A cat in the Wash -where could I take her?

[stibbles]

The mooring bouys at kings lynn are meant to be 'for boats up to 30' ' but I would guess they would take a bit more, there are 3 in all just before you reach the old bridge (free bridge?), it's a bit desolate there though.

Ah. I don't think I went that far when I went on land.

I've also been aware of a possible marina development at King's Lynn, but last I googled it seemed it might be a victim of the credit crunch - do you know if that's right?

 

[stibbles]

Hi, used to keep my 28" cat at Fosdyke there is not a lot there and it is 7 miles to the sea. If you do keep your cat there be very carefull if you ever try to turn the boat round when the tide is coming in, you will be stuck under the bridge in no time.QUOTE]

Yes, it looks a bit unforgiving. Did your cat have a single engine? (interested to learn what single engined cat could manage there - would increase the field and maybe decrease the budget needed in some cases).

 

[RogerMayne]

Hi, used to keep my 28" cat at Fosdyke there is not a lot there and it is 7 miles to the sea. If you do keep your cat there be very carefull if you ever try to turn the boat round when the tide is coming in, you will be stuck under the bridge in no time.QUOTE]

Yes, it looks a bit unforgiving. Did your cat have a single engine? (interested to learn what single engined cat could manage there - would increase the field and maybe decrease the budget needed in some cases).

Yes I have a single engine with a steerable sillette sonic drive leg, my cat has no keels so trying to turn across a fast flowing tide in a narrow river is a nightmare. Most people will play it safe and moor up and then do the turning at slack water.

I find it a handful manoeuvering in close quarters but you do get used to it and soon learn your limits. I usually try to get either the bow or the stern in first, then get someone ashore to warp us in. I have watched a few twin engine cats and while I would agree that they are better the real solution is a bow thruster. That said if you avoid tight situations and plan ahead you will be fine with a single engine.

 

[Sixpence]

With Fosdyke a double engine would be very useful on a cat at 30' LOA because if you don't time your arrival at the pontoon perfectly, the tide flow means you would either have to turn around and reverse, then ferry glide onto the pontoon, or turn hard and fast after it, then motor into the flow onto your berth. The turning area between pontoon and bridge is very restricting, with submerged obstructions such as what looks like the remains of an old pontoon sticking out from the side, so you do have to turn very fast to avoid going under the bridge, but also keep as near to the centre of the river to avoid running into something unpleasant.
Best advice is to arrive at HW slack, or even drop anchor after the final bend if you arrive early, then move when the flow slows enough to make your arrival a bit more comfortable.
Last time I got to the pontoon about two hours before HW it was touch and go if we were going to make it safely, and we just made it, with the help of those on the pontoon who caught our lines. Have since decided only to arrive at HW or at the most, an hour either side. Obviously depends on springs or neaps as it's not too bad at times, but it can be a hair removing experience if badly timed on a spring tide

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

Cat in the Wash!

did it by accident once

flatmate wasn't impressed,

usual student lifestyle, no - one could find the cat anywhere.

I did when i took my washing out of the machine. fortunately i was drunk at the time

It must have jumped in when i went back upstairs to get the rest.

The debate that followed would get me reported to the RSPCA so I won't repeat it.

Anyway brought back a memory.

 

[bastonjock]

Ah. I don't think I went that far when I went on land.

I've also been aware of a possible marina development at King's Lynn, but last I googled it seemed it might be a victim of the credit crunch - do you know if that's right?

Kings Lynn marina has been put back due to lack of funding,Wisbech Port Authority are going ahead with a second marina at Sutton,i suspect that the Sutton marina will be for yachts as the big moan is the bridge at Sutton and the current marina will be for powered craft with no big sticks.

If kings Lynn ever gets a marina then that one will be the best for acess in rough weather,the Lynn Channel is somewhat easier to get in during a blow ,in a Nor easter the "elbow" in the wisbech channel can get mighty rough

 

[Tommyrot]

Have since decided only to arrive at HW or at the most, an hour either side. Obviously depends on springs or neaps as it's not too bad at times, but it can be a hair removing experience if badly timed on a spring tide

I'd agree with that!

 

[JKay]

Connor and I was there to save you from the deadly Welland roadbridge

 

[Tommyrot]

Connor and I was there to save you from the deadly Welland roadbridge

I was glad somebody was there!

 

[JKay]

I was glad somebody was there!

That current there is for grown ups,I'll ask one if I can come down again this year

 

[Tommyrot]

I'm off to gentler pastures, got a mooring at Saltfleet....

 

[JKay]

That looks a grown up place too,Whats wrong with Boston.........................................



































This could take a while(and Connors outboard was nicked down there last year)

 

[Tommyrot]

Boston has been good, but it's a long way down that river every time, and seen enough of The Wash to keep me going for a while!
The creek at Saltfleet doesn't get anything like the current at Fosdyke, it doesn't go much further than the moorings before the sluice stops it....
Two pubs in the village, both do food. Shop, chippie in the summer - what more do you need?
Lots of boats at Boston been broken into, I've been lucky. Did the outboard go missing from Boston?

Could be rivalling Dave's "Drift a thread" from the lounge at this rate!

 

[alexrunic]

Thornham is wider than wainfleet and should not pose any great problems, providing you do not come in too early on the tide for two reasons one having more water to play with and 2 less flow for turning.

Wainfleet, we have a resident 30 ft cat who gets out all the time and is not on the best mooring either he is up the north end past most of the other boats. If you were going to visit let me know and i will show you the way in. QUOTE]


Thanks for your kind offer! I must say one of the things I am looking forward to about exploring the sailing area is the community which from this forum seems sound.

Would be good to think that Thornham would be available - a closer bolt hole when heading East.

Would you happen to know if that 30' cat is twin engined? I presume that would make quite a difference to the turning circle - if single I'm guessing it'd need a bigger one.

the 30' cat has at out board so quite maneuverable i guess. As I say I recommend you come and have a look first just so your happy with turning round etc. No problems with showing you the way in just let me know when you fancy it, Friday nights or Sunday nights would be best as off sailing for the weekend otherwise, but might be able to sort something out for a sat night if req'd.

 

[JKay]

Yeah from the Boston boatclubs locked cupboard
I'll come for a sail this year in return for fishing lessons

 

[bastonjock]

I found the guys at wainfleet a most helpfull bunch,i came in at dusk and a couple of guys had seen me approach so they held back and helped me moor up,then gave me acess to the clubhouse so that i could charge my phone,all that they asked in return was that i signed the guest book

I also stopped at tetney on my way North,i went to the clubhouse and asked for directions to a petrol station,the guys at the bar thought that this was hillarious and gave no help at all,one of the caravan dwellers was much more helpfull,he gave me a lift to and from the nearest fuel station.

The anchorage at the North end of the Humber was more pleasant,there are a lot of tunnels there so id keep a hold of the kids but other than that it was great for wildlife.

Grimbsby fish dock is good for a stop over,the club there is friendly and welcoming,i think that i was charged 12 quid for the night,again its not close to shops etc but it has showers,laundry facilitys etc

Whilst i was at bridlington,it looked like they were putting in a new pontoon for pleasure craft,they do a good deal for staying over for three or four days.Bridlington itself was a bit dull after the second day but the guys at the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club which is very close to the harbour,they went out their way to make a stranded mariner welcome,the offer full use of their facilitys.

 

[stibbles]

I found the guys at wainfleet a most helpfull bunch,i came in at dusk and a couple of guys had seen me approach so they held back and helped me moor up,then gave me acess to the clubhouse so that i could charge my phone,all that they asked in return was that i signed the guest book

I also stopped at tetney on my way North,i went to the clubhouse and asked for directions to a petrol station,the guys at the bar thought that this was hillarious and gave no help at all,one of the caravan dwellers was much more helpfull,he gave me a lift to and from the nearest fuel station.

The anchorage at the North end of the Humber was more pleasant,there are a lot of tunnels there so id keep a hold of the kids but other than that it was great for wildlife.

Grimbsby fish dock is good for a stop over,the club there is friendly and welcoming,i think that i was charged 12 quid for the night,again its not close to shops etc but it has showers,laundry facilitys etc

Whilst i was at bridlington,it looked like they were putting in a new pontoon for pleasure craft,they do a good deal for staying over for three or four days.Bridlington itself was a bit dull after the second day but the guys at the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club which is very close to the harbour,they went out their way to make a stranded mariner welcome,the offer full use of their facilitys.

Yes, I will venutre North in time as well, I'm sure. I seem to recall reading in the sailing press about a big expansion of the marina at Scarborough as well? I'll bring my bucket and spade...

 

[Tommyrot]

Yeah from the Boston boatclubs locked cupboard
I'll come for a sail this year in return for fishing lessons

Sounds like a good idea, I need lessons alright!



I had the same treatment as Bastonjock at Bridlington, and at Saltfleet 2 members in a rib met me at the inner mark to lead me in!

Friendly place this east coast.

 

[Tommyrot]

I was sorting my new mooring out at Saltfleet yesterday, was told that a decent sized cat used to turn up and stay for a week every year. Lots of places to dry out.

 

[stibbles]

I was sorting my new mooring out at Saltfleet yesterday, was told that a decent sized cat used to turn up and stay for a week every year. Lots of places to dry out.

Thanks Tommy. All snippets of information gratefully recieved. I'm sure Saltfleet is often a valuable stop off on a trip North.

I've been encouraged by some of this thread to think that a single-engined cat could be managed in some of the places I'd like to go to or be based at like Fosdyke with some sensible skippering. That's great because it brings in for me some slightly smaller boats which I could buy without a loan and have a better chance of taking to some of the smaller havens, I think.