The best places to launch a small boat, paddleboard or kayak on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a great place for boating and water sport enthusiasts. With a variety of public slipways available, there are plenty of options for launching small boats and exploring the surrounding waters.
In this article, we’ll take a look at five of the best places to launch a small boat on a public slipway on the Isle of Wight, we use these regularly ourselves and have chosen them as they are safe, have easy parking and do not require using private land or dangerous entry points into the water. But things can change quickly, so please do look for signage or rules incase our recommendations below do change during the season.
Yarmouth Harbour – PO41 0NS
Yarmouth Harbour is a popular spot for boaters and sailors on the Isle of Wight. The public slipway is conveniently located near the harbour entrance, making it easy to access the water at all tides. Just be aware you can’t launch paddle boards or kayaks in the harbour, only small boats, so if you want to paddle board down the river, you can use the slip way situated just south of the harbour, just to the west of the large car park on River Road. The river Yar is very tidal and beautiful to row or paddle down, however when the tide goes out it exposes large mud flats, please do check the tides before you launch. very low tide may be muddy. If you have any questions please speak to the harbour office, located next to the Marina.
Yaverland (for Sandown/Shanklin or Bembridge water)
Yaverland car park is another popular spot for water explorers, with a public slipway located near the far eastern end of Sandown beach. The beach area near the slipway is sandy and very safe, and there are plenty of other beaches nearby if you want to explore the area. Kayakers often paddle from yaverland to Shanklin and back, stopping for a picnic on Sandown beach on the way. Rememember the tide can cause strong currents in the bay so make sure you are a strong rower to paddle against the tide when you head back towards the launching ramp. Parking is paid for, do not park in the Zoo car park by mistake you will get a ticket!
Bembridge Harbour – Lane End (Or St Helens Duver)
Bembridge Harbour is located on the eastern side of the island and offers a sheltered spot for launching a small boat, either inside the harbour or just outside. The challenges with Bembridge is the tides and amount of very deep mud once the tide goes down. The public slipway is located near the RNLI launch at Lane End and is easily accessible by car, with a car park available. The beach area near the slipway is very sandy but dissapears at low tide due to Bembridge ledge – you will not be able to bring a boat up the beach at low tide, so please do check times and assess if the slip way is suitable for your agenda. St Helens, Duver has a ramp located by the harbour office, parking may be limited here and again launching is possible around the high water mark – please check in the office for more information as harbour dues may be required.
Freshwater Bay – PO40 9RB
Freshwater Bay is a stunning spot on the western side of the Isle of Wight, with a picturesque beach and stunning views out to sea. The public slipway is located at the western end of the beach and is a few hundred meters from the car park but currently only available for small dinghies. The beach area near the slipway is stony and is a great spot for swimming or exploring on the water and you will be able to walk a paddle board or Kayak down the beach to launch, it is quite steep so go carefully.
Seaview – PO34 5HB
Seaview is a beautiful spot on the eastern side of the island, with a large, sandy beach and stunning views out to sea. There are 2 public slipways. The public slipway on the High Street, almost opposite The Old Fort Pub is located at the western end of the beach and is easily accessible by car, there is a public carpark nearby.
Further towards Seagrove Bay on Pier Road there is another public slipway. Parking is available in the high street car parks, however the slipway gets very slippery. Check tide times as the tide drops considerably here meaning you may have a long walk across sand at low tide.
The beach area off the high street, near the slipway is large and sandy, and there are plenty of other beaches nearby if you want to explore further. Please do respect local beach users and residents and do not leave cars parked on verges. The slip way is often used by swimmers so please be careful at busy times. The tide goes out quite far so be prepared to carry your vessel back along the beach at low tide.
The Isle of Wight offers a variety of public slipways that are perfect for launching small boats and exploring the surrounding waters.
Whether you’re looking for a sheltered spot or a scenic beach, there are plenty of options available to find the perfect spot for your next boating adventure on the Isle of Wight.
The IOW council also have a good resource available here with all slipways listed (2019)
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