Wanderlust is securely tied to the dock at the Remley Point launch ramp while I park the trailer.

Two launch ramps serve Charleston Harbor proper with several additional ramps in outlying areas that are separated from the harbor by bascule bridges which can create an obstruction for sailboats with masts over 30 feet tall. The launch facilities are all operated by the Charleston County Park system and are very similar as far as the ramps themselves are concerned. None of the ramps are located within properly sheltered basins and are fully exposed to the often swift currents in the area. Be aware of the direction of the current when launching and secure your boat accordingly lest it should be swept away while you park your trailer.

One big problem with all the Charleston ramps is that there is a strict 72-hour parking limit for your trailer and tow vehicle. After three days, you risk being towed from the lot and having your truck and trailer impounded. A park representative who spoke to me stressed that the limit is firm and is aggressively enforced. Charleston is by far the biggest boating center in the state and the park service feels that, without a limit, the lots would be used for long-term storage of trailers. While I couldn't argue with his logic, I do feel that a 5- or 7-day limit would address their concerns just as well. Unfortunately they disagree, and it is their harbor after all.

If you would like to stay out longer without the hassle of retrieving your boat after three days and moving it to a different ramp, a company called Rogue Motion provides a unique solution. For a fee, they offer a service whereby you can stop off at their storage facility on James Island, south of Wappoo Creek, and they will trailer you from there to the ramp of your choice and help you launch. Your truck and trailer will then be stored at their lot for a daily fee. When you're ready to come back ashore, just give them a call with at least one hour notice, and they will drive your trailer down to the boat ramp and help you load your boat. The service is available between 8am and 6pm daily and they can be very busy during the boating season, so call well in advance of your vacation to make arrangements.

The best overall ramp as far as size and convenience goes is located on the far side of the enormous Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge at Remley Point in Mount Pleasant. The Remley Point ramp features three lanes at the launch ramp (the center lane being without a pier and only suitable for "dunk & drive" launching). The two outlying piers are both tremendously wide and sturdy, although one is significantly longer than the other. The shorter pier is best for keelboats that need to be walked onto their trailers from dockside and the longer one is more suitable for drive off boats. While no protection from river currents, the ramp is fully enclosed by wood pilings, making it unlikely that a loose boat can float far. The ramp lacks a dedicated set-up area, but the parking lot is flat and large enough to rig a sailboat in one of the parking lanes. The most convenient feature of the ramp is its close proximity to an excellent anchorage less than a mile-and-a-half up the Wando River in Hobcaw Creek. If you arrive late in the day, you can be comfortably at anchor shortly after your launch.

The second harbor ramp is located about midway up Wappoo Creek at the north base of the Folly Road bascule bridge. Fortunately, the ramp is located on the harbor side of the bridge, allowing access to Charleston Harbor without crossing under the bridge, which has a 33-foot high-water clearance that can be problematic for larger trailerable sailboats. The parking lot is slightly sloped and is fairly small. The ramp does feature a flat set-up area just before the ramps, which is fortunate since the drive from the parking lot to the ramp is blocked by overhanging branches that will snag a raised sailboat mast. Once you are ready to dunk, the two-lane ramp is similar to the other area facilities, with sturdy piers and good traction.

Less than a mile west of Folly Road, on the south side of the creek, is a second small ramp at Plymouth Park. Again, the ramp itself is similar to the others but here the parking lot, while nicely flat, is unpaved. Naturally, if you plan to launch here and head into Charleston Harbor, you will need to navigate the Folly Road bridge. If, however, you are planning to head through the Elliott Cut to the Stono River as the first leg of your cruise, it could be an excellent choice.

If you follow Folly Road across the Folly River, you will find an excellent facility on the far side of the bridge on Folly Island. The facility there features three ramps with extremely long and wide piers and a large, level paved lot with plenty of room to rig a sailboat. The 10-foot fixed bridge next door is an impassable eastern barrier for sailboats not willing to de-rig, but there are innumerable gunkholing opportunities to the west and north, along with the shortest passage into the Atlantic than from any other ramp. If you aren't interested in anchoring out, the transient slips at Mariner's Cay marina are just across the river from the ramp.

The largest launch facility in the area is also the least accessible from the harbor. The ramp, located on the north shore of the Ashley River at the base of the Mark Clark Expressway, is absolutely hug and features two ramps with long piers and a very large, level parking area. The biggest drawback is that it is located a good seven miles up the Ashley and requires navigating a pair of heavily trafficked bascule bridges near the downtown with a mere 14-foot clearance. This is definitely a powerboat-only ramp, but a very good one.