Butley River depths

Hadenough

Hadenough

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Anyone been / anchored in the Butlety River with 1.7m draught. Done it loads of times before with old boat, 1.1m draft triple keeler but am a bit nervous about lastest boat, 1.7m and fin keel. I'm interested in the anchorage on the bend just before Boyton dock.

Whoops, sorry should have said this season, didn't know if the surge had had any effect.

TIA
 
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Hadenough said:
Anyone been / anchored in the Butlley River with 1.7m draught. Done it loads of times before with old boat, 1.1m draft triple keeler but am a bit nervous about lastest boat, 1.7m and fin keel. I'm interested in the anchorage on the bend just before Boyton dock.

Whoops, sorry should have said this season, didn't know if the surge had had any effect.

TIA
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No changes to Butley after surge, depths and entrance still about the same as usual. You should have enough water at low water around the dock and even a little further up. A friend has a Bene 31.7 which I believe is about 2 metre draft and he is a regular visitor. I anchor about half way between dock and ferry and the lowest I have seen there is 1.8 M., I am only 1M bilge. Plenty of deep draft boats stop before dock, where the river bends and is deepest. Worst part is just after entrance withies where it drops dramatically for about 50 yards, but even at low water you will get in. I get into 'creek' a couple of times a month and if interested I will try and do a mini depth survey?
Stick close to left bank entering and up to dock, then middle of river for max depth. The right of the river is a gradual slope so keep away, very sticky. (Also said friends boat is called Hadewijch, which is coincidental to your name?)
 
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Butley a Creek is a beaut isn't it. Taking the dinghy almost all the way up was a real treat, I reckon it's the prettiest river on the East Coast. I dream one day of having a mooring up there.

No problem for 1.8m, we were a long way from touching with 1.4m.
 
Seashoreman said:
If you have noticed a small white cross with fresh flowers on the riverbank towards dock it is nothing sinister. An old chap from Boyton died on that spot a couple of years ago whilst fishing, his favourite place apparently.
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Thanks, I've often wondered about that, couldn't find any inscription or explanation.
 
Seashoreman said:
If you have noticed a small white cross with fresh flowers on the riverbank towards dock it is nothing sinister. An old chap from Boyton died on that spot a couple of years ago whilst fishing, his favourite place apparently.
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Early 40's is not that old!
 
Don,t know much more other than that he liked Cadburys milk chocolate and Guiness.

Heart attack and stone dead on the footpath.
 
It is a lovely little beach on the north shore of the Alde between the brickworks and the big house at Blackheath. If you follow the channel up above the brickdock then there is a turn to starboard and you are sailing straight at it with 'only' about half a mile of shallows between you and the beach. It is very orange sand under a small cliff with distinctive trees on top of the cliff that i always assumed gave it the name. A favourite spot for dinghy picnics from Aldeburgh YC on a lunchtime tide but bigger boats have to anchor some way away on the edge of the channel as the mud dries for some way from the beach.
 
Charlotte Anne said:
It is a lovely little beach on the north shore of the Alde between the brickworks and the big house at Blackheath. If you follow the channel up above the brickdock then there is a turn to starboard and you are sailing straight at it with 'only' about half a mile of shallows between you and the beach. It is very orange sand under a small cliff with distinctive trees on top of the cliff that i always assumed gave it the name. A favourite spot for dinghy picnics from Aldeburgh YC on a lunchtime tide but bigger boats have to anchor some way away on the edge of the channel as the mud dries for some way from the beach.
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The Oaks
 
Lazy Kipper said:
Where's Little Japan? Heard about it a couple of weeks ago, supposed to be a nice spot.
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From the famous East Coast Rivers.
"Past Barber's Point, the river, towards HW, widens to to nearly a mile between it's banks, and while marshland lies to the south, Black Heath Woods reach down to a sandy beach on the north shore at a spot known locally as "Little Japan".
[between Aldeburgh & Iken Church]
 
So can I anchor a 2m draft boat in the Butley River? It looks like I may be able to (going up this weekend). I normally drop the hook nearer to Orford Quay but I've always wondered about Butley... Is there swinging room?
 
Marmalade said:
So can I anchor a 2m draft boat in the Butley River? It looks like I may be able to (going up this weekend). I normally drop the hook nearer to Orford Quay but I've always wondered about Butley... Is there swinging room?
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Yes you can, but I would suggest you don't enter at low water and if concerned anchor before the dock. There is talk of exposed ironwork (poss WW2) on left west bank of North Weir Point coming into river so avoid and stick to middle of channel.
I would be interested to hear where you anchor near Orford Quay. I believe most moorings are concrete slabs but I would worry about dragging onto seabed obstructions. I know you can anchor further up beyond town moorings or north of Havergate near Lady Florence, but still a hoick in a dinghy to get to the bright lights of Orford. (or leave early and avoid Herr Harbourmeister)
You have swinging room, I have seen people hanging a bucket astern which probably keeps you mid-channel. Discuss...ha
 
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I can see how a bucket could increase one's tidal profile - useful if the wind threatens to overwhelm the tide and blow you over the shallow stuff as the ebb sets in...
 
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