cgull
New member
I know its been discussed recently but whats the latest on channel depth and the pontoon connection to land. I am going in there in a couple of weeks time probably in the dark so any info useful. I have done an exit at night before.
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- Thread starter cgull
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Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Pontoon connected to land, but it's fair old hike to get around to the loos and showers at the top of the harbour.
We draw 1.5 metres and touched bottom on the pontoon about 90 minutes either side of LWS, but no problem, the bottom seems quite soft.
The channel seems to be shallowest around buoy 3. Not sure I'd want to do a night entry unless there was a good moon, or had a milspec spotlight or nv goggles.
We draw 1.5 metres and touched bottom on the pontoon about 90 minutes either side of LWS, but no problem, the bottom seems quite soft.
The channel seems to be shallowest around buoy 3. Not sure I'd want to do a night entry unless there was a good moon, or had a milspec spotlight or nv goggles.
ericw
New member
Was there this w/e and moored up at the marina on the most seaward pontoon. My boat draws 1.8m and didn't have any probs. (admittedly, it's not springs though !)
One thing I'd be very careful of is the entrance channel and the most seaward channel markers. This w/e saw F8, gusting F9 up at the marina. I went down to the front to see what the sea was looking like and got some great piccies of waves crashing over the sea wall ! However, coming out of the channel yesterday, it seemed to me that the 2nd port hand marker in the channel (think it was no. 2a - can't be sure - haven't got chart with me !) had shifted !! Certainly, there was something awry - either that or someone had changed the direction of buoyage between Sat. afternoon and yesterday at 1730 hrs !!!
So, just take care entering (ie very slowly)! From the Nos.4 and 5 markers onwards everything should be fine - it was coming out yesterday, anyway !
Hope this is of some use.
Regards,
Eric.
One thing I'd be very careful of is the entrance channel and the most seaward channel markers. This w/e saw F8, gusting F9 up at the marina. I went down to the front to see what the sea was looking like and got some great piccies of waves crashing over the sea wall ! However, coming out of the channel yesterday, it seemed to me that the 2nd port hand marker in the channel (think it was no. 2a - can't be sure - haven't got chart with me !) had shifted !! Certainly, there was something awry - either that or someone had changed the direction of buoyage between Sat. afternoon and yesterday at 1730 hrs !!!
So, just take care entering (ie very slowly)! From the Nos.4 and 5 markers onwards everything should be fine - it was coming out yesterday, anyway !
Hope this is of some use.
Regards,
Eric.
jimi
Well-known member
Remember that the boyage is not lit and there are a couple of sharp bends, I'd certainly be very wary of a night entry unless of very shallow draught!
Jim
Jim
billmacfarlane
Active member
Went in earlier this season on a spring range and took the bottom quite happily at the harbour end of the pontoon - I draw 1.5 metres. The boat roughly on the middle of the pontoon nearest to it had a horrible night of it as he didn't sink in the mud but leaned over at an alarming angle.
oldharry
Well-known member
Basically forget about the channel between buoys 1 - 4. Its not there any more. Follow the route the locals take and carry straight out past no 5, going south of the fort, and there is if anything marginally more water than in the official channel.
Coming in line No 5 up with the white tower mark until you reach the channel. Basically the whole area is silted up , and it doesnt really make a lot of odds as long as you dont go North and west of the shoreward line of buoys, as there are rocky outcrops.
Coming in line No 5 up with the white tower mark until you reach the channel. Basically the whole area is silted up , and it doesnt really make a lot of odds as long as you dont go North and west of the shoreward line of buoys, as there are rocky outcrops.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Wrong
We walked out along the line of stbd buoys at LWS in mid September. There is a distinct channel and it does follow the line of the buoys. Locals might be able to find their way through the bumps and hollows, but there is more water in the channel than elsewhere except for a couple of isolated patches.
All the local boats we saw on the way in and out were in the channel except for RIBs
We walked out along the line of stbd buoys at LWS in mid September. There is a distinct channel and it does follow the line of the buoys. Locals might be able to find their way through the bumps and hollows, but there is more water in the channel than elsewhere except for a couple of isolated patches.
All the local boats we saw on the way in and out were in the channel except for RIBs
oldharry
Well-known member
Re: Wrong
Its obviously reappeared since I spent a LW there in August, giving me plenty of time to paddle around and find out whats what....
Its obviously reappeared since I spent a LW there in August, giving me plenty of time to paddle around and find out whats what....
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Re: Wrong
Mind you, they do move the buoys around to follow the channel from time to time, so maybe they'd been shifted to your deeper water.
Mind you, they do move the buoys around to follow the channel from time to time, so maybe they'd been shifted to your deeper water.
G
Guest
Guest
I can see bottom ...
Frequently going in/out of Bembridge I can see and with a pole touch bottom in the channel ..... when my E/S shows 0.7 mtrs ..... I'm just afloat.
I have been up and down B channel since childhood and about the only thing I can say is it don't move that much !! Maybe I'm wrong, but its seems to be in same place every year ... but then again what is channel when the surrounding sand is about the same as well for some distance. The channle is more like a dished hollow than a real definite 'cut'. One thing I will say though ... the harbour inside appears to be silted more though ...
The worst places I have found in the outer channel are .... a) where the main and sub channel meet just inside from the fort ... there seems to be a hump there ! and b) where the mid channel maker is as you approach the turn to the 'narrows entrance' ... that also seems to have a hump !!
NCL
I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !
Frequently going in/out of Bembridge I can see and with a pole touch bottom in the channel ..... when my E/S shows 0.7 mtrs ..... I'm just afloat.
I have been up and down B channel since childhood and about the only thing I can say is it don't move that much !! Maybe I'm wrong, but its seems to be in same place every year ... but then again what is channel when the surrounding sand is about the same as well for some distance. The channle is more like a dished hollow than a real definite 'cut'. One thing I will say though ... the harbour inside appears to be silted more though ...
The worst places I have found in the outer channel are .... a) where the main and sub channel meet just inside from the fort ... there seems to be a hump there ! and b) where the mid channel maker is as you approach the turn to the 'narrows entrance' ... that also seems to have a hump !!
NCL
I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !
oldharry
Well-known member
Re: I can see bottom ...
Well Nigel, it certainly gave me the 'hump' while i sat out a low tide on it! ES went from around 10ft to nearly aground in a boats length, and I was stuck before I could bring her round. Giving me ample time to paddle around and confirm it was not my error (except in trying to enter too late), but that the channel had at that point completely silted up between Nos 2 and 4 buoys. I suppose the depth varies a little with the scour of each tide.
Well Nigel, it certainly gave me the 'hump' while i sat out a low tide on it! ES went from around 10ft to nearly aground in a boats length, and I was stuck before I could bring her round. Giving me ample time to paddle around and confirm it was not my error (except in trying to enter too late), but that the channel had at that point completely silted up between Nos 2 and 4 buoys. I suppose the depth varies a little with the scour of each tide.
cgull
New member
Just to update, went in on Sat night at HW Portsmouth -2hr 40mins (at no 1) and never touched the bottom until just slightly right inside harbour. No 3 green is missing
(draft 1.8m)
But did touch bottom well above Folly Inn at Low Water on the Sunday (from visitors pontoon in river) Must be very shallow on a spring.
(draft 1.8m)
But did touch bottom well above Folly Inn at Low Water on the Sunday (from visitors pontoon in river) Must be very shallow on a spring.
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