Maidstone and. Mudway advice

[Gavi]

We are looking at going to the Rambling Man Fair in July. Rather than book expense accommodation, perhaps go by boat?

Would be interested in thoughts on the journey from St Kats in a displacement boat and also the availability of moorings in the grand old town of Maidstone.

 

[Mrnotming]

We are looking at going to the Rambling Man Fair in July. Rather than book expense accommodation, perhaps go by boat?

Would be interested in thoughts on the journey from St Kats in a displacement boat and also the availability of moorings in the grand old town of Maidstone.

Suggest PM to MrMing of this parish, who may be better able to advise, certainly re MYC Upnor.
Hope he is about, I think so!

 

[oldgit]

According to Go ogle the festival is taking place on 23/24th July.The following weekend is normally when the unofficial Maidstone River Festival is held.Basically a getting together of boats in the area in Maidstone town centre.A pale shadow of its former glory,you may find a dozen or so boats already moored. the weekend you plan to be there.People do tend to bring the boats up previous week and leave them there.
If you have not done the run before you will need to lock out of St Kats preferably early enough to do the trip round in daylight and on an ebbing tide, getting as far down as possible before the tide changes.Prob 8 hours ? to Medway in displacement boat.
Unless you are some sort of endurance super hero used to 24 hour non stop trips, would break the journey with a stop in the lower Medway, tightwads might want to anchor in Stangate Creek for free over night, a more flush boater could stop at Gillingham or MDL Chatham marina.
You could contact me for an overnight at RCC moorings before heading up with the tide to Allington lock and Maidstone beyond.
You can moor at Allington lock or continue directly on the Maidstone Town centre, about 30 mins further on.The lock crew do hire out cabins at very reasonable rates.
Several mooring spots in Maidstone depending on your airdraft.You can probably get along side most if you do not draw more than 1.5m
Before the bridges you can park to port outside the House of Frazer alongside a fairly busy road or with bit of ingenuity on the opposite high wall.You will have to search in most cases to find something to secure you ropes to.
Above the bridge there is some mooring spots outside the court house on the starboard bank.Mainly rings to moor too.
This is not Henley or Windsor but a busy commercial town and traffic noise during day is always present,it does quieten down at night.
I have never during 30 odd years of mooring up there ever had any problems with theft or the like.
The worst was listening to somebody singing their heads off while walking home from some club or other a 3am in the morning.
Mote park is decent walk or 15 mins cab ride away.
Have never been charged to moor up there ever.
If you need any tips for the trip up from Rochester to Allington regards tides etc please ask for more info.

Is all down as to when to leave Rochester.Simple calculation.

One of the Town Centre bridges

The town Centre on one of the last "official" River Festivals.
Moorings outside the house of Frazer.

This is the old medieval bridge at Aylesford on the tidal bit of river.

 

[Gavi]

Very helpful. Thanks, Fred.

 

[Plum]

Thanks. Very helpful to me too but you said "Several mooring spots in Maidstone depending on your airdraft.You can probably get along side most if you do not draw more 1.5m"........ did you really mean draft rather than airdraft?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Murv]

Thanks. Very helpful to me too but you said "Several mooring spots in Maidstone depending on your airdraft.You can probably get along side most if you do not draw more 1.5m"........ did you really mean draft rather than airdraft?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

If you can get under the bridges at Maidstone, it opens up a few more possibilities for mooring. There are further moorings just beyond the bridges and it's a brief run upstream to scenic and peaceful (and free!) 24hr mooring poles at East Farleigh for example, hence the airdraft requirement.
The river does shelve up at the edges through Maidstone, so draft and airdraft are both considerations!
I never needed to worry too much about either in my old boat, so have no idea what you can get away with but Oldgit's numbers will be right

 

[sharpness]

Is this the annual RCC turbo 36 cruise in company. Great pic. Murvs new boat should settle in well :encouragement:

 

[oldgit]

The two bridges in the town centre will decide which moorings you can use.
If you can actually get to Maidstone under the old bridge at Aylesford you will be able to use any of the moorings below the bridge.
If you can get through the town bridge arches, you will be able to moor on a somewhat quieter and more picturesque bit of the river almost opposite the old Bishops Palace and a floating restuarant.
Although it all appears to be a bit of a mini drama it really is no more than when we come round to the Thames and have to arrive at Richmond around the right time and know if we can get under Windsor.
If can get under Windsor and that very low footbridge somewhere up there you will get under Maidstone bridge.We have an air draft of 12.5 feet or 3.8 m and draw 1m.
B1 has probably got oodles of this exact trip taken from that cute little Hardy he once had..If you do decide to throw caution to the winds and risk life and limb on this adventure let me know your rough plans and will make some suggestions regards tide timings and the like.
Can also probably sort a mooring if you need one,just need the length of boat.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-medway-bridge-profiles
http://www.allingtonlock.co.uk/

 

[boatone]

B1 has probably got oodles of this exact trip taken from that cute little Hardy he once had.......

Indeed I do - in fact you can read the whole thread about my 2012 Medway trip - Adventures of a CLB - here:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?327814-The-adventures-of-a-CLB

 

[oldgit]

Is this the annual RCC turbo 36 cruise in company. Great pic. Murvs new boat should settle in well :encouragement:

Think we have know got a round dozen of the blimming things clogging up our moorings with another elsewhere waiting for a empty space......
There have been mutterings about charging a bit extra.