Launching a 7m boat at Broome need advice
Submitted by ryangler on Tue, 2011-12-20 20:38
Hi guys
Heading to Broome on Friday and all i seem to read on the net today is how bad the ramp facilities are and how tourists and even locals have trouble launching there boats. With some real horror storries.
Was after advice from people who ave used the facilities... its a 7m Assassin and dont laugh but it will actually be only the 5th time ive launched it, or any boat. Maybe some tips in general would be good.
so far ive got
- tides, tides, tides is the key, launch on incoming (quickly) & retrieve on out going so i have time up my sleeve
- be very organised
- carry a snatch strap
what else
Thanks guys
thesupervisor
Posts: 1136
Date Joined: 10/06/09
get a phone number of a local
get a phone number of a local who can rescue if it does go to shit even if you have to pay for the help
its not nice if you have no one to call for help
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
Mr Bigalow
Posts: 64
Date Joined: 11/12/11
head down the day before and
head down the day before and have a gander at the ramp and people launching, learn how the locals do it..
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
PattyT
Posts: 1025
Date Joined: 15/08/10
I would say with a confidence
I would say with a confidence that Broome would be one of the harder places to launch a boat in Australia.. Need to get in and out very quickly, the tides are outrageous!!
CCC
Posts: 539
Date Joined: 29/03/10
there is a concrete ramp but
there is a concrete ramp but you can only use on the top end of the tide.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
retreival will be the killer
the only concrete ramp is at the wharf and on low tide it is far from the water........
the tides are quick and unless you watch the tides to coincide with the ramp you will be lauching / retrieving on sand.
best to have a back up i.e. a second car with snatch or drive the boat on, hitch very quickly and drive off, so thats a two / three person job.
it has to be quick. if you have lauched that few times either use the concrete (which still has to be quick with the tide) or practice plenty before you lauch......
watch wind direction also, anything westish will make it more difficult.
I prefer the neap tides when heading offshore
greatrex
Posts: 210
Date Joined: 29/08/11
unless you have a good 4wd
unless you have a good 4wd your going to be dreaming....most of the people at the ramp are pretty helpful when it comes to helping if you get stuck
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Agree
Hired a 6 mt up there it's a nightmare they put it in and got bogged and had two call up a tow never again
Swan River Fisher
Posts: 877
Date Joined: 03/05/11
IMO its probably a bit risky
IMO its probably a bit risky considering its only your 5th time launching and retrieving a 7m boat.
On youtube i've seen it where a tractor pulls the boat up onto the sand and dry winches it. But the thing is you need a tractor...
The boat in the clip is a 6.6? trailcraft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1FVFBAxK9k&feature=related
Billcollector
Posts: 2098
Date Joined: 16/05/09
I launch a 7.0 mtr boat up
I launch a 7.0 mtr boat up here and this time of the year is probably the worst time of year due to westerly winds. The main ramps have no protection from the westerly so you get waves breaking on the ramp or beach making it impossible to retreive the boat. The easiest way is to drop someone off to get the car and take the boat around the jetty to the slipways where the water will be protected. The water needs to be touching the concrete at the slipway to enable you to retreive. To launch at Entrance point we put everyone on the boat and using lowrange 4wd back in and flick the boat of quickly and get someone to drive the boat around until the car driver is ready to get on board. Don't try and hold the boat as the current is too strong. Get the car out straight away. If the tide is really low be careful on the ripply sand as this has a lot of soft spots in it especially on incoming tides. Launch to the east side of the ramp the sand is firmer.
predetec
Posts: 17
Date Joined: 29/10/10
Depends on the wind / tide.
Depends on the wind / tide. If its not windy and there's water on the ramp when launching and retrieving then it isnt too bad. If it's windy then take BillCollectors advice and use the slipway.
If you can time it so your launching and retrieving on the high (so you can use the concrete ramp) then you should be OK.
If you cant launch on the ramp then probably worth weighing up getting bogged and sinking your car. Nothing worse than watching that tide ripping in towards your bogged pride and joy - gets the heart thumping.
Drop into the fishing club when you get up and have a beer and a yarn to the crew there as well - they'll pont you in the right direction.
Billcollector
Posts: 2098
Date Joined: 16/05/09
If the wind is up the
If the wind is up the concrete is down right dangerous as the swell pushes around the corner and breaks on the ramp. Plenty of water at the slipway and if the gate is locked see the guys at the jetty gatehouse for key.
crasny1
Posts: 7016
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Been there and done that
And I dont think ever again!!!! Was bogged at Ganthueme Point beach. Fisheries and Marine watching with no offers off assistance. Some people from Kcity snatched us out but in the haste the trailer hit the holes caused by the 4x4 tyres and it shifted the trailer axle. Cost me an arm and leg to fix.
But I watched how the guys do it well.
On an ingoing tide launch the boat by backing into the water (just), unhook the trailer and get a long rope and tie this to the trailer. then drive the 4x4 to safety. They almost leave the trailer by itself until the tide floats the boat and then using the long rope pull the trailer out off the water onto dry land and then retrieve it.
On the retrieve they did the opposite and walked the trailer into the water, under the boat, tied her on and used the rope to pull the boat up.
The catch was that they had a tyre positioned at the front of the trailer that acted as a third wheel, and I didnt.
I would certainly not bother again unless I was drilled.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
Pretty sure my sail vid has
Pretty sure my sail vid has the launch in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auf08TxDVJc
Be prepared, be quick and you will have to get the car wet!
Cheers Pete
Tank
Posts: 358
Date Joined: 12/05/12
How did you go
How did you go in the end