Solent car/ trailer parking & accomodation advice

[BumbleAbout]

We seem to have a few longer weekends approaching and so we would like to explore the Solent. Since we live a couple of hours north up the A34 we ideally want somewhere secure to leave the car & trailer (with a reasonable chance of them being there when we return) and do a couple of day trips from a B&B, pub or even marina base - any hints please ?

[Dry Run]

The Camber Dock in old Portsmouth has a car park, free trailer park and a slpiway (coin operated £2-50). It's rignt at the entrance to Portsmouth harbour, so is ideal for exploring The Solent. There are also numerous reasonable B&B's within 200m. Further information on www.KB-Boatpark.co.uk/Camber_Docks. If you drop me a PM I'll send you a list of local B&B's

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

Portsmouth has a car park, free trailer park and a slpiway (coin operated £2-50)

Interesting concept, free but costs £2.50.

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by Dry Run

The Camber Dock in old Portsmouth has a car park

which costs £8+ a day IIRC, but should be free if you take a Camber Dock B&B

You might need to recover the boat each day though, unless there is a pontoon you can use for a couple of nights

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Neil Harvey

which costs £8+ a day IIRC, but should be free if you take a Camber Dock B&B

You might need to recover the boat each day though, unless there is a pontoon you can use for a couple of nights

You could tie up alongside the slipway, but it's not secure.

Another option is to launch at Haslar, secure the trailer in the car park at the top and use the Marina for keeping your boat on the water during your stay. You'd then be able to use the Marina car parking. Not too sure about accommodation in the area, but doing it this way might open the oppotunity to stay over the Island?

[C2 RIBS]

I can thoroughly recommend B & b in Hamble Village called Compass Point-
http://www.compasspointhamble.co.uk/index.html

Mike runs a great place right in the heart of the village and very close to all facilities including marinas.
Launching in the area , there a quite a few options from a free launch in the village on a public slip which is a tight squeeze for anything larger than 6.m rib but Mike would have to advice on parking and trailer issues and the opposite side of the river at Warsach public slip, then put car and trailer into car park for a fee. Or you could spend a load(25-£30) and launch from a great concrete slip at Hamble Point Marina, which would give you loads of parking etc and facilities and secure.

There are a few other launch slips further up the River you can find on http://rib.net/boatlaunch/

Another option is Calshot on the Western side of Southampton water at the Solent end, All these are very close to The Solent, Calshot you can camp at their site on the waters edge.

I am sure other ideas will follow

[BumbleAbout]

Many thanks all - very helpful - we will report in a couple of weeks !

[Starovich]

as hightower mentioned,
Haslar also has dry parking on trailer for 35p per meter per day in a gated compound.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Starovich

as hightower mentioned,
Haslar also has dry parking on trailer for 35p per meter per day in a gated compound.

Oooh I never knew that! Is that in the Haslar Marina car park or the boat yard at the top of the slip?

[Starovich]

Boatpark, top of the slip.

[Hightower]

Is that just for trailer or for boat as well?

[Starovich]

boat too. instead of trailering it down every time.

I think here maybe 1 week minimum but cant be sure, only noticed it in passing, my boat is in the marina.

It used to be seaway marina, but im not sure if it is still as the office they had is now empty, however there are still signs for seaway around

02392 602722
07919050288

are the numbers i have for them

[bingomike]

Out of interest. What is the slip/tides like at Haslar? Thinking of bringing the rib over for a few days to take my dad and brother out, make a change. Have launched from Fareham long long time ago but long way to sea!

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Starovich]

non metalled, stone/gravel , need couple of hours above LT springs- that's just what i work on not sure of the official times.

just need to go direct out from slip don't cut the corner, bit of a ledge on both sides. Channel is marked, use middle span of bridge.

[Hightower]

I've always launched 4 hours before HT and recovered no later than 3 hours after HT, come back a little earlier just in case there is someone fuffing around on slipway

When tide is out a little, I always draw an imaginary line between the slip and the end of the floating pontoon and use this as launch/recovery channel. About 20 degrees to the right of the end of the slip.

[bingomike]

Thanks for the info, should be worth a trip over in the summer, i only get about 2.5 hours either side of HT in Rye so probably a bit more time to play!!

Mike

[Hightower]

Let us know when you come up and we'll have a trip over the Island.

[bingomike]

Sounds good to me!! all help gratefully recieved! LOL

[Solent Ribman]

We use the Public Hard at Warsash. Easy to launch and recover a couple of hours either side of Low Water. A good indicator is there are two yellow marker posts on the groyne - if water is above the post nearest to the road, it is more difficult to launch. Personally, I use a launching / recovery line, to avoid putting the car in the water. Can get a bit crowded on sunny weekends, especially late afternoon on a Sunday, if the tide is at the appropriate point. There is free parking a couple of hundred yards along Shore Road, including two bays specifically for trailers [wardens patrol and cars in these bays have tickets put on them].
Downside, is that technically you need to pay a launching fee to Harbour Authority - and this applies to any launch of power assisted craft in the Hamble River. I don't know what the daily rate is, as I pay annually [£90]. I believe limited overnight mooring is available [for a fee] on the Harbour Masters pontoon - probably best to call and book.
Access to Solent area from here is good.

[Hightower]

Swings and roundabouts here £5 was the fee being charged by the Harbour Masters I think, but free parking. At Haslar it's the car parking that's the expensive bit as you have to pay for the car and trailer, using the slip is free. That said however, if the trailer was there by its self, how are you going to attatch a ticket to it