East Coast advice for newbie please

[Hert5]

Hi folks
I recently kitted myself out with a Honwave T38 and a Honda 10BF plus the key bits of kit - after reading a lot of advice on here.
Thank you for your help so far. I have been lurking and reading a lot of the posts on here. Also binging on YouTube videos and spending far too much time on ebay.
I live in Hertfordshire so the best places for me are Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex (although I would love to get up to Scotland or down to Cornwall in due course).
After a test run on the River Cam we did our first proper trip out a couple of weeks ago from Blakeney in Norfolk. It could not have been more perfect. We were able to anchor on Blakeney Point for a swim and also see the seals etc.
Well I say perfect. The first time we were due to go out I got there before the family and spent ages getting everything set up. As they stepped into the boat I could hear a hissing sound. Turned out I had stupidly picked up a small puncture. I think it was from setting the boat up on stoney ground where a small piece of flint scratched the bottom. Schoolboy. I patched it up and waited until the next morning when we tried again.
This time I set up on grass and took a lot more care. We ended up have a brilliant time. Important lesson learned.
My current set up is that I tow the Honwave deflated in a camping trailer with most of the other tackle. I put the outboard in the boot and carry my wife and two small kids in the car too.
We are keen to explore the east coast a bit more - River Blackwater, Colne, Aldeburgh, Southwold.
I'm looking for any tips on good places in Suffolk or Essex where I can park the car and trailer easily, inflate the boat on a (non-stony) surface and launch off my hand-trailer without getting too muddy - and have a fun day out. Maybe exploring and then stopping somewhere for lunch.
Also, ideally an easy run from where I am in Herts.
I have already identified that Fenlander is probably my man for this!
But any tips would be gratefully received.
Thanks again for the inspiration and help without even knowing it.
Cheers.

[GuyC]

Nice first post and welcome to RIBnet.

[Fenlander]

Yep welcome from me and thumbs up for a great post too.

We all want different things from our sibbing but for our use we tend to avoid launch points that are filthy muddy towards low tide or set you off into a fast running estuary... we don't enjoy miles up muddy creeks with nowhere to stop off... we try and avoid difficult entrances to open sea that can be a hazard if the wind/tide conditions aren't favourable at the time of setting off or returning... and we like a few facilities at the launch/recovery point.

Which perhaps explains why we don't launch at Blakeney, Southwold or Aldeburgh.

For all our needs West Mersea provides the best launch conditions and area to head off sibbing with a choice of sheltered or more open waters.

I can't really add to my old thread here (post #16 on for my detail)..

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/launch...sea-52571.html

I will PM you later re parking.

[essex]

I have only been out a few times so far. Burnham marina (on the Crouch) charges £10 for use of slip and no parking fee. I was also given an hours free mooring when I stopped for a break. You can use the slip 3 hours either side of high tide.
You can go up river to Hullbridge at high tide and there is a place to moor for free.
If you go up the Roach (a tributary) there are seal colonies.
The crouch has an 8 knots speed limit

[essex]

PS with regard to inflating a sib on stoney ground I inflate mine on pond underlay (not pond liner). It is thin, light and designed to protect a pond liner from sharp stones. I think it's better than tarpaulin.

[Highland Haggis]

Welcome to the mad hoose .
Seems like you had a nice trip out pitty about the puncture on the first day but all covered up well look forward for more reporting stay safe HH