Places to try out my new dinghy in Essex

[mini me]

Hi. We have just bought ourselves a rubber dinghy. Seahawk 4 which just arrived. Looks pukka but I'm a little worried about taking it into the sea just yet. Without knowing how it handles and how I handle it. Does anybody have any good ideas of a place in essex I can try it out say a nice river or lake where we can have a little play?

[Simpo Two]

The Stour at Cattawade (Essex/Suffolk border) is popular with canoe-folk and looks safe. Or maybe a reservoir, or the Lee & Stort or Chelmer & Blackwater?

[mini me]

Cheers for the tips. Yeah the stour place looks pretty good. Looks like what we are after and not too far away. Any ideas on where the best ace to rock up and pump it up may be? I could do it here and strap it to the roof but if rather do it at the river if poss. I have an inverter and a 240v pump so would be handyto be able to do it all by the car somewhere. The river looks perfect though. Thanks.

[mph1977]

most lakes and reservoirs are owned by someon and have management arrangements ...

using them without permission is trespass ...

Edited by mph1977 on Saturday 6th June 23:45

[Simpo Two]

I think the 'boat rollers' are your target - they separate tidal from non-tidal.

51°57'20.69"N 1° 3'29.78"E

I haven't used them myself but often see canoes and kids in dingys etc there.




Failng that, a bit further north is Alton Water - lots of sailing up there.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 6th June 22:41

[mini me]

Simpo Two said:

I think the 'boat rollers' are your target - they separate tidal from non-tidal.

51°57'20.69"N 1° 3'29.78"E

I haven't used them myself but often see canoes and kids in dingys etc there.

Got it. Looks good for a starting point. Thanks to you both. Missus is worried. Little un is excited. As am I. Boating tomorrow then. Hopefully.

[mini me]

Thanks for the advise guys. We ended up going to the chelmer at little baddow. Was a brilliant day. The family loved it and we didn't sink. The boats pretty good. Could do with longer oars. Maybe a wooden floor but then I do t want to make it much heavier or difficult to transport in the car.

[Simpo Two]

Goodo, the C&B is lovely and I think only about 3' deep!