Trafalgar Dry Stack - Portsmouth

[LFB531]

Tempted to park my rib there for the Summer, any PH'ers used it/experiences?

I've used drystack previously on the Isle of Wight, I quite fancy the idea of being able to run straight from the mainland.

TIA

[Krikkit]

Never heard of it before, but that looks like a bloody cool place! Next time I'm in Portsmouth I might go for a tour.

https://www.thetrafalgargroup.co.uk/indoor-drystac...

Superficially if it's affordable it sounds like a great solution - boat is out of the rain and sun when not used, but easy to hit a button and have it ready and waiting when you want to use it.

[Roaringopenfire]

Service has a good reputation. Two large forklifts to reduce waiting time. The big downside is the journey from the drystack to the harbourmouth. Long way and very tightly regulated speed limit. Before you choose them do try the journey at beginning and end of a day out. Adds to fuel costs as well.

[vulture_venturer]

KB Dry Stack is one of the ones we have looked at if we get a boat, its a lot better location wise in terms of getting straight out onto the water but its not covered so the boat will get a bit more dirty. Personally for us its all about max time on the open water and it also improves the range of where you can get to and back from in a day. Isle of Wight in 10 mins! depends how much you use its vs storing it I guess....

We used to be based in Southampton (some good, well priced yards there) but got bored of the trip down the Itchen and then Southampton Water before you get to the proper South Coast spots. Plus for us Portsmouth is closer to get to by car.

[gizard]

Have had a boat there for 5 years - they have 3 fork lifts. good service.

You could keep a boat nearer the sea yes - but my view is would you rather spend more time on the boat or sitting in a traffic jam to get nearer the coast? If you are coming down the A3 - it is a good 20 mins quicker than getting to Southsea.

They generally launch your boat and have it alongside ready and waiting for you (minimum hours notice) + plus jet wash the underside before putting it back in the rack (our boat has never been antifouled as it has always been drystacked.

PM if you like and i can introduce you to them! What sort of size Rib have you got (although it will be fine unless it is an absolute monster - our boat is 43ft and 7.5 tonnes so we have to keep >50% fuel otherwise it can be tricky to lift, it is a c of g issue as they do lift heavier shorter boats)?

cheers

G.

Edited by gizard on Tuesday 30th March 23:28

[KTF]

They are using what used to be the old VT facility I think?

[LFB531]

gizard said:

Have had a boat there for 5 years - they have 3 fork lifts. good service.

You could keep a boat nearer the sea yes - but my view is would you rather spend more time on the boat or sitting in a traffic jam to get nearer the coast? If you are coming down the A3 - it is a good 20 mins quicker than getting to Southsea.

They generally launch your boat and have it alongside ready and waiting for you (minimum hours notice) + plus jet wash the underside before putting it back in the rack (our boat has never been antifouled as it has always been drystacked.

PM if you like and i can introduce you to them! What sort of size Rib have you got (although it will be fine unless it is an absolute monster - our boat is 43ft and 7.5 tonnes so we have to keep >50% fuel otherwise it can be tricky to lift, it is a c of g issue as they do lift heavier shorter boats)?

cheers

G.

Edited by gizard on Tuesday 30th March 23:28

Thanks for this, really useful.

7.5 tonnes! Not quite in that league, a 6.5m Cobra so I'll be put up in the naughty corner I suspect.

I'd come to the same conclusion about distance, really easy for me to drop off the M27 or even the train at Portchester if I'm travelling light. I'll have a mooring at Seaview for when I'm on the Island. I'm going to Southampton on Sunday so might wander along and take a look but pretty certain I'll give it a go for the season and see how it works out.

[vulture_venturer]

gizard said:

Have had a boat there for 5 years - they have 3 fork lifts. good service.

You could keep a boat nearer the sea yes - but my view is would you rather spend more time on the boat or sitting in a traffic jam to get nearer the coast? If you are coming down the A3 - it is a good 20 mins quicker than getting to Southsea.

Edited by gizard on Tuesday 30th March 23:28

It's a good point and agreed at busy times Trafalgar will be quicker but we quite often get in and out of Southsea quickly when it's not busy. There is only 5 mins time difference between the two coming down the A3 out of busy times. So all other times like arriving back in the evening or early starts there is no traffic and no slow crawl to get out of, or back across the harbour.

I like the fact that I am not clocking up an extra hour each time there and back just to chug along at 6 knots. Previous boats also struggled to get the oil up to temp when just chugging along. I doubt modern outboards will have that issue as those were big diesels.

Fuel cost is also cheaper doing that last bit in the car.

Lastly we like the area around Old Portsmouth as loads of shops and places to eat if you decide not to go straight home or stay overnight.

Horses for courses though. I can see the attraction of the indoor dry stack and the proximity to the motorway.

[gizard]

KTF said:

They are using what used to be the old VT facility I think?

Yes correct my father used to work there (many years ago when it was VT).

Edited by gizard on Wednesday 31st March 22:15

[gizard]

LFB531 said:

Thanks for this, really useful.

7.5 tonnes! Not quite in that league, a 6.5m Cobra so I'll be put up in the naughty corner I suspect.

I'd come to the same conclusion about distance, really easy for me to drop off the M27 or even the train at Portchester if I'm travelling light. I'll have a mooring at Seaview for when I'm on the Island. I'm going to Southampton on Sunday so might wander along and take a look but pretty certain I'll give it a go for the season and see how it works out.

I am from Seaview originally and go there very regularly

6.5m no problem it is main Ribs stored there but there are one or two bigger boats like us in bottom of the rack, they have recently started getting a few Axopars in. When you speak to them - tell them Samurai's owner advised you, ask to speak to Corine she will be able to give you all the detail you require. Most people that have boats there are all year round - so I am not sure of capacity at the moment - however I think have a 6.5m rib you options for a slot are much greater than ours - as we are bottom shelf only!

[gizard]

vulture_venturer said:

It's a good point and agreed at busy times Trafalgar will be quicker but we quite often get in and out of Southsea quickly when it's not busy. There is only 5 mins time difference between the two coming down the A3 out of busy times. So all other times like arriving back in the evening or early starts there is no traffic and no slow crawl to get out of, or back across the harbour.

I like the fact that I am not clocking up an extra hour each time there and back just to chug along at 6 knots. Previous boats also struggled to get the oil up to temp when just chugging along. I doubt modern outboards will have that issue as those were big diesels.

Fuel cost is also cheaper doing that last bit in the car.

Lastly we like the area around Old Portsmouth as loads of shops and places to eat if you decide not to go straight home or stay overnight.

Horses for courses though. I can see the attraction of the indoor dry stack and the proximity to the motorway.

Depending on your wash you are allowed to do 10knots in Portsmouth harbour - however our size boat boat makes too much wash a 10 - but we find it warms our diesels just about right before getting out to no limits, plus neither of the other Portsmouth drystack options would be able to lift our boat due to size and c of g

[vulture_venturer]

10 knots isn't too bad, was 6 knots down the Itchen from Drivers.

That is a lump of a boat, prob not dissimilar to our old rib which was 6.5t, I didn't think they could handle boats that big on the forks until I looked at their website.

[LFB531]

Thought I'd post up a follow up to my original post.

Took my Rib down last Saturday, quickly off the trailer and onto a rack. Back down on Monday for a quick induction, boat into the water ready for a sneaky few days on the Island. Weather grim so we tried the cafe out, very nice!

Run out of the harbour was as suggested 20 mins or so but actually, as the boat hadn't been used since last year, it was quite comforting to check all was well before we hit the Solent. Trip across was lively but fine, just got to our mooring as the heavens opened good and proper!

So far so good then! Thanks for all the input.

[Krikkit]

Brilliant, sounds like a great setup then. As you say 20 mins to warm up is good for both you and the boat!

[vulture_venturer]

LFB531 said:

Thought I'd post up a follow up to my original post.

Took my Rib down last Saturday, quickly off the trailer and onto a rack. Back down on Monday for a quick induction, boat into the water ready for a sneaky few days on the Island. Weather grim so we tried the cafe out, very nice!

Run out of the harbour was as suggested 20 mins or so but actually, as the boat hadn't been used since last year, it was quite comforting to check all was well before we hit the Solent. Trip across was lively but fine, just got to our mooring as the heavens opened good and proper!

So far so good then! Thanks for all the input.

What did you do for a mooring on the island - rent a visitors spot? Anywhere you would recommend?

[LFB531]

I’ve got a season mooring at Seaview. Would imagine most of the yacht clubs/harbours have got visitor moorings.