Swanage Boat Park Rules and Regulations
Swanage Boat Park and Slipway
1. The Boat Park, situated off Peveril Point Road, The Downs, constitutes a facility provided by Swanage Town Council on a letting of spaces marked thereon and the use of the slipway, subject to rules and regulations.
1.1 The Council reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the Rules and Regulations without prior notice.
1.2 The Council reserves the right to refuse entry to the Boat Park.
1.3 Overnight sleeping is not permitted.
1.4 All users, with the exception of those operating kayaks, must have suitable public liability insurance of £2million in place and which must be produced on request. The Council will decline the use of the facilities if insurance is not supplied on request
1.5 Any person using any part of the Boat Park or its facilities for whatever purpose and whether by invitation or otherwise does so entirely at their own risk.
1.6 The parking of towing vehicles within the Boat Park will only be authorised for seasonal permit holders and in which case an appropriate permit must be displayed in their vehicle at all times and the vehicle must be parked within the designated bay of the permit holder.
1.7 Boat Park customers should ensure that the use of the jetty is kept to a minimum and boats should not be left unattended, unless provided with approval by the Town Council. Unattended boats with no authority are liable to be removed immediately.
2. Daily launch from the slipway
2.1 The slipway is available for the launching of craft between the hours of 7.30 a.m. – 7.30 p.m. in summer, and 7.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. in winter.
2.2 Craft must not be launched from the slipway without prior payment and a parking space for the trailer agreed with the Boat Park attendant or authorised officer.
2.3 Craft must be launched from the slipway in a manner not to cause nuisance or injury to other users and with regards to health and safety legislation.
2.4 Any boat or trailer parked within the park without pre-payment or permission of the Boat Park attendant is liable to be removed immediately.
2.5 No boats are to be launched from the slipway or landed at the jetty for commercial purposes unless prior approval has been received from the Town Council
2.6 No vehicle, other than those authorised, may be parked within the Boat Park.
2.7 Launching of boats, without storage of a trailer is permitted upon payment of a reduced rate “launch only” fee.
2.8 Priority for the use of the jetty should be given to Fishermen.
2.9 Unauthorised landing at the jetty is prohibited.
3. Personal Watercraft
3.1 All users of personal watercraft must be registered with the Datatag system and the registration number must be visible on the watercraft.
3.2 Proof of personal watercraft insurance must be provided prior to launching.
3.3 Personal watercraft users must pay the launch fee and be registered with the Boat Park attendant prior to launching.
4. Launch fee
4.1 On receipt of payment of a “launch only” fee, entitlement is given to use the slipway to launch and retrieve the craft.
4.2 On receipt of payment of a “daily” launch fee, entitlement is given to use the slipway to launch and retrieve the craft and to park the trailer in the allocated position only.
5. Numbered grids, properly allocated by the Council, may be taken on the following terms
5.1 All boat owners must make contact with the Boat Park attendant or Swanage Information Centre to be allocated a grid before parking or launching.
5.2 The boat size will be determined by the Boat Park attendant. The boat will be measured from the tow hitch to the end of the motor and will include all projections.
5.3 No boat or trailer may be parked, or any boat launched from the slipway, without prior payment and issue of permit.
5.4 No boats stored at the Boat Park are to be launched from the slipway or landed at the jetty for commercial purposes.
5.5 Permit holders must register the boat at the Swanage Information Centre, or through the Boat Park attendant. The boat that is launched with the permit must be the registered boat, and the boat must be appropriate to the size of grid rented.
5.6 Permits are non-transferable.
5.7 In the absence of a boat, the parking of a trailer or towing vehicle is deemed to be occupation of a grid.
5.8 The Council reserves the right to remove any boat, trailer, vehicle or other article, parked or left on a parking grid without payment of the appropriate fee, as the non-payment of such shall be considered to constitute unauthorised use of a parking grid.
5.9 Boats and trailers must be parked wholly within the limits of a marked bay. The Council reserves the right to make an additional charge for any grids partly occupied.
5.10 Any boat or trailer, or other article, parked or left within a grid is at the owner’s risk, and the Council accepts no responsibility for damage or loss.
5.11 The slipway is provided for the launching or taking up of boats only at users’ own risk, and no boats, trailers, vehicles or other equipment shall be left thereon, the Council reserving the right to remove such if left on or in the area of the slipway in contravention of this regulation.
5.12 The Town Council reserves the right to close the slipway at any time.
5.13 If necessary, due to stress of weather, boats will be permitted to be stored on the slipway for a period of up to 48 hours, provided that access is not impaired for the RNLI Lifeboat and the Angling Club.
5.14 Any boat, trailer, vehicle, or article of equipment removed by the Council upon contravention of these rules and regulations, shall be considered to be impounded and recoverable by the owner only upon payment to the Council of the cost of the removal, storage and any dues for use of the boat and trailer park.
5.15 The Council reserves the right to dispose of the boat, trailer, vehicle, or article of equipment, and apply the proceeds towards the sums owing to the Council. The official warning notice at the entrance to the Boat Park shall be considered as sufficient notice for the purpose of this regulation.
5.16 No hazardous material is to be stored on the boat and trailer park.
5.17 In the interests of health and safety, the trailing of electrical cables and hoses are prohibited within the Boat Park.
5.18 Any vehicle or equipment brought onto the Boat Park or the slipway which, in the opinion of the attendant or authorised officer employed by the Council, causes an obstruction to other users of the Boat Park, will be removed at the owner’s expense.
6. Users of the Boat Park must obey the instructions of the Boat Park attendant at all times
6.1 Any accident or injury occurring within the Boat Park (including the slipway) must be reported to the attendant or the Swanage Information Centre, and recorded in an accident book.
7. Parking Grids
7.1 The grids are for the parking of boats and trailers or towing vehicles only.
7.2 Boats, trailers or towing vehicles must be parked within the confines of the allocated grid.
7.3 Grids are for the sole use of the permit holder only.
7.4 Grids must be kept in a clean and tidy state at all times.
7.5 Boats and trailers must be kept in a condition not to cause danger to other users of the Boat Park, with no protrusions that could cause injury to others (anchors etc.), and with due regard to Health and Safety legislation.
7.6 All boats must have a name or other identification mark in a prominent position.
7.7 All trailers must have the allotted grid number affixed in a prominent position.
8. Grid sizes
8.1 Grids in lane G are to accommodate boats and trailers up to 3.90m (13ft) in length.
8.2 Grids in lanes A, D and F are to accommodate boats and trailers up to 6.70m (22ft) in length.
8.3 Grids in lane C are to accommodate boats and trailers up to 5.80m (19ft)
8.4 Grids in lane B are to accommodate boats and trailers up to 8.80m (29ft) in length.
8.5 Lane E is to be used at the discretion of the authorised officer and all items stored here must have an appropriate permit attached. Any items stored without an appropriate permit, will be liable to be removed immediately
8.6 Kayak racks are available and must be pre-booked in advance. The Council reserves the right to decline any kayak if it is deemed to be too long.
9. Scale of Charges
9.1 The Scale of Charges is set annually by the Town Council, and the
current tariffs and fees will be published and displayed prominently
at the Boat Park. The Council has the right to alter or amend the
Scale of Charges at its own discretion at any time.
10. Payment
10.1 The summer season starts on 1st May and finishes on 31st October. The winter season starts on 1st November and finishes on 30th April.
10.2 Payment for the summer season must be made to the Swanage Information Centre on or before 30th April or boat and trailer will be removed from the park.
10.3 Payment for the winter season must be made to the Swanage
Information Centre on or before 31st October or boat and trailer will
be removed from park.
10.4 Any boat and trailer remaining on the park unpaid for fourteen days will be removed and the grid allocated to the first boat suitable on the waiting list.
10.5 Payment of grids for seasonal permits must be received in advance, with no refunds available.
10.6 With regards the non payment of any dues, the Council’s Impound Procedure for the Boat Park will be followed.
Amended March 2022