Lawling Creek

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silverdawn

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Thinking of moving my boat to the Blackwater, been on the Crouch 15 years and fancy a change,
I have always had a pontoon mooring but to have the same would mean Bradwell Marina which is
above my budget, Ive looked at Blackwater Marina but not impressed
. It would seem that an option is a swinging mooring possibly in Lawling Creek
could any of you forumites inform me of the actual restrictions in this creek
with a 4ft draft.
 
I kept my first boat on a swinging mooring just opposite the Blackwater Marina pontoons.

From memory we were afloat and could in and out of the creek from just before half tide onwards. However the window to get on and off the boat was a bit more restricted. On one occasion we had to push the tender through the mud as we had been delayed in traffic and the tide had retreated beyond the pontoons by then.

The creek offers good shelter which was a big plus for us as we had found the moorings in the main river a bit too exposed at times

We only left because the boatyard seemed to be going through a bad patch at that time. A year or so after we left my dad found one of thier mooring buoys adrift in the Blackwater which didn't inspire confidence in thier maintenance!
 
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Lawling creek is lovely. Kept boat there for three years before moving it to Maldon. Pontoon berths at BM and Shipways, Maldon, cheaper in Maldon, around a grand a year for my 24' but much more to do in Maldon, pubs shops, chandlery etc. Despite the claim on BM's website, same tidal access too but further to travel to open water. Big plus for me is the helpful friendly staff at Shipways, security is good and nothing too much trouble.
 
Been at the Blackwater Marina for 15 years. I've seen it start as a dump, improve when Ian Wilson took over, but now it's slowly going down the pan again and I'm currently at BYH while their new engine installation in my boat is fettled. Will probably stay their even though the Crouch is a ditch IMHO.

The mud is soft in Lawling Creek so you should be OK if you decide to stop. Best to email Steve, the manager and wait patiently for a response. One thing in it's favour is that it's cheap, but I suppose you get what you pay for!

It's a shame because the facilities in Maylandsea are quite good. Mini market, excellent bakery & chippy, Indian takeaway, pub/restaurant etc.

Have you thought about the Marconi sailing club & one of their all tide swinging moorings?
 
We had a Swinging mooring at Maylandsea for 14 years and pontoon berths there before that. Our Sadler 29 on the mooring had a 5' draft and the keel just went a few inches into the mud at springs. We could leave the creek safely about 2 1/2hrs before LW but often crept in well before, especially on neaps.

Dinghy access at the yard changed a lot. At one time we could get off at LW neaps but the stream moved and the yard couldn't wash the channel clear for environmental reasons but I don't know what the present position is. Access at the pontoons depended on how far up you were. Depending on the tidal stream, it used to take about 12 minutes to motor from the yard to our mooring in an Avon with 2hp but there were some deep water moorings a bit closer.
 
How about a mooring in Bradwell creek. Administered by Bradwell Outdoors centre for Essex County Council. Sheltered but subject to the same tidal restriction as the marina viz the creek. At least you can sail in two directions from there and the river is wide.
 
nigelm said:
I believe that's where J & B went with "Coral Blossom" when they left Bridgemarsh , might be worth having a word with them ..
Click to expand...

Hi Nigel, I know Jim is in Lawling Creek I helped to bring his boat round from Bridgemarsh and have since spoken
to him but he has been there a short time so his knowledge is limited so I thought forumites information would be
better and all the replies have been very informative many thanks to all of them.
I have thought of Marconi Sailing Club but the waiting list is generally very long,but will phone them to update the
current time scale.
Many thanks to all for your advice and comments.

Regards Stuart.
 
Marconi has a half tide landing / pontoon that you can use to load and offload crew and gear. Many members find that it's easier for just one person to take the tender out to the boat then to pick everything else / everyone else up from the hammerhead. The club also has good lift out facilities.

Although there's a waiting list for a permanent deep water mooring, new members normally borrow spare moorings for their first season before being allocated a slot of their own. I've never known someone not able to use a club mooring and never known anyone wait for more than their first season for a slot of their own. Peter Clayton, whose number is on the club website can advise.

You can probably tell I'm a club member - hence the sales pitch!
 
FullCircle said:
I have a virtually new set of mooring gear as approved by Marconi - it's in their yard.
Click to expand...

Hi Jim, Not sure of my intentions regarding the move from Bridgemarsh still working out the pros and cons,could be
Lawling Creek or Marconi or Bradwell Creek.
Thanks for the information re your mooring gear. Will keep you posted.
regards Stuart.
 
I have been in Lawling Creek on one of the Marina moorings for the past 9 years. I can get onto the mooring from about 3.5 - 4 hours before HW. Wouldn't take the risk on a falling tide, though. Dinghy access is roughly +- 4hours from HW. I like the place. Mooring access is very variable depending on exactly which mooring you have. More access further from the marina, but further to go in the tender. The boat is a bilgy that only draws 0.8m, though.
 
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