to the ramp. Mannypenny will be closed for new water and sewer lines and finally proper width and surfacing for unspecified time. If you ever have been to Bayfield in the summer you will understand how pulling a sailboat through or around "downtown" is a PITA. Which is what you will have to do to get access to Blackhawk.
I'm lazy too, but I have no great options but to store my boat in the driveway, and raise/lower the mast every time. I live within 5 miles of several ramps, but one, just a five minute drive is the best. It is kind of a "hidden gem" owned by NY State, and for those of us who use it on a regular basis, we have seen an increase in users over the last 3 years so the secret is out. I've been avoiding weekend sails due to the growing number of boaters who use the ramp Saturdays and Sundays. There is another ramp just a 2 minute drive, owned by the Town but it is a complete zoo and until recent renovations had overhead wires too close for comfort. A third option is a great ramp on the local powerplant property. However they charge $35 per day.
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Sorry to rub it in guys but I have two ramps available mast up from home. The little used quality public boat ramp with launching pontoon is about 500 yards from home and due to the power being underground here I can tow my monster trailer sailer from home mast up. The second in the above photo is in my new backyard but it's very tight to get my car with huge yacht and trailer down the side of my house with just over a hands width clearance down each side and then manage the corners to get it turned to back it in. I don't think the designers or builders contemplated such a huge craft being launched there!
Still prefer to have my problem than yours. IMG_6305.jpegIMG_6303.jpeg
Oriental has a free ramp with parking. Our neighborhood has a private ramp and parking 3/4 of a mile from home. Once she's launched, she lives at our backyard dock. We're about a 1/2 mile from the Neuse River and ICW.
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Just a little drier here between San Antonio and Austin, the longest boat ramp on Canyon Lake is about 3 feet above the water. We keep getting the tails of the cold fronts and no rain. But it rains north and east of us all the time.
Except for last week when it rained south of us a LOT!!!