Exmouth

[robertj]

I'm cruising up the coast for a while and never visited exmouth. I'm thinking if calling in for a couple of days but have a deep fin. A couple of questions, are there deep water moorings/anchorages ect. And is the town or surrounding area worth a visit?

 

[jdc]

I'm cruising up the coast for a while and never visited exmouth. I'm thinking if calling in for a couple of days but have a deep fin. A couple of questions, are there deep water moorings/anchorages ect. And is the town or surrounding area worth a visit?

There are some who post here who keep their boats in the Exe who will know better than I, but here's one visitor's perspective.

There are moorings, almost all well over to the W side of the river above Dawlish Warren, but not designated visitor's ones afik, so maybe you should contact ahead if you are after a mooring: the Exemouth Sailing Club is very active, popular and well run, and may well be worth contacting for advice. There's also Starcross and Turf Lock on the W side. There are no visitor's pontoons in the river. There are some places to anchor, but they seem to be encroached upon by moorings, shallow, with a considerable tidal stream and miles from anywhere. To mitigate this, there is a water taxi.

The 'marina' in Exemouth sometimes has spaces. I stayed there a night with a 2.0m fin keel, 12.8m LOA, and dried out upright in very soft mud. The berth was supposed to be dredged to 2.0m at LAT. I was there with predicted tide at LW = -0.3m (yes, not a typo, minus!) yet mud was above the water all round the boat so I think it must have silted badly (by at least 1.7m). Exemouth is a lively traditional English seaside town with a surprisingly large number of active people and businesses, ie not just the usual mixture of holiday makers and the retired. But not really worth going out of your way for compared to many S Devon or Cornwall harbours imho.

Exeter, some miles up river and not possible for fixed mast craft, is a thriving city with all usual facilities, university, excellent communications etc etc. Turf lock, the pub there and a taxi ride or brisk walk into the city is probably your best bet, but as I said, hopefully some locals will be along to advise.

 

[dslittle]

I'm cruising up the coast for a while and never visited exmouth. I'm thinking if calling in for a couple of days but have a deep fin. A couple of questions, are there deep water moorings/anchorages ect. And is the town or surrounding area worth a visit?

If you go into the Marina be VERY aware of an eddy as you turn it. I wasn't and it became an expensive lesson in boat repairs!!! Didn't stay long enough to comment on the area but seemed pleasant enough - beach was very nice as we passed by close to - pilotage wasn't too bad.

 

[longjohnsilver]

There are some who post here who keep their boats in the Exe who will know better than I, but here's one visitor's perspective.

There are moorings, almost all well over to the W side of the river above Dawlish Warren, but not designated visitor's ones afik, so maybe you should contact ahead if you are after a mooring: the Exemouth Sailing Club is very active, popular and well run, and may well be worth contacting for advice. There's also Starcross and Turf Lock on the W side. There are no visitor's pontoons in the river. There are some places to anchor, but they seem to be encroached upon by moorings, shallow, with a considerable tidal stream and miles from anywhere. To mitigate this, there is a water taxi.

The 'marina' in Exemouth sometimes has spaces. I stayed there a night with a 2.0m fin keel, 12.8m LOA, and dried out upright in very soft mud. The berth was supposed to be dredged to 2.0m at LAT. I was there with predicted tide at LW = -0.3m (yes, not a typo, minus!) yet mud was above the water all round the boat so I think it must have silted badly (by at least 1.7m). Exemouth is a lively traditional English seaside town with a surprisingly large number of active people and businesses, ie not just the usual mixture of holiday makers and the retired. But not really worth going out of your way for compared to many S Devon or Cornwall harbours imho.

Exeter, some miles up river and not possible for fixed mast craft, is a thriving city with all usual facilities, university, excellent communications etc etc. Turf lock, the pub there and a taxi ride or brisk walk into the city is probably your best bet, but as I said, hopefully some locals will be along to advise.

Yes, the marina dries in many places on a big spring tide, probably accounts for the fact that there is only one small sailing boat berthed there. I have 2 moorings on the river but both are being used but if you give me some idea of when you're likely to be there I might be able to find you a spare mooring for a few days. Failing that there are a few visitors buoys in the bight just off Cockwood, just before the channel turns to starboard towards Starcross, but I can't remember if they're marked as such. If you do come in its worth asking the water taxi where they are.

Make sure you come in through the new channel, ie not off Straight Point, but over Pole Sands. I'd suggest the best time is at around high water which will give you plenty of water and you'll also avoid the fierce currents in the river, especially around the docks entrance. Also worth avoiding if there's strong E - SE winds.

There's also the River Exe cafe which is worth a visit, just off Starcross, Dawlish Warren is one of the best beaches anywhere on the S coast, and Topsham, a short train ride from Exmouth, is a great place to spend a few hours, but don't try and take your boat up there otherwise it may end in tears!

The Exe can be a lovely peaceful place, but equally it can be a noisy inhospitable place at other times when the wind is in the wrong direction and when the RIBs come out to play, particularly at weekends. No one takes any notice of the 10kt speed limit, which can lead to a lot of annoying wash. However if you make the effort at the right time you should enjoy a few days there.

 

[Sandy]

Take a look at the Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club web site, there is a visitors mooring and I agree with LongJohnSilver the River Exe Cafe is fun, but make sure you have a sizable wallet.

You don't say how much you draw, but the entrance is not as bad as they say; there is a good write up on the VisitMyHarbour website.

 

[robertj]

Thanks just arrived in cawsand for the night (bit lively) then up river for a couple of days battened down by the look of it.
From there not too sure but will contact again if 3G allows.
I draw 2m.

Bob

 

[Capt Popeye]

There is / was a local boatman, mike on. 07801 203 338 or 07512 820 264 on exe who offers taxi services etc

 

[longjohnsilver]

There is / was a local boatman, mike on. 07801 203 338 or 07512 820 264 on exe who offers taxi services etc

I think that's Mike the Topsham ferryman. If so, he only operates up at Topsham.

 

[Rhyddid]

Hey, if Exmouth doesn't work, stop by Teignmouth.... Visitor Pontoons, and enough water for you. If the wind is up and from the South-East might be lumpy getting in.......

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/tides/24/uk-tables/teignmouth-newquay-tide-tables