dart estuary

[jimboooo]

hi , got a 20ft cuddy and my 12 yr old daughter is "sooooo " desperate to sleep on her . ok a plan needed that will suit us both , i am a single dad so will be launching on my own etc . my plan is too launch at totnes steamer quay on a high tide and cruise down river taking a chance that i can find a vistors buoy , pontoon or anchor space . a pub on the river somewhere would be cool but not essential . any good info will be gratefully recieved the only place i have stayed before overnight was teignmouth but fancy trying a new venue. can i tie up somewhere once in the water while i park the car etc thanks jim

 

[photodog]

I dont know anything about Totnes... but a good sound plan... there are loads of visitors spots down river... Dittsham would be a great spot to pick up a bouy... nice and quite with a great pub on shore.. you will need a dingy to paddle ashore... further down there are ponttons with IIRC shore access specifically set aside for smaller visiting boats... these are just below chain (Upper) ferry on the west side of the river... easy walking into town for all the attractions... failing that there are good pontoons opposite and further down .. plus a water taxi...

Darthaven Marina also have good visitors facilities just up from the lower ferry landing on the East side... shore access. good showers... last time we were there it was the same price as anchoring in Salcombe... and then catch the passenger ferry into dartmouth proper.....

First choice I would have thought would be the small craft pontoons on the town side, and then the Darthaven Marina Visitors berths....

Have Fun!

 

[hlb]

Theres also a pontoon just below the town Jetty, fixed to the land, jut for small boats.

Cant remember enough about Totnes. We always stayed at the pub opposite. Guess you will find sme where to moor.

 

[John100156]

Forget the dinghy, just radio for the water taxi - they will collect you and drop you back till quite late, 11pm as I recall - 12yr old will love it!

 

[whisper]

All the suggestions above are good but I'd also add that there are vis.moorings off Stoke Gabriel plus at least 2 pubs. No water taxi though.
Dittisham is a great little spot and the cross river ferry may act as a taxi.

If you are considering any of the pontoons off Dartmouth town itself, I'd give the HM a call to ask where he's got room - sorry, I've not got his tel. no. to hand. They do seem to get taken up quickly in high Summer.
I've a feeling that some of said pontoons, below Higher Ferry, are not joined to the land.

Re. Totnes - there are alongside berths about 100m downstream of where the Dartmouth ferries berth, so maybe that's where you could tie up temporarily. There's a car park immediately adjacent. Don't know how secure it is though. Totnes has some "strange" inhabitants.

Super place to visit. Have fun.

 

[gjgm]

launch

this place is supposed to be great for launch
http://www.blacknessmarine.co.uk/index.htm
Dont go anywhere near regatta week if you hope to even see the water !

 

[Elessar]

totally agree with all that's gone so far.
Beware dart marina just above the higher ferry very very expensive and whilst OK not worth the money. Darthaven in Kinswear is great. for all the reason photodog states.
From Kingswear you can also take the steam train to paignton, and if the sea state allows brixham and torquay are less than 1/2 hr away which a 12 year old will like. If the sea state doesn't alllow there is plenty in the dart.
The harbour master is very helpful and you can call them on ch 11 He'll let you stop on the ferry berths from 1800 through to 900 i think and then you can walk ashore.
Just remember dartmouth is busy so you will get chucked around on a buoy in a small boat or even on an outside pontoon, so I would head to darthaven to sleep.