Best Docks in Ottawa (or surrounding) for a Van to dunk a Speedster?

[100guard]

I just found this website (http://www.boatlaunches.ca/) , and it seems to list them, but the interface is poor. I'd like to amass the info and put it up on one of them awesome Google interactive ones that you find for say cellular towers. hmmm...or maybe I'll just make the suggestion to the owner. It's really annoying because when you click one launch, the page refreshes, and you no longer see all the other launches., so you have to backtrack, then wait, then bring up another launch, rinse and repeat. Would be far better to always list all of them, and just bring up the details if you hover?

Anyway,

These are the official ones.

Can those of you who have used them, provide in put on quality of ramps, price?

I'm also interested to know what boating is available within 30mins of town. North/South.

We have friends in Kingston, so that's a trek we are aiming to do this summer if possible.

But today...we have to get out., probably Brittania., something tells me the three other ones around it aren't that great for a van to dunk in a boat.

Appreciate the feedback .

 

[demne]

I was at Shirley's Bay Saturday. Long shallow launch, all rock & little bumpy but good over all.
One issue was the people who drive down to the launch, then proceed to leave their boat in the middle blocking it for other people. Special owners with SeaDoos & canoe's - yes canoe's.
If you wanted to make a day of its an ok spot for a BBQ as well.

 

[100guard]

We went to the Aylmer one today. BOY-WAS-IT-BUSY. LOTS of onlookers., LOTS of traffic.

double lane, concrete., plenty of room to park and prep and dunk.

Only problem is there is no flanking DOCK. So you have to either push off and hope you can pull the boat to the side (SOMEHOW)..or be waist deep and walk it over.

Being busy, you can't really just wait in the water while the fam jumps in, and I go park and walk back to get in the boat. ALTHOUGH, nobody was impatient or gave the stink eye. I was pretty comfortable maneuvering between another boater, and the docks using the easy-steer mode in neutral on the Speedster.

Was a great quick (just out of hibernation) day of boating. I am hoping to dunk in on the East side of Ottawa next week-end. We have a friend inviting us over to Clarence Creek, so it would be fun if we can just boat there., dock (or is it called mooring?) and have her pick us up to take to her house? That would be a novelty.

 

[tempest.runner]

Blair Rd. is the only place I'll launch from Ottawa. Free launch and free parking.

 

[100guard]

Blair Rd. is the only place I'll launch from Ottawa. Free launch and free parking.

I haven't been there yet. Can you elaborate on the launch? qualities, width, depth.

Is it good for a boat or just PWC?

We did a route recce today of the shirley's bay, brittania, nepean Yacht, ones., I'll put pics up when i feel like it lol.

I want to check out eccolands & the blair rd one soon.

I figure, I'm burning ~$5 in gas driving to the Aylmer one, so we're just going to use the Nepean Yacht Club one. It's nice. Dual flanking floating docks (how can you have boat launch WITHOUT THEM??????), and it's closer to us lol. I'm happy to pay the $5 to them for the convenience & practicality. Plus Lots of parking. Only annoyance is you have to go all the way to the darn store to pay? Can you pay online? What if you want to go early (like that'll ever happen, LOL)??? Do you have to buy it the day before, or wait till they open up to leave? 830am or whenever that is.

 

[tempest.runner]

I haven't been there yet. Can you elaborate on the launch? qualities, width, depth.

Is it good for a boat or just PWC?

We did a route recce today of the shirley's bay, brittania, nepean Yacht, ones., I'll put pics up when i feel like it lol.

I want to check out eccolands & the blair rd one soon.

I figure, I'm burning ~$5 in gas driving to the Aylmer one, so we're just going to use the Nepean Yacht Club one. It's nice. Dual flanking floating docks (how can you have boat launch WITHOUT THEM??????), and it's closer to us lol. I'm happy to pay the $5 to them for the convenience & practicality. Plus Lots of parking. Only annoyance is you have to go all the way to the darn store to pay? Can you pay online? What if you want to go early (like that'll ever happen, LOL)??? Do you have to buy it the day before, or wait till they open up to leave? 830am or whenever that is.

Blair rd

I've seen 4 ppl launch at the same time. Plenty of room. Ppl launch w/ bigger boats than yours all the time. The ramp is a mix of dirt, sand, rocks and gravel. There is no docks. Its a river bed. Someone will most likely get wet...imagine that... there are no fees for launching or parking. There are no stores or washrooms. Central loc between downtown and pietrie island


Ecolands

Concrete launch, floating docks, free launch, free parking. Limited travel route. Locks on both ends only allow you to travel so far. Good spot for wakeboarding or water skiing. Park beside launch has washrooms. Dual ramp launch. Again, boats much bigger than yours will launch there. A water ski club setup a buoy course to zigzag through. Kinda neat. Use to be a water ski ramp in the water. Not sure what happened to it.

 

[100guard]

Very helpful & informative info. Thanks for that.

May I ask what's the speed limit here anyway? I've been browsing google for 8mins now and can't find the answer.

 

[100guard]

...
May I ask what's the speed limit here anyway? I've been browsing google for 8mins now and can't find the answer.

Still don't know what it is .

Canada Day was-a-blast!

I checked out Wendovers' dock on Saturday and it is a nice one. Free as well! Medium parking available. It's the one on the far RIGHT if you're lookin' at that screen pic I put up above.

Does anybody know how much the main dock costs below the Jacques-Cartier Bridge? or whatever it's called? Below the Museum of Arts? There were some stupendous boats there today. I felt like I was watching CSI: Miami.....

 

[tempest.runner]

Still don't know what it is .

Canada Day was-a-blast!

I checked out Wendovers' dock on Saturday and it is a nice one. Free as well! Medium parking available. It's the one on the far RIGHT if you're lookin' at that screen pic I put up above.

Does anybody know how much the main dock costs below the Jacques-Cartier Bridge? or whatever it's called? Below the Museum of Arts? There were some stupendous boats there today. I felt like I was watching CSI: Miami.....

Sorry for the late reply, I don't use these forums much. I'm usually using another forum but I don't think I'm allowed to say the name or post the link as this forum has some really strict rules on that I believe.

On the Rideau, I found this blurb about speed limit;

Watch Your Wake
Speed Zone MarkersThe waves generated by a boat, technically known as a boat's "wash" can do a great deal of damage. It can erodes shorelines, swamp the nests of loons and other waterfowl, damage docks and moored vessels, interfere with safe navigation, disrupt wetland habitat, and upset canoes and small boats, especially in narrow channels.

In Ontario, there is a shoreline speed zone which restricts all power-driven vessels to 10 km/hr (6 mph) or less within 30 metres (100 feet) of shore. This restriction does not apply:

in buoyed channels and canals
on rivers, or sections of rivers less than 100 metres in width
to vessels towing a person on water-skis or any similar equipment provided the vessel operates perpendicular to the shore, or is operated within a buoyed area where such operation is permitted.

In addition to this general regulation, various sections of the Rideau have regulated speed limit zones. Most of these will be a posted with signs indicating a maximum speed limit of 10 km/hr.

It should be noted, that from a wash generating perspective, the absolute speed is not the issue. The issue is at what speed does your boat generate a destructive wash? In restricted channels, near shore areas, and other designated "watch your wake" zones along the Rideau, please slow it down to a point where you are generating a minimum wash.

As of 2012 - all speed zones on the Rideau are also "no wake" zones - and, in addition, there are new no-wake zones (marked with a no-wake sign). Non-compliant waves (potentially destructive wake) are not allowed in these zones. In a nutshell:

Any vessel navigating through a zone posted as “No Wake” must, in most instances, operate fully off plane, be settled completely into the water and travel dead slow, while maintaining steerage and control.
The wake must dissipate prior to reaching the shoreline
The wake must not cause hazard to, or have the potential to cause hazard to, nearby vessels (including canoes and kayaks), docks, and/or people on nearby docks


FYI - this will be enforced if possible, but most do not respect this. The wake the larger boats create is very destructive to the shoreline and other boats tied up to the dock.

Source:

http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/boat_rules.html

Ottawa River:

Same deal. I know around the casino they have posted limits and once you pass the main bridge downtown, there is a speed limit there as well. I can't remember what's posted but I think it's like 10kmph

 

[100guard]

Blair rd
...Ppl launch w/ bigger boats than yours all the time. The ramp is a mix of dirt, sand, rocks and gravel. There is no docks. Its a river bed.....

I'd love to see someone launch a big boat from this place. We finally made our way out there and I was shocked to say the least lol. I would like to test it out, but I'm a little weary. Not the greatest ramp (description is appropriate). It's too rocky I found. If someone were to clean the bed then it wouldn't be a big deal hangin' on to it or brushing up onto the bed while you're waiting to go park and come back. The rocks makes it too hairy & in need of someone controlling the movement before you take off.

Shame really. I was REALLY looking forward to it being a solution.

We went to the Rockcliffe YC, $15/launch., great launch, docks, horrible parking. You have to walk up 7mins to the parking lot by the museums' back lol. They should arrange the flanking parking spots on a slant so people can make use of that, instead of the perpendicular orientation which allows only single vehicle lengths to fit. Obviously they're catering to members who just drive to take their yachts & such out., not the daily visitor.

Is there anywhere on the Quebec side that is closer to downtown, has a proper dock & ramp & is free?

 

[demne]

Anyone ever tried Jacques-Cartier Marina by the Alexandra Bridge?

 

[100guard]

Actually! I recce'd it two days ago. Are you sure that's what it's called? I called it "Hull Boat Launch".

Anyway, guess who owns that Launch? NCC! Meaning...it's freeeeeeeeeeee to use .

Can accomodate huge boats., nice concrete launch. Double Lanes easy. Plenty of parking...BUT...it is an NCC primo parking spot...WITH an expected price. $7 vehicles and $14 w/ trailer, ouch. Summer hours don't end till 9pm and there's payment required even on week-ends. Shucks. But meh, it's fair for a premium spot. To think the Clarence Dock charges $28 is PREPOSTROUS!!!!

There's another issue that you'll need to address and that is that there isn't a flanking dock. You have to launch (completely a l'eau), then moor at the dock ~7m from the launch, then park, then walk back down then take off. Terribly Cumbersome if you're goin' out alone. Difficult if you've got a buddy as you'll either need to trust your buddy to maneuvre the boat to the dock while you park...or you do the boating and trust your buddy not to shit the bed and let your vehicle roll down into the river as he/shifts out of park into D to pull away to park LOL.

My Precious S/O hasn't ever started JennNAYYYYY up yet, NOR pulled the vehicle+tlr out of the dock ever yet, so we'll have some practicising to do. I'm almost thinking of having S/O grab the rope (what's the official name for this?) and have our eldest (8yrs lol) start the engine and maneuvre to the dock...might not need to start the boat up in fact, so needless to say some experimenting is required .

I'll tell you one thing though, the Rockcliffe Yacht Club can kiss the likelihood of ME navigating the arduous journey from the Queensway, thru Aviation Parkway, to THEIR armpit location to pay $15, when I am 18mins from the Hull Marina where I can just pay $14.

We are gonna test out the Nepean Yacht Club (NYC) tomorrow for a trip. IF anybody wants to join us (family with young kids) drop me a line. NYC (no eta yet), head out to Constance bay and beyond? Snack, then perhaps some light exploring & head back where we hope to pick up some friends' daughters to take them out for a little spin before they head out on their summer trip.

Cheers.

Now if only I can remember which way is up stream...IE red on the right? or...?

Btw, I figured out there is no speed limit on the rivers except when there's a marina you're passing. A corroboration of this statement by a long-time Ottawa boater friend of mine would be comforting .

 

[demne]

Here is the link for it - http://www.gatineau.ca/page.asp?p=quoi_faire/nature_plein_air/ports_plaisance

Figure it would be a neat place to bast around below the hill & up to Victoria Island.

 

[100guard]

Blair rd

I've seen 4 ppl launch at the same time. Plenty of room. Ppl launch w/ bigger boats than yours all the time. The ramp is a mix of dirt, sand, rocks and gravel....

You forgot the title of the thread.....for a VAN!!!!:lol:

I have affectionately named this launch "the marriage shatterrer". Though we have a track record of successful team-effort launches of about 40'ish?, this was thee hardest (for my beautiful s/o). I don't know what happened, but it just wasn't happening. I drive, she ties up.

We're talkin' about pulling away, dunking in was easy enough., for some reason I wasn't told to drive out as I had backed in too deep, so she couldn't place the boat properly, so after a LOT of fidgeting, and me having to put in park and get out and help (very unusual)...I almost NEVER need to do this, I just press on brake and when told to pull, I pull away-done deal. Not sure why this time she was so unsettled .

Anyway, I pull out, and I'm wildly spinning my tires (should've had the kids sit on the hood ), I'm zig zagging my tires so they can grip onto something...anything...and I'm talkin' LOUD, violent skidding ahaha., finally I get out, and I'm looking and the frigging boat is a FOOT offcentred...yowch!

So I had to back in, she reset (tried) the boat, and of course, this time I can't pull out. I'm skidding and peddling, nADDa. gOT this guy to help push, and I finally got out.

Thankfully I had the sense to put it into [1], instead of D., that helped a lot. I was surprised that one human can push just enough to help the vehicle grip sufficiently.

Long story short., a van+front wheel drive-pulling out anything heavier than 1700 without skidding...I'd like to see that . Jeeps., 4x4's yeah I wouldn't see a problem with that & larger boats.

I took the path on the right., I'm wondering if it was perhaps the steepest and thus the hardest. If I convince my dear to try it again, I will try the shallower one on the left side. The double-edged sword is having to go in deeper perhaps? Unless the drop off is the same on both sides, I didn't walk it out to personally test it-which I should've done in hindsight.

as we pulled away, I heard a cyclical bopping on my dvr frt tire, which I thought was a flat tire, or a gash (flap of rubber) incurred from the aggressive ascent up the jagged rock face+gravel+road, thankfully after quickly stopping and checking, it was just a good sized pebble (1cm?) that had wedged in my tread. Thankfully no flat....

HAIRY, to say the least.

If you have a PWC, an aluminum boat, or an actual 4x4, trying this place won't be an issue. A 2x2 vehicle with a larger/heavier boat...I'd expect some "fun" in getting out...hehe.

I'm still really stumped why she was so off her game, it really shouldn't have caused anything of an issue from her end., it was all me in pulling up the path that was the imho challenging part., but hey, c'est la vie!