The Slipways

Application for slipping

1. Bookings for slipping shall be made with the Slip Master, who shall enter all bookings on the Slips Booking Board in the clubrooms.
2. To assist member planning, a digital image of the Booking Board may be emailed upon request.
3. Application forms for Temporary membership, and Slips request forms for Full members, are available here.

Boat owner responsibilities

1. The boat owner or his delegate (hereafter ‘Boat Owner’) shall familiarise themselves and comply with the rules, processes and conditions stipulated on this page, and with club rules relating to the slips (Bylaws Section 23).

2. The decision of the Boat Owner to proceed with slipping implies their agreement to such compliance.

3. The Boat Owner shall liaise with the Slip Master to determine cradle suitability, requirements for hull shape and beam, and tide/weather needs.

4. The Boat Owner shall provide the Slip Master with a photograph of the boat’s keel and/or documentation or true diagram showing the shape and all relevant dimensions of the keel.

5. The Boat Owner shall be responsible for organising the movement of the vessel from its berth or mooring to the holding area awaiting placement on the cradle.

6. The correct placement of a boat on a cradle is the job and responsibility of the Boat Owner; winching shall not commence until the Boat Owner has provided clear instruction to proceed.

7. All material removed by the pressure washer or scraping is to be contained within the traverse sump, allowed to dry and disposed of correctly by the Boat Owner; no marine growth/antifoul/paint or other contaminant is to be allowed to return to the water.

8. All other debris from boat work shall be properly disposed of by the Boat Owner; failure to do so may incur a penalty at the discretion of the committee.

9. The approval of the Slip Master is required for spray painting at any particular time, and only low pressure spray is allowed. Any overspray on other members’ boats or property shall be rectified to the satisfaction of the Slip Master before return to the water; all scheduled slip fees apply until such rectification is complete.

10. The slips area is an alcohol-free zone at all times; penalties at the discretion of the committee may apply for breaches.

Slipway Standard Operating Procedures

1. The Slip Master or his committeeman-delegate (hereafter ‘Slip Master’) shall be present at any winching activity or slipway procedure to oversee safe operation. This is an insurance requirement.
2. The Slip Master may decline to slip any vessel for reasons of safety or potential damage to boat or equipment, and shall report any such decision to the next committee meeting.
3. All persons not actively assisting in the slipping are to clear the area; this includes persons working on other boats in the slips.
4. The winch operator, being the Slip Master or his delegate (who must be a current committee member), is in charge of the operation and will give instructions.
5. The Boat Owner must be present for any winching activity to proceed.
6. Two assistants are required to winch a boat from the water, and three assistants are required to return a boat to the water. No slipping procedure may commence until these assistants are in place.
7. One assistant, the cradle assistant, is at the cradle end to monitor movement of the cradle and relay information and instruction between the winch operator and the boat owner.
8. A second assistant, the gypsy operator, is to work in unison with the winch operator as required and as instructed.
9. A third assistant, a qualified forklift driver, is required on the occasions where the forklift is deemed necessary for returning the boat to the water.
10. The winch operator, the forklift driver (when required) and at least one other assistant shall sight and sign the Indemnity Form to confirm it has been properly completed and signed by the Boat Owner and the Slip Master.
11. The Slip Master is responsible for ensuring all equipment is fit for purpose before commencing any slipping procedure.
12. Once a slipping procedure has commenced, the winch operator and his assistants are to communicate via clear and agreed hand signals, or hand held radios, or any other device deemed suitable by the Slip Master.
13. A vessel winched up is to be placed immediately over the traverse sump to capture any marine growth and/or antifoul that may begin falling off. This is an EPA requirement.
14. The Slip Master is responsible for checking with the Treasurer to ensure the boat owner has settled all due accounts before returning the boat to the water.
15. No boat is to be launched back into the water without the prior express approval of the Boat Owner.
16. When returning boats to the water, those of up to around 8 tonnes shall be taken to the bottom of the slips at low tide for release on the rising tide, while those of greater tonnage shall be put back in on a higher tide in order to protect the lower slips infrastructure.

Slip Master & Winch Operator duties

1. Clear the Slips of any persons not actively assisting in the winching activity.
2. Walk along the length of the cable checking there are no snags or obstacles.
3. Communicate to the assistants what the objectives of the winching activity are and ensure they understand their duties.
4. Activate any audible/visual warning device.
5. Turn main power switch ON.
6. Twist the RED safety isolation switch to the UP position (DOWN = power off).
7. Place variable speed control lever in the centre (neutral) position.
8. Press top black button at seaward side of control box to activate the motor.
9. Electric winch motor will be heard to hum and you are now ready to commence.

Variable Speed Control Lever

1. Lever arm towards sea = Cradle UP
2. Lever arm away from sea = Cradle DOWN
3. As the variable speed control arm is moved away from the centre position in either direction, the winch speed increases.
4. Once the winching has begun and all is moving well, place the variable speed control arm in the maximum position. This gives maximum torque to the motor and prevents overloading.
5. There is a FOOT BRAKE as an emergency.

Winch Operator education

The Committee shall organise a Slips and Winch Orientation session each year as soon as practicable after the AGM and the election of a new committee. The purpose is to provide committee members with a practical demonstration of the operating procedures around the slips and in using the winches. To existing committee members, this shall serve as a refresher.

Committee members shall also be given sufficient instruction to confidently operate any associated machinery, to identify safe work practices, and to be fully familiar with EPA and Worksafe requirements as they apply to the slipways.