Launching on the north east coast.

[il corvo]

i hoping to find some good launch sites on the east coast (yorkshire) if anyone knows any. public slipways that aren't an arm and a leg to use.

are there any groups that get together and head out too?

i know of whitby (good slip) and scarborough (very public with grockles watching for cock ups). i want some where thats not too exposed as my rib is only 3.5m long and driving onto sand worries me (bit green when it comes to beach launches).

any pointers appreciated.

[Pikey Dave]

You're struggling, the north east coast has to be the worst stretch of coastline in the UK when it comes to small boat facilities.


Humber bridge:- There's the lifeboat access on the beach at Hessle on the north end of the bridge. If you drop on when someone is at the station, they will unlock the gate for you for a donation. I wouldn't launch there, the beach is rocky & the tide is fierce, 75% chance of damage to boat.


There's a marina at Hull, afaik there are no facilities for day launching small boats.


Easington:- there used to be a guy who would tractor launch you off the beach, dunno if he's still there.


Between Spurn & Scarborough all you have are beach launches at Skipsea, Hornsea, Bridlington, Filey. These require tractors. We used to use Brid a lot, but the launch & recovery can be traumatic, you need a good bunch of strong blokes/divers in all but absolute flat calm weather.


The only launch we use now is Whitby, it costs £21 but that also includes car parking, so all in all not too bad & well worth the ease of launch/recovery. That's as long as you don't get a team of pissed up Geordies trying to launch jetskis


There were plans a few years ago to completely redevelop the harbour at Brid & build a marina, new shore line, the full works. This got objections from all the silver haired Grannies who retire to Brid to wait for the Grim Reaper, they claimed it would lower the tone of Brid, yeah right

[il corvo]

hahaha. sounds about right. lol.

Whitby seems favorite at the moment, the slip looks good plus far enough up river to be calm too.

I hear Scarborough is Ok but full of grockles watching.

Hornsea seems Ok, tractor and all that as long as its calm though.

At whitby, are the fees on a sliding scale for size of vessel? bigger = more cash?

I grew up on the south coast and used the FREE slips on the itchen and hamble or round at Langston. life was easier (busy but easy if that makes sense).

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by il corvo

At whitby, are the fees on a sliding scale for size of vessel? bigger = more cash?

afaik all the same price. They do a season ticket, but you need to use it about 15 times to get your monies worth.

Fish & chips at the Quayside are the best in the UK, avoid the Magpie, overrated & overpriced.

[il corvo]

yeah, the magpie is ridiculous. queuing all the way down the road. pfft, nah!

i'm normally in whitby on the motorbike so will be nice to see it from a better angle. lol

[Tim in Yorkshire]

What tow vehicle do you have? - As there are a few beach launch sites on the N/E coast (Saltburn/Runswick Bay/Sandsend). Also as your rib is quite light you may be able to man handle it down the beach into the water...

[il corvo]

Originally Posted by Tim in Yorkshire

What tow vehicle do you have? - As there are a few beach launch sites on the N/E coast (Saltburn/Runswick Bay/Sandsend). Also as your rib is quite light you may be able to man handle it down the beach into the water...

it's a 54 plate C220 diesel Auto Merc RWD. pushing the RIB n Trailer on tarmac is piss easy but sand and shingle could be problematic as for the most part i'll be on my own (the mrs ain't all that bothered and all i'll get is "my hairs a mess" or "i'm cold").

that's why i wanted a small rig. owt over 4m is more awkward on ya tod. lol

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by il corvo

it's a 54 plate C220 diesel Auto Merc RWD. pushing the RIB n Trailer on tarmac is piss easy but sand and shingle could be problematic as for the most part i'll be on my own (the mrs ain't all that bothered and all i'll get is "my hairs a mess" or "i'm cold").

that's why i wanted a small rig. owt over 4m is more awkward on ya tod. lol

Ah! I see your problem now, the obvious solution would be to get a bigger boat & change your................................missus

[il corvo]

Thats a thought i have thunked! Lol

What else do i need, car, motorbike n boat? Sorted!

[markmullen]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

There were plans a few years ago to completely redevelop the harbour at Brid & build a marina, new shore line, the full works. This got objections from all the silver haired Grannies who retire to Brid to wait for the Grim Reaper, they claimed it would lower the tone of Brid, yeah right

[il corvo]

coffin dodgers do have a tendency to object to most things. of all the things brid has it's not a "tone". certainly not one you can lower anyway.

[markmullen]

As an aside I was on my way home from fencing in Bridlington one night, I was in a 911 cabriolet and as it was a nice evening had the roof down. Stopped at some lights and overheard some chavs giving it the big man "f*** it, I say we rob him and take his car".

I was in gear ready to leave in a hurry if it kicked off but I also had my bag of swords on the passenger seat, I always wondered what their faces would have been like had I grabbed my sabre, hopped out in full fencing gear and got en garde.

[il corvo]

Dunno but id like to see it. Pmsl

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by markmullen

As an aside I was on my way home from fencing in Bridlington one night, I was in a 911 cabriolet and as it was a nice evening had the roof down. Stopped at some lights and overheard some chavs giving it the big man "f*** it, I say we rob him and take his car".

I was in gear ready to leave in a hurry if it kicked off but I also had my bag of swords on the passenger seat, I always wondered what their faces would have been like had I grabbed my sabre, hopped out in full fencing gear and got en garde.

It wasn't until I got to the end of your post that I realised that you weren't going to nip out & stick a 6' palisade round 'em I should've known. My first thought was "where does he keep the posts & rails in a 911" then the penny dropped.

[Sonar]

Originally Posted by il corvo

i hoping to find some good launch sites on the east coast (yorkshire) if anyone knows any. public slipways that aren't an arm and a leg to use.

are there any groups that get together and head out too?

i know of whitby (good slip) and scarborough (very public with grockles watching for cock ups). i want some where thats not too exposed as my rib is only 3.5m long and driving onto sand worries me (bit green when it comes to beach launches).

any pointers appreciated.

This may be of some help.. I have used it many times in the past...

Boatlaunch.co.uk Home Page

[il corvo]

Cheers. Ill have a rummage.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Try runswick bay slip onto sand then rock good cafe on beach
Also Redcar slip onto hard sand launch into what they call the harbour between two reefs scuba shop Ian Denny will give all info there's also one near the steel works into the river but I think it's an angering club.
St abbs further north slip into harbour great scenery
Dunbar harbour
Bridlington belvodia beach tractor launch
Amble harbour slip into river
Beednel tractor launch nice trip out to the Farnnes

[MustRib]

Seaham Harbour, a steep slip, but marina staff will help you launch, park the trailer, and are friendly guys.

[willk]

Originally Posted by il corvo

yeah, the magpie is ridiculous.

Irony, u has it.

[scubadave]

We usually use Hornsea boat launch, Always been helpful plus the money goes to the inshore rescue boat.
Wife isnt keen on Whitby now. Launched last summer on a beautiful hot sunny day. Harbour was like a mill pond till we left the entrance then were met by some rather choppy conditions.
Should of known really when we past the two ribs who launched 20 mins before us heading back to the slip and smiling at us!