Won't use Boynton ramp anymore
 

Actually, the ramp itself wasn't all bad. I have no idea how they came up with that lumpy surface, but launching wasn't a problem. But at $10 a boat, you'd think someone would dredge AND mark a decent channel from the ramp to the ICW. The green painted PVC pole and 20ft wide "ditch" are a joke. By the time we got back to the ramp it was dark, and low tide. There's just not enough water to get through even if you find those PVC poles.

Ended up leaving the boat at a friends slip nearby and pulling it out at Lantana the next day. The ramp at Lantana isn't anything to brag about, but it's free, and easy to get to by water.

Yeah, that channel sucks, but we have run a few different 41 Apache's thru there with no problem, but yes, you DO need to find the center. I usually run the center on the way out, and mark it on the GPS, so I can find it on the way back in the dark. I dont like to pay the $10 either, but there is plenty of parking, if you go to the delray, or Lantana ramps, and there is no parking, your screwed, and HAVE to go to Boynton.

We always launch on Fri. and pull it on Mon. No fee's during the week, only the weekends and holidays. The $10 is not all the bad it is the parking.

As a boynton resident, I bought the $50 year pass, so it's essentially free for me now. I usually launch and recover alone, or with a useless drunk passenger, so the nice ramp is worth it... but on many occasions, I've gotten the skeg of the drive hung up on the bottom in that excuse for a channel from the ICW. It seems no matter where I go -- north, south, or right in the middle, the channel is just too shallow for easy passage.

Those of you (RICK :) )that feel that there is a "center" that is marginally deeper -- how far north of that PVC pipe and green can is that "center"?

Also, I know that dredging of the inlet is planned, but is the channel to the ramp planned to be dredged as well?

-Andrew

Hey Mike....I take it that's your 311 in the avatar...did you buy that new from Hi-Lift by chance?? It looks like the Laser colors from what I can tell, if so, I have pics of me looking at one at Hi-Lift back then.

Matt

[QUOTE=DrFeelgood;2406307]with a useless drunk passenger, so the nice ramp is worth it...

I resemble that remark:D


Those of you (RICK :) )that feel that there is a "center" that is marginally deeper -- how far north of that PVC pipe and green can is that "center"?

Trial and error, actually it has more to do with the tides, dont be afraid to trim the drive up, and there is more than sand there, be careful, there is a few rocks buried, ask me how I know.:D

I dont really like the channel either, but AMF uses the ramp, and my buddy from boynton also has the pass, so we launch the Apache there.

Haha :-)

I do have the drive trimmed all the way up when I go through there (not trailer-high, but trimmed all the way to the upper trim limit position). And I still drag along the bottom. <shrug>

[QUOTE=rchevelle71;2406410]

Hey Matt, I just bought it a little over a year ago from the original owner. HE bought it new at Hi-Lift I think in '92. But feel free to share pics. The previous owner was meticulous, plus I got all the original manuals and paperwork.

Andrew, I "think" the deepest water is if you run right next to the PVC pipe(s)...keeping them to your right as you exit the ramp...probably why they're painted green. I was seeing 6ft on the depth finder once I ran there. I might have been able to get through...if I had a good spotlight :rolleyes:

Michael: yeah, that was the impression I got, that the southern side of the channel was deeper -- but I do know that it immediately gets super shallow just south of that, so there's not much margin of error there.

Michael, that is very interesting....it was a new leftover when I looked at it, I was down from Orlando for the Miami show and stopped by Hi-Lift to check it out. I always loved the 311 and came close to buying that one....I will try to dig out those pics.

Thanks,
Matt

I found some from my camera....but I have more that a friend took after they got the boat down....

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3...mula311tv4.jpg

Here is another from Hi-Lift on top and the bottom pic is another 311 that I almost bought but didn't because the now ex was *****ing about buying it....later, I met the guy who did buy it and drove the boat many times as he was not too experienced with driving boats.

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/1...olds311pa9.jpg

I'll be in Boynton next saturday... I'll go see this bad ramp!:D

Will be pulling the 42' Fountain out this afternoon. I only use the ramp at high tide

Matt! That has to be my boat! My VHF antenna is mounted EXACTLY like the one in the picture, plus the fact the original owner bought it in July '92. What are the chances? Whew...and I thought it was clean today...look at how the running surface shines...and it still has the stickers on the drives. :D

TeamTaboo, is there somebody up around those parts with a yellow/red cat? I can't remember if it was Saturday afternoon around 4 or Sunday late morning, but I was heading north in the ICW and the cat had come from the north. Then turned east toward the barrier island and then north. I see you have MTI listed...just wondering...

I was the same cat up by Peanut Island on Sunday the 7th, we were heading north and he was going south. It's a pretty boat, some day we will catch him at lunch in Boynton

Michael, I bet it is your boat....it was one of the only 311's that I looked at with the factory VHF option, which would have a little different antenna location than one added later. It's a small world sometimes ! Glad that you enjoyed the pics... I will try to find the other ones since there are some of the interior also.

Matt