The slipways are shown on a map as well as a list (in the same style as the membership map).
There's also a field for a web address, so if there is a web page with information about the slipway (or the marina where it's situated), you can put its address in. Members can then go to the web page by clicking on the link.
Come on - let's build up some more slipway data!
—
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Desiree and I will be driving around Oban way and getting photos and details of slips in that area. I’ll send them to you on the weekend with map links or boatlaunch.co.uk links as well.
I’ll input the info direct to your site ,also to boatlaunch. Photos will definitely be of use. I’ll upload those to BL and you can let us know if you want those as you develop your database.
Thanks for your great additions to our slipway directory, Leigh. A bit far afield for me on the Isle of Wight (!), but I'm sure very valuable to our members in that part of the world, of which we have quite a few. Your detailed comments and photos are especially helpful.
Just need to fill in the space between North & South ... (anyone?)
—
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
I have a copy of "Where to Launch Around the Coast" compiled by Diana van der Klugt published in 1994 by Opus Book Publishing Ltd, obviously now a bit out of date but claims to list 650 coastal and lake slipways suitable for small boats, some of them are too small for a MacGregor 26.
Amazon books lists another 2006 edition by the same lady, not sure whether this is a reprint or an updated edition. They also list the "Good Launch Guide" by Geoffrey Campbell, 2010 at £8.46. Follow the link:
I bought both the Good Launch Guide and Where to Launch Around the Coast (2005/6 editions) when I first got a Mac 10+ years ago. I've never really made use of them, largely because it's very hard to filter what is actually Mac-friendly out of all the listings.
I wanted initially to find places I could launch on the Isle of Wight, having only lived here about a year at the time, so had limited local knowledge. The books list 20 & 32 slipways respectively on the island, but in practice there are only at most 3 or 4 places where it's genuinely practical to launch a Mac 26. I only found these places by looking, I could not have worked it out from the books.
Mac launching involves quite specific requirements, different from most trailer-launched boats. To start with, they are big, needing not only a generous concrete slipway, but also good manoeuvring space. You also need space to park and rig, which can take over an hour even if you're experienced, plus space to park the empty trailer. Even if you can get away with a public car park, the trailer takes up the space of two cars, so in a pay car park you'll be paying for three parking spaces in total! In most cases the best slipways seem to be in marinas, where charges appear to be highly variable.
It is possible to rig afloat after launching, but there is a significant risk of dropping something essential in the water. Some people prefer to do it though, as they figure the risk of injury by falling off the boat on the trailer is more serious (Jim Rotheram will testify to that!).
All in all, I wouldn't like to risk towing the boat all the way to a slipway that looked good based on the description in a book, only to find it wasn't actually suitable. I'd much prefer to rely on personal recommendations from other Mac owners.
In the end, I've only actually towed my boat to MOA-organised events, so have had the benefit of the organiser's prior knowledge.
—
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
yeah, I’d be very dubious about traveling for hours on the off chance that the ramp might suit. That’s why photos and a Mac26 skipper recommendation would be so useful.
Yes rigging afloat seems fraught with danger. The boat will be unstable and rolling as you try to rig her.
I think with with these two books, boatlaunch.co.uk and our own info we should be able to set up an effective database of Mac friendly ramps.
I notice, Leigh, that you've got two Macs, I think you're the first member to have more than one boat at the same time! I haven't allowed for that in the member records, perhaps I need to make some changes ...
On the subject of photos, I've added the facility to put up to 4 pictures on our slipway records.
—
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Some more improvements:
The slipways are shown on a map as well as a list (in the same style as the membership map).
There's also a field for a web address, so if there is a web page with information about the slipway (or the marina where it's situated), you can put its address in. Members can then go to the web page by clicking on the link.
Come on - let's build up some more slipway data!
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Hi Rick,
Desiree and I will be driving around Oban way and getting photos and details of slips in that area. I’ll send them to you on the weekend with map links or boatlaunch.co.uk links as well.
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
Thanks Leigh, that'll be great.
I was wondering about adding the option to add photos to the slipway records, do you think that would be useful?
Please add any information directly on to the web site if you can.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Hi Rick,
I’ll input the info direct to your site ,also to boatlaunch. Photos will definitely be of use. I’ll upload those to BL and you can let us know if you want those as you develop your database.
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
Thanks for your great additions to our slipway directory, Leigh. A bit far afield for me on the Isle of Wight (!), but I'm sure very valuable to our members in that part of the world, of which we have quite a few. Your detailed comments and photos are especially helpful.
Just need to fill in the space between North & South ... (anyone?)
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
I have a copy of "Where to Launch Around the Coast" compiled by Diana van der Klugt published in 1994 by Opus Book Publishing Ltd, obviously now a bit out of date but claims to list 650 coastal and lake slipways suitable for small boats, some of them are too small for a MacGregor 26.
Amazon books lists another 2006 edition by the same lady, not sure whether this is a reprint or an updated edition. They also list the "Good Launch Guide" by Geoffrey Campbell, 2010 at £8.46. Follow the link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Launch-Guide-Comprehensive-Slipways/dp/B00...
Hope this helps. Bob Norrish, Sushi
I’ve just bought the 2010 Good Launch Guide. By Geoffrey Campbell
940 slipways. Out of date but still useful. I’ll give a review once it’s here and I’ve had a chance to compare a few listings with reality
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
I bought both the Good Launch Guide and Where to Launch Around the Coast (2005/6 editions) when I first got a Mac 10+ years ago. I've never really made use of them, largely because it's very hard to filter what is actually Mac-friendly out of all the listings.
I wanted initially to find places I could launch on the Isle of Wight, having only lived here about a year at the time, so had limited local knowledge. The books list 20 & 32 slipways respectively on the island, but in practice there are only at most 3 or 4 places where it's genuinely practical to launch a Mac 26. I only found these places by looking, I could not have worked it out from the books.
Mac launching involves quite specific requirements, different from most trailer-launched boats. To start with, they are big, needing not only a generous concrete slipway, but also good manoeuvring space. You also need space to park and rig, which can take over an hour even if you're experienced, plus space to park the empty trailer. Even if you can get away with a public car park, the trailer takes up the space of two cars, so in a pay car park you'll be paying for three parking spaces in total! In most cases the best slipways seem to be in marinas, where charges appear to be highly variable.
It is possible to rig afloat after launching, but there is a significant risk of dropping something essential in the water. Some people prefer to do it though, as they figure the risk of injury by falling off the boat on the trailer is more serious (Jim Rotheram will testify to that!).
All in all, I wouldn't like to risk towing the boat all the way to a slipway that looked good based on the description in a book, only to find it wasn't actually suitable. I'd much prefer to rely on personal recommendations from other Mac owners.
In the end, I've only actually towed my boat to MOA-organised events, so have had the benefit of the organiser's prior knowledge.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Hi Rick,
yeah, I’d be very dubious about traveling for hours on the off chance that the ramp might suit. That’s why photos and a Mac26 skipper recommendation would be so useful.
Yes rigging afloat seems fraught with danger. The boat will be unstable and rolling as you try to rig her.
I think with with these two books, boatlaunch.co.uk and our own info we should be able to set up an effective database of Mac friendly ramps.
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
I notice, Leigh, that you've got two Macs, I think you're the first member to have more than one boat at the same time! I haven't allowed for that in the member records, perhaps I need to make some changes ...
On the subject of photos, I've added the facility to put up to 4 pictures on our slipway records.
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
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