A misty day on the Blackwater

[Phil Davies]

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]

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]

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

[Phil Davies]

On the approach to Maldon harbour

[Phil Davies]

A collection of Thames sailing barges at Maldon quay

[Alan]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?