Holiday coming up ;-) advise needed from chaps that know stuff

[picky]

Good morning fellars
My missus and me are going to Cornwall for a couple of weeks, we have got the cottage almost on the beach at Porthallow Cove ;-)

We are fairly new to ribs so could do with some advise on beach launching and retrieval, we have a td5 discovery but could really do with knowing a little bit about best technique.



Also, if any of you have some favourite spots for cruising the south coast of Cornwall we'd love to hear.

Cheers Picky


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[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by picky

........could do with some advise on beach launching........

Don't

[Festinghouse]

What boat have you got?

[picky]

Avon 560 with a 115hp Honda


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[Landlockedpirate]

I would try and find some specific local advice that its possible on that beach, or see if there is local tractor launching.

But in general, I'm with Pikey Dave, seen far too many lost boats, cars and trailers when beach launching. If its a shingle beach, the Landy will likely bog down on its own, without even the trailer let alone the boat.

Have a look at boat launch for a slipway instead, its a lot less stressfull.

[Chris Caton]

if there is a tractor launch / recovery available on the beach pay for it, it will save you money in the long run, rusty rear cross members on discos cost a few bob to repair

[Mollers]

You'll be well located, right and you have Kynance Cove,the whole of Mounts Bay, Porthcurno, Minack Theatre and on to Lands End. Left and you're in my manor, Helford, Fal Bay, Falmouth and all the creeks. Then on up to Portscatho, Meva, Fowey. Beware of beach launching, unless the beach, sea conditions etc. are perfect, it can be an exercise in boat destruction. Too much onshore chop and the boat can be thrown onto the trailer and the vehicle gets swamped. Ideally you need a slip, coverack has one, or launch/recover in the Helford. You could look into leaving it on a mooring in the river or take a pontoon berth at HRSC.

[treerat]

Porthkerris, just around the corner, run a tractor launch - let them take the strain;

Diving in Cornwall at Porthkerris -


Boat Mooring / Overnight Parking £10.00
Launch / Recovery 9.00am till 5.00pm £15.00 (Additional hourly charge out of hours £10.00)
Boat transport beach to parking area £3.00
- See more at: Prices -

[Max...]

Would not dream of beach launching a RIB. Even a SIB in any kind of more than slight sea chop can be a lesson in disaster.

[picky]

Thanks so far chaps, I'm not daft enough to ignore the warnings, port kermis is looking good so far


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[Mollers]

I actually do beach launch the SR in the Helford River. It's very sheltered on our side and rarely gets beyond shin lapping. Having said that, if we have a southerly running, forget it, it spends the night on a mooring.

[cjj216]

I agree with other posts. Try to avoid beach launch unless tractor available and flat calm.
Mollers advice is sound. Helford river, especially if new to ribs is a great base for your boat. You could put in at Falmouth and make the short trip to helford, stick it on a mooring or at sailing club marina for the week. Your probably 20 min or so drive each day to your boat. If the weather is bad you can still tootle round the mouth of the river and find a sheltered beach to land your rib and have a barby!
Don't think there are any moorings at porthalllow?
Lots of safe trips (so long as you've local charts) out of helford. Falmouth, coverack, mevagissy, fowey, polperro. With dozens of secluded beaches in between.
We've dragged various boats the 300 miles, several times a year for donkeys! You're gonna have a great time!! Btw. If you want a hassle free holiday make sure your trailer (brakes & bearings) are in top fettle. We get our trailer serviced down there every year while the boat is off. I can recommend Lizard trailers but there are lots of other places. Then again, if anything does go wrong you'll not be short of people willing to help. It's a boaters paradise. Have fun!

[Adamn]

Mollers you missed the Isles of Scilly off your list of places to visit! eer (weather permitting)

[mick]

Wouldn't beach launch big risk
We launched at Fowey last year and moored on the river

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Adamn

Mollers you missed the Isles of Scilly off your list of places to visit! eer (weather permitting)

You'd need to be paired up ideally, for a Scillies push out of these parts unless you have a 6m+ super reliable rig. There and back with a bit of cruising around the islands usually amounts to 200 odd Nm. A big call for a new to the area visitor.

It's men's stuff out of Fal inc. Lizard Point on a flood, not the fluffy little hop out of PZ that you lot did last year.

[Adamn]

Good point!!
I nearly ended that one astride my hull paddling back with a pair of mess trays.
Flood tide, wind against it, Atlantic swell- think I need a bigger boat!!!

[Dydigital]

Kynance Cove is a really nice spoke, also a trip upto Trelissick Gardens

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Dydigital

Kynance Cove is a really nice spoke, also a trip upto Trelissick Gardens

Would be a bit hard reversing a trailer down to Kynance cove

[Dydigital]

I meant for visiting once boats in the water, not launching. Plenty of places around Falmouth for doing that.

[picky]

Kynance looks beautiful but might just trail the boat to the west until I get a bit more hours under my belt ;-)


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