Public Boat Launch Ramp Now Open
The public launch ramp at Ventura Harbor, which was rebuilt this year, has been reopened to the public.
Recreational boaters, kayakers and paddle boarders will enjoy getting into the water from the new concrete launch ramp. The old launch ramp needed replacing because the concrete was breaking down and the ramp was nearing the end of its life. The original ramp was built in 1963 as part of the initial Ventura Harbor construction. Because the new launch ramp was built “in the dry” (built in place with a dam around the site so the water could be pumped out), the public can expect another 50 years of use.
The new ramp was built for approximately $2 million with a grant awarded by the California Division of Boating and Waterways (the funding comes from boating and gas tax money). It offers six user-friendly lanes with a new surface.
“It’s great that we have been able to greatly improve the usability of our launch ramp and bring it up to modern, 21st Century standards,” said Jim Friedman, vice chair of the Ventura Port District Board of Commissioners.
Highlights of the new launch ramp include:
- Improved traction
- More usable docks
- A sloping parking lot in the design
- Four feet of added length
- Convenient location adjacent to a fuel and bait dock
- Easy access to the open ocean
The Ventura Port District wishes to thank Sam Sadove and the Ventura Harbor Marina and Yacht Yard, which provided alternate launching services during the construction period when the ramp was closed. The renovation work began in November 2013.