Local knowledge around Wareham - Poole Harbour?

[ash2020]

We're stored at Ridge Wharf on the River Frome and have to make our way on the 13th of April into Poole Harbour. I was there years ago so I have a rough idea of the channel, markers etc.
It appears to be neaps and high tide on the day is roughly 7p.m. Ideally I'd like to get into the harbour ahead of that to suss out our new mooring but I believe the depth around the bends on the river is not very forgiving.
Obviously we want to go on a rising tide but how far ahead can I risk it? Half tide?
I'd be grateful for any local experience. Thanks.

 

[FairweatherDave]

I've been up to Wareham once but not a local. What do you draw? I remember the shallow spot to avoid is where the river enters the harbour.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

I draw1m
Down river of Ridge Wharf there are no real issues except possibly at an hour or so around the bottom of a spring tide.
Once you get to the bottom of the river make sure you stay in the channel as it turns right and then hard left (see chart below). If you cut the corner you will run aground..
Then just make sure you stay in the channel which is marked with withies (posts) then bouys.

PM Me if you want to talk it through...

 

[Boathook]

I think it is @LadyInBed has their boat at Ridge wharf so hopefully can answer.

 

[LadyInBed]

What do you draw and type of keel?
I draw 1.5 on a bilge keel. I normally drop my mooring about HW Poole Quay -2.5 hours.
Keep to the centre of the channel indicated by the sticks.
The 1st LH Bend to Port is no problem, the 2nd RH Bend to Starboard can be a bit of an issue judging when to start your turn, but DONT cut the corner toward post to your Starboard. That corner sometimes gets a bit silted up depending on when it was last dredged.
Your on a rising tide against the current, so nil desperandum!
It normally takes me about 2hrs to get to the chain ferry but I don't rush.
Poole Quay tides and tide rate info here:
Poole Tides 2023 : Monty Mariner
13th Apr (times BST)
1st afternoon high is 14:09 1.6m
2nd afternoon high is 19:18 1.9m
Poole has double highs. You don't need to wait for the later high unless you can't get to your boat earlier or you need the extra 20cm

 

[Stemar]

I bought my first boat from Ridge. We were launched, quick check that we weren't going to sink in the next hour and bugger off I've got a lot of boats to get in the water. Madame took the helm while I tried to get the depth sounder working. Ooh, I wonder what that swishing noise is ... oh, it's stopped. So have we. A passing Moody was kind enough to pull us off and the rest of trip to South deep was uneventful.

Well, they say there are a few who have yet to run aground, those who'll admit to having run aground and liars. Glad I got that one out of the way quickly

 

[ash2020]

I've been up to Wareham once but not a local. What do you draw? I remember the shallow spot to avoid is where the river enters the harbour.

Sorry, should have said, She draws 1.5m, fin keel.

I draw1m
Down river of Ridge Wharf there are no real issues except possibly at an hour or so around the bottom of a spring tide.
Once you get to the bottom of the river make sure you stay in the channel as it turns right and then hard left (see chart below). If you cut the corner you will run aground..
Then just make sure you stay in the channel which is marked with withies (posts) then bouys.
View attachment 153832
PM Me if you want to talk it through...

Thank you Andrew. That's very reassuring and helpful. I do remember having to keep wide on the bends.

 

[ash2020]

What do you draw and type of keel?
I draw 1.5 on a bilge keel. I normally drop my mooring about HW Poole Quay -2.5 hours.
Keep to the centre of the channel indicated by the sticks.
The 1st LH Bend to Port is no problem, the 2nd RH Bend to Starboard can be a bit of an issue judging when to start your turn, but DONT cut the corner toward post to your Starboard. That corner sometimes gets a bit silted up depending on when it was last dredged.
Your on a rising tide against the current, so nil desperandum!
It normally takes me about 2hrs to get to the chain ferry but I don't rush.
Poole Quay tides and tide rate info here:
Poole Tides 2023 : Monty Mariner
13th Apr (times BST)
1st afternoon high is 14:09 1.6m
2nd afternoon high is 19:18 1.9m
Poole has double highs. You don't need to wait for the later high unless you can't get to your boat earlier or you need the extra 20cm

Hey, thank you for all the info. Sorry, I should have said, I draw 1.5m, a fin keel. Not ideal for Poole but I've brought her down from 8 years in Scotland where the water was mostly 50 metres deep! I was hoping to set off at least 2 hours before HW.
Once I get my bearings again, I'll probably sell her and get something more suited. Thanks.

 

[LadyInBed]

I do remember having to keep wide on the bends

On an unmarked river, that would be true, but on a marked channel the sticks are placed equidistant to the sides of the deepest water, so you should keep to the middle between the sticks.
Re Andrews assurance about only having a problem an hour or so either side of a low spring, that may be true for him drawing one meter, but drawing 1.5m is a whole different story, you WILL run aground!

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

On an unmarked river, that would be true, but on a marked channel the sticks are placed equidistant to the sides of the deepest water, so you should keep to the middle between the sticks.
Re Andrews assurance about only having a problem an hour or so either side of a low spring, that may be true for him drawing one meter, but drawing 1.5m is a whole different story, you WILL run aground!

50cm is a lot of extra keel in Poole

 

[LadyInBed]

50cm is a lot of extra keel in Poole

That's for sure!

 

[Tranona]

Not really if you stick to the channels. My last Bavaria was 1.5m and no problems. In fact I dithered about whether I should specify the 1.95m (the 1,5 was £1200 extra!), but the final decision was based on the fact that I could get out of East Looe at low water which has advantages going to the Solent with the tide. Only touched bottom once while anchored of Hill Point on the edge of the channel.

 

[LadyInBed]

Not really if you stick to the channels.

But we were talking about the Wareham channel, Andrew said:
I draw1m
Down river of Ridge Wharf there are no real issues except possibly at an hour or so around the bottom of a spring tide.
Which prompted my comment about 1.5m. You will ground that close to LW springs, I have the T-shirt

 

[Tranona]

But we were talking about the Wareham channel, Andrew said:
I draw1m
Down river of Ridge Wharf there are no real issues except possibly at an hour or so around the bottom of a spring tide.
Which prompted my comment about 1.5m. You will ground that close to LW springs, I have the T-shirt

I know, having learned the hard way when I had a mooring at Ridge 45 years ago, but the comment was in response to post#10 which referred to Poole not Wareham. point I am making is that if you have aa mooring in the harbour itself (as the OP will have) 1,5m is only a problem if you want to stray out of the channels or moor in somewhere like Blood Alley. My Eventide I bought in 1980 was the "perfect" Poole boat with 2'3" draft but I quickly discovered that I rarely took advantage, nor dried out so removed the bilge plates and deepened the keel to 1m. After 10 years of 1.5m somewhat perversely I have bought another shallow draft(1.3m) with bilge plates so might be brave enough to go up the river again!

 

[Jacana139]

We're stored at Ridge Wharf on the River Frome and have to make our way on the 13th of April into Poole Harbour. I was there years ago so I have a rough idea of the channel, markers etc.
It appears to be neaps and high tide on the day is roughly 7p.m. Ideally I'd like to get into the harbour ahead of that to suss out our new mooring but I believe the depth around the bends on the river is not very forgiving.
Obviously we want to go on a rising tide but how far ahead can I risk it? Half tide?
I'd be grateful for any local experience. Thanks.

I kept my boat 1.4m draft at Ridge 2016-2021. LadyinBed’s local knowledge is the best but I used to use 3 hours either side of Low Water as my rule of thumb. With neaps, high water was not an accurate prediction as wind direction and barometric pressure made differences. Also 30mins after 2nd high it was like someone had ‘pulled the Bath plug’. At neaps you should not have a problem in the Wareham Channel. My suggestion would be 1400 departure?

 

[LadyInBed]

After 10 years of 1.5m somewhat perversely I have bought another shallow draft(1.3m) with bilge plates so might be brave enough to go up the river again!

I'm 1.5 bilge keel so appreciate the issues and yes, 1.5 around Poole is no real problem. I must admit, being bilge, when noting 0.1m under the keel is far less stressful than if I were fin
With 1.3, you should have no trouble getting up to Wareham Quay, which I did with my 1.2m draft previous boat, but in the 23 years of mooring on the river with this boat I've never attempted it !

 

[LadyInBed]

I used to use 3 hours either side of Low Water as my rule of thumb.

Yes, that's a good maxim.

 

[TwoFish]

At risk of going a bit beyond the OP's question, what's the bottom like on the river Frome moorings? In depths below one's draft, is there mud into which a shoal keel will settle, or is it topple-over ground for non-bilge-keelers?

 

[LadyInBed]

At risk of going a bit beyond the OP's question, what's the bottom like on the river Frome moorings? In depths below one's draft, is there mud into which a shoal keel will settle, or is it topple-over ground for non-bilge-keelers?

The bottom is silty mud.
The forward / aft movements of the boat digs a trench for the keel to sit in if the keel touches bottom but I've occasionally seen a boat leaning over onto the bank when there has been a strong wind pushing the boat in to shallower water near the bank when the tide is falling.