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Continued from Part I…. 2. Gangway. The Gangway and Dollies. Small boats today are often moved on dollies. The gangway down to the float should be able to accommodate them. Gangway Width.
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The Gangway and Dollies Small boats today are often moved on dollies. The gangway down to the float should be able to accommodate them.
Gangway Width As shown at right, if the gangway is made wide enough for the dollies that are used for small sailboats, it will be wide enough for the dollies used with kayaks and other small boats. It will also be wide enough for a rowing crew to carry a long shell down it safely.
Gangway / Ramp Interface This shot shows an ideal interface between a launching ramp and the adjacent boarding float. It’s a little bit different here in San Diego since the range of tide is greater, but when a boat can come off the trailer and be immediately against preferably the leeward side of the boarding float, with no railing or other obstruction in the way, that is the best.
The sand beach serves as the quickest and most direct path from a motor vehicle to the water for a car-top boat. The owner of a car with a boat on a car-top rack (without a dolly) should be able to park in a “boat loading zone” immediately adjacent to the sand beach, unload the boat onto the beach, go and park the car, and then return to her boat to get it ready and head out. Upon return, the boater returns to the beach, hauls her boat up to a washdown area right next to the “loading zone,” rinses the saltwater off, gets the car and brings it to the “loading zone,” puts the boat on the rack and drives away. Purpose #1 of the Sand Beach
Purpose #1 of the Sand Beach Although these shots are from La Jolla, it shows how vehicles get close to the water, unload their kayaks and paddleboards on a soft beach, go park the car, and paddle away…
Purpose #2 of the Sand Beach • The sand beach also serves as an easily-accessible rigging and preparation area for trailer-carried boats, especially sailboats. • The launch ramp at the Glorietta Bay BLF is to windward of the launch ramp under the prevailing wind conditions and, depending on the boat, the trip past the gangway and float to the leeward side may simply be too inconvenient. The sand beach provides a viable alternative. • Additionally some boats prefer to sail on and off a beach, rather than a float. “Hobie Cats” are a good example. • In use, the owner of a Hobie Cat would, for example, launch his boat into the water off the trailer on the ramp, and then float it over to the adjacent beach to rig it and sail away.
Purpose #2 of the Sand Beach For trailer-carried boats, a beach designed for a Hobie Cat will work for almost all other boat types… At the Glorietta Bay BLF, a beach large enough for 1-2 Hobie Cats at a time will be sufficient.
The launch ramp can be narrower. It is seldom (never?) used to launch two boats simultaneously. A 5 minute “loading zone” to accommodate two cars with car-top boats could be located here. A small sand beach something like this will easily accommodate two Hobie Cats, or a small group of kayakers. And a garden hose could be located here, to rinse the saltwater off before putting the boat back on top of the car. SAND BEACH SPECIFICS. We recommend making the launch ramp narrower (one trailer width instead of two), which will enable the sand beach to be large enough to accommodate two Hobie Cats side by side.
Ramp / Beach Interface Here’s an example of a great interface between a boat ramp and an adjacent sand beach. Once the boat floats off the trailer, there are no rocks or curbs in the way that would make it difficult to float the boat over to the beach for rigging or while you park the car.
Ramp / Beach Interface When there is no beach nearby, boat owners – especially sailboat owners who need time for rigging – “make-do.” Quickly getting the boat away from the typically rough surface of the launch ramp – which would damage the boat’s bottom with the slightest touch – is a top priority.
Beach Alternative Clever alternatives to a beach abound. In this case, the “beach” is a steel frame with wood planks. On top of that are pieces of plywood covered with heavy outdoor carpet. It reportedly works well in this freshwater lake. Saltwater, and tides, make it probably impractical in Glorietta Bay.
Washdown is Simple The time to rinse the saltwater off a boat off is immediately after it comes out of the water. We recommend that freshwater rinse capability be installed: On the float Near the beach “loading zone” In the parking lot (retain existing capability) Capturing Wash Water… In comparison to other Glorietta Bay BLF improvements, we do not believe that the likelihood of introducing pollutants into the bay when rinsing off a boat that has just been in the bay makes the cost of capturing wash water a priority.
Washdown Slings A couple of slings on the float and near the “loading zone” to support a boat while it is being rinsed off would be a nice touch. They should be “industrial” strength and secured with a cable to allow movement but prevent loss.
Of course we recognize that a project like this is subject to many different viewpoints and design / budget constraints. In an attempt to keep things simple, we have presented one approach to the task of modernizing and improving the facility. We believe it includes all of the major features that need to be included while still being economical. That said, once again in the interest of simplicity, there are many details we have elected to leave out, and other approaches that could be pursued. For example, with clever float design and placement, the benefits of a sand beach might well be rendered insignificant, while still working within the present budget. We will be happy to work with any engineers or designers to provide the “local boating knowledge” that is necessary to make this facility the best that it can be… Please contact us. Final Note…
