hello, from perton south staffs

[Themd1]

Hello my name is colin and we have just purchased (yet to take delivery) of a Honwave T32 with a honda 6bf outboard.
we are complete novices at boating and after much research initially at jet ski and felt they just were not for us we decided on the Honwave, main reason we can all go out in it, myself my wife and our two young girls.
it will be used for pleasure for days on the water.
as complete novices we just hope we can find a good regular location to launch, we are currently looking at wales possibly black rock sands for wends, our main holiday venue is Cornwall, i am hoping and this is where ill need some advice, but ide like to launch of some of the beaches ie harlyn bay if anybody knows??? i dont know yet what the legality and allowances are? another place ide like to try is padstow OR rock and have a day in estuary.
im saying this but i have a lot of learning to do before we even attempt to use it.

please bear with me if i ask a daft question but i am really looking forward to stating out in the boat.

are there any members in the midlands or any clubs where i could join in and meet people and learn?

take it easy folks
colin.

[Themd1]

Hi Colin and to the forum!

With regards to legality the UK is one of the most liberal places to go boating (or lax, depending on your viewpoint). What I mean is that there is no legal requirement to register your boat or wear lifejackets, for example.
That said wear lifejackets!

You will need to check local rules regarding launching and recover and any fees required.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most of us don’t bite and the only daft question is the unasked one.

[Themd1]

thank you thats great, oh yes life jackets are a must ive looked at the launching at blackrock sands at it appears i will have to register it? at the begining of april we are going over for a wend in the campervan to have a look and speak to people who look ater the beach during the day to point me in the right direction.

[Themd1]

Hi Colin, Welcome to the forum and thanks for a great introduction.

As Chris Parish has said, Laws are very limited for UK pleasure boaters, Though we would strongly advise Lifejackets, killcords and at least third party insurance as a bare minimum.

We're not here to push safety down anyones throats but we will where possible advise you in a friendly manner should you require assistance.

I am a little worried about your outboard power choice for the amount of people you say you may be carrying. A 6hp on a 3.2m sib carrying 4 people is going to be tough going.. Maybe worth doing some reading up and reaching out for a larger 3.8ie Honwave and a suitable outboard if you can manage the weight and price of a higher hp motor.

Black Rock Sands.... A man after my own heart
We used to frequent Black Rock annually with the caravan and sib/frib.
Boat Registration is compulsory- if i recall correctly it was £35 per annum. Registration through Gwynedd Council Website, there you can download and print the required form and information... I'll try and find the post i wrote some time ago, that should assist you.
Gwynedd Rules... Boat registration,Kill cords and insurance are compulsory!!
It's all very easy to put in place, and not too badly priced either.

Black Rock beach goes a long way down, Be prepared for a long boat tug back up the beach if you get the tide times wrong.
The local Beach guards will advise of tide times upon arrival to the beach. They will also relieve you of £15 to park and launch for the day.. Not cheap but a bloody great day for sun, sea, fishing and hooning in the sib.

I can't help with Cornwall at the moment as i've not had the frib down there yet.. But i too am going later in the year.
Some of the other forum crew have had great experiences down Cornwall and i'm sure they'll be glad to share them with you.

Enjoy the forum, Never feel afraid of asking questuions.
We have a lot of experienced boat users aboard and several qualified RYA instructors too.

Martin

[Themd1]

Here's a few posts to view re: Black Rock

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=312
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=286

Edit..
just noticed some of the links in the post are old and out of date, but you'll find what you need on gwynedd council/maritime website

Martin

[chris moody]

Welcome to the forum.

The T32 is a great sib.

Do bear in mind that a 6hp is a very small engine for a T32, especially loaded up with 4 people. If you have not picked it up yet it might be worth considering changing the order for a larger engine.

[Themd1]

Thanks for the welcome and advice guys i really appreciate it, totally agree with everything you have mentioned, life jackets, kill cords, insurance etc and more safety are seriously on top of my list. now i have had time to digest and reflect on our purchase you guys are correct about the size of the engine.
however funds wont allow any bigger at the moment im affraid, when i say it will be four people it will most probably be just three of us most of the time, myself my 5 year old and my nine year old as the wife will have to stay with the campervan with the dog !!!! LOL, so its not like its going to be four full adults and when the wife does join us we will manage for 12 months till we decide we like it and then maybe we can up it to the 15 engine next year sometime.
do any of you guys meet up for days on the water over black rock sand way or anywhere else?

[Themd1]

Many of the guys on the southern coast meet up often.. Maybe you could tag along on one of those outings.
We do have guys on here over the Welsh border, Two brothers that often venture out in different craft.
We then have a few mid Englanders, Occasional mixed craft outings around the River `Ouse (York)
And the main annual sibbing event is the WWA- Wild West Adventure. That event take place around the West Coast of Scotland.

I usually manage to get upto the Lakes once or twice a year too with the frib, I've taken a few guys up the length of Ullswater and back for their maiden voyage, It's a great place to get the feeling of the boat and get a few miles on the outboard.

Martin

[Themd1]

i appreciate the advice on black rock, ive just looked at the links, for us as a family i think its going to be easiest location for a quick day out or a wend, the more i look into it and read and look at you tube the more excited im getting about our purchase

[Themd1]

i appreciate the advice on black rock, ive just looked at the links, for us as a family i think its going to be easiest location for a quick day out or a wend, the more i look into it and read and look at you tube the more excited im getting about our purchase

We're all here to help Colin...
(Well i'm sure they will be in the morning )

Don't dive in blind, just ask away when you have questions and we'll do what we can to assist you.
Bare in mind, Beach launching can come with it's own difficulties.
Black Rock Sands has one of the longest/shallow sea entries i've ever come across.. When that winds blowing into the shoreline you'll fight like hell to get launched. Black Rock heads into a very open sea.