Boat Ramps in Upper Naragansett Bay

swstandring · 03-29-2005, 09:57 AM

Hi All,

I am a new boat owner (20 ft center console) who is looking for suggestions as to what the best boat ramps are in upper Naragansett bay.

Since the experience of towing, launching, and retrieving the boat are new to me, I am more interested in ramps that are shallow in grade, not too tide dependant, have minimal current when the tide is running, are nice and wide, have good parking and have a nice long dock with which to control the boat both while launching and retreiving. aka: a nice place to learn the ropes of boat ownership. The only ramp I have seen in person is at Colt State Park.

Thanks!

Major Woods · 03-29-2005, 11:52 AM

You don't want to much do you

I like Colt State Park, is that not what your looking for?

seadoginit · 03-29-2005, 12:04 PM

A fairly decent double ramp with a dock is at Oakland Beach in Warwick, A state ramp, free, lots of easy parking.
At the end of Oakland Beach Ave. Hope this helps!

swstandring · 03-29-2005, 12:42 PM

I am just trying to get an idea of what my options are when launching in the Upper Bay.

I guess it would be just as important to get an idea as to what ramps to avoid!

Thanks for the help so far.

diverdor · 03-29-2005, 01:27 PM

These are ramps that I have used with my 21WA

Jamestown
Fort Getty Recreation Area off Beavertail Rd. Parking fee when the park is open (T). Concrete

East Providence
Bold Point off Veteran's Memorial Pwy., via Mauran Ave. at the end of Pier Rd. concrete slab (S) (H)
&
Haines Memorial Park on Bullock's Cove, off Metropolitan Park Dr. (S)(H). Concrete slab

East Greenwich
Greenwich Cove Pole #6, Crompton Ave.

Newport
Ft. Adams State park off Harriston Ave.

North Kingstown
Wickford East end Intrepid Dr., off Post Rd., Rt. 1, near fire station,
&
Allen's Harbor Rt. 1 (Post Road), to Quonset Pt./Davisville

Hope This Helps!

cooker · 03-29-2005, 06:27 PM

Agree with diverdor, I boat out of Wickford at the ramp just off route 1 by the Fire station. I t generally is not to bad. Save for the Quonset air show weekend or when they have the tall ships in Newport. This ramp is free. There is another ramp at Allen's Harbor also in North Kingstown. There is a charge to splash. I don't know what your intentions are. But you go right into the East passage and have easy access to open water. It is also a quick ride to Patience and Prudence and Jamestown.- Cooker

Polarity · 03-29-2005, 10:44 PM

Colt Park is nice but if there is a wind that can make it tough for new boat owner, in Bristol you could try Independence Park

Sea Tow Ethan · 04-01-2005, 07:51 PM

Just a quick point about two items on your list. The shallower the grade of the ramp, the more it will be effected by tide. Meaning, at low tide a shallow graded ramp will require backing farther into the water to get your boat in and out. A steep(ish) ramp with lots of traction makes for easy loading and unloading of your boat. Watch out for sand, seaweed and slick pavement. The newer, concrete ramps with thick grooves provide great traction when pulling back up the ramp. I use 4Low to give a little bit more control and a slower, smoother, easier response when I pull up the ramp. Take a long a friend who's done it before.

Most importantly: Have fun!

.ethan

swstandring · 05-02-2005, 04:38 PM

Hi all,

First, thanks so much for the input on these ramps. Very informative.

I took a little lap around Naranagsett Bay this weekend to have a look at all the ramps that were mentioned and would like to throw in my 2 cents as well as post some questions.

Wickford Cove (Behind the Fire Station): Nice ramp, easy to get to and pleanty of parking. Is it usable at low tide?? Seemes to be pretty shallow overall. Not for bigger boats. I had to help some poor guy there who was retreiving the boat for the first time and the trailer bunk seemed to break. Large log to leverage the boat up and off the bunk, quick fix of the bunk and he was off!

Goddard Park: Complete joke that a ramp in a state park could be such a POS... Time to upgrade RI!

Greenwich Cove Pole 46: I'm assuming that this is the one directly accross the cove from the Goddard Park "Ramp". Nice Ramp, looks usable at all tides, a little tight to manuver once you get down the steep hill that leads from the parking area to the ramp. Great dock. My guess is that is gets crowded quick as there is very little parking. Usable at all tides. Great ramp, okay manuvering and parking.

Oakland Park Beach: Sweet ramp, good parking, maybe a little exposed if the wind is blowing hard in the wrong direction. Excellent overall.

Haines Park: Completely new! Best of the bunch by far, even a complete neophyte should be comfortable here. Tons of parking. Question: How crowded does this one get during the season? Seems too good to be true!!!??? This is the one I will be using over the next few weeks to practice launching and retreiving before it gets too crowded. I'll embarass myself in the off season thanks so much! If you see a green Toyota Tundra pulling a Jones Brothers 1910 and a couple of people standing around looking confused, stop by and say "hello" that'll be me!

Colt State Park: Tight manuvering, limited parking and very exposed to the southwesterlies that prevail all summer. Good location to get to the central part of the bay though.

Question: Has anyone used the one in Mt Hope bay on the Coles river??? I forgot to check that one out but I have heard good things.
Seems like a good jump off point to explore Mt Hope Bay.

Once again, thanks for the help!

Striper26 · 05-03-2005, 05:19 AM

Oakland beach is a good one, but if your not familiar with it, pay attention to the cans. A couple of sand bars close by.
I have also used greenwich cove pole 46, was able to launch my 26' striper thats actually 30' with bracket.

I have also used one at Rays bait in apponoag cove in warwick. You need 2 people, one to watch traffic, because tow vehicle wil be blocking street at a bad curve while backing down ramp. There is a fee.

Dave