Not so good news for launching trailer sailboats locally.

[noelH]

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.

[Brian N.]

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.

[Grith]

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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. You cannot view this attachment.You cannot view this attachment.

[Wolverine]

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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[Wayne Howard]

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!!!

[Riley Smith]

There are free ramps everywhere on the Mississippi Coast. Many are just a slab and water but you can get in there if you want. Few have facilities and a few might even get you robbed. I don't hardly launch underneath I-10 and carry my gun when I do   One of my favorites is a little known ramp in a historic residential area on Krebs Lake. I'm always seeing long time residents there and rarely anyone else.

[noelH]

Grith, is that a inlet to open seas?

No sign of work at the Marina or on Mannypenny.  Spring Load limits will be if they have not kick in. Township gravel road has been posted. No moving any heavy loads until lifted.

Last couple seasons the wind has been more often at the extremes.  That is, none or >F6.  Personal record  for number of days sailed (ie. zero motoring) in a season if 49 days covering almost 1100nm.  Trending downward.  Last couple seasons. Total of 29 days, 633nm under sail. If F5 or greater I'm windsurfing.

Season ramp pass is reasonable at $80.  Good for usually April into November at both the City of Washburn ramps and the Washburn Boat Club ramps at Thompson's West End Park.

[Norm L.]

Does the $80 provide something better, more convenient, and safer than free city/state ramps?

[Grith]

Grith, is that a inlet to open seas?

No sign of work at the Marina or on Mannypenny.  Spring Load limits will be if they have not kick in. Township gravel road has been posted. No moving any heavy loads until lifted.

Last couple seasons the wind has been more often at the extremes.  That is, none or >F6.  Personal record  for number of days sailed (ie. zero motoring) in a season if 49 days covering almost 1100nm.  Trending downward.  Last couple seasons. Total of 29 days, 633nm under sail. If F5 or greater I'm windsurfing.

Season ramp pass is reasonable at $80.  Good for usually April into November at both the City of Washburn ramps and the Washburn Boat Club ramps at Thompson's West End Park.

Our waterfront home is on a side lake of The Murray River and we can access that sail two nautical miles downstream then cross the very large and shallow (average about 7 foot deep) Lake Alexandrina then pass through a loch into the seawater section of The Murray River close to its mouth into the Southern Ocean. This is kept open by dredging but can be a challenging crossing in adverse conditions similar to say Haulover Inlet.
Our particular cruising yacht draws under 5 feet with the keel fully down and can power at up to 15 knots in 2 foot of water making this crossing feasible in most conditions but not all. 🙂

[noelH]

Does the $80 provide something better, more convenient, and safer than free city/state ramps?

There are no free ramps that I know of from Port Wing, WI into the UP. The only "free" ramp are the freeloaders that don't pay and use the ramps.  IIRC, daily ramp fee are $12 for the Bayfield city ramp, $10 at Washburns two ramps.  Pay to play. No freebies up here. Couple places to launch small, shallow draft power boats for "free". Not the best.  More suitable for sea kayaks and minimal to no real parking. A few years ago Bayfield decided that all watercraft need to pay to launch. Kayaks, windsurfer, probably even SUPs.  Also, IIRC a 3 day parking limit at the Bayfield ramp. 

[Norm L.]

I would like to give you the thumbs-up like...but that is not too likable situation for small boat owners.
I guess the plus is that your small boat doesn't need to be professionally hauled, set in custom blocking, and heavily sheathed. Paying for a ramp is cheaper. 

[noelH]

More not so good news.  Unknown schedule for repairing Mannypenny in Bayfield.  Washburn Marina noted construction on the sewer line and parking lot to begin April 21st. But...

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Vela draws about 3 feet with the keel down. Pulling up the keel up ~1/2 way on the choppy waters of L. Superior is not something I want to try. Need half of it down or Vela is like handles like a hockey puck. The S side ramp if water level is high is useable. Low I hit the concrete ramp.  Definitely not purchasing a seasonal on trailer seasonal storage slot this season. Looking like needing to become a "real" trailer sailor this season. Corni ramp is a 60 mile round trip.  Or the expensive option. Lease a seasonal slip at one of the marinas.

Knew eventually the power launcher would cause more than just an issue for some who have dropped their trailer wheels into the eroded lake bottom at the end of the ramp.  Signs everywhere.  NO POWER LAUNCHING.  DipS...don't know how to read. LAZY FatA... Now the undercut has significantly damaged the ramp. 

[Brian N.]

I feel your pain mate. There are times I come very close to the edge of the ramp, then it drops off fast! Last year one ramp was closed for a day as a large powerboat trailer went over the ramp edge and damaged the rear axle, making it impossible to pull the trailer and boat out. Not sure how they finally resolved the issue. The P165 draws close to two feet, and low tide launch/retrieve is impossible near dead low. I use a modified "rope launch" that allows me to roll the trailer down the ramp an extra 20 feet or so, often bringing me close to the red pole and line which marks the end of the concrete ramp. A few times I've miscalculated the tide, but unlike low water at a lake, it becomes a waiting game for the tide to flood.