4ft draft fin keel for Maldon mooring?

[James W]

Still on the look out for that perfect family boat and it's clear that there's more good deals to be had on the East Coast with fin and deep keeled yachts.

Just a quick question, would a draft of 4 foot be out of the question for a Maldon mooring? I know it'll be fine on my mooring but would be the draft be too limiting? Would I still manage the odd hour out on the tide and then back before it's too late? I know a newer style fin might be a pain at times but a slightly more old fashioned stout keel should be able to sink into the gloop without too many problems wouldn't it?

Thanks loads,

James

 

[tillergirl]

You'd sink into the 'gloup' all right. TG draws 3'9" and lived qute happily on a mooring outside Heybridge Basin for 10 years. Access as I recall was really limited by the ability to get a dinghy out to her. It was wellies to the dinghy when she was just floating. I recall 2hrs either side of HW was easy to get on and off the mooring. Now if you are alongside at Maldon it would be a different thing but not that much. By the time I was going off my mooring, 'stuff' from Maldon moorings was coming down river. A big issue is being late back of course; kind of leaves you in no man's land!



That's my mooring then on the left behind. Behind the post is a Seadog which has coming up river and is afloat. I guess this is half tide. Used to sit upright there. At Heybridge there are harder patches that would stop a fin digging in so you would find it hard there. Maldon will have a greater choice of soft mud for a old style fin.

 

[Hadenough]

Nice family boat the Seadog, perfect for the East coast.

 

[Lucky Duck]

As a youngster I used to sail on a friend's Sonata which was kept on a fore and aft mooring just downstream of the town quay. Tidal access seemed to be around HW only but as it was mainly used for BJRC races it wasn't that big a hardship

 

[DavidofMersea]

I sail a Pandora from a mooring in front of the Blackwater sailing Club, and we can get off at half tide

 

[James W]

Thanks to all. I might have to be a bit more careful with my hour or so tide sails but it sounds like it's possible!

 

[sailorman]

Thanks to all. I might have to be a bit more careful with my hour or so tide sails but it sounds like it's possible!

Dont raft up to a Thames Barge & dry out :encouragement:

 

[James W]

Dont raft up to a Thames Barge & dry out :encouragement:

I can't imagine why not!

 

[Athene V30]

I can't imagine why not!

The Barge with a flat bottom will slip on the mud during grounding. If your fin is already in the mud your boat gets pushed over / squashed.

 

[UncleAlbert]

I am at Millbeach and my Centaur (3ft and a bit draft) sits submerged in mud up to her belly, so there is plenty of it! One club member had a deep fin 32 footer and it always sat comfortably in the gloop and never fell over. I would not want to venture out onto/into the stuff on foot(?) as it is really deep.

Re sailing time, except at bottom of Neaps, there is enough water for me to be away 2 hours plus to HW and get a sail around Osea Island and back home at or near high water.
Water of course disappears quicker than it comes in so there is really only a 'safe' 3 hours of 'one tide' sailing.

Unc

 

[Tam Lin]

I don't like to boast but just a few miles away Marconi Sailing Club has deep water moorings at a reasonable cost!