Launching in soft mud

Jhoughton · 11 February 2021, 09:56

Hi all, we have access to a very convenient slipway (in terms of proximity) and it would make life much easier if we could use it to launch....however, at almost all states of tide, it would involve driving the boat and trailer over at least 20m of very soft estuary mud. I have a Daihatsu Fourtrak with off-road tyres and got completely stuck trying and ended up getting towed out by a tractor...I haven't tried since. Any wisdom on what we could use to launch without breaking the bank? The farmer who kindly pulled me out even said that he wouldn't be that keen to drive his tractor into mud that soft!

Thanks for your help!

SixtyNorth · 11 February 2021, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhoughton

Any wisdom on what we could use to launch without breaking the bank?

You'd probably need a small tracked vehicle like a Hagglunds. But, it would be cheaper to launch elsewhere.

Fender · 11 February 2021, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixtyNorth

You'd probably need a small tracked vehicle like a Hagglunds. But, it would be cheaper to launch elsewhere.

+1

It's not going to happen - you'll end up losing a vehicle to the tide with ground conditions like that

paintman · 11 February 2021, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender

+1

It's not going to happen - you'll end up losing a vehicle to the tide with ground conditions like that

^^^This.

Have you seen anyone else launching there & if so what do they do?

paintman · 11 February 2021, 11:31

Land Rover used Cuthbertson tracks.
Similar things are still available (Mattracks for one https://mattracks.co/tracks/trucks/) but the prices are eyewatering!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4HtbKiqQes

Jhoughton · 11 February 2021, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by paintman

^^^This.

Have you seen anyone else launching there & if so what do they do?

No - it's on private land but would mean boat storage, etc. would be so much easier...i'd wondered about getting some of those mats that they use on fields for music festivals and just rolling them out when we're actually there.

Limecc · 11 February 2021, 12:07

You don't say what size/weight your boat is but retrieval should be a cinch if you unhook the trailer from car and have a double winch setup and various lengths of thick rope to extend quickly fixing it via Carabina.

It wouldn't be possible single handed and someone would have to wear waders to connect boat to trailer and trailer to car. You'd have to winch the trailer out through the mud pulling off the bow of the boat, then when it's loaded winch the trailer back to the car and commence considerable washing down procedure. At least it's only 20m, the car would stay on safe ground.

My other thought is if it's worth hiring a skid-steer and periodically moving worst of the mud to one side downstream? Even putting a few tons of hardcore down would not break the bank. Maybe the farmer has machinery to facilitate? Photos would help us visualise.

Maximus · 11 February 2021, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender

+1

It's not going to happen - you'll end up losing a vehicle to the tide with ground conditions like that

Always a Decent chance of that!...a couple launch sites like that on the Channel Coast near me either time for Dead High Water for Both launch and recovery or chose a better option is my advice...a long Muddy Beach is bad enough but with unforeseen problems and or deteriorating conditions everything is compounded and more inclined to go Tits up!

Jhoughton · 11 February 2021, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limecc

You don't say what size/weight your boat is but retrieval should be a cinch if you unhook the trailer from car and have a double winch setup and various lengths of thick rope to extend quickly fixing it via Carabina.

It wouldn't be possible single handed and someone would have to wear waders to connect boat to trailer and trailer to car. You'd have to winch the trailer out through the mud pulling off the bow of the boat, then when it's loaded winch the trailer back to the car and commence considerable washing down procedure. At least it's only 20m, the car would stay on safe ground.

My other thought is if it's worth hiring a skid-steer and periodically moving worst of the mud to one side downstream? Even putting a few tons of hardcore down would not break the bank. Maybe the farmer has machinery to facilitate? Photos would help us visualise.

Thanks - I can't find a decent photo and I'm not there at the moment. Sounds like I've got my answer really in that it's pretty tricky to manage. We had thought of a load of hardcore but it becomes quite a job, and perhaps not that sightly! I'll keep thinking! Thanks all for your help!

Fender · 11 February 2021, 15:24

If you do get into trouble on the mud you could always call the local emergency services to come and assist.......................

Limecc · 11 February 2021, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhoughton

Thanks - I can't find a decent photo and I'm not there at the moment. Sounds like I've got my answer really in that it's pretty tricky to manage. We had thought of a load of hardcore but it becomes quite a job, and perhaps not that sightly! I'll keep thinking! Thanks all for your help!

First few tides should blend in a hardcore ramp, it would limit the amount you can sink. Could actually look quite nice and the rubble's never going anywhere it shouldn't.

Another idea for launching/retrieving at higher waters is to have a really long drawbar extension. You could knock something up out of an old scaffold tube (as long as you can get) and weld a ball on one end with a hitch on the other. When not in use it can be secured at the launch site.

Maximus · 11 February 2021, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limecc

First few tides should blend in a hardcore ramp, it would limit the amount you can sink. Could actually look quite nice and the rubble's never going anywhere it shouldn't.

Another idea for launching/retrieving at higher waters is to have a really long drawbar extension. You could knock something up out of an old scaffold tube (as long as you can get) and weld a ball on one end with a hitch on the other. When not in use it can be secured at the launch site.

"Not going anywhere"??

If it's laid on top of mud apart from sinking .....if it's at ALL Tidal (like the rest of the UK

it'll be covered/moved in no time!

complete Waste of time and effort.
Just Move location.

Limecc · 11 February 2021, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximus

"Not going anywhere"??

If it's laid on top of mud apart from sinking .....if it's at ALL Tidal (like the rest of the UK

it'll be covered/moved in no time!

complete Waste of time and effort.
Just Move location.

It can't go on soft mud, that would make goop with stones. The top layer has to come off by machine, then hardcore is tracked onto the more solid stuff underneath. If not bodged then hardcore is not going anywhere. - Coming from a Letsdig18 subscriber. A great channel.

I don't know the location so am not hasty to agree/disagree it's a waste of effort. Many places are routinely dredged. Mud doesn't come back all at once.

jakew009 · 11 February 2021, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limecc

It can't go on soft mud, that would make goop with stones. The top layer has to come off by machine, then hardcore is tracked onto the more solid stuff underneath. If not bodged then hardcore is not going anywhere. - Coming from a Letsdig18 subscriber. A great channel.

I don't know the location so am not hasty to agree/disagree it's a waste of effort. Many places are routinely dredged. Mud doesn't come back all at once.

It would need to have a geotextile membrane underneath it to form a sort of raft, but even then it would be hopeless.

Unless you are proposing to dig sown 2 or 3 metres, I don’t think scraping off the top layer of soft mud will do anything. It will just expose more soft mud underneath.

You’ve also got the problem that the first ride will dislodge all your hardcore and start moving it.

Limecc · 11 February 2021, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakew009

It would need to have a geotextile membrane underneath it to form a sort of raft, but even then it would be hopeless.

Unless you are proposing to dig sown 2 or 3 metres, I don’t think scraping off the top layer of soft mud will do anything. It will just expose more soft mud underneath.

You’ve also got the problem that the first ride will dislodge all your hardcore and start moving it.

Again we don't know the local conditions, but clay is waterproof and relatively solid, probably nowhere near 2 metres deep mud/silt sitting on clay. Hardcore embedded in clay won't dislodge. We are not comparing a peat bog here.