Launching from beach

Uncle Nobby · 09 February 2016, 21:56

Rookie question: I have used plenty of river slipways in the past, but am faced with launching from the beach for the first time at the weekend.

I have a Navara 4x4 with all terrain tyres, but I am worried about getting stuck in the sand. Any advice please?? Should I just use a rope instead of going in backwards and keep the truck on the concrete? It's a fair way to the water.

Starovich · 09 February 2016, 22:13

really depends on the beach, Dale Pembs you can drive all the way out to LWS, Weston Super Mare you will lose the vehicle to deeper than roof depth.

Local knowledge trumps all.

think link has some good tips

Wamer waters

Uncle Nobby · 09 February 2016, 22:24

Ace video - even the right vehicle!

I like the look of the third wheel as well as the jockey wheel - does anyone have that in this country?

Starovich · 09 February 2016, 22:25

Ive seen some but not many. anyone else?

Ron Noco · 09 February 2016, 22:30

Hi, just to add, depends on conditions a lot too, calm beach, little or no waves, no problem

But launching into a few waves can go wrong fast, you're backed in ready to unload and a sneaky wave comes in and lifts the boat from the trailer and pushes it towards your vehicle, then the wave drops off leaving the boat usually sideways on the trailer and now you have to get fairly wet trying to rescue the situation....

😊

Mobile

Fender · 09 February 2016, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Nobby

Rookie question: I have used plenty of river slipways in the past, but am faced with launching from the beach for the first time at the weekend.

I have a Navara 4x4 with all terrain tyres, but I am worried about getting stuck in the sand. Any advice please?? Should I just use a rope instead of going in backwards and keep the truck on the concrete? It's a fair way to the water.

If you go on the sand let your tyres down, bigger footprint and reduces the risk of digging in. Also try not to spin your wheels, momentum is your friend

Uncle Nobby · 09 February 2016, 22:31

Yes, I can see that happening exactly as described!

Uncle Nobby · 09 February 2016, 22:33

The RNLI tractor on the same beach has its tyres at 15psi, and has still been stuck so I hear. Apparently one day the sand can be nice and hard, the next day it can be candy-floss.

I'm thinking a nice long rope.

Defo get out and walk it first.

Starovich · 09 February 2016, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starovich

Ive seen some but not many. anyone else?

a little more then half way down

bmb779 · 10 February 2016, 00:35

If the sand is dry and soft if you lose traction the wheels dig holes in the sand until car is resting on sub frames or axles and the wheels ain't touching the ground,...been there done that no doing it again.

Uncle Nobby · 10 February 2016, 03:05

That's my concern. How did you get out? I have some £10 sand ladders from eBay in case, but I'd much prefer avoiding the situation!

Pikey Dave · 10 February 2016, 06:26

Don't do it :nono:

beerbelly · 10 February 2016, 06:48

"BEWARE THE SINKING SANDS; Warning after Second Vehicle ... www.questia.com/…r/1G1-300697586/beware-the-sinking
Newspaper article Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough ... of a red Land Rover engulfed by the ... to take a boat to the beach before it became stuck.

happened at Seaton beach too a couple years ago ended up with three land rovers I think linked together with ropes the first one to get stuck hydrauliced and had to have a engine rebuild

beerbelly · 10 February 2016, 06:53

mind saying that lots of people launch from Redcar beach with vehicles with no problems at all

Maximus · 10 February 2016, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Don't do it :nono:

I'm with PD.
I used to launch my Zodiac from the beach on rare occasions...and with a small Boat it's surprising how little the conditions have to change to make it a real challenge to get recovered!

I've also lauched the RIB from the relatively sheltered and good surfaced beach at Rock...which in fact is an Estuary...does have a fair tide run though...it just adds to the Hasell and difficulties involved and can soon go Rats,
Most if not all beach launches will be Time/tide dependant...and limit your options considerably too..
Go for a nice Slip!..that's why they invented them.

bmb779 · 10 February 2016, 10:35

Had to get winched out by recovery truck.
Not Cheap......

jeffstevens763@g · 10 February 2016, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerbelly

mind saying that lots of people launch from Redcar beach with vehicles with no problems at all

did that every saturday at redcar back in the 80's no probs done lots of beach launch i walk the route first, keep in straight lines, low gear, sand tracks are great, keep away from wave action around the wheels,get the boat off & on sharpish,if in dought leave it not worth loseing the truck.buy boat launch UK book explains lots of slipways.local knowlege if the locals arnt doing it dont bother.
lots of bodies help too just in case if stuck disconnect trailer get on firm ground pull trailer out with rope but have a sand wheel fitted insted of the jockey wheel or both sand wheel can be your spare wheel.

last year at easedale i put trailer in to pick boat up got boat on tried to pull out no chance tony hill got his lanny on no chance so got boat off moved trailer [stuck on rock] reloaded off beach sweet as a nut.

cheers

Bern Hanreck · 10 February 2016, 11:27

I suspect that the moment you take any vehicle onto the beach you are increasing the chances of serious corrosion astronomically . If this is of no concern then launch away but problems and costs due to salt corrosion on vehicles can be prohibitive

!

Lee argyle · 10 February 2016, 12:37

Couple of summers ago a mate called Andy phoned to see if I was still in the area ( we’d just spent the day on the Solent ), whilst recovering his ski on Colwell beach his van sunk in the sand just at the water’s edge – I was putting the boat away in Yarmouth harbour so I said I’d be there with my Landy in 10 mins.
He then called back to say a local had turned up at the beach with another defender and I wouldn’t be needed.
5 minutes later he rang again to say the 90 was also now stuck and could I get there ASAP, tide might have been on the flood lol
I arrived at the beach just as the other defender after unhooking itself from the stuck van managed to get back to firm ground.
Taking in the situation I thought the safest way to recover the van was to stay on the concrete slipway and winch the van to me ( it was about 75 yards away ) – except that didn’t work, the van stayed where it was and the winch dragged my 90 down the slipway with all four wheels locked Doh!
So a little re-rig, attached the second defender to the rear of mine and then tried again, van pops out of the sand and we winched it off the beach.
We even got a cheer and applause from the large crowd of onlookers! Lol
Vans, cars and beaches clearly don’t work

every summer there’s always a few vehicles on the island that attempt to launch at one of the bays, they make the local paper with a picture of their vehicle with just the roof showing in the surf

Pikey Dave · 10 February 2016, 12:47

We lost a Disco on a beach in Normandy, not mine thankfully, one of the groups company car😳 we walked the route & the sand was firm, we'd already launched the boat earlier in the day without problem. We reversed the trailer to the waters edge, got the boat on & tried to drive off. In the couple of minutes it had taken to get the boat on, the vibration from the running engine had puddled the sand & sunk the disco onto its belly. It took 3 tractors in a line to pull it out, by which time the water was up to the dash board, the Disco drove up the beach with about a ton of water in it. It was a write off. Never again.