Where to launch

[GJ]

I have been launching from the public slip at Amble for the last 2 years, living at Tow Law it\'s 1hr 10min travelling. Does any one think there is a better option for me bearing in mind I do not have a 4x4.

[willywetegg]

Welcome to NESA GJ hope you enjoy.
I think MARK will probably be able to help you with that as he has done a bit of boat towing in his time.

Jim.

[alan]

Welcome to NESA M8 sure someone will help you out

[mark]

did someone mention my name??

I\'ve launched off the beach at cullercoats (and a few other beaches in scotland) ok with a renault laguna with baldy tyres. If you start to lose traction I always unhitch the trailer and use the anchor rope to tow the trailer onto firmer ground.

Cullercoats is ok as long as there are no eejits on jet ski\'s throwing waves up which can bury the trailer wheels in sand.

the slip sunderland near the marina is good, Not sure if it costs to use it or not, I\'ve never paid anyways

[Edited on 25/2/2005 by mark]

[ronw]

try this site gj boatlaunch.co.uk

[Marc]

Divn\'t use Cullercoats, Me, Mark and Derek nearly got our balls chopped of by Lisa (well I did anyway, Mark and Derek ran away ) when we nearly lost her brand new Rav4 (not 4x4 as we found out) due to the ******** jet skiers at Cullercoats hoying sea up at us and sinking both the car and trailer with the boat on. If it wasn\'t for the nice man in the JEEP pulling us all out I\'d be singing like Aled Jones now. Never mind I can laugh about it now, (still get nightmares mind).

Anyway, Craster has a decent ramp and fishing but try to launch and recover at high tide as its a bit of a pain winching the boat and trailer back up the beach from the ring on the wall. If I remember rightly its £7.00 a launch if the master catches you, try to get there early, he likes a lie in but a sesonal ticket can be bought from him if needed.
The do offer a good and reliable RNLI service I hear !!!.

Newbiggen by the Sea can be launched from (free) as well but it is quite a way down on flat sands, The RNLI lads in their tractor will launch and recover you though for a small donation to there appeal if there at the station on training which they are most weekends. Again, quite nice friendly RNLI chaps I hear.

Blyth has a unofficial launching ramp, Heather a member on here can give you the details for that one as I don\'t launch from there since the done away with their lifeboat.

There is a good launching ramp at South Shields at the yacht (spelling?) club. I think it\'s owned by South Shields Council and last year the launching fees were £26.00 per year, However its clean and safe and I have NEVER been rescued by the lifeboat from here, Only the river pilot boat ( nice helpful chaps ).

This reminds me, I must renew my Ofshore membership or take up diving, it\'s got to be safer for me, never needed to be recued yet.

But your best bet is to just stick your boat in the marina at Royal Quays and forget about it, thats what I do, Is it still there lads, ha ha. I will get down next week.

Hope it helps a little

Marc.

[GJ]

Thanks for the help. Might try a few different places through the year and see what comes out best.

[boblydon]

LOL @ Marc....do we know you ???, nice to see you back safe and well from your hols, hope you had a good time...................yes the sparky boat is safe and well

[Charlton]

Regarding Cullercoats, launched there for years, as living just up the road. If you are not sure about launching, and this goes for any beach, walk the area you are going to launch from. In about thirty years only got stuck once at Cullercoats. And that was after the council decided to level the beach with a JCB they removed the banks and spread soft sand all over, drove striaght into a patch.

[braine]

I launch at Seaham Harbour. There is a new ramp going in sometime this year as the North dock is getting a complete makeover and this will make it easy to launch and recover by car. You can drive on the sand there at low water if you are careful. Otherwise use a rope from the trailer. The lads there showed me how and even demonstrated by launching and retrieving my boat for me. You must be a member of Seaham Small boat club but that\'s only a tenner a year. Harbour dues are 50 quid a year and your boat must be insured and pass the RNLI Seacheck. Until building work is complete at the top of the dock around March you can only launch at weekends, Bank holidays and after 5pm. Nice bunch of lads and the fishing is good even a couple of hundred yards off the piers. S/Shields yacht club ramp gets very busy during the summer and they dont remove all the wood debris when the yacht season closes until it opens around Easter. Usually impossible to launch in the winter due to all the trees and stuff in the first 10 yards or so from the ramp. It is a mile before you get out between the piers but can fish inside. Royal quays is even further up river and as with all marinas only the wealthy can pay the fees!
Sunderland Marina is 79 quid a year to use their ramp with no day tickets. If they lock the barrier, you are stuck unless you pay. Swell coming through the piers is straight onto the ramp and there are rocks on the river side of the ramp. sometimes a bit hairy unless you have crew to hold the boat. Also gets busy during the summer with jet skiers and dive boats. The old ramp next to the coas****ch building and the RNLI station at Hartlepool is now useless due to a big drop off at the end (plus they lost the key to the barrier). The free ramp at Old Hartlepool is poled closed. The free ramp in Middleton harbour was removed and the Marina took the place over and built a new one next to the pier. They charge 17 quid a launch with no season ticket. Marina is 300 quid plus a year for boats under 6 metres. Never tried Cullercoats beach. Live in Peterlee so Seaham is 10 minutes from home.