Liverpool overnight mooring to get a day time lock in

[NickRobinson]

I've been spoiled with gates that open for night time HWs.

Preston (my location) and Liverpool Marina only operate business hours locking which means a slow sail over nearly 24hrs, an intermediate deep water stopover, like Fleetwood in the river or Piel (though the wrong direction I know these well) or a stopover somewhere like Tranmere.

I am considering locking out of Preston and waiting in the pool at Lytham or Douglas Boatyard. These would mean a night time departure of the Ribble

Does anyone have an alternative in the Mersey? Liverpool SC have two moorings but they say (2007!) they are unmaintained. Tranmere SC may have others? I have emailed LSC/TSC

What do you do?-

 

[vyv_cox]

I have anchored in the area of Tranmere SC but it depends very much on wind and tide conditions. I have also seen it extremely choppy there, from the shore. Hilbre Island is a possible but quite a long way via the shipping channel. Rock channel shortens it a lot on the right tide.

 

[[3889]]

There are moorings between the crane jetty off the Rock Ferry SHM and the tanker berth, opposite Liverpool marina. These are well sheltered and out the worst of the tide and I have always found one available to wait on, but there are no guarantees. Anchoring not an option due to proximity of jetties.Hilbre is definitely do-able if you are prepared to use the Rock Channel - poorly buoyed but no real issue after HW-2 - steer 110T for Brazil SHM in the river. Uncomfortable in anything above a F3. Best anchorage is 2 cables south of HE4 buoy - do not approach buoy - it dries.
I am in Preston at the moment (berth 311) and, personally, would use Rock Ferry for this passage. Mersey anchorage of last resort on smaller tides is inshore of E1 and E3 - advise Eastham lock if you intend to anchor here.

 

[bigwow]

Liverpool lock will open for "out of hours" tides but it will cost!

 

[garvellachs]

Down the Ribble to Lytham; then out on the next day's ebb and into the Mersey on the flood? Not sure that I would use the Douglas R as a stopover - too shallow unless you can take the ground. The exit from Lytham looks easy enough to go at night - assuming the beacons are lit and you have a route on gps?

 

[NickRobinson]

There are moorings between the crane jetty off the Rock Ferry SHM and the tanker berth, opposite Liverpool marina. These are well sheltered and out the worst of the tide and I have always found one available to wait on, but there are no guarantees. Anchoring not an option due to proximity of jetties.Hilbre is definitely do-able if you are prepared to use the Rock Channel - poorly buoyed but no real issue after HW-2 - steer 110T for Brazil SHM in the river. Uncomfortable in anything above a F3. Best anchorage is 2 cables south of HE4 buoy - do not approach buoy - it dries.
I am in Preston at the moment (berth 311) and, personally, would use Rock Ferry for this passage. Mersey anchorage of last resort on smaller tides is inshore of E1 and E3 - advise Eastham lock if you intend to anchor here.

Thanks Vyv-

HiandDri-

Thanks for your thoughts- IIRC, we are on 312- so be good to meet up when you are around.

N

 

[smudge837]

HI, I am in Liverpool at the moment. you will be able too lock in tomorrow night (Wed 28th) around 21.30 - 22.00. giving quite a bit of time to make it from the ribble on the morning tide. The guy's in the lock are a good bunch and if you call the marina office and let them know I am pretty sure they will be fine if you are a few mins out. Also if you call ahead they will leave a keycard for you at the bar and electric as the bar no longer sells the cards.

Failing that overnight round at Hilbre as stated before, come through the rock channel with the flood. if you leave Hilbre 1 hour before slack then pretty much drift in with the water.

I draw 1.7m meters and normally take 4 hours or so for a trip back from round Hilbre. Great fishing at the mouth of the rock at the moment, get some lug and kill a few hours there if needed.

Hope this helps.
cheers
Smudge

 

[NickRobinson]

HI, I am in Liverpool at the moment. you will be able too lock in tomorrow night (Wed 28th) around 21.30 - 22.00. giving quite a bit of time to make it from the ribble on the morning tide. The guy's in the lock are a good bunch and if you call the marina office and let them know I am pretty sure they will be fine if you are a few mins out. .......
Smudge

Thanks Smudge-

I've spoken to the marina, (probably reception) and that wasn't offered. I could pay £55 though-

I am working up a plan b passage plan to lay over at Lytham, either on the old LB mooring if empty or on the beach. (1.4m draft bilge keel)

Hilbre could well be an option going back North,

 

[NickRobinson]

Just back from Liverpool, one night on a mooring, two in Liv Marina one on the hook as a cat had beaten us to the mooring in the pool at Lytham.

Two cruise ships in the Mersey- Ruby Princess first, at 120ktonnes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Princess
then Cunard Queen Vic at a lightweight 90ktonnes (still looked bigger than us when we passed, with clearance from VTS, on the Pier Head while it singled up.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Queen_Victoria

Lots of waving when it caught us up around C10

Good to meet you today Hi'n Dry,

N

 

[[3889]]

Just back from Liverpool, one night on a mooring, two in Liv Marina one on the hook as a cat had beaten us to the mooring in the pool at Lytham.

Two cruise ships in the Mersey- Ruby Princess first, at 120ktonnes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Princess
then Cunard Queen Vic at a lightweight 90ktonnes (still looked bigger than us when we passed, with clearance from VTS, on the Pier Head while it singled up.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Queen_Victoria


Lots of waving when it caught us up around C10

Good to meet you today Hi'n Dry,

N

You too, always good to meet up with YBWers. Glad your trip went well.

 

[savageseadog]

The moorings at Tranmere over the water from the Marina look a bit of a shambles these days. I tend to anchor slightly to the West of a line between Pluckington and G2 buoys slightly South of the Marina entrance, just out of the channel. Very strong currents but good holding.

 

[bigwow]

The moorings at Tranmere over the water from the Marina look a bit of a shambles these days. I tend to anchor slightly to the West of a line between Pluckington and G2 buoys slightly South of the Marina entrance, just out of the channel. Very strong currents but good holding.

Using which anchor?

 

[NickRobinson]

Using which anchor?

As I said to the man with the jumper leads... 'you can come, BUT DON'T START ANYTHING!'