General Discussion
Exmouth ferry
why has no body ever thought of running a Water taxi from the Dawlish pier to exmouth landing, a larg RIB would be ideal, the present ferry service from starcross involves driving out of Dawlish and most folk keep going, if a service offered point to point from Dwalish Town centre it could Bring trade in and out of the town.
Good idea.. guess you could hire a ferry and market the idea it if they dont want to. Have always thought Topquay-Exmouth would be handy for East Devon, so could call at Dawlish en route.
How about this with one ferry..to try and please all depending where you want to go. Exmouth 1000 1400 1600 Dawlish 1030 1430 1630 Torquay 1130 1730 Torquay 1200 1745 Dawlish 1300 1500 1845 Exmouth 1330 1530 1915 or just do Exmouth - Dawlish. Wish I had a boat!
try again! ..this reads better.. Exmouth 1000 1400 1600 Dawlish 1030 1430 1630 Torquay 1130 .... 1730 Torquay 1200 .... 1745 Dawlish 1300 1500 1845 Exmouth 1330 1530 1915
Guess that is the concern, I've seen them just get to the walkway when it is low tide on the summer 'trips round the bay'.
Thats where the large RIB comes in, a boat like the fisheries one in Teignmouth, its flat bottomed so need very little depth at low tide and could navigate the exe with ease. I am sure it could be a small goldmine, Que up and Pay when you get on conductor fashion, I estimate 6 minutes to get to the Exemouth Landing so 4 a hour with Loading is well achievable, as it drops of it picks up the returns. How good would that be for both towns at Holiday season. A direct Water Taxi service.
I guess the reality is..with over 60s now getting free bus travel and younger people only going places by car and too proud to go on ferrys/buses etc, with that in mind I would worry about the finance part and where the fares would come from. I do though love the idea!
It would be difficult to do have a ferry service from Dawlish to Exmouth. the tides, current etc. not everyone could do a ferry service you need liceances etc. but not impossible.
I'd welcome it, not having to drive anywhere to go clothes shopping and being able to make a day of it with a long lunch and a couple of glasses of wine...bliss. I've never used the ferry from Starcross, how much is it and how much does it cost to park there for the day?
Day return adult is £5.00, (child £3.50) single £4.50. (child £3.00). I think there should be a family ticket of say £12 for 2 plus 2 children. What you put about not used the ferry, reminded me of someone I know who was doing a bus service survey 'house to house' on late evening services..an elderly lady said 'the bus is so handy please dont take it off, I've never used it but its nice its there in case I need to' lol.
So it would cost me £17 for a family of 4, plus parking at Starcross. I think that may be a bit excessive for a days shopping. Family return would be good though, makes it more affordable, although, if I was going alone, £5 isn't that bad. Bloody kids, no wonder I never have any money lol, kidding, love 'em really.
You can drive round in about 40-50 minutes allowing for summer traffic, so by the time you are at starcross you might as well keep going, A large RIB craft would be able to get right up in low tide to the boat pier and up the estuary even at low tide, the currents are a bit of a exaggeration, even at spring tide you can Kayak across without getting pulled more than a few feet, of course only recommended for experienced Kayakers. I would have thought that with the large number of Boat workers out of work someone would have come up with the Enterprise by now, just doing some basic sums would nett around £600 a day in takings,
As locals wont do it .. it will take someone from up country to come down and set it up, that will stir things! Dawlish-Exmouth and people from Exmouth to Dawlish would be good for the town, 2 or 3 trips a day.
@mark. "i estimate 6 minutes to get to the exemouth landing" how on earth did you arrive at that figure?