Maldon, visitor pontoon and mud

[Mandarin331]

Last week we decided to go to Maldon for the first time. Now we understood that the visitor pontoon there is only +-1hr of HW and so had no expectations when we crept in at HW-3.

However we were surprised to see it 3 foot out of the water on a mudbank, when the barges next to it were all afloat .

We found an empty pontoon up river, did our shopping, and then just for curiosity (and a beer) tried the visitor pontoon. We finally made it, ploughing the mud, at HW-45mins (BTW we draw 3 foot), for a very quick pint and off by HW (with thoughts of being neaped).

We couldn't help wondering why the council spent so much on a really beautiful pontoon, and then parked it on a mudbank.

Is this used much - any plans to dredge there?

 

[johnalison]

I don't know about last week, but there was about 0.3 metres less than predicted when we came in over Pye End 2 days ago. It's a long time since I've been up to Maldon, though we still belong to the MLSC, but the levels at the top of the river do tend to be unreliable. I've spent an hour or two at the pontoon over lunch in the past, with a draft of 1.5m, but that would have been at springs.

 

[Mudhook]

I went a few months ago and found exactly the same thing. Turned round and went back to the Orwell, rather pissed off. But I have been alongside there... just long enough for the kids to get an ice cream.

Mudhook