I'd like to trailer my Hunter 26 to Charleston harbor. Does anyone have any experience/advise on ramps and/or marinas?
Charleston SC Launch
- Thread starter Mike16510
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Charleston S.C. Launch and Recover
Mike, I have no direct experience with ramps in the Charleston area, but, when I had a 260 I did launch it several times from a ramp on Lady's Island, just accross the Beaufort River (US 21) bridge at Beaufort S.C. The ramp is run/maintained by the county and is well lit and has lots of room for leaving your towing rig. The ramp is wide enough to launch 3 boats at a time and there is a nice aluminum decked floating pier parallel to the ramp where you can load up after the launch. The folks at Ladies Island Marina, about a 1/4 mile up Factory Creek from the launch ramp are very accommodating. Space is usually available. From the marine there are grocery stores(Publix), pharmacies(Eckerds and CVS), and several restraunts within walking distance. Be aware of tides: they run about 8 feet in this area. You will need VHF to contact the bridge captain. There is a phone # posted at the bridge but it is rarely answered and often off the hook. From Beaufort you can run north on the ICW with open sailing on St.Helena Sound, or go south toward Savannah. A good two day trip would be to go from Beaufort and around Hilton Head, overnighting at HH and returning the next day.A treat on the way south while in Port Royal area is the sound of drill instructors barking at recruits on Parris Island. Good Luck, Steve Kamp
Mike, I have no direct experience with ramps in the Charleston area, but, when I had a 260 I did launch it several times from a ramp on Lady's Island, just accross the Beaufort River (US 21) bridge at Beaufort S.C. The ramp is run/maintained by the county and is well lit and has lots of room for leaving your towing rig. The ramp is wide enough to launch 3 boats at a time and there is a nice aluminum decked floating pier parallel to the ramp where you can load up after the launch. The folks at Ladies Island Marina, about a 1/4 mile up Factory Creek from the launch ramp are very accommodating. Space is usually available. From the marine there are grocery stores(Publix), pharmacies(Eckerds and CVS), and several restraunts within walking distance. Be aware of tides: they run about 8 feet in this area. You will need VHF to contact the bridge captain. There is a phone # posted at the bridge but it is rarely answered and often off the hook. From Beaufort you can run north on the ICW with open sailing on St.Helena Sound, or go south toward Savannah. A good two day trip would be to go from Beaufort and around Hilton Head, overnighting at HH and returning the next day.A treat on the way south while in Port Royal area is the sound of drill instructors barking at recruits on Parris Island. Good Luck, Steve Kamp
wapoo cut
If you take 26 it turns into 17 which will take you to 701 and from there I'm not sure how to direct you but from that point you are really close. (I can look at my directions and e-mail them to you later if you want. If you look at the linked map, to the left of the red star you'll see two bridges crossing the left side of the harbor. The boat ramp is between the two bridges, your hunter will fit under the bridge going to the harbor. You will go past battery row and into the main part once past fort sumpter and on the same side there is a great anchorage near morris island which you can hike around to the atlantic side/camp on if you want. Just watch out for the mosquito's they are still pretty bad at dusk, also there is a pretty big/strong tide...about 5-6 feet. Great place to sail though. You can exit the harbor and go south to Kiawah island in about 1-2 hours. Take note of the submerged jetties on your chart at the mouth of the harbor. They dynamited them on the south side and there is a marked channel. I'm going down there this weekend from Asheville. Throw out a yell on channel 71 for the wind sprite if you head there this weekend! Richard
If you take 26 it turns into 17 which will take you to 701 and from there I'm not sure how to direct you but from that point you are really close. (I can look at my directions and e-mail them to you later if you want. If you look at the linked map, to the left of the red star you'll see two bridges crossing the left side of the harbor. The boat ramp is between the two bridges, your hunter will fit under the bridge going to the harbor. You will go past battery row and into the main part once past fort sumpter and on the same side there is a great anchorage near morris island which you can hike around to the atlantic side/camp on if you want. Just watch out for the mosquito's they are still pretty bad at dusk, also there is a pretty big/strong tide...about 5-6 feet. Great place to sail though. You can exit the harbor and go south to Kiawah island in about 1-2 hours. Take note of the submerged jetties on your chart at the mouth of the harbor. They dynamited them on the south side and there is a marked channel. I'm going down there this weekend from Asheville. Throw out a yell on channel 71 for the wind sprite if you head there this weekend! Richard
Yes, don't leave your dink at the dinghy dock
unless you're staying ashore till the next high tide.
unless you're staying ashore till the next high tide.
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