Drying out

[Drifter2406]

Hi



I have kept a boat in Leigh Marine for the last 10 years, previously an outboard powered 19 foot Fletcher sports cruiser and now into my third season with a 35 foot fly bridge on shafts. Lift the boat every year and had all the same concerns, but I have had no issues with the shafts or the rudders it just sinks into the soft mud. There are 4 of us that know each other with fly bridges in the marina and no one has had problems with the boat sinking into the soft mud twice a day. Some with shafts and some with Outdrives.


Marina wise its very sheltered and never had an issue there is no water most of the time! If you want to go boating, you either need to go out all day and come back on the next tide or you can go out 1 hour either side of a medium tide and on really high tides 1:45mins either side. On low tides you would either not get out or maybe 30mins or go out all day.



You can anchor in the “Ray” and stay out all day, anchor in Stangate creek in the Medway or trips to Chatham and Rochester are small local hops for an overnight stay. Further afield lots of people go up the Thames to London, Burnham on crouch, Ramsgate, France or Belgium.



So water wise it nots great and tidal on the plus side you get pontoon access and can go and work on your boat or sit on it at any tide and its 3mins in the car from my house.



Hope that helps!



Kind regards



Stewart

Yes it does thanks, the more I hear about Leigh the more it seems it's not for me.

 

[swatkins]

Medway has to be a better option, if you are new to boating you could try joining on of the boat clubs and will get lots of free help there too!

 

[CLB]

Medway has to be a better option, if you are new to boating you could try joining on of the boat clubs and will get lots of free help there too!

I agree about boat clubs, but the Medway for someone in Essex is a bit of a pain. The southbound dartford crossing is mostly OK since removal of the barriers, but the rush of people trying to escape Kent for sunnier pastures still sees huge tailbacks on the northbound carriageway. It would put me off visiting the boat. Look for a club in Essex

 

[Drifter2406]

That a good point about the bridge, my other option is to up to the Crouch area.

 

[CLB]

That a good point about the bridge, my other option is to up to the Crouch area.

Now you are talking about an area I know very well. Not many 'cheap' moorings on the Crouch, unless you want a swinging mooring. As I said earlier, the best value moorings can be found on the Roach and tributaries. Cheapest pontoon mooring on the Crouch will be found at Bridgemarsh Marina, but probably still in the £2 - £3K PA bracket.

 

[Drifter2406]

Now you are talking about an area I know very well. Not many 'cheap' moorings on the Crouch, unless you want a swinging mooring. As I said earlier, the best value moorings can be found on the Roach and tributaries. Cheapest pontoon mooring on the Crouch will be found at Bridgemarsh Marina, but probably still in the £2 - £3K PA bracket.

Yes i was looking at the high prices and it is a forty minute drive for me, i know the Bridge can be a pain but it is looking more favourable on the Medway somewhere.

 

[neale]

Drifter. I am going to send you a PM