Good, Deep boat ramps

Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
It would be nice if someone published a list of good boat ramps. Ones suitable for launching a sailboat etc.

The list would contain the name of the launch, location, depth at low and high tides, the type of ramp, and grade of the ramp. Maybe height clearance since that can be an issue to for masts.

This information would be useful for anyone trailering their boat, especially trailer sailors.

It would make for a good iPhone and Android App.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
Have you tried Google Earth yet? You don't get all of the data you want but you do get a pretty good view of the launch site.
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Bodega Bay Ca. boat ramp will launch a Catalina 250 wing keel with 6' of water needed and loooooong cement ramp. Low tide is about all that can mess you up. My boat stands 42' high on the trailer and no overhead problems. I am in the Spud Point marina now with my boat. Chief
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
Have you tried Active Captain?

Sure has a LOT of info, works off-line on Android/MS/Apple.....

Greg
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,037
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Hey, Chief, Bad O's on the Chesapeake. Maybe we should all meet on a big lake in Nebraska! :):):)

I agree, try activecaptain or trailersailors. Got to have been asked & answered, although new-to-you.

Heck, we can't have ALL the answers right here, can we?!? :eek::eek:
 
finding41

finding41

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Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
I'd check them fishin forums. Knowins thems guys dont like to have a hard time gittin up the ramp.
 
D

DAVA390

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Jul 13, 2010
1,097
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
Hmmmmm.... perhaps it could include acceleration rates for loose trailers....
 
S

sesmith

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Jul 1, 2010
990
Catalina 350 Port Huron
Active captain is a great resource and many times has some info on launches, like size of parking lot, # of ramps,etc. I have never found anything on depth or size of boat you can launch, though, for any of the launches I wanted info on.

But there is a neat way to leave your own comments in active captain. I'm as guilty as the next guy for not doing this, but if everyone were to leave some local knowledge feedback on the launches they are familiar with and have used, it might help the next guy.
 
CharlzO

CharlzO

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Jan 14, 2014
225
Newport Newport 28 Fair Haven, NY
My guess is that there's probably not as much information on ramps, simply due to the huge variety of boats, drafts, etc. My brother's O'day 23 on a trailer is going to float off a WHOLE lot sooner than say, a 4 1/2' fixed keel will. So for example, I'm not likely to ask him what ramp would be best, because he'll never have to back in far enough to find out if it would work for a deeper boat. But I do agree that it would be a great addition to comments, for people that DO have those slightly more depthly-challenged boats. Sadly, I'm not much help - I don't have a trailer....
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,434
-na -NA Anywhere USA
Colonial Beach sounds like VA. Just a thought as I do not have time to check it out. I would tend to think the old maps or charts used in the past on paper might have that information. As for the fishermen, look in the direction of bass boats as they would know. Just a suggestion.

Bad Obsession, if planning to go to lakes, I might be able to help you. I am originally from Virginia.
 
Brian S

Brian S

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Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
You can get started on that with this info in MD: http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/boatramps.asp

Haha, while there may be info on state maintained launch facilities, think of all the private marinas and such that are out there. Creating an app would be really cool, but surely a daunting task… Apps like this often happen when it's easy to collect, organize, and pretty-up publicly available data from raw databases. If a company were to try to find, visit, and survey ramps on their own, I think it would be cost prohibitive.
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

.
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I have not tried active captain. I may have to check it out for my iPhone.

Colonial Beach is in Virginia.

My local "free" ramp was built by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. It is free to use the ramp but the idiots at the Town of Colonial Beach force you to pay $10 to park for a day.

I will not attempt to launch on a low tide. There are two open ramps and good docks beside them. On a high tide I should be able to launch.

The Charts for Monroe Bay (the area where the boat ramp is located) are not accurate. There should be 5 feet in the general area during high tide.

As far as overhead, there area group of spots directly across the ramp (town of Colonial Beach Parking Lot) that are good for raising and lowering the mast. There is unlimited height. The other areas you may have to watch powerlines.

I did launch a Hunter 22 off of this ramp several times. On a low tide I may have bumped a little getting into the docks near the ramp.
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
Brian S said:
You can get started on that with this info in MD: http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/boatramps.asp

Haha, while there may be info on state maintained launch facilities, think of all the private marinas and such that are out there. Creating an app would be really cool, but surely a daunting task… Apps like this often happen when it's easy to collect, organize, and pretty-up publicly available data from raw databases. If a company were to try to find, visit, and survey ramps on their own, I think it would be cost prohibitive.
Click to expand
Brian,

As I said a few notes back, there IS an app that has a LOT of info on ramps, andall other related items like anchorages, marinas, and hazards. It's "crowd sourced" so a little caution is needed in reading it as all boats are not the same! :)

Take a look at; http://activecaptain.com/ and click on the top tab labeled "Interactive Cruising Guidebook"

The boat ramps show up as blue in color. If you move the courser over the block it will show up the name, just look for "boat ramp" in the name.



Greg
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,434
-na -NA Anywhere USA
I appreciate to all advising about Active Captain. That would in a sense solve that issue of ramps. I too was unaware of it but have been out of the business for a while.

I had a friend who for many years lived in Staunton but kept a boat in Colonial Beach. I have a good friend who lives nearby as well. However, I do know that Rt. 301 is heavily patrolled so I stay at the speed limit.
 
Doc_holiday

Doc_holiday

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Nov 19, 2011
1,489
MacGregor 26S Hampton, VA
I'm slipped in Deltaville, Va and need a ramp a couple times a year. The funny thing is Deltaville is a sailing community and far less power boats. Very few ramps as a result. I do use the Norview Marina ramp for $10. There's one at the yacht club but I am not a member (they did allow me to use it once) and a crappy gravel ramp on the piankatank river (no dock). It takes me a couple hours to motor or sail to my slip from Norview.

My Mac needs very little water so unless the ramp is poorly slanted, I can deal with it. I did load at the yacht club at low tide and it required using the winch but we managed.
 
Brian S

Brian S

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Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
Delezynski said:
Brian, As I said a few notes back, there IS an app that has a LOT of info on ramps, andall other related items like anchorages, marinas, and hazards. It's "crowd sourced" so a little caution is needed in reading it as all boats are not the same! :) Take a look at; http://activecaptain.com/ and click on the top tab labeled "Interactive Cruising Guidebook" The boat ramps show up as blue in color. If you move the courser over the block it will show up the name, just look for "boat ramp" in the name. Greg
Click to expand
Greg, did not know Active Captain had boat ramps. A bit of crowdsourcing plus pre-scoping goes a long way. Good call!
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
Brian S said:
Greg, did not know Active Captain had boat ramps. A bit of crowdsourcing plus pre-scoping goes a long way. Good call!
Click to expand
Brian,

It's a GREAT source of info, BUT, crowd source has it's drawbacks!

We found that out during our 5+ month cruising this year. A couple of places that had good reports. But they must have been by people who have VERY shallow draft boats :eek: , or don't mind short scoping the anchor.

All in all, it's been very helpful.

Greg
 
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