While I waited, the queue built up to over 30 boats. That's too much waiting for many of them. Some boaties didn't seem to know how to behave in a mature fashion - some trying to jump the queue - some pushing forward so those in front felt they had to go forward to keep their place and try and stay safe from collision, so everyone was unsafe.

 

Im not saying everyone was acting badly, just a few.

 

You know, cant stay in one position, so continually engaging the prop, moving slightly, then the wind blew the boat backwards. One and a half hours of this! Ruined my day.

 

I saw two collisions, one with rocks.

 

When I arrived at the ramp in the morning about 9am, I should have known better, trailer parking already over-filled, all the grass beside the marina filled, some parked along the roadway. I should have cancelled or looked somewhere else for a beach launch. I wont make that mistake again.

 

And that was a Friday, not a public holiday - not yet summer even!.

 

Theres no sign of the Council doing anything to cater for the huge increase in population that's pouring into Auckland (mostly from overseas). You all know whos to blame for this - the stupid government (that 46% of you voted for, for some unfathomable reason).

 

To cap it off, my motor played up (in the Boat section) - and fishing was b...y hard, caught 2 snapper just big enough (in the Reports section).

 

What would that achieve ??????

 

More money for the government coffers or slush fund, no doubt but that is where it will stay to be spent, as with all the transport levies on various whims of their fancy excluding any added benefits for boaties!

 

Rather naïve to think otherwise imo. 

That wont work. That's peanuts to some people and absolutely no qualification of competency. I should know.

 

What would that achieve ??????

 

More money for the government coffers or slush fund, no doubt but that is where it will stay to be spent, as with all the transport levies on various whims of their fancy excluding any added benefits for boaties!

 

Rather naïve to think otherwise imo. 

It would shorten the waiting time down to retrieve the boat. It would also employ a bunch of wardens and inspectors. Probably not the direction that a National Govt would head toward even with 46% of the vote.

It would shorten the waiting time down to retrieve the boat. It would also employ a bunch of wardens and inspectors. Probably not the direction that a National Govt would head toward even with 46% of the vote.

Yes ramp with facilities probably should come out of rates as not all play rugby etc but to play usually need to join a club,not everyone pays rates.

If there was a annual fee like Aussie,on average they pay $60 depends on state,they have water police,fairly decent ramps from what I have seen. $60 is not a lot of money considering 4 x launches at kkb,have a fairly decent fishery inspectors at work with Bloody frightening fines (no wet bus tickets)

Need  help at sea in NZ and not  a coastguard member very costly,and few do give false details so no chance of cost recovery.

How many private clubs around Auckland with pontoons/wash down facilities ??

I heard a similar story from a work mate who went out in the middle of winter at Gulf Harbour and the queue to launch was out the entrance way and down past the toilet block  - the trailers parked miles away. I winter!

i caught the ferry to work on Friday from Half Moon Bay and it was absolute chaos down there - trailer park full by 7.15 (commuters take up the rest of the parks) and trailers up all the side streets later in the day.

Half the tradies in east Auckland were out fishing. "Sorry, my other job's running over time, I won't be able to make it to your place today!".

Thousands more homes in the Silverdale area, thousands more in Flat Bush towards Manukau. Plenty of those people have boats, all heading to the same old ramps.

Given the incompetence and mis-management of Auckland's growth has been going on for decades to the point we're dumping raw sewage into the harbour every time we have significant rain, I wouldn't hold your breath for better launching facilities!

Not too sure to be honest. I think it's got quite a lot better than it used to be. Perhaps due to better systems and bit of a firmer stance.

The point is if we paid a fee then we can have some say on the matters,you could argue you pay fuel tax so do many others,with the increasing boating numbers there will be a time for a fee/saftey/skipper/ramp users etc and I would suspect its not to far away.

Makes my marina berth look cheap.....

No new ramps and less places to launch we will see a lot more trailer boats on the muddy and West Coast this season I predict.

With a broke Auckland Council - over spent everywhere else I do not see any new solutions on the agenda. 

My suggestion if local boaties on some of the beaches got together and told the council they wished to build a new ramp and carpark....the Council may jump. But it will take a band of boaties (a new club) in an area to make it happen.

Another example is a concrete sea defence wall at a local reserve.  About 18 months ago it got washed out, and Auckland council started looking at repairing it.  So far, and goodness knows how many tens of thousands of dollars already spent, they have talked about it, consulted with the local Iwi, had public information days to show their proposals, talked to the local yacht club, had meetings and now have their final proposal.  This now needs resource consent, which will take several more months.  So, it finally looks like that after two years they might be close to being able to start repairing the wall.  Can you imagine the process you would have to go through to get a boat ramp built?

 

At Gulf harbour, the available areas for trailer parking, are already grossly inadequate, and have to compete with freedom campers and ferry commuters. Even if a boat ramp expansion was possible, it appears theres no way for parking the trailers. There is a unused area at the end of the reclamation; but the council allowed it to be leased to a private company, that now wants to put houses on it - the outcome of this remains to be seen - boaties should take note and push for this land to retained in public use. 

 

I have looked at Council website for any mention even of the possibility of new boat ramps - not a whisper that I can find. We are being totally ignored. Whereas, Council intends to make new sport fields, and parks for tennis, netball courts etc, all that require large areas for vehicle parking. I suppose, that finding enough land on the coast in a place suitable for boat launching (ie a bay/beach) means extremely expensive land, and in most places there wont be any land left.

 

We should apply pressure to Council(s) to provide added boat launching facilities. But I suggest, that the only way that will happen would be local boating communities combining forces to fund and build new ramps.

 

On Whangaparaoa, generally, the boat launching places on beaches appear to have more capacity, as theres no sign of congestion; except trailers parked along streets could be a concern to local residents.

 

Cheers

Itis important to do this right away. Reason the Council is considering what to do with respect to the Americas Cup event coming up in 4 years and local boaties maybe pushed to the back of the queue.

They use a REd/Green lolly pop stick to manage the que. Works a treat, always fisheries on hand. Yet people still bring in undersize fish...

Had no issues, we like it... friendly staff....  

Public ramps  lol...  join a club 

 

I made the mistake of putting my ute too close to the water, and the brakes corroded and locked solid.

OBC at Whangarei is fantastic! But the new rule about two ropes one on the front and one on the end is nuts when its a 12fter  (can see the purpose when it gets windy and new to boating people have issues)

Never ran into anyone grumpy, most have a good laugh and a yarn. Only issue I get is that lady in the van trying to do the NIWA research. Doesn't cater for spearos and hounds me every time even though my information is useless as its only designed for bubble blowers and stick holders 

They have been building it for a while with Pontoons for when launch in or out and also another along the end for waiting I guess. Being industrial seems not bad parking. But when will they finish it and remove the barriers? Looks close to all tide also.

SSSSHHHHHUUUUSSSHHH man