Access to Chichester Marina with 2.1m Draft

[Higster]

I am considering visiting Chichester Marina this weekend 25-26 Nov 2017 and wanted to know if this is realistic given I have a 2.1m draft. I note that the small river leading up to the lock has a depth area of -2.0m but is apparently dredged to 0.8m, but how well is this maintained?

Getting in on the Saturday will be fine as tide at Itchenor is reported as being approx 3.9m at 15:00 when we aim to arrive. Leaving on the Sunday at 11:00, tide should be 2.1m which should give me 2.9m depth.

Question is how well is the dredged channel maintained and are there any hazards I should be aware of?

Advice from any owners of larger vessels with experience of Chichester greatly appreciated.

 

[rotrax]

If you go in at the top, or very close to the top, of the high tide all should be fine. Stay close to the posts, it get shallow to Port.

Call the lockmaster early-before you make the turn into the entrance-and take his instructions.

If you are unfamiliar with the marina it may be prudent to use the waiting pontoon, visit the office and collect the berthing diagram.

Enjoy!

 

[Mark-1]

I am considering visiting Chichester Marina this weekend 25-26 Nov 2017 and wanted to know if this is realistic given I have a 2.1m draft. I note that the small river leading up to the lock has a depth area of -2.0m but is apparently dredged to 0.8m, but how well is this maintained?

Getting in on the Saturday will be fine as tide at Itchenor is reported as being approx 3.9m at 15:00 when we aim to arrive. Leaving on the Sunday at 11:00, tide should be 2.1m which should give me 2.9m depth.

Question is how well is the dredged channel maintained and are there any hazards I should be aware of?

Advice from any owners of larger vessels with experience of Chichester greatly appreciated.

I keep my boat in Chi and draw about 80cm and I cheerfully go in and out at low water springs so that +0.8 figure must be correct-ish. The -2m number is utter nonsense.

You'll be fine at the times you state and it's a well marked channel of soft mud so Sunday on a rising tide the worst case scenario is a five minute wait for more water.

It's neaps this weekend, so I'd be surprised if you couldn't get out at low water if you really had to. (Perhaps best not to though!)

 

[Higster]

Thanks Mark-1 - you mirror my thinking that this weekend has almost perfect conditions given states of tide etc.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Thinking of visiting this weekend also.

Getting in should be easy as the the lock should be running free flow around that time but do be aware only a limited number of berths at Chi are deep enough for your draft.

Shame they, and, MDL don't offer a discounted berthing rate out of the high season unlike most other marinas and harbours.

 

[chrishscorp]

If you go in at the top, or very close to the top, of the high tide all should be fine. Stay close to the posts, it get shallow to Port.

Call the lockmaster early-before you make the turn into the entrance-and take his instructions.

If you are unfamiliar with the marina it may be prudent to use the waiting pontoon, visit the office and collect the berthing diagram.

Enjoy!

+1

The food at the Yacht club is well reccomended

 

[Bobc]

My boat fits and it draws 2.2m

 

[Lucky Duck]

We were denied entry once on account of our 1.95m draft.

There are reports on this forum of berth holder's getting neaped because the water levels inside dropped due to the operation of the lock and the tide was not high enough to permit free flow to recharge the basin.

 

[Mark-1]

There are reports on this forum of berth holder's getting neaped because the water levels inside dropped due to the operation of the lock and the tide was no high enough to permit free flow to recharge the basin.

I know a berth holder who had exactly that problem a few years back. However, they have boats of that draught going in and out all the time so I think we can trust the marina staff to allocate a berth to the OP which will have suitable access for the 20 odd hours he'll be there. We don't want to over-dramatize visting a heavily used commercial marina in a very well marked channel.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Agreed, especially at this time of year there should be any problem finding a suitable berth.

Last year we were always put on hammer heads or the inner waiting pontoon but this season they found space/depth for us just beyond the new apartments.

 

[NDG]

From my own experience the approach has at least 0.5 at chart datum so you should be ok.

If you get stuck at LW just put the kettle on and wait 20 mins.

 

[Rotordude]

I truth the controlling factors are two fold berth availability and depth in the approach - to my mind that extends to the main channel as far south as Birdham spit. To deal with the first bit first as you may have noticed boats are getting larger and deeper consequently the marina is limited in the number of deep draft visitor berths it can offer especially at peak times. So a Billy Butlin observed "book early!" Moving on to the second bit the controlling factor is the depth in the main channel and specifically the amount of water over the Monkey shoal (the mud bank between Chichester and the Pool.) this extends into the main channel as a result the shallowest water is to be found around 100m north of Birdham Spit (or about level with the stern of the white MFV on the Bosham Hoe shore). In the approach channel from CM in the water will actually get progressively deeper. BTW some will tell you to keep close to the piles marking the approach, don't listen to them in reality the deepest water is to be found around 15 to 20ft to the north of the piles. As a rule of thumb though even with a 2.1 draft you should have enough water aside from 1.5 to 2 hrs either side of LW. If in doubt ask for a depth when you make your call to the lock on Ch80 as you approach Birdham Spit.