Brightlingsea scrubbing posts - tips & tricks please

surekandoo

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On Fri 18 July we are booked on the scrubbing posts so French Marine can remove and measure Mistral's prop.

This is a first for us and will mean a very early start if we are to make the posts at high water.

I've looked at Brightlingsea Harbour's Web site, but are the any other tips & suggestions that forumites can contribute?
 
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Only tried it once in previous boat, heavily fouled and echo sounder not working and made the big mistake of attempting after HW. I didn't make piles and dropped bolt to fix the drying out legs so ended up settling gently on side.

Go to piles before HW. Then induce a lean towards the piles as you settle.
 
go on 1 hour before HW, have plenty of fenders tied together to form a sausage, abeam your mast step, plus more on the aft quarter. the tide will take you onto the posts. if your plan is to come alongside on your starboard, on a flood. ( port side if on an ebb) real trick is to get a warp with a fairly long loop around the forward most post and tie it up fairly tight, i lead this from the bottom of my mast as a strong point then lay springs etc. first 2 posts are designed for a 30 /32 footer, next are for 27foot, they all have depth markings so that you can judge when you will ground which is when you start to induce a "slight " lean inward to the post.... If all else fails and you do not want to try it as a "first timer" call Garry Humm ( brightlingsea boat services) and he will put it on for you ( and take it off which is even more hairy than going on!) Gary likes to get up early!!!!

oh and in normal operating times the harbour master will assist if requested

good luck & look out for spectators!

Jc
 
go on 1 hour before HW, have plenty of fenders tied together to form a sausage, abeam your mast step, plus more on the aft quarter. the tide will take you onto the posts. if your plan is to come alongside on your starboard, on a flood. ( port side if on an ebb) real trick is to get a warp with a fairly long loop around the forward most post and tie it up fairly tight, i lead this from the bottom of my mast as a strong point then lay springs etc. first 2 posts are designed for a 30 /32 footer, next are for 27foot, they all have depth markings so that you can judge when you will ground which is when you start to induce a "slight " lean inward to the post.... If all else fails and you do not want to try it as a "first timer" call Garry Humm ( brightlingsea boat services) and he will put it on for you ( and take it off which is even more hairy than going on!) Gary likes to get up early!!!!

oh and in normal operating times the harbour master will assist if requested

good luck & look out for spectators!

Jc
.

hmm. I think I may have a problem here. I can only leave Maylandsea approximately 2 hrs before HW Osea Island which is about 35 mins after HW Brightlingsea (05:08 predicted). The trip will take about 2 hrs. Mistral draws 1.1m with the keel up.

Do you think I should risk it?
 
We used to do it from Maylandsea but from a mooring in the creek. I think you should make it, certainly on the deeper posts. We used to lay out the anchor chain on the deck to encourage a bit of heel, and stand on that side as she grounded. Once you have done it, it seems much less fraught.
 
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hmm. I think I may have a problem here. I can only leave Maylandsea approximately 2 hrs before HW Osea Island which is about 35 mins after HW Brightlingsea (05:08 predicted). The trip will take about 2 hrs. Mistral draws 1.1m with the keel up.

Do you think I should risk it?

leave thursday evening, lay over in the pyfleet thursday then pop over in the morning.....make the tides work for you,

jc
 
Not sure, but someone told me there were scrubbing posts at Maldon. Near the park I think. The same chap mentioned posts over at Goldhanger too. I have often seen keelboats dry out for cleaning in the berths next to mine in Maldon. A wide concrete slip with a sturdy and high jetty. I'm in Shipways yard, it is the one next door going upriver. Just a thought.
 
Get CPD to give you the lowdown.
Basically, you must go when the experienced people tell you, and not just stay in your pit when you should be tying up to posts. A lesser quantity of alcohol, and a little more sleep may also ease this potential difficulty.
Hm, Alan?
 
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