Exmouth

[pintobest]

I'm thinking of moving away from London and a property is available to me in Exmouth.
Do any scuttlebutters have any knowledge of that harbour (apart from what's shown in the almanac). Especially :-
Is it busy in the 'season' ?
Are there plenty of moorings for visitors ?
What type of moorings are available ? (The almanac seems to indicate that there are no (or few) alongide moorings - I wonder, therefore, if there are plenty of swinging moorings for visitors)
Is it a worthwhile stop-over in its own right, or is it used mainly as a useful refuge or stop, en -route to other ports/harbours ?
Mnay thanks in anticipation

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[StephenW]

Harbour is quite small and from memory not particularly deep draft. Approach to this from the sea is by running parallel to the coast along buoyed channel - OK when you know that (to avoid te shallows) but not what you'd expect when approaching.

Lots of the area further up than the harbour dries.

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[longjohnsilver]

I'm moored in Exmouth on a swinging mooring during the summer and winter in the docks.

There tend to be a good few swinging moorings for rent and some for sale, all depends on the size of your boat. Very few visitors moorings and the docks (marina) has a long waiting list. If you want to phone them call 01395 269314.

Does not get overly busy in summer apart from lots of day boats and jet skis, but you can always find a quiet spot somewhere on the river.

Very strong currents, especially on the ebb, and the fairway is getting shallower so not a good proposition for an hour or so each side of low water springs. Also very exposed to E - SE. It tends to be off the beaten track but that makes it more attractive to people like me.

PM me if you want any more info.

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[poter]

Welcome to the forum......
Ref Exmouth, great place to be I had lunch near there (on the other side of the estuary) yesterday.
Starcross has a yacht club & there is the Exmouth yachtclub (suggest you contact Longjohnsilver who is the secretary) I do not know too much about the Exmouth side moorings, but I note you have a 37' .. your draft will restrict you anyway. There are swinging moorings available on the Starcross side, but its a bit exposed in winter. You can always go to a marina for the winter months if you want to stay afloat or go to Topsham if you want to put your boat on the hard.
It really is a beautifull part of the country & a great jumping off point for cruising the west coast & its not that crowded in the summer.

good luck.

if you want any further information please just PM me & i'll do my best to get you some answers, I only live up the road.

poter.

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[pintobest]

Thanks 'longjohnsilver' for your response. Unfortunately I'm a bit dense on these computer thingamys so I don't know what 'p.m.' is - or how to do it.
I'm mainly trying to ascertain if there's sufficient casual visitor -yachting traffic in Exmouth to support a modest business. Any idea on that ? (visiting yachties would have to be the main customers by far if the idea would have any chance)
Ta.

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[poter]

PM....... if you point to the name of the poster & click on it you will go to the posters home page ... at the bottom there is a link "send a private message"
click on that link & away you go.

poter.

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[Joe_Cole]

The Exe is a great place, but not one of the main West Country boating destinations. It depends on your idea, but I would have thought that other places would be better to base a "boaty" business.

Joe

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[charles_reed]

Tide sluices in and out through a narrow, shingle-banked entrance.
Oversubscribed, small harbour, lots of fairly exposed swinging moorings.

Unlikely to be a large, well-heeled market for any marine business, but a very pleasant stop-over.

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[longjohnsilver]

If you were to rely on visiting traffic then you'll fail within a few weeks! Even in the middle of summer I'd be surprised to see more than half a dozen visiting boats on a weekend.

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[chas]

I sail from a swining mooring in the Exe Estuary. It has a reputation for being difficult to get in to. As said already the fairway is silting up and the least depth is about 0.6m at chart datum (or was last year - it changes every winter!). In a south westerly there is a considerable set up the fairway which can make things exciting but once you get to know it it is safe enough. The dock (marina!!!) has no facilities. There are some visitors buoys but not that many visitors. What sort of buisness are you considereing. My guess is that you might find it hard going. Come down and have a look!

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[ashanta]

A number of local people have attempted to develop chandelry businesses in the area but it's very competitive. There are also many fishing trip businesses running out out of the Exe. The local dinghy clubs are popular and use the water regularly on weekends. I would be very cautious about setting up a business at Exmouth as it is limited by it's location and lack of facilities for the visiting yachts. Generally, only experienced sailors visit which is sad because if you read the pilot books such as West Country cruising you can navigate the river without any problems.
The river is no longer dredged since the sewage vessel from Exeter ceased to use the river some years ago and more importantly since commercial traffic was transferred to Teignmouth around 1994. The channel from the Exe BYB (now only a very small stick) is changing all the time. I have a 5.5' draft and I ensure that I enter/leave with at least 1/2 tide under me.
If you want to look at Starcross read my comments on the thread on Starcross landing.

The Exe is beautiful and well worth investigating. Good luck.

Peter.

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