New Sibber in Suffolk

[JH&H]

Hi, new to the forum.

I bought a SIB a couple of months ago and me the Mrs and the dog have been out a few times at Orford and the Deben, we're base in Suffolk and are hoping to get down to Mersea island with the boat if the weather is good this weekend.

Our boat is a Honwave air deck 2.7m with a 15hp 2 stroke Mariner Yamaha. (yes I know the engine is nearly twice the rated HP but it is too much fun to downgrade it to 8hp!)

Some of the local members might have seen us out or driving about with it. I had let it down to transport before but the valves leaked afterwards so now it gets left inflated.

[scottyb211]

Might see you about. Im from Essex. Usually out on the Crouch, but wanting to get out on the Blackwater from Bradwell or somewhere to go over to Mersea..

[willfinch36]

Hi there! Keep an eye out for me on the Orwell

[JH&H]

Where do you launch from willfinch? I used to spend a lot of time on our sailing boat going from RHYC until the mrs decided "I don't like boats that lean over"!
I looked for reasonable price slipways for the Orwell but most seem to be a rip off at best.

[willfinch36]

Originally Posted by JH&H

Where do you launch from willfinch? I used to spend a lot of time on our sailing boat going from RHYC until the mrs decided "I don't like boats that lean over"!
I looked for reasonable price slipways for the Orwell but most seem to be a rip off at best.

Ah, I launch from the RHYC, only because I have a boat on the marina & of course am a member.

Correct RE the prices of most slipways!

[57Aircooled]

hi there , were also from suffolk and starting out is Orford a free launch site or members/fee and is there parking

[HJones]

Originally Posted by willfinch36

Hi there! Keep an eye out for me on the Orwell

I'm up those ways too sometimes - the Crouch and Orwell are our most local spots from home in the North London smog...

Launched 3 weeks back at Ipswich Yacht Harbour but at £25 it is a total rip off! Great day up the Deben for lunch at the Ramsholt Arms though so will be returning for sure.

May see both you guys around!

[scottyb211]

HJones.

Where do you launch from on thr Crouch?

[HJones]

Originally Posted by scottyb211

HJones.

Where do you launch from on thr Crouch?

Only been there once (bought the boat in Aug after many year of being boatless!) and we launched at Burnham Yacht Harbour on the north shore. Seemed like a good spot although a little(!) muddy at LT. Not wedded to it though if there's somewhere better?!

Really keen to do the Blackwater too and go up to Maldon but not sure if I'm going to get a window now this year before the weather turns...

What do you chug about in? Sib/Rib?

[scottyb211]

Just got a little 3.5mtr RIB which I launch from South Woodham on to the Crouch.

Want to try the Blackwater sometime soon and get over to Mersea.

[JH&H]

Originally Posted by 57Aircooled

hi there , were also from suffolk and starting out is Orford a free launch site or members/fee and is there parking

I signed up at Orford for an annual license but I cheated a little as my sib is down as a tender for my mates boat as we mess about skiing / wakeboarding, I still can't get out of the £4 a day parking!

Where do you take yours out from?

[JH&H]

Originally Posted by HJones

I'm up those ways too sometimes - the Crouch and Orwell are our most local spots from home in the North London smog... Launched 3 weeks back at Ipswich Yacht Harbour but at £25 it is a total rip off! Great day up the Deben for lunch at the Ramsholt Arms though so will be returning for sure. May see both you guys around!

I've done a mini pub trip taking in the maybush at waldringfield and ramsholt arms along the deben, I then got down to Felixstowe ferry and decided to take on the swell on a day when I've not been to the pub!

£25 is ridiculous for a launch, the downside is there's not much competition on the Orwell and it does give some great conditions for testing sea capabilities.

[57Aircooled]

as i said were really new (to engines anyway), we bought our boat to take to the French lakes during the summer but are looking to find launch site to gain some experience so far weve been out 2 times both from pinmill

[JH&H]

Where do you park when you launch at pin mill? We launched our kayak there before but came back to find 2 cars in the car park had been broken into so we gave up on it, we were in the tree lined car park on the way up the hill.

[57Aircooled]

thats where we parked very small too we got the last place and had to wait the 2nd time
thankfully nothing happened to us

[JH&H]

Was it an easy launch and recovery? It seemed shallow in the kayak but I've lifted the engine and paddled our honwave before so it's not the end of the world.

[57Aircooled]

first time a high tide and was fun , second was low tide and not so fun
lets just say ill be looking for high tide from now on LOL
this is why were looking for alternatives

[HJones]

Hi all - thinking about a dash one day this weekend for an end of year outing on the blackwater. Any of you launched from the south shore? Given I'm with a bit of a lump weight-wise any views on the mud...?! Am looking to launch from Bradwell Marina at the moment and then head up to Maldon whilst the tide is high. Worse case I'll be out of the water 1.5 hours before LT so assuming I'll be ok...

Any knowledge re: good pubs to head to?(!) Also planning to zip over Brightlingsea for a bit in the afternoon.

[HJones]

Originally Posted by HJones

Hi all - thinking about a dash one day this weekend for an end of year outing on the blackwater. Any of you launched from the south shore? Given I'm with a bit of a lump weight-wise any views on the mud...?! Am looking to launch from Bradwell Marina at the moment and then head up to Maldon whilst the tide is high. Worse case I'll be out of the water 1.5 hours before LT so assuming I'll be ok...

Any knowledge re: good pubs to head to?(!) Also planning to zip over Brightlingsea for a bit in the afternoon.

Scrap that - just seen the (proper) forecast from the met office for tomorrow... force 9. So, that's me done for the year!