Beginner needs advice

[Shamo75]

Hi all,

Having spent too many years watching ppl enjoy days out fishing on their boats I took the plunge (excuse the pun) and bought myself a 16ft pilot with 40hp outboard and back-up short leg all on on a trailer.

I am booked onto the RYA course with Essex but want to find a nice easy (not too busy) slipway where I can launch my boat with a a car. The slip at Mersea on the hammerhead is ideal apart from the fact that it has a short window of usage and being new to boating I want to be able to get out and pootle about for 3 or 4 hours and come back in.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions I'd really appreciate it. I'm based in epping and happy to travel an hour or so, that puts me on the black water as the closest piece of water but as far as I understand whilst it's calm water it has a narrow window with the tides.

Also looking into a place I can keep the boat near a slip way without it costing fortunes. - I realise I'm asking a lot and I'm very happy to be schooled!

Thanks everyone.

 

[DavidofMersea]

Hi all,

Having spent too many years watching ppl enjoy days out fishing on their boats I took the plunge (excuse the pun) and bought myself a 16ft pilot with 40hp outboard and back-up short leg all on on a trailer.

I am booked onto the RYA course with Essex but want to find a nice easy (not too busy) slipway where I can launch my boat with a a car. The slip at Mersea on the hammerhead is ideal apart from the fact that it has a short window of usage and being new to boating I want to be able to get out and pootle about for 3 or 4 hours and come back in.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions I'd really appreciate it. I'm based in epping and happy to travel an hour or so, that puts me on the black water as the closest piece of water but as far as I understand whilst it's calm water it has a narrow window with the tides.

Also looking into a place I can keep the boat near a slip way without it costing fortunes. - I realise I'm asking a lot and I'm very happy to be schooled!

Thanks everyone.

What do you mean "The slip at Mersea on the hammerhead is ideal apart from the fact that it has a short window of usage"?
There is no slip on the hammerhead, but you can launch from the hard, next to the hammerhead, at all states of the tide

 

[Cobra]

Brightlingsea is of course another option you could consider!

All tide access from the Hard and storage close to the water either at Brightlingsea Boat Maintenances yard (speak to Gary the owner) or alternately Morgan Marine (Rick or Steve Morgan). Both are within a 2 minute drive of the Hard and both can offer year round secure storage.

The Harbour team at Brightlingsea are renowned as being the most friendly and efficient on the East Coast and at the end of the day it is just a nice place!

 

[tillergirl]

Brightlingsea charges you for use of the Hard. West Mersea does NOT! Either of them.

 

[Shamo75]

Hi,

As I said I'm happy to be schooled - I must have meant the 'hard' at Mersea. I was there last week with the boats on props to one side and when the tide was out it didn't seem possible to launch. I tow my boat with a ford 2wd so not 4x4. The concrete seemed to turn to mud about 20/30 yards down but I'm prepared to be corrected as I had the kids with me and they were keen to get to the pontoon for crabbing!

 

[Mariner69]

Bradwell Marina has a ramp access also via the waterside road.