Exe estuary

[foxgoose]

Had our first mooch up the Exe Mon afternoon, couple of hrs before HW as recommended in the pilot books. Should've had about 10 ft over chart datum but water seemed a touch scarce.

Finally reached buoy 30 just past Starcross where the chart datum shows over a metre when indicated depth dropped to six - four - eeek! - 2 ft!

Trimmed the leg up a bit, did a tenative circle to see if I'd strayed out of the channel but no water anywhere so crept back - tail between legs.

Is the channel silting up or is there a special wrinkle to following the channel?

Credibility with SWMBO is dented.

Any Exe - sperts out there?


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[longjohnsilver]

The whole river is changing fast and parts are becoming very shallow. Haven't got my chart but 30 buoy must be near Turf Locks and there is some shallow water there, need to keep to port for the deeper stuff. It can vary quite a bit between one side and the other of the channel. It is mostly mud up there so not much harm if you did touch.

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[ParaHandy]

harrumph .... "oh yes, plenty of water in exe .... " 'bout enough to get a parrot's foot wet ....

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[longjohnsilver]

Well it hasn't rained for a few days! And it was neaps and high pressure. That will have taken away a good fathom or two.

How much do you want?

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[whisper]

First and last time I visited your backyard I misread the tide tables and ended up on the mud for an hour between Topsham and the M5 bridge.
Interesting place though and will probably stay a couple of nights when and if next boat arrives.
Don't worry I'll try and avoid the times I know you'll be there /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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[foxgoose]

Draw three feet - six would've been nice.

Certainly was high pressure but the tide range at Exmouth from memory was about ten feet so should've had 3/4 of that plus a meter on the chart.

I guess yr right it musthave been the high pressure.

What time of the tide do the locals get up to Turf lock or Topsham?

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[longjohnsilver]

Turf lock you can reach at almost any state of tide, but I wouldn't try it after about half tide, I also seem to have the knack of finding shallow water!. As for Topsham much the same applies, but I would prefer around two hours before and after high water.

Have never been further than the quay at Topsham, don't like the look of it after there!

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[ashanta]

The Retreat Boatyard is beyond the quay and Trout's boatyard.
There a re some big deep keels yachts which move between the Retreat and the Exe BYB.
The best aid for the river is Mark Fishwick's Cruising Guide of the South West. However the position of the Bouy's in the channel along Pole sand change every season.
I draw 5' 6" and I am based between Powderham Castle and the StarCross Pier and I acn always get in and out at half tide.

Regards.

Peter.

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

I'm pissed off with you. I waved at you from the train on Saturday morning going to Plymouth and again coming back last night but you didnt wave back. Sob
Very boring question from SWMBO. All those boats parked in the river miles away from anywhere. How do their owners get to them? Could'nt see any sign of a dinghy park

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[ashanta]

The Exe is easier to get to than the Dart/Brixham/Torquay and certainly less distance from the M5 than Plymouth.
It is literally 15 mins from the M5 junction 30 (Exeter Services) to Starcross. We store most of the dinghys in the Brunel Tower (the old atmospheric railway pumping station) There are some hard dinghys kept on Ashes quay. There are two respective slipways.

Regards.

Peter.

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[ashanta]

The Exe is easier to get to than the Dart/Brixham/Torquay and certainly less distance from the M5 than Plymouth.
It is literally 15 mins from the M5 junction 30 (Exeter Services) to Starcross. We store most of the dinghys in the Brunel Tower (the old atmospheric railway pumping station) There are some hard dinghys kept on Ashes quay. There are two respective slipways.

Regards.

Peter.

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[longjohnsilver]

Well you were waving at the wrong place! I was in Dartmouth and Salcombe so that's why I didn't see you.

There's a water taxi and there are a few well hidden dinghy racks. Some just swim out to their boats /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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