Rowers on the skids | Auckland Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Auckland

It's a slippery slope for boaties when they launch from the Greenhithe ramp, as Sophie Bond discovers.

On a beautiful morning, a pod of dolphins cruises on the outgoing tide, the flat water sparkles.

At the bottom of Rame Rd in Greenhithe, four rowers shoulder their craft and pad barefoot down the concrete boat-ramp and into the water. But launching the coxless quad is not straightforward and these members of the North Shore Rowing Club live in the hope of a new floating pontoon making the process speedier and safer.

Club member Jordan Stanley says launching a boat from the existing ramp takes time and careful manoeuvring. Only one crew member can use it at a time.

"When it's 6am, you want to get out there as soon as possible, and a floating pontoon would allow us to launch in two minutes as opposed to 10. And we could do three boats at once."

The 18-year-old says the stretch of water here is perfect for training the club's elite and senior rowers and it's also appreciated by kayakers and waka ama crews.

His older sister, Leah, says weekends and summer are chaotic as fishing boats, wake boarders and rowers compete to use the  ramp.

"We come here because this is some of the nicest water in Auckland. A pontoon will just make it that much more accessible."

North Shore City Council has consulted the club about designs for a floating pontoon. Club president - and the rowers' dad - Mike Stanley says the long-awaited pontoon will make life much easier.

"Upper Waitemata Harbour is an extremely important area for rowing with the long stretches of water needed. There are very few deepwater access points available to the public."

The present ramp is difficult to use at low tide and must be shared with power-boat users. "It's dangerous, too; not maintained and slippery. Because it's narrow, it doesn't really accommodate long rowing skiffs and it's awkward and time-consuming."

A pontoon design was  suggested and reached the consent stage in 2007, but Mr Stanley believes someone in the council saw it as an unjustified expense and the idea was scuppered.

Council parks officer Kim Brown says it's seeking regional council approval for a pedestrian walkway and pontoon.Funding should be available next year.

Mr Stanley says it will allow the club and other users to launch vessels safely. "This is about giving young people good-quality opportunities."

North Shore Rowing Club

Founded in 1874, it is one of  New Zealand's oldest clubs with its clubhouse on the shores of Lake Pupuke. It also has a boatshed on Rame Rd and, from there, the senior squads do long-distance training.