Christchurch navigation?

[OAF]

I have left the almanacs on the boat etc and I was thinking about having a few days on the boat next week, I have always fancied going to Christchurch, it looks like a tricky place to get into, any one got any advice on the place, where to go when there, indeed getting there in a 43 foot mobo?

 

[l'escargot]

Informatiom on pilotage on these 2 sites Possibly out of date as the entrance moves but should be buoyed for the season:

http://www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk/visiting.htm

http://www.christchurchharbour.info/

Your options for mooring are very limited.

 

[geardownthreegreens]

Only been there once and as you state,its a tricky little entrance.

Very shallow water from memory, and you MUST follow the bouys marking the entrance/channel.

Once your up to the harbour wall/entrance area,stick to the middle of the channel because as i said,from memory its very shallow. Best to go at high tide. Nice cruising tho so worth it IMHO


Si

 

[Wiggo]

I'm a few years out of date on Christchurch depths, but I'd like to suggest that the only way you will get a 43' mobo in there is on a low loader. We left there about 5 or 6 years ago after we worked out there were only three weekends in the year we could get in or out in daylight, drawing a metre.

If you do go in, your options are limited: Elkins or Rossiters are the two boatyards, and they may be able to offer a mooring if someone is out, but there are no visitors moorings as such. There are a couple of spots in the harbour to anchor, but that's it.

Beautiful place to visit, having said all that...

 

[[2068]]

The original poster doesn't say if he has shafts or outdrives.

Outdrives is "no problem" at most decent tides, so long as you don't mind churning up a bit of mud and running with them slightly raised. Last time I was there (a couple of years ago) I just turned the depth alarm off completely (there's not much point listening to continous beeping - if you stop moving, it's too shallow).

I have never tried with a shaftdrive boat, and I'm not sure that I would want to, either.

 

[gjgm]

I tried popping in last year, as were passing and the tide was in.
Well, we got in, but after about 300 metres, I gave up. I couldnt find any water even in the channel, but there seemed locals confidently heading this way and that. I just didnt fancy £*** on new props. Or being stuck there for hours.
Looks somewhere nice to try in a tender

 

[dpb]

The shallowest bit tends to be between behind Hengistbury Head and where the approach narrows for Christchurch, where there is plenty of water, infact you can get quite far up the river beyond Christchurch before the depth drops again.
The Captains Table allows customers to tie up at their quay, (or at least they did!).
Apart from that as others hve said we have yet to find anywhere else to stop......shame really.

 

[MRC]

Go in and out +\- high tide.

Some big boats do come and go.

The hotel up river past priory quay offer overnight berths alOng their quay. May need to book an evening meal with them.

 

[MRC]

Go in and out +\- high tide.

Some big boats do come and go.

The hotel up river past priory quay offer overnight berths alOng their quay. May need to book an evening meal with them.

Edit to add - the captains club I think it's called.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

The shallowest bit tends to be between behind Hengistbury Head and where the approach narrows for Christchurch, where there is plenty of water, infact you can get quite far up the river beyond Christchurch before the depth drops again.
The Captains Table allows customers to tie up at their quay, (or at least they did!).
Apart from that as others hve said we have yet to find anywhere else to stop......shame really.

Captain's Club allows visitors to moor alongside if they book lunch but ring first. Restaurant is good but so is the bar food and much more reasonably priced. Rossiters or one of the other yards may be able to find you a spot and Christchurch Sailing Club have visitors buoys too (though you have to pretend you have sails I suspect - don't know their policy on MoBo's). There's plenty of boats that size based in Christchurch - Trader 44 and Nelson 42 are just two I know of and Pintails and Curlews (built by Rossiters for Christchurch use have a 3'6" draft. You will need to pick the tide carefully though. As long as you go in and come out on a rising tide and take it very steady you'll be fine - worst case is hitting some mud. The only tricky part is the entrance itself which has some firm shingle in places - it's well buoyed though.

 

[Boathook]

Some of the channel also has shingle / stones in it. There is a Windy 40 with shaft drives and they are limited and I seem to remember don't attempt to go out when it is neaps. For your size boat as others have said, you will need to ring one of the yards to see if they have space.

 

[OAF]

My boats on shaft, thanks to everyone that has replied, that hs made my mind up that I won't be taking my boat in there, it sounds to tricky to someone that doesn't have local knowledge, I will take the rib over there for a day out in the summer instead, thanks for the advise on a lunch stop.

 

[powerboats]

Good choice. You will get much more enjoyment exploring the harbour in a small boat.

 

[volvopaul]

My boats on shaft, thanks to everyone that has replied, that hs made my mind up that I won't be taking my boat in there, it sounds to tricky to someone that doesn't have local knowledge, I will take the rib over there for a day out in the summer instead, thanks for the advise on a lunch stop.

There are many shaft drive boats at rossiters and Elkins yard, so I'd do your sums and arrive at mudeford about 30 mins before hw, just fake your time through the harbour , or ring one of the yards and ask for some proper advise, they do it all year round so it can't be that bad.

 

[Pennpromo]

Christchurch HArbour

Bit of an acquired taste really. I kept my Camargue 47 in Elkins for a few years and then decided that she was really too big for the harbour although we never ran aground she was just too big to turn down the river.
As everyone says come in on a high, there are two about 3 hours apart so you have plenty of time. Deep water up by The Captain's Club and in front of Elkins and the Sailing Club. Sailing Club won't be too welcoming if you don't have sails though.
Main pinch point is over the bar into the run, tide can be very fast and as you go in keep slightly to the Stbd side as on the corner into the run the sand is close to the edge of the channel. Also half way down the harbour there is a dogleg keep well out on both turns.
As most say locals potter in and out quite happily, you take on a different sense of depth: when we were in Poole a metre under the keel was shallow, in Christchurch a foot is loads!

 

[OAF]

Thanks guys for your advice, On the information received I am going to give it a miss in the princess and take the rib over there in the summer, that will give me more of a window for getting in and out, I don't like the thought of having only a foot under the keel in the princess!

 

[U4]

There are many shaft drive boats at rossiters and Elkins yard, so I'd do your sums and arrive at mudeford about 30 mins before hw, just fake your time through the harbour , or ring one of the yards and ask for some proper advise, they do it all year round so it can't be that bad.

As Paul says, its not that bad.

If you do want to go in (and it is worth it) then just make sure that you do so at or around HW and again, as Paul says, take your time and follow the channel!

 

[Harpsden]

Lots of good advice so far. I'm moored at Rossiters with a draft just under a metre.

The entry channel at Mudeford has moved again this year but is buoyed. The clearance over the bar at the start of the entry channel is as good as its been for a few years. For my own planning I look for 1.2 metre height of tide at Mudeford and Christchurch Quay and there should be no problems at all for my draft all the way to and from Rossiters.

The channel inside the harbour moves much less but the buoys are moved from year to year. If I'm pushing it on depth then I use the radar in chart overlay so I have the buoys actual position shown on the chartplotter as well as the charted positions. Then (if traffic permits) take the common line between where the buoys actually are, where they are marked as being and where the deep water is shown on the plotter. This seems to give the deepest water. Also as advised earlier don't take any sharp bends in the channel too close to the buoys.

There are some larger shaft drive boats at Elkins and Rossiters including the Trader mentioned earlier.



Harpsden

 

[andyc]

Im 42ft Fly on twin Shafts with a draught that is a little too deep for my liking, and based at Rossiters.
I went out on Saturday for the first time with 1.4m at both the entrance and at the Quay with a 3 hour window.I can get out on a 1.2m with a bit of a squeeze.
The River was marginally higher due to rain but not alot.
Going out,At the shallowest points,I had at least 2.5 ft below the props all the way from the first buoy as the river widens into the Harbour and all the way out to the last buoy.
I did find that the depth didnt deepen for a good while after the last buoy at the Entrance, which caught me out as she dips at the back when I give it some throttle.

I have always been able to get out on High and sometimes over a 4-5 hour window when there is a double high.

Following and knowing where the buoys are once in the Harbour is essential.Come in on high and follow a few boats in is best if you have not been before.Cut across at your peril.Bear in mind that it may be high at the Entrance but the Harbour and River takes time to catch up!!!

Give The Captains Club a call for a Visitors Mooring.Im sure that if you have a meal there, they will accomodate.No idea how much though.
Rossiters has a Maintenance Mooring, a fuel mooring and a few empty spaces and with a bit of Planning may be able to accomodate.

It is tight up the river in places.I can turn easy enough at a number of points and dont have the luxury of thrusters, but you need to know it.Wind can make it interesting.

One thing DONT tell everyone.Christchurch and the area is a bit of a gem,that you dont easily find in the area.

 

[U4]

Im 42ft Fly on twin Shafts with a draught that is a little too deep for my liking, and based at Rossiters.
I went out on Saturday for the first time with 1.4m at both the entrance and at the Quay with a 3 hour window.I can get out on a 1.2m with a bit of a squeeze.
The River was marginally higher due to rain but not alot.
Going out,At the shallowest points,I had at least 2.5 ft below the props all the way from the first buoy as the river widens into the Harbour and all the way out to the last buoy.
I did find that the depth didnt deepen for a good while after the last buoy at the Entrance, which caught me out as she dips at the back when I give it some throttle.

I have always been able to get out on High and sometimes over a 4-5 hour window when there is a double high.

Following and knowing where the buoys are once in the Harbour is essential.Come in on high and follow a few boats in is best if you have not been before.Cut across at your peril.Bear in mind that it may be high at the Entrance but the Harbour and River takes time to catch up!!!

Give The Captains Club a call for a Visitors Mooring.Im sure that if you have a meal there, they will accomodate.No idea how much though.
Rossiters has a Maintenance Mooring, a fuel mooring and a few empty spaces and with a bit of Planning may be able to accomodate.

It is tight up the river in places.I can turn easy enough at a number of points and dont have the luxury of thrusters, but you need to know it.Wind can make it interesting.

One thing DONT tell everyone.Christchurch and the area is a bit of a gem,that you dont easily find in the area.

I spotted you leaving on Saturday, hope you had a nice run out!