A misty day on the Blackwater

Phil Davies · 06 March 2004, 23:13

An experienced jet skier, Ribnet newcomer DanielTD5 is now looking to buy his first RIB. He's after an economical runabout of around 4 metres and since he's never been in a RIB I invited him down for a trial in my Searider on the River Blackwater in Essex.

We launched Saturday morning in misty drizzle from Bradwell at the mouth of the estuary and headed up river towards the picturesque town of Maldon.

Here's Daniel at the helm in front of Bradwell nuclear power station. Blown away by the power and thrust from the Honda 30, he declares within 5 minutes that he'll be looking for a minimum of 40hp when he buys his boat

Phil Davies · 06 March 2004, 23:14

Moored up for a coffee on the shingle bar at Osea Island (the one the Beckhams were going to buy for £6 million!)

Phil Davies · 06 March 2004, 23:16

One of only two other boats we saw all day! - a lovely example of a Thames sailing barge tacking off Heybridge Basin

Phil Davies · 06 March 2004, 23:16

On the approach to Maldon harbour

Phil Davies · 06 March 2004, 23:17

A collection of Thames sailing barges at Maldon quay

Alan · 07 March 2004, 08:57

Did you stop at Maldon Hythe Quay? If you do my recommendation is to go to the Queens Head in preference to the Jolly Sailor which is a bit cr*p these days IMHO.

(As I sit here I look at the masts of the yachts just upstream of the Hythe. Tides very much out at the moment!)

Phil Davies · 07 March 2004, 10:08

Hi Alan - well we were going to but realised when we got there we'd left our wallets in the cars! Thanks for the pub recommendations, I'll check them out next time.

Daniel TD5 · 07 March 2004, 10:10

i must say a very big thank you to phil davies for letting me join him on saturday morning. for a trip down the blackwater and a go
on his spot less avon sea rider.
it would seem from my day out. phil size of boat would be fine for me but i don,t think ribing is any think like jet skieing as they say jet skiers are a pain in the arse. phil had a chart with him for the blackwater so we new where to go
and what route to follow using the marker bouys which have numbers marked on them. allso the depth of water is very important with a rib. a jet ski would only use a couple of inches
when on the plain as i found out then i came out of the thames and into the river lee and stopped i put my foot over the side and found the water to be less than a foot and had to push the boat back down river to find deeper water. phil said its a good idear
two have a power boat course level two so i think that would be my next port of call now i am hooked on owning a nice rib. by the the way phils 30 hp seems to be the joke of the site some thing
about a 50 hp being better and sea guls can go faster my jet ski is a seadoo xp limited 125 bhp so belive it or not i did not find phils boat under power for what we got up to

my girls · 07 March 2004, 11:29

Phil

Sorry i didnt return your message, i'am having grief with email at home, i think the kids might have something to do with it. Looks like the water was flat and i could'nt see any sh-t flies at Osea Island, there is a great pie mash and liquer shop in Maldon, we used to moor the jet bikes up and go in the shop with wet suits and lifejackets on (soaking wet).

Richard

robin · 07 March 2004, 12:42

Nice pics Phil. I have walked round that area. Very pleasant. Your Sea rider looks in cracking nick. Does the 30 not provide enough poke ? Or is it that you just want a new engine?

Phil Davies · 07 March 2004, 16:24

Robin

I originally bought the package as a small runabout for use in the Essex estuaries, for which the 30 was perfectly OK. I subsequently found Ribnet, hooked up with a few experienced ribsters and realised I needed a bit more poke to keep up with their bigger RIBs. I also wanted to get into water skiing and the 30 is definitely not up to that.

The issue has since been complicated by people advising me to get a bigger boat and engine rather than upgrading the 30, which makes a lot of sense I guess. I must admit the cost to change to a 50 was fairly ridiculous, but I would do it if I was convinced I was going to keep the 4m for a few years. Not sure what to do really, but the 50 ETec was going to be my choice of engine..........and may yet be! Hopefully I'll get to see yours running shortly and that may be enough to persuade me to keep the 4 metre.

Alan · 07 March 2004, 16:28

Phil, Its just the mismatch between the Range Rover and the tiny RIB behind it. You need to get a bigger boat to go with the Rangie!!

robin · 07 March 2004, 16:31

I will keep you posted.

Phil Davies · 07 March 2004, 16:45

Well spotted Alan! I have to say they do make a funny sight and it's definitely a case of big car, small boat syndrome - I could probably get the Avon on an RR's roof rack

The other thing I'm dreading is if I do go for a bigger RIB I'll have to ask the forum's advice and can you imagine the debate that will ensue? I just know I'll be so confused at the end of it that it probably won't happen at all. I intend to have a close look at Ian and Jono's ProSport RIBs in the near future, although if you can get a Scorpion or Phantom Evo below 6.5 metres........

The Jackeens · 07 March 2004, 16:57

Really like the photos...something ghostly about those boats...

Missus

Daniel TD5 · 07 March 2004, 16:59

phil did you manage to sort the engin out when you got back home.

Phil Davies · 07 March 2004, 19:35

Missus

Yes, those barges have an unworldly presence, don't they? In fact the whole estuary was quite atmospheric and ghostly yesterday, shrouded as it was in mist and with an eerie silence about it, apart of course from the roar of the Honda

Daniel

Yes it fired first time when I got it home and flushed it out on the muffs. Obviously I must have flooded it on the hard. Bloody carburettors

The Jackeens · 07 March 2004, 19:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Phil Davies
Missus

Yes, those barges have an unworldly presence, don't they? In fact the whole estuary was quite atmospheric and ghostly yesterday, shrouded as it was in mist and with an eerie silence about it, apart of course from the roar of the Honda

Poetic Phil!!!
Missus

Daniel TD5 · 07 March 2004, 19:58

phil

glad to hear it started first time then you got it home as you say
carbs can be a bit of a pain. i like the pics. ive now got a new sreen saver me in a rib

the thames barge looks good tacking
up and down all that work for about 20meters forward