Western Australian Boat Launching Sites - Information
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Hi Folks,
I've been mulling over this idea recently. I've often been asked for info on launching at Emu Point - Oyster Harbour down in Albany and thought it might be a good (or cr*p) idea to collate info on boat launching at various locations.
This doesn't have to just be about hard stand boat ramps, it can include beach launch locations as well. In fact, in regards to the latter, often it is more important as there's usually no man-made channel and therefore natural underwater obstacles/reefs/bombies to consider, and then there is also weather/swell considerations due to diminished shelter. Other considerations with a beach launch could include how hard/soft the sand is (type pressure requirements), condition of access track etc.
Each post on a location/facility could look something like this: (although open to suggestions/improvements if there is interest, willingness to commit etc).
These can be periodically updated when people use these facilities/visit locations.
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LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - ALBANY/Emu Point Boat Ramp
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PUBLIC RAMP/2 Concrete Ramps with central slim finger.
INSIGHTS:
- Gets very busy Christmas/School Holidays so best to get down before 07:00 am.
- Tendency for non trailored cars to park in boat bays - no bosun or other control.
- Good ramps with shallow decline.
- A long bending, often narrow channel leads out to King George Sound. The channel is well marked, but care must be taken not to run aground.
- Care must be taken when launching/retreiving due to the number of pedestrians and cyclists - especially during the busy season.
EMERGENCY COVERAGE - Albany Sea Rescue (VMR610) base station is located here and therefore provides 24 x 7 coverage.
You get the idea. :)
Thoughts folks?
OH! One more thing. We could include at least one pic in each post - you could even mark it showing best route in/out - identify obstacles - any pointers on the pic that would be of assistance.
CAR PARK SHOT ON BOXING DAY - will get better pic next time I'm down:
Regards
Colin
Adam Gallash
Exmouth
LOCATION: Tantabiddi Boat Ramp, Exmouth
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - Concrete ramp that is often covered in sand, depends on tidal movement.
INSIGHTS:
- Gets very busy March through to August on good days.
- Bog mats are ESSENTIAL when retrieving on a LOW tide. Can sometimes retrieve without them depending upon conditions, but not a good idea.
- Steep decline and difficult to see where to reverse, a slowly slowly approach is good for first timers.
- The moored areas are 8 knots, even though not sign posted.
- Channel markers are a little difficult to see, look on the Tantabiddi DEC tourist board to see how to get behind the reef if you don't have a chart plotter.
- Difficult retrieval for larger heavier boats
- Remember to have a cold beer for the drive back to town!
- No fingerlings or jetty
EMERGENCY COVERAGE
- Exmouth Sea Rescue is manned on the weekends and monitored during the week.
Just after launch, effectively what the ramp looks like.
Dreamweaver
SWAN YACHT CLUB
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - EAST FREMANTLE/Between Aquarama and Leeuwin.
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PRIVATE RAMP/1 Concrete Ramps with medium finger with front L.
INSIGHTS:
- Must be a member to legally use it - though they make exceptions on the Rotto swim boat support.
- Shallow decline ramp that, due to river weed, can get very slippery - excellent for aquatic single point landings on your bum!
- Very limited parking.
- Great bar facilities overlooking the water.
- No Boson supervision so can be dissapointing from a idiot free launch vs fees.
- Absolute PR*CK of a current at times and the unwary can end up playing (not so)dodgem cars with the pen sticks nearby.
- Don't even try and find an evening parking spot if there is a function on.
- No designated boat trailer bays - first come first served.
EMERGENCY COVERAGE - Fremantle Sea Rescue provides 24 x 7 coverage for typical areas fished.
Colin
RECFISHWEST Member 576
VMR 610 - Albany Sea Rescue - Mariner 421
Salmo
Hopetoun Ramp
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Hopetoun
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PUBLIC RAMP- 1 Concrete Ramps with side jetty
INSIGHTS:
- Gets very busy Christmas/School Holidays
- Heaps of Parking
- Good ramps with shallow decline.
- Travel north to get around reef. Markers easy to see
- North facing so doesnt get the rolling southern swell but you still need to be careful
Good Pub on the right just as you pull up onto the main road
EMERGENCY COVERAGE VMR604 CH 90
Salmo
Salvation Harbour Ramp
LOCATION- South east Coast -Salvation Bay Jerramungup Shire
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PUBLIC RAMP/ 1 Beach Launch
INSIGHTS:
- Bush ramp used mainly by locals, campers and commercial salmon fishermen
- Sand ramp with gravel over the top
- Faces south into a protected bay but still suffers from swell.
- Difficult retreive with a southwester
- Once launched you need to head slightly east before turning the corner north west.
- often weeded up during winter
EMERGENCY COVERAGE - NO RESCUE SERVICE -Highly recommended to let someone know your intended return
Salmo
Esperance Harbour Boat ramp
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Esperance Fishing Boat harbour Public Ramp
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PUBLIC RAMP- 2 Concrete Ramps with finger jetty
INSIGHTS:
- Gets very busy Christmas/School Holidays
- Heaps of Parking
- Good ramps with shallow decline.
- Turn west to head out through the breakwall
- Protected launching
-Toilets and water near the ramp
EMERGENCY COVERAGE
Local Sea rescue VMR601 channel 88
VHF only when I was down there
24hr Rescue mobile number is 0419 869 655
The local Angling Club welcomes visitors on Friday nights for cheap beer and a great barbeque.....situated close to the ramp
Salmo
Bremer Bay Fishing Boat Harbour
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Bremer Bay Fishing Boat harbour Public Ramp
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PUBLIC RAMP- 2 Concrete Ramps with finger jetty
INSIGHTS:
- Gets very busy during summer Holidays
- Heaps of Parking
- Good ramps with shallow decline.
- Turn south west to head out through the harbour
- Protected launching though you still need to be careful during heavy swell
-Fish Cleaning facilties, Toilets and water near the ramp
EMERGENCY COVERAGE
Local Sea rescue VMR607 channel 88
Adam Gallash
Bundegi Boat Ramp
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Bundegi Boat Ramp, Exmouth
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - Small concrete area constantly covered in sand
INSIGHTS:
- Difficult beach launch and retrieve
- Tidal movement important on launch/retrieve times
- Bog mats often left in sand by previous users and are hard to find when required
- Often has churned up soft sand, making it boggy for retreive
- Time consuming effort if other people are retrieving
- Filleting table is up the other end of the beach behind the jetty
- Sandflies can make it unbearable standing about without aerogaurd
- Ramp is soon to be upgraded
EMERGENCY COVERAGE
Local Sea Rescue - Often manned only on weekends (off season) - VHF 72 and 27 meg 88 or 90
Adam Gallash
Port Gregory
Information provided by Bouttime.
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Port Gregory, Access to Abrohlos Islands/ North island
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PUBLIC RAMP - Beach launch
INSIGHTS:
- Not a well used ramp, shelter from the ocean with a reef for protection
- Dirt carpark to park car and trailer
- Soft sand so will need ramps to assist when pulling the boat out.
- Unmarked chanel but with an up to date chart you can see the enterance
- Care must be taken when launching/retreiving due to soft sand. Check first to make sure
EMERGENCY COVERAGE - Contact either Geralton or Kalbarri by phone as not to sure about radio coverage.
There is a small shop for food and drinks and a caravan park for fuel. It is best to take everything you need.
Adam Gallash
Coral Bay Boat Ramp
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Coral Bay Boat Ramp
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - 2 boat slips, 1 finger jetty and 2 commercial offload points
INSIGHTS:
- New ramp thats yet to be tested in busy periods
- Small turn around area for larger trailers
- Potential for extreme congestion in peak season
- Large car park, but 500m walk to vessel.
- Good shore based fishing location
- Only one finger jetty completed due to lack of funds
- Beach launch from Bill's Bay is now offlimits
EMERGENCY COVERAGE
Coral Bay Sea Rescue (unsure of details)
Adam Gallash
Peaceful Bay Boat Ramp
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Peaceful Bay
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - Beach Launch
INSIGHTS:
- Easy beach launch on good days.
- Be careful when parking your vehicle after launch, tide and swell moves the beach significantly some days.
- Swell over 2.5-3 meters can have dangerous set waves break accross the bay
- Water movement on retrieval can make life difficult. Having deflated tyres before launch will certainly increase chances of successful retrieve.
- Can possibly bribe locals to retrieve with tractor if the conditions turn bad.
- Popular on holidays, its a good thing to see other boats out there in that stretch of water!
EMERGENCY COVERAGE
PEACEFUL BAY SR
VMR 616
9840 8108
C/- Post Office
Peaceful Bay 6333
Andy Mac
Mindarie
LOCATION/Sub Location/Facility - Mindarie Marina Public Ramp
LAUNCH TYPE/Facilities - PUBLIC RAMP- 4 Concrete Ramps with 2 finger jetties
INSIGHTS: -
- Heaps of Parking - Reasonable ramps with shallow decline.
- Jetties do not have any protective rubbers at the moment so best use your own bollards
- Turn west as you head out from the marina, you will notice two reef breaks. One is inshore about 1nm north west of the entrance (Quinns Rocks) and the other main break is Directly west (Staggies Reef). Both these reefs break in anything over 1m swell so should be visible. If travelling west take the south west leads, just to be safe as the major reef line can break in different places when swell is up over 2m.
- Protected launching and retrieving allthough there is only one retrieve lane, so either time your return or expect a lengthy delay to retrieve.
- 2 Pubs very close by and washdown facilities in the carpark.
EMERGENCY COVERAGE Local Sea rescue VJ6LQ channel 90 for log on and log off. Bad reception inside the marina so make sure you log on and off about 500m outside the marina.
Hopefully someone has a good pic.
Cheers