ABC Slipway Use

Apr

It is imperative that you read and understand the following…

The slipway close upstream from the Arundel Boatyard has kindly been provided in its entirety, by The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk as a gesture to the local community; the land and the structure belong to the Norfolk Estate.

They have asked the Arundel Boat Club to oversee its use. This engenders a number of responsibilities, some of which are financial, particularly rent, maintenance and insurance. At this early stage it is impossible to know how popular this project will prove and what problems may ensue from its use, so members are asked to bear with the ABC Committee while we make every attempt to ensure a prime facility at the most reasonable cost. The accounts will be available to discuss with any member having a query.

The Committee has opted for an annual ‘Slipway Supplement’, to be £20 (twenty pounds) this year, in addition to the normal membership fee, to allow access to the facility. Having signed to agree comprehension and acceptance of the points set out herein and on payment of the fee, members will be provided with the combination to the locked gate at the head of the ramp. This combination will be changed every year, or with a new combination to those entitled if there is a breach of security.

1. The slipway is designed for launch and recovery of SMALL BOATS ONLY,
to be hand-towed along the footpath from the car park, so please note:

a. There is no associated entitlement to park a car, (or incidentally, to use the town quay pontoon).
b. Motor vehicles should not be used on the path, approaches, or ramp.
c. The maximum weight of a boat with trailer should not exceed 250 kg.
d. The maximum length of a boat with trailer should not exceed 6 metres.

2. The RIVER ARUN is FAST FLOWING, DEEP AND TIDAL – That is the stream alternates down and back up the river, varying in speed, direction and depth repeatedly over a matter of hours.

b. There is a very real DANGER OF DROWNING.
c. The Committee will not be held responsible for –
USE of the SLIPWAY, which is ENTIRELY at YOUR OWN RISK.
d. The TOWN BRIDGE is CLOSE DOWNSTREAM –
You may be swept onto it if you are not organized before casting off.

3. BEWARE of eddies on the slipway as you launch, possible slippery surfaces, particularly on the ramp itself and that the lower end of the ramp will remain incomplete until the weather is dry enough for the river to subside, providing access to extend and complete it with a concrete foot.

4. Extreme caution should be used when returning downstream toward the slip, particularly to avoid getting caught on the edge of the slip nearest river which might roll the boat over. This is not a manoeuvre for the inexperienced.
5. The whole area around the head of slipway may flood on high tides and there is nothing indicating the edge of the actual bank, where the depth will go from a few inches to several feet without warning.
6. Lock the gate before leaving on river trips as well as after recovery.
7. The committee welcomes guests, who must be escorted while using the slipway – you are asked not to give them the combination, as it is unfair to other members. Please be sure they also fully understand the dangers associated with the river and these other requirements in regard to the slipway itself. We are asking you to collect a charge of £5 per visiting boat per launch and recovery, or day, which ever is the longer. The committee has decided to set this up as an honesty policy – please pay the Treasurer, if convenient once a year, with your membership fee, but do keep a count as the Club has the financial commitments above, on your behalf.

Yes, it is currently cheaper to use the pontoon for the same purpose, if your guests can lift their boat down the gangway from the town quay… (or they could become ABC members!)

8. The Committee reserves the right to refuse and/or to prevent further access to those abusing the system. In this case there will be no refunds.

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Our apologies for all the rules but some people like to claim ignorance.

A great deal of energy and goodwill has gone into the provision of this slipway, its success now depends entirely on your respect for these efforts.

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This is your club.
The Committee wishes you a wonderful time “messing about in boats”.

An “Arundel” Slipway opening

By chris.waite

Apr

No more excuses now from captain or crew. At Midday on Friday 16 April the Duke of Norfolk formally opened the slipway at Arundel and the boat club finally has proper access to the river. The family boat was launched and he then took off up the river with the Duchess and their son – the first official use of the slipway. Here are a couple of pictures to demonstrate the event, but what the committee would like to see is loads of use to justify this new facility. So roll out those small but significant vessels from gardens, garages and sheds, dust them off and get out on the water.

The chairman, who admits to being an inveterate water-rat and even others on the committee are happy to help with any boating questions from how to mend a leak, to methods for attaching outboards, to working out the tides, or where to buy bits, or whole boats – one of us will have useful suggestions.

Remember, our first organized trip from the Slipway is on Sunday 2nd of May starting about 11.00, up to Amberley and back and we hope to see you there

Chris Waite
Chairman