First timer saying hello

[trevbouy]

Hello to all.


I'm just dipping my toe in after buying a 3.1m Zodiac Zoom with a 4hp Suzuki.


Novice to RIBs and will be tootling around the South Devon easy spots, think Torbay, the Dart etc in fine weather.


trevbouy

[Fenlander]

Hi Trev and welcome to the forum.

I assume you might live Torbay area? If so brilliant starting point. We live close to 100mls from the sea so tend to concentrate the most enjoyment into Devon, Cornwall or Scottish holidays. To stay in Brixham for a couple of weeks and spend our time around Torbay and beyond with the SIB is on the to-do list.

David

[trevbouy]

Hi David,


I should say my given name is Rob. Trev is my salty sea dog. My partner calls him trevbouy as a joke.


Torbay etc is my stomping ground. I intend to start off doing the Totnes to Dartmouth run soon at an ambling pace. Starting from near Steamer Quay.
Love all the Devon/Cornwall towns really.



I'm lucky my partner is keen to go out in the boat, she's already planning picnics !


I did a recce of the slip at Teignmouth and was talking to the coastguard. He reckons a jaunt round to Maidencombe is a good start but check the tides to suit the day and the harbour entrance flow.


I bought the boat complete with trailer but I don't have a towbar, so plans are to deflate it and pack it in the boot. I've since found out that a towbar and electrics for my car is more than I paid for the whole combo. Modern fibre optic canbus electrics eh.


I would post a pic but it appears it has to be hosted elsewhere off forum site.



Rob

[Fenlander]

Sounds like you're going to enjoy getting out down there.

Yes the Teignmouth entrance can kick up rough with in various tide/wind circumstances... not just fun but quite threatening. Image of it I took on an average lively day... not a particularly bad one.

Lots to explore on the Dart in more sheltered circumstances.

A daily set up of Zoom plus 4hp will be fine... we do it with a larger SIB and its our preferred way over a trailer.

I post images using the "Go Advanced" button below the Reply box. Click on it then "Manage Attachments" and go from there.... that's using a PC or laptop... not sure if using app with phone.

[trevbouy]

That's the boat as collected. The engine is on a wooden stand that came with it, in the background. The boat has click stop fold up launching wheels fitted.



Supplied with it also was a grapple anchor and chain plus 100m of new rope. A bailer. Pair trailer chocs. Double action pump. RIB cleaner. All in a flexible plastic horse feed bucket.


The winch post is also an engine transport with the engine clamped to the box rail on top and secured around the outboard leg further down. Saves the transom. It's all nicely balanced and easy to move but the weight of each came as a shock when we seperated the boat and trailer.

[trevbouy]

I'm just reading your Elling thread at the moment.


Did you do a youtube video with your daughter sat like that, it looks familiar.

[Fenlander]

You've got a great starter outfit there with all that kit and a very clever DIY design trailer. Does the boat have a wooden floor?

[Fenlander]

>>>a youtube video with your daughter sat like that

Did you mean with her sheltered in the bow? I only have a handful of videos on an old Youtube account I lost access to years ago and not one of that trip.

[trevbouy]

Rear view showing wheels and wooden floor.

[trevbouy]

She's still enthusiastic as witnessed by engine in kitchen in transit to shed

[trevbouy]

This is Trev the salty sea dog. And yours truly.

[Fenlander]

Great to see the images and the seadog. Also a real positive to transit the OB via the kitchen. If weather is bad the usual is to inflate the boat in the living room to really test the domestic situation.

[Steve509926]

Hi Rob and welcome. Wonderful part of the country you live. Loved it on the river Dart last year from Steamer Quay down to Dartmouth and round to Old Mill Bay. The beauty of launching from Steamer Quay is you can launch at any state of tide, bit jealous really.

[trevbouy]

Thanks Steve. That's just the trip we are planning for the first foray, probably one of many over that route.


Already have a fishing buddy dying to go out but I want to take it easy till I see what the boat can do.



I'm away at the moment but return in two weeks so itching to fiddle, if you get my drift.



Planning on folding it up for the boot but realised I am going to have to remove the hinge bolt on each launch wheel for transport purposes. No problem just a minute or two.


I've bought a simple 12v high volume fan pump to start the tube inflation, to be finished off with the hand pump. I'm over the hill by quite aways so want to keep it easy.


My plans were to get a 10-12hp motor to replace the 4hp but prices have gone through the roof and availabilty of a good engine is scarce.


Looking forward to some days out over Bank Holiday weekend. Partner Lynn says it's like high season right now with the streets full!

[Mick-Storer]

Hi Rob and welcome.

I spend a lot of time down that way and I'm making plans on moving there. I use a slipway at Brixham called Oxen cove which i have always found to be useable except if there is an Easterly blowing. From there you can get over to Torquay and explore some of the coves etc of that coastline. I dropped in once at Galmpton on the Dart and took the Tide up to Totnes. Be aware of the Flat Owers on the Dart they have caught a few out over time.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Mick-Storer

Be aware of the Flat Owers on the Dart they have caught a few out over time.

Excuse my ignorance, but what are "Flat Owers"?

[Mick-Storer]

Keep to the east bank between Noss Point and Ned’s Point above the Anchor Stone.
Dittisham Lake has two navigable channels separated by Flat Owers, the westernmost being available at all tides.
Keep to High Gurrow and Blackness Points above Dittisham Lake favouring the port hand shore.
Then cross over to the northern side of the river at Pighole and Mill Points to favour the starboard shore.
Alter course to cross the river and favour the port shore after passing between White Rock and the Stoke Point buoy making for buoys off Langham Wood Point.
Above this the channel narrows and meanders but is simply navigated by following the ample buoys and beacons that lead to Totnes.

Get a Chart and study it.Follow the tides and you will be fine.

[trevbouy]

Thanks Mick, useful info there. I have an ipad mini with navionics loaded in a clear waterproof pouch so will be charting my progress.


I'd been told about the Flat Owers to watch for and to watch for the main channel route to use depending on tide.


You only see a small part of the river from the various bank sites. Actually being on it sounds much better.



Since I became interested in launch sites locally, I visited Oxen Cove, however the barrier has been locked for over a year. I've been told due to covid lockdown etc. That's one I intend to use to visit Thatcher Rock etc. I have Ring Go on the phone for the parking which makes the variable times manageable as it texts the option to extend the time if out on boat.
Looking at the barrier clearance I suspect a rib on launch wheels may get under anyway. Do you know if it is normally just left open?



Be back soon so can't wait to get out.


Rob

[trevbouy]

Just used laptop for the chart on the Navionics website to plot out the route. It syncs to the ipad mini so it has transferred over. Be interesting to see how it works out in practice.


Steve,

Flat Owers is the name given to a wide area of the river which partially dries out and very shallow in places. It's marked by the Flat Owers bouy.
They do give their bouys interesting names. Look on the Navionics website Chart Viewer.


Rob

[Steve509926]

Thanks Rob, after looking I know exactly where it is. I've past to the right going upstream everytime, in fact I think it would have been impossible to do anything else!