Depth at Boulogne

[Ningaloo]

We are planning to stop at Boulogne tomorrow or the day after.
Would like to stay in the outer harbour so not restricted by the lock but we have 2m draft.
I assume we will be restricted to the outer pontoons and not head too far down towards the sluice, but will there be sufficient depth at low water?

 

[Koeketiene]

We are planning to stop at Boulogne tomorrow or the day after.
Would like to stay in the outer harbour so not restricted by the lock but we have 2m draft.
I assume we will be restricted to the outer pontoons and not head too far down towards the sluice, but will there be sufficient depth at low water?

Had no problem in Boulogne when I passed that way a couple of weeks ago.
My boat draws 2.05m.

 

[westhinder]

Had no problem in Boulogne when I passed that way a couple of weeks ago.
My boat draws 2.05m.

Neither had I with a draught of 2.1m some days earlier.

 

[Charlie Boy]

What lock? Unless my memory is failing me it’s a straight trip up past the old ferry terminal to the marina in front of the sluice. I don’t recall seeing an anchorage in the (huge) outer harbour. There’s a thread on East Coast forum with info on this.

 

[Lucky Duck]

There is a locked marina 'Bassin Napoleon' which is accessed by a lock on your starboard hand side just before the old ferry terminal.

I have never been in there but my pilot book suggested this would be suitable for longer stays.

 

[johnalison]

There is a locked marina 'Bassin Napoleon' which is accessed by a lock on your starboard hand side just before the old ferry terminal.

I have never been in there but my pilot book suggested this would be suitable for longer stays.

Yes. By 'outer harbour' I think he meant not in the locked marina. I have never heard of a depth problem there and there are usually substantial craft around.

 

[Charlie Boy]

Here’s their info page with contact details; Navigation information & safety advice | Useful info | Port de plaisance de Boulogne-sur-mer
We draw 1.7m, we’ve been twice and never had the slightest problem with depth. I think depth shelves the nearer you get to the sluice gates but we’ve seen some pretty big boats at the seaward end. Why not give them a call, Brits are a big part of their business so they are very helpful.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Yes. By 'outer harbour' I think he meant not in the locked marina. I have never heard of a depth problem there and there are usually substantial craft around.

I don't recall any depth issues although when I last visited although the pontoons were not in the best state of repair.

The worst experience on that stretch of coast was Le Treport where with a 1.9m draft we ground to a halt before we even reached the marina.

 

[Koeketiene]

I don't recall any depth issues although when I last visited although the pontoons were not in the best state of repair.

The worst experience on that stretch of coast was Le Treport where with a 1.9m draft we ground to a halt before we even reached the marina.

Pontoons have now been renewed - which was a pleasant surprise.
And no longer these stumpy finger affairs you often get in France but decent length ones.

 

[johnalison]

Pontoons have now been renewed - which was a pleasant surprise.
And no longer these stumpy finger affairs you often get in France but decent length ones.

Le Treport I always regard as Ramsgate with Gaulloise, only worse. Apart from a walk to the highest cliff on the coast I don't see the appeal. Maybe it was our French raftees deciding that they needed showers at 6am that disaffected me.

 

[bluerm166]

The OP will know through practical experience by now but strange that no-one has mentioned the effect of tidal coefficient whilst mentioning their own experience,and for some every little counts and the low level varies by > 2.5M in August.

 

[Koeketiene]

The OP will know through practical experience by now but strange that no-one has mentioned the effect of tidal coefficient whilst mentioning their own experience,and for some every little counts and the low level varies by > 2.5M in August.

Why did no-one think of this before?
Shock - horror.

 

[John_Silver]

We are planning to stop at Boulogne tomorrow or the day after.
Would like to stay in the outer harbour so not restricted by the lock but we have 2m draft.
I assume we will be restricted to the outer pontoons and not head too far down towards the sluice, but will there be sufficient depth at low water?

A more pressing constraint than depth may be pontoon space. When we came through, at the beginning of July, two pontoons had been removed and fingers were missing along parts of the remainder. Called for some ingenious rafting!

Stargazer draws 1.8m. We’ve always been fine for depth on the first four pontoons. Never tried on the ones by the sluice with the angling boats on them - from the lack of keel boats, suspect they are shallow.

 

[Charlie Boy]

A more pressing constraint than depth may be pontoon space. When we came through, at the beginning of July, two pontoons had been removed and fingers were missing along parts of the remainder. Called for some ingenious rafting!

Stargazer draws 1.8m. We’ve always been fine for depth on the first four pontoons. Never tried on the ones by the sluice with the angling boats on them - from the lack of keel boats, suspect they are shallow.

Not sure how that works with social distancing.

 

[LittleSister]

A more pressing constraint than depth may be pontoon space. When we came through, at the beginning of July, two pontoons had been removed and fingers were missing along parts of the remainder.

See Post #9.

 

[bluerm166]

Why did no-one think of this before?
Shock - horror.

Meaning ?

 

[Slowboat35]

istr the Port de Plaisance does indeed get very shallow immediately beyond the last pontoons, indeed it dries out for many metres from the Liane wall with some big ugly lumps and platforms of concrete there.
I went in there last June after some big thunderstorms and they were releasing water from the Liane in such quantities that it was sweeping through the pontoons at a good couple of knots which made mooring interesting.
Good to hear the short pontoons are history though.

 

[Rafiki]

Not sure how that works with social distancing.

They had all been replaced bar a few fingers by the end of July. It was a case of the original work schedule being delayed due to Covid. Fecamp washrooms similarly delayed and was like showering inabuolding site.

 

[Ningaloo]

Well I made it to Boulogne and enjoyed a pleasant Friday night, although rather hot!!!
Most, but not all the pontoons have been replaced/upgraded. We were on an older one which gave my crew a case of the wobbles, despite me warning him before he stepped off. We had a moderate tide and just under 3m depth at low water. The reason for my initial post was my chart whoch shows pretty much the entire port as drying or below 2m.
We nearly came a cropper when we left as the sand bank on the north side extends right onto the line from the inner harbour entrance to the white flash on the outer wall (which I presume is a leading line?). So take care on entry and head south before turning east for the inner entrance.

 

[bluerm166]

You've probably seen this or an extraction from it but visiting DATA.SHOM.FR will give access to the most detailed and current official french charts.These confirm what you've described ( as one would hope ) .
If others haven't visited this select DISPLAY / NAVIGATION / DATA / ACCESS TO SHOM CATALOGUE/CHARTS/SEAMLESS NAUTICAL CHARTS and keep homing in.
I don't know how these compare with plotters but they do work rather nicely.