Glasson Dock Access

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Danfarry

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I’m after some advice on the channel up the River Lune to Glasson Dock. The buoys show the channel passing over the training walls just past Sunderland Point. I understand entry must not be made in to the river until one hour fifteen before high water. Is there enough water at neaps to clear the training walls, I draw around one meter? Any other advice would be useful such as the depth between the inner and outer gates.
 
Not been that way for years, there are a couple of posters who moor there, they may see this and help.
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Thanks Davy_S, the charts are vague and the info from the Port of Lancaster is too. Because the window is so short I don’t want to be hanging around but I also don’t want to hit the retaining walls!
 
All I know about Glasson is that there is a nice pub, a good cafe and the Port of Lancaster Smokehouse which is very much worth a visit.
 
I draw 1.4 m and had no problem getting in and out of Glasson. You need .the Canal and River trust guys to operate the lock to get you from the outer harbour into the marina which is fresh water and joined to the Lancaster Canal. Talk to the marina and get the latest instructions. Would not surprise me if they are not yet sorted for visitors.
 
Danfarry said:
The pubs are closed but the cafe is doing takeaway!
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For sure at present, the cafe did a fantastic Lasagne when we went last. The Smokehouse does online orders and delivery, and we have been recently enjoying some of their gorgeous smoked mackerel.
 
Halo said:
I draw 1.4 m and had no problem getting in and out of Glasson. You need .the Canal and River trust guys to operate the lock to get you from the outer harbour into the marina which is fresh water and joined to the Lancaster Canal. Talk to the marina and get the latest instructions. Would not surprise me if they are not yet sorted for visitors.
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Have spoken to the marina and they were really helpful, they require 24 hours notice and the sea gate is operated on the high tide closest to midday. I got the impression from berth holders that they hadn’t ever really closed, it really is out of the way.
 
Navigation down the channel is fine, its tempting to set of from the cardinal a little early but there really is no need one and a half before HW is fine and start of a little slower on neaps, the brisk tide soon sweeps you down to the port. Make sure you are booked in for the gates, avoid straying to far from the middle of the commercial dock (don't worry to much there is plenty of room but it silts towards the side) other than that its an easy trip and a pleasant place to stay.

I have done the trip a good number of times on springs and neaps but must confess I have never done it on the bottom of neaps but I have never struggled with my 1.2m draught.
 
tyce said:
Navigation down the channel is fine, its tempting to set of from the cardinal a little early but there really is no need one and a half before HW is fine and start of a little slower on neaps, the brisk tide soon sweeps you down to the port. Make sure you are booked in for the gates, avoid straying to far from the middle of the commercial dock (don't worry to much there is plenty of room but it silts towards the side) other than that its an easy trip and a pleasant place to stay.

I have done the trip a good number of times on springs and neaps but must confess I have never done it on the bottom of neaps but I have never struggled with my 1.2m draught.
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Any advice for us? We have a draft of 2.2m. We are booked in there in July. I guess a big spring tide might be best?
 
Same rules apply for timings etc, I have to be honest I have never paid that much attention to how much depth there is I just know it never got near my draught. I think with 2.2m you would definitely want a spring to cover any margin of error.
 
tyce said:
I have done the trip a good number of times on springs and neaps but must confess I have never done it on the bottom of neaps but I have never struggled with my 1.2m draught.
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They must have dredged recently then, I got stuck there a couple of days with a 1.4m draught a couple of years ago.
It's the outer harbour before the lock that silts, just after the flap gate you often get a bank forming there.

It probably changes so much that the only sensible way to know if you can get in is to ask the HM, and tell him you draw another 20cm or so, as he's a touch optimistic.
 
I was anxious not to miss the lock gate opening time on my first trip up to Glasson and managed to run aground on what was supposed to be the deep part of the channel before Plover Light. With about 5 knots of tide pushing me up it is still my most hairy sailing experience. The yacht went beam on to the stream with the side deck awash. I managed to stop her by anchoring and as high water approached we had about 18' under us. That was 40 years ago.
The tip is, as said by others, don't set off too soon from the Lune Deep.
 
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