Brighton Marina Mud

[Habebty]

Blimey, didn’t realise it had got that bad in there. Just popped up on my facebook feed so might have been a few weeks ago on a big tide, apologies if posted before! Should still be able to view if not on Facebook.

Yesterday morning at #Brighton Marina, the spring tides led to significant tidal ranges. | Brighton’s Official #1 Page | imjustbrighton · Original audio

 

[capnsensible]

Good advert for keeping a boat in the Med.......

 

[lustyd]

You think that's mud?

 

[Stemar]

A bit like the Hardway SC pontoon, but with a bit of difference in price

 

[RivalRedwing]

that could get interesting in the winter with a spot of frost

 

[Roberto]

Amazing, no boat seems to list on the images, is the mud that soft ? And 2-3m thickness?
Should one person "fall overboard" would it be like being englued in moving sands, slowly sink while the tide is rising...

 

[RivalRedwing]

Amazing, no boat seems to list on the images, is the mud that soft ? And 2-3m thickness?
Should one person "fall overboard" would it be like being englued in moving sands, slowly sink while the tide is rising...

a predicament that those of us on the Greater Thames Estuary are only too aware of

 

[Stemar]

Amazing, no boat seems to list on the images, is the mud that soft ? And 2-3m thickness?
Should one person "fall overboard" would it be like being englued in moving sands, slowly sink while the tide is rising...

I can't speak for Brighton, but boats with 2m draft fin keels sit happily in the mud at Hardway. The kids on the nearby public pontoon go in the mud up to their knees. Just once in a while, one needs a bit of help to get out.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

a predicament that those of us on the Greater Thames Estuary are only too aware of

Likewise the Severn Estuary and Eastern Bristol Channel, and Bristol Avon where folks have drowned in the mud. Keeps hull weed growth down on tidal moorings but sadly doesnt trouble barnacles. Gets on all the warps too

 

[johnalison]

I got the impression when I was there that Brighton marina has base of chalk, with some mud overlying it, so that staying upright might be a matter of pot luck.

 

[Habebty]

I got the impression when I was there that Brighton marina has base of chalk, with some mud overlying it, so that staying upright might be a matter of pot luck.

I think you are right about the base of chalk, but the first time I went there about 2005, there was plenty of water at low tide, so there must be about 3m of mud sitting on the chalk now? The only caution I remember was not to attempt the entrance at low water in poor sea states. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that I once got briefly stuck at a berth at low water.

 

[lustyd]

My question is where has that "mud" come from. The pebble beach, or the chalk cliffs?

 

[veshengro]

" My question is where has that "mud" come from. The pebble beach, or the chalk cliffs? "

Many moons ago, when Noah was a little lad, I was talking to some Brighton inshore Fisherman at their pontoon in the Eastern part of Brighton Marina. Whether what they said was true or even possible I really don't know, but they were moaning about the Rampion Wind Farm which had started under construction down Channel a few miles to the West. They predicted that the base structures of the whirly gigs would alter the general seabed drift of sand/ shingle and mud along the coast and cause silting up at Brighton and Newhaven.

They were talking from a Fisherman's point of view and more concerned about the effects on fishes, not pleasure boaters remember, and the Wind Farm has been finished since about 2018. Rampion Part 2 has just been given the go ahead so in future the silting will probably block Brighton Prom and come halfway up the Clock Tower....

 

[Habebty]

My question is where has that "mud" come from. The pebble beach, or the chalk cliffs?

Probably suspended particles that remain in suspension in the tidal Channel outside but settle in the calmer marina inside? Probably the same mechanism that has shafted some Bristol Channel marinas.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

There is also a muddy brook that enter the sea near the marina. The mud is england slowly washing away, though some sand redeposited further along the coast to block the gates of rye

 

[lustyd]

Probably the same mechanism that has shafted some Bristol Channel marinas.

Bristol is surrounded by mud though so it makes sense. Brighton is surrounded by sand and shingle as well as chalk cliffs. They are renowned for liveaboards though

 

[lustyd]

There is also a muddy brook that enter the sea near the marina.

Not a local so I was just looking at Google Earth. Can't see that brook anywhere?

 

[Gixer]

Sorry to bump this thread, but does anyone have any recent first hand experience of the depth at Brighton Marina.
I want to know how bad it is and if it does hamper your ability to use your boat regularly.

 

[Sandy]

Why not give them a ring and ask when they were last dreged.

 

[V1701]

Gixer, the above video was of pontoons 24 & 25 which are about to be dredged, most if not all of the west side and some of the east has been dredged so boats no longer sit in the mud at LW. On this page though they do advise waiting 2 hours either side of LW to enter or leave if your draft is >1m. Not as many berths as there used to be due to the proliferation of the floating portacabin apartment things and lack of fingers in a few places so you might struggle to get a berth. I would suggest having a look at any berth or berths you're offered before committing...