Flying corporate helicopters for clients in the UK and EU neccessitated having a constantly updated, easily accessible data base of available landing sites. This was critical in case some one or a new pilot had to go in at a moments notice. This lead to a standardised multi season constantly updated (with seasonal and light / dark) reference document with constantly updated photographs and pilots comments.

Plow - Sorry mate but i think that's a terrible attitude to take, sure you can keep your fishing sites to yourself but the point i believe of this is more for safety than as an invite for masses of people..

someone on the website here was going to publish a book on boat ramps. try a search you might find the thread.

I think thats a great idea!

Is the ramp over there (beach lands ) suitable for a small tub? Plus i like the idea of a handy ramp to the intended area to fish Specially for those of us that fish from small boats.

So if by anychance the weather turns about its a short haul to safety.

Some may think over dramatic but its not a silly idea

loryda wrote: Plow - Sorry mate but i think that's a terrible attitude to take, sure you can keep your fishing sites to yourself but the point i believe of this is more for safety than as an invite for masses of people..

Great idea. One of the best things that this forum could do to support and help other members.

Also supplying information about the intended area for new users may be of some help also.

All well in saying if you don't know where the rocks and so forth then maybe something to help others out.
Sorry plow i don't agree with you there dude

None of this we dont want a ramp here because we dont want public access to our area ( B_S )
then again whative just said was pretty much sumed up post# 3

Interesting Plow, all the boating info brochures say to speak to locals before using bars etc, does this mean your locals wouldn't help? Assuming this I wonder how they would feel if after not giving information there was a tragedy which could have been avoided by suppling certain local info?

rocko - The ramp is suitable for anything 1/4 tide up, at low it is possible to retrieve but a jockey wheel and decent rope wont go astray and at a real low tide you'll be walking out 60meteres on muddy sand before you hit water. There's also a nasty drop off at the end of the ramp, i normally go over the drop off launching anything below 1/3 tide but with my car, the gradient (read: steep-ish) and slipperyness (word?) of the ramp i wouldn't like to try bring my trailer and boat back up it when retrieving. There is also no breakwater and a Northerly or Nor'wester will roll in there, although a Nor'easter is a little more sheltered due to the positioning of the ramp semi-behind the jetty i wouldn't like to try it with any real serious winds, mostly all other wind directions are ok but the ramp faces north so it pays to take a look at the swell directions as well. There are afew rocks around but nothing really in-line with the ramp so take the line and your sweet, there is also a reef to the left as you come into the ramp from the water which at full tide is submerged but to the right the beach is relatively rock free, personally i use Maraetai over Beachlands when i can as its only Easterlies that ruin the fun there but mainly because i prefer the bottom end and with my tanks the difference counts although i have occasionally had to come round to Beachlands to retrieve after launching at Maraetai because the winds have gotten up..