Historic Slipway Refurbishment, Devon, UK

Project Overview

Situated on the banks of the Salcombe Estuary in South Devon, East Portlemouth is a picturesque coastal village where direct access to the water is an essential part of daily life. For waterfront properties with private boathouses, reliable slipways provide the vital connection between land and sea.
This project centred on the refurbishment and extension of a historic private slipway used to launch and recover a rigid inflatable boat (RIB), alongside kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

The original concrete slipway, believed to have been constructed during the Second World War, had previously been resurfaced with granite setts. However, the mortar used during that refurbishment was not suitable for continual exposure to the marine environment. Years of repeated tidal immersion and drying had caused the mortar to deteriorate, allowing the granite setts to become loose and creating an increasingly uneven and hazardous surface.

Beyond the existing slipway, access continued across exposed shoreline rock. Although sections of the rock had been cut away to create a channel, the naturally uneven surface meant boats could only be launched or recovered safely around higher states of the tide. This restricted access to the boathouse for much of the day and limited the usability of smaller craft.

The client wanted a long-term solution that would extend the slipway onto the beach below, creating safe, reliable access throughout almost the entire tidal cycle while standing up to one of the harshest operating environments imaginable.

A Safer Slipway

Working closely with the client, MMS Ltd designed and installed a new marine-grade 316 stainless steel extension securely anchored into the shoreline rock.

The extension was decked using d² Dura Grating in Dark Grey, creating a lightweight yet exceptionally durable walking surface capable of withstanding continual cycles of tidal submersion and drying. The open-mesh grating allows seawater, sand and debris to pass freely through the structure while enabling natural light to reach the rock below, helping preserve the marine habitat occupied by coastal invertebrates.

The upper section of the original slipway was refurbished using d² Dura Solid Top Grating, replacing the failed granite sett surface with a robust, highly slip-resistant finish that remains comfortable underfoot and is unaffected by the weed growth, sand build-up and deterioration commonly experienced by traditional materials.

Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) was selected because it is ideally suited to permanent marine exposure. Unlike timber, it will not rot, and unlike steel it is not susceptible to corrosion. Its high slip resistance is maintained throughout its service life despite continual exposure to seawater, making it particularly well suited to intertidal infrastructure where safety and durability are critical.

Finished in Dark Grey, both products blend naturally into the surrounding rock, ensuring the completed structure complements its coastal setting.

Results & Benefits

The completed project has transformed access to the waterfront, significantly extending the usable operating window for the slipway while creating a safer and more durable route to the water.

The owner now benefits from year-round, low-maintenance access for a rigid inflatable boat across almost all tidal conditions, together with greatly improved launching and recovery of kayaks and paddleboards regardless of the state of the tide.

The replacement surfaces provide excellent underfoot grip, whether used with footwear or barefoot, while the corrosion-resistant construction eliminates the maintenance issues previously associated with the failing granite sett surface.

Equally important, the open-mesh design of the new slipway extension allows water, sediment and natural light to continue reaching the shoreline beneath, demonstrating how modern composite materials can improve long-term infrastructure performance while working sympathetically with the surrounding marine environment.

Marine structures are exposed to some of the harshest conditions imaginable, so selecting the right materials is critical. We’ve used Dura products on a number of projects because they consistently deliver the durability, slip resistance and long-term performance we need in coastal environments. Here, we’ve provided a solution that will perform reliably for many years while requiring minimum maintenance.

Glynn Melhuish

Managing Director at MMS Ltd

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