SIB Launch on Pebble Beach

[CUSAC]

Hi all

Currently without a boat and am thinking of a 3.5-4m air floor SIB for some simple (hopefully low cost!) fun on the water. Would be looking for a 15-25hp outboard to pair with it. Much more used to large RIBs with trailers but not a practical option currently.

To make it easy and simple to use and avoid travelling to a slipway I want to inflate at home then wheel it 100m along a pavement and then 20m or so down (and then up) a fairly shallow pebble/shingle beach. Would launching wheels bog down in this? This may dictate size of outboard as could take fuel tank and engine off at waters edge up to concrete then recover boat.

The beach has an exclusion zone of 200m for power driven craft so plan was to paddle/row to the limit then use engine. The bay is normally extremely flat and will only be going out on fair weather days anyway.

Just looking to get an idea of whether this sounds feasible single handed or would need 2 people or just overall not practical!


Any experience/feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Maximus]

I used to launch (EARLY morning)a Zodiac on launching wheels from the Beach at "Sea Town" single handed...three short trips..Boat.. 20hp Blueband Merc..engine and then Tank and fishing gear...shortish walk from the Car Park...although if it's early (Dawn) you can get closer then park up
I was somewhat younger/keener then and never bothered me at all...but undeniably a lot easier with two or three!

A good SIB is a lot of Bang/Fun for your Buck that's for sure!

[Max...]

We do similar - larger than a 15 will be hard work for one even on a wheeled trolley.

Depends a lot on the gradient and pebbles but I'm getting older and finding it more difficult each season with two of us! You want the wide sand-something wheels, cannot remember the name now as they will not dig in and roll better on sand/shingle/pebbles. Run a search for this as lots of pics in previous topics.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by CUSAC

The beach has an exclusion zone of 200m for power driven craft so plan was to paddle/row to the limit then use engine.

Do others do this? it sounds like technically its legal but you might still end up having to deal with "people" who see the engine and want to point out the law to you. Depending on your tolerance for "people" this could make a big difference to your day...

[HDAV]

You may wish to look at one of these, not cheap.

Inflatables / Launching trolleys, boat and utility trailers, Neoprene wet and dry suits: cadkat.com offers your solution

Wheeleez are the wheels https://www.wheeleez.com/copy-of-coo...conversion-kit cheaper/easier tog et alternative here: https://www.allterraintyres.co.uk/in...oducts_id=4562

[CUSAC]

Originally Posted by Poly

Do others do this? it sounds like technically its legal but you might still end up having to deal with "people" who see the engine and want to point out the law to you. Depending on your tolerance for "people" this could make a big difference to your day...

Good point. Well technically it's no unguarded props within the zone but really don't fancy a prop guard.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Poly

Do others do this? it sounds like technically its legal but you might still end up having to deal with "people" who see the engine and want to point out the law to you. Depending on your tolerance for "people" this could make a big difference to your day...

Yep..People stick thier nose in more and more these days for sure!..

Seems the concept of "Live and Let live" is going down the Drain!...then again they're very often the ones who end up sqealing when you give them a reality check!..and things "don't go thier way"
That's before the Petty officials have a Beano
They say "Absolute power corrupts....ect
In my experience a little (small amount of authority/Power) is ALOT more Toxic!...
Anyway Seatown isn't a problem for Beach Launching...and the fishing can be ACE!...The Pubs pretty good too
As said a good Early start gives you the edge most places too!!

[collier]

We launched, and kept on the beach for that matter a hard floored quicksilver 3.8hd with a Mercury 15 2 stroke for years..... the launching wheels kept digging in so went for a cheap launching trolley with bouncy tyres ( like a wheelbarrow) that was possible even over 50 m soft sand with a steep little hill at the end... some others who went for a 4 stroke so an extra 25 kg found that extra weight killed them do needed 2 for the job....
So in my experience a 2stroke and launching trolley