Here is a short list of the Slipways where we have hauled out Black Duck over the years. Each Slipway with a different methods of hauling out the boat. Cradle, Sea Lift and Travel Lift. Personally we did not mind either way, though each have their advantages.
Tasmania
Tasmania might be one of the cheaper places to slip your boat. We slipped twice in Tasmania in 2018 and 2019.
We slipped at a small club slipway, which is not open to the public or interested in advertisement.
Slipping in Tasmania can be quite weather dependent unless you want to work in rain and cold.
The common way to slip in Tasmania, seems to be by Cradle.
Available Slipways
- The Royal Yacht Club in Sandy Bay, Hobart
- Oyster Cove Marina in Kettering
- Huon Yacht Clup Slipway
the cradle
An older method which leaves your boat sitting in the Cradle for the entire duration of your haul out. It Drives on tracks in and out of the water pulled by a massive winch or sometimes by a tractor. The Cradle has the advantage of leaving the sides of your hull free without stands needing to be moved to complete a thorough paint job. The downside is that where the keel sits on blocks you will not be able to apply paint. For bigger jobs and scaffolding, the Cradle can get in the way.
Redland City Marina, QLD
Redland City Marina lies up Eprapah Creek in Moreton Bay not far from Brisbane. We slipped here in 2020.
The creek is shallow so with a deep drafted boat it has to be correctly timed and will greatly limit the times at which you can enter and exit. But it is well worth looking into as this is a fairly priced Slipway with good facilities.
- Special Designed Sea Lift which fits both mono-hulls and catamarans.
- Semi rural but has great chandlery onsite and a Bunnings a bike trip away
- Liveaboards are welcome
- Toilets with hot showers
- Friendly and helpful staff
the sea lift
The Sea Lift is an impressive machine as it can adjust its level both lengthways and sideways. It drives down a ramp and levels your boat as you come out. It is padded with soft pontoons as to not damage the hull of your boat. This is apparently a perfect machine for slipping various sizes of Catamarans. And this Slipway was indeed full of them.
The Big Boat Shed, Cairns
The Big Boat Shed Slipway lies up Smith Creek in Cairns. We slipped here in 2021 before leaving Australia.
It is extremely expensive and the facilities onsite are in poor conditions. The Toilet Building was like out of a horror film. But there are few other options in the area and for those who do not have cars, it is located right in the hub of everything marine related as far as shops and tradies go.
- Convenient Location
- Friendly staff
- Nice Travel lift
- Easy for even big monos, but unsuitable for Catamarans
the travel lift
Probably one of the more common methods in Australia, at least at big slipways. The Travel Lift, lifts you buy slings placed under your keel. This made me the most nervous of all. The idea of being held by slings seemed sketchy to me, although I know they were more than strong enough. The convenience of the travel lift is the opportunity, if the operator gives you time, to quickly slab some paint under the keel before going back in the water.