Recent content by pjimd

Would recommend doing your research, so no surprises en route, (lots of info in pilot books and these forums. Chatham/queenborough, Ramsgate and perhaps Sovereign harbour are all good stopping points. Personally I think perhaps most important is to use favourable weather and tides and simply...

Not a job for the faint hearted?! 'Experienced with bombs? We need you.'

It seems state of the tide is probably key at both, at Dungeness the tss is only about 3 miles off the power station, plenty of depth close in but the range patrol lurks close to the beach when range operational, they are quite polite when asking you to do one? We have always timed to pass...

Interesting. Normally we would plan to travel with little or ideally, no wind. The video clearly shows that doesn't necessarily equate to a smooth run! And agreed, an inshore forecast "moderate" sea state is far more pleasant prospect in yacht than a planing mobo

Well the n. Foreland was a pussy cat after all that, we left Ramsgate half hr before low water, aiming towards the elbow but found nigh on flat water so cut the corner towards the gore channel, light wind sunny and lovely. (Slightly off putting seeing small breaking waves on the margate...

Thank you. We are typically travelling between either the Thames/Chatham and Ramsgate or Eastbourne, usually via the Copperas. We do usually pass fairly close in to Long nose. Now you mention it standing further off is pretty obvious and makes sense, as does the preceding weather. We are...

Please could I ask what the general view is for planning a smoothish passage around n. Foreland. We have generally timed trips to coincide with lowish wind and slack tide but although sometimes completely flat (and lovely), sometimes have found really unpleasant conditions, with short standing...

Sorry if this is a daft question, but could I ask what "abort points" have been used in passage plans?

I have never seen so many "no mooring" signs on the river. Finding a half decent mooring for an overnight stop or lunch is getting harder. Whilst the registration requirement and threats of penalties might be despised, if it deters overstaying and frees up some space for a short term stop...

That's quite thick rope, so probably wouldn't reach the shaft seal. I think fishing line likely to do more damage. But bad luck, not much you can do to avoid this. I have somehow managed to catch a crab pot marker, remains of a ratchet strap, an Ikea carrier bag, the base of a traffic cone and...

Well I have learnt a huge amount from these fora, from people with far more boating experience and knowledge than my own. The site really is a valuable resource and I hope it doesn't get side tracked by the pedants. Being an owner of a planing motorboat (who doesn't lift fenders between locks) a...

East Coast Pilot is well worth reading in advance. Also recommend reading the pla notices to mariners. Don't get put off, it's a great trip and your boat boat is quite capable - thoroughly recommend it

Not sure whether you've left yet? We did this trip in early August in our s28. I'm definately no master mariner and still on a steep learning curve with this boating lark but some things you might find useful: Don't worry about the barrier - you call vts by the dome and they give you an arch...