Maximum draft, best location for stress-free East coast sailing?

[Tomahawk]

you need the correct number of hulls…

 

[apguy]

To continue my story, as I don't want anyone to think I've completely disappeared;

The Hanse was hauled out last week for a survey and negotiations are now ongoing.

 

[apguy]

And to conclude:

The survey revealed a few issues which required some sharp negotiations. Long story very short, Joe was worth every penny. I paid for Aloha a few moments ago and pick up the keys and documents tomorrow.
I thank everyone for their encouragement and if you see me about, please wave - there's a few Hanse out and about - but really not many 331's.

 

[Koeketiene]

And to conclude:

The survey revealed a few issues which required some sharp negotiations. Long story very short, Joe was worth every penny. I paid for Aloha a few moments ago and pick up the keys and documents tomorrow.
I thank everyone for their encouragement and if you see me about, please wave - there's a few Hanse out and about - but really not many 331's.

Congratulations - enjoy

 

[John 32i]

And to conclude:

The survey revealed a few issues which required some sharp negotiations. Long story very short, Joe was worth every penny. I paid for Aloha a few moments ago and pick up the keys and documents tomorrow.
I thank everyone for their encouragement and if you see me about, please wave - there's a few Hanse out and about - but really not many 331's.

Very many congratulations- some fun times ahead!! We’re based at SYH (launching 1/4) so will look out for you!

 

[apguy]

Well I was out and about on Sat.

Another sailing friend was brought onboard whilst I tried to figure out how to disable the Raymarine i50 depth alarms (I really don't need 3m under the keel!), locate the on/off switch for the water immersion heater and try and work out why the Webasto heating fails to work, along with buying a kettle and getting some crockery on board
Suffice to say, there's a long list of jobs to do, but the aim for this season is to keep safe, learn some boaty stuff and then do the big jobs at the end of the year. So as part of the recommissioning I ran the engine up for a good 20 minutes, after the obligatory brew, I decided to take her out and perhaps just fly a jib.
We hit 20knts wind just before Shotley, so I wasn't about to touch the mainsail, 6.9knts on just the tiny self-tacking jib was fine!
Turned around and fought against the tide for a more leisurely 3knt return.
Didn't hit anything on the way in and out of the marina and apart from being cold, nothing adverse happened. And to cap it off - the marina office confirmed I have a berth for 2025. Yay.
Still need to work out what's wrong with the Webasto and now I have another job as I'm not getting a speed reading on the i50, but the ancient Standard Horizon plotter provided a GPS reading.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Well I was out and about on Sat.

Another sailing friend was brought onboard whilst I tried to figure out how to disable the Raymarine i50 depth alarms (I really don't need 3m under the keel!), locate the on/off switch for the water immersion heater and try and work out why the Webasto heating fails to work, along with buying a kettle and getting some crockery on board
Suffice to say, there's a long list of jobs to do, but the aim for this season is to keep safe, learn some boaty stuff and then do the big jobs at the end of the year. So as part of the recommissioning I ran the engine up for a good 20 minutes, after the obligatory brew, I decided to take her out and perhaps just fly a jib.
We hit 20knts wind just before Shotley, so I wasn't about to touch the mainsail, 6.9knts on just the tiny self-tacking jib was fine!
Turned around and fought against the tide for a more leisurely 3knt return.
Didn't hit anything on the way in and out of the marina and apart from being cold, nothing adverse happened. And to cap it off - the marina office confirmed I have a berth for 2025. Yay.
Still need to work out what's wrong with the Webasto and now I have another job as I'm not getting a speed reading on the i50, but the ancient Standard Horizon plotter provided a GPS reading.

The i50 can display SOG, but needs to be connected to a GPS source. This needs to be Seatalk NG or NMEA 2000, your plotter cannot do this as it is NMEA 0183 only. It can also display speed through the water, reliant on a paddle wheel transducer, probably needs cleaning, but check that the display is set to STW not SOG.

 

[apguy]

Thanks Paul - actually I hadn't realised it could even take a GPS signal, I did glance at the manual - via Google - whilst trying to figure out how to turn the very annoying depth alarms off, and the reading is 00.00 rather than --.-- which apparently indicates a fault with the paddle wheel, as you correctly guessed. So that will have to wait for another day.
Boat electrical/communication systems seem like a headache in the making.

The ancient Webasto (2000 vintage) is flashing an F08 code, which indicates a failed drive assembly/fan. I've found some of the installation under the starboard settee, but there must be more of it somewhere in an aft locker I guess, which means another job for another weekend.

 

[dolabriform]

Thanks Paul - actually I hadn't realised it could even take a GPS signal, I did glance at the manual - via Google - whilst trying to figure out how to turn the very annoying depth alarms off, and the reading is 00.00 rather than --.-- which apparently indicates a fault with the paddle wheel, as you correctly guessed. So that will have to wait for another day.
Boat electrical/communication systems seem like a headache in the making.

The ancient Webasto (2000 vintage) is flashing an F08 code, which indicates a failed drive assembly/fan. I've found some of the installation under the starboard settee, but there must be more of it somewhere in an aft locker I guess, which means another job for another weekend.

Probably a stupid question, have you looked in the bilge to make sure the paddle wheel has been inserted into the housing, and it doesn't just have the blanking plug in there? A lot of people remove the unit and insert the plug for storage ashore ,and it might not have been put back.

 

[apguy]

Probably a stupid question, have you looked in the bilge to make sure the paddle wheel has been inserted into the housing, and it doesn't just have the blanking plug in there? A lot of people remove the unit and insert the plug for storage ashore ,and it might not have been put back.

Not a stupid question at all - as I haven't checked bilge for anything other than water. Now added to the list of things to look at. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[johnalison]

Probably a stupid question, have you looked in the bilge to make sure the paddle wheel has been inserted into the housing, and it doesn't just have the blanking plug in there? A lot of people remove the unit and insert the plug for storage ashore ,and it might not have been put back.

Not just for storage ashore. There is a significant risk on some boats of the boat being lifted on its paddle wheel in the slings. Bad enough when being hauled out but potentially disastrous when launching.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Brightlingsea not too bad for 1.8m draft most of the time, although almost unrestricted if have 1m draft. Just need to know where the channel is now - not as wide as when myself or Cobra used to be able to tack in at any state of tide, so have to allow to motor in and follow chart around the curve at lowish tide, but will be met by a harbour person, weekends. There is a channel depths plan on the website under 'Visitors' together with a video on the way in.

10 mins to get out of the harbour and you are quickly in open but sheltered sea with Mersea and Blackwater an easy day sail there and back on the right tide, and Stour/Orwell/Deben/Crouch/Medway a weekend trip. Lots of dinghies and boards to watch.

The few Jet Skis generally stay in a small area off Point Clear so aren't generally a problem and are only there sunny weekends. More gaff dinghies in the week when the jetskis are not there.

What type of sailing would you like to do? - If you would like some racing the Colne Yacht club runs races for your type of boat every weekend, and is a very active club generally.

A good querk of the tide is that it is most often high tide in the afternoon, and when it is low it is a neap which doesn't go out so far, and can be 1.5 hours between successive low tides, hence 1m draft not restricted much, just have to think more now on route in, and 1.8m restricted only on the lowest springs which are at about 6am and 6pm so on those days just need to plan to get back earlier. 1m draft gives more options for exploring the creeks and going to the pubs up river.

Moorings served by a water taxi, or you have a dinghy. Not walk on but much less cost than the Marina which is more restricted tidally.

There is the little town with shops and pubs, very nice toilets with showers and washing machines for mooring holders, and facilities at the 3 clubs, 2 chandleries, marine engineers and 3 boatyards, swimming lido - funfair and live music sometimes - but once out in the river, virtually continuous trees on the horizon - and the crabbing for little ones and the wild life - especially turnstones and egrets. Half hourly bus from North Station (1Hr) if you have friends visiting.

There is also Mersea, I don't know much about Mersea now - (miss Harold Cutts - wanted to sell me a mirror dinghy but dad bought me a gaffer to keep on a mooring) - but may be a good option - there are people on the forum that will let you know what options there are. Tollesbury is too tidal, as is Manningtree.

You could try all the places for a week or two, see which suits you best.

Oh, and you will touch bottom at some time, even within buoyed channels, some have steep sides - so much more convenient with Bilge Keels, ease of scrubbing and standing in the yard in winter, but need one well designed for sailing - British Hunter, Sadler, some Westerlys or similar - depends what you want to do and where you want to go.

Well done Keith that is one of the best and most useful replies I have read on here in a long while

 

[Bigplumbs]

Thanks Paul - actually I hadn't realised it could even take a GPS signal, I did glance at the manual - via Google - whilst trying to figure out how to turn the very annoying depth alarms off, and the reading is 00.00 rather than --.-- which apparently indicates a fault with the paddle wheel, as you correctly guessed. So that will have to wait for another day.
Boat electrical/communication systems seem like a headache in the making.

The ancient Webasto (2000 vintage) is flashing an F08 code, which indicates a failed drive assembly/fan. I've found some of the installation under the starboard settee, but there must be more of it somewhere in an aft locker I guess, which means another job for another weekend.

Excellent thread and well done on your purchase. Re the Webasto it might just be easier and way cheaper to just swap out the main Deisel heater for a Chinese clone they are only about £100 all in and are very good. They should fit all your ducting. Look on Amazon or eBay

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Excellent thread and well done on your purchase. Re the Webasto it might just be easier and way cheaper to just swap out the main Deisel heater for a Chinese clone they are only about £100 all in and are very good. They should fit all your ducting. Look on Amazon or eBay

Or Vevor, for a heater. They’re all much the same. Whilst this is, if we may say so, a hotly debated topic, the main issue with Chinese made heaters is that the exhaust is positively dangerous. So if the existing one is in good nick and fits, it’s a winner. If it’s knackered or the wrong size, a Planar exhaust will fit, and work, and be safe. So you're still quids in. Their stainless steel skin fittings actually look to be better that the way more expensive competition. I have one.

I’ve also sailed the East coast in the past. I’d just like to add another Burnham warning. I absolutely love the place, but don’t do what we did. We had a glorious high speed sail into the river, new asymetric kite giving us 12-15kn in our Strider cat. The east wind strengthened overnight. When we left, we had 18-20kn blowing straight down the river against a spring ebb….. something you do just once in your life.

 

[apguy]

Thank you for the comments about the heater. Next weekend I'm going over for a few more jobs and hopefully to take her out, this time with the mainsail up! Whilst there I'll take a look at the Webasto and decide what to do - I'm glad to hear that I have some options with either a Webasto repair or Vevor replacement (which look amazingly good value).

Your comments and assistance are very much appreciated.

 

[Egret]

Brightlingsea channel dredged a bit over winter - so all ready for Apguy visit - See #1 & #7.

 

[shanemax]

I haven't, as yet met anyone with a fin keel who leaves the channel or cuts across shoal water, even on springs or manages to anchor near shore. It is a matter of choice, but I know if I get things wrong I will sit upright for a few boring hours and not lay completely on my side terrified. I have seen many fins come to grief entering the Deben, the crew having to get off the boat onto the shingle and an inshore life boat standing off as the tide returns.

 

[johnalison]

I haven't, as yet met anyone with a fin keel who leaves the channel or cuts across shoal water, even on springs or manages to anchor near shore. It is a matter of choice, but I know if I get things wrong I will sit upright for a few boring hours and not lay completely on my side terrified. I have seen many fins come to grief entering the Deben, the crew having to get off the boat onto the shingle and an inshore life boat standing off as the tide returns.

You seem to have contradicted yourself in suggesting that fins don't leave channels yet you have seen 'many' such boats aground in the Deben entrance. I have never played fast and loose at Bawdsey but cutting corners and crossing shallows was always a pretty normal part of my invariably finned sailing.

It is largely a matter of frame of mind, and I have known people who would always go round the Colne Bar while the rest of us saved a mile or more by crossing halfway or better. Inadvertent grounding is not something that most of us do more than once or twice. The only occasion it happened to us (note the shared responsibility here) was when we dragged in the Roach and spent a few hours lying on the bank, fortunately the right way and even more fortunately with no witnesses.

 

[tillergirl]

Larry (aka Gladys - don't ask why) and I have thought about having a go on the Colne Bar - that is where you know where it is, as opposed to not where Navionics thinks it is - Following chatting to the Eastern Manager of the UKHO after finding last September that the Knoll was quite different, we were told that most, twixt the Colne and Blackwater, hasn't been reported for quite a while. Even the massive civil hydrology programme that was done in the winter of 23/spring 24 didn't go there. So certainly round the Colne Bar is worth a poke around. I do appreciate peeps might like to skirt round the Point and it might work but I suspect the depth change around there pretty quickly so any survey might not stand long.

 

[shanemax]

You seem to have contradicted yourself in suggesting that fins don't leave channels yet you have seen 'many' such boats aground in the Deben entrance. I have never played fast and loose at Bawdsey but cutting corners and crossing shallows was always a pretty normal part of my invariably finned sailing.

It is largely a matter of frame of mind, and I have known people who would always go round the Colne Bar while the rest of us saved a mile or more by crossing halfway or better. Inadvertent grounding is not something that most of us do more than once or twice. The only occasion it happened to us (note the shared responsibility here) was when we dragged in the Roach and spent a few hours lying on the bank, fortunately the right way and even more fortunately with no witnesses.

No. I did not contradict myself because stupid people not paying attention or doing their home work will invariably cock up
and the Deben Bar will catch these people out. I was just saying you see very few yachts cutting corners even on a rising spring tide. Check your chart Stour to the Orwell at Shotley. There is a two meter line that cuts very close to Shotley marina and Bloody Point but very few boats use it and take the long way round past Halfpenny Pier. Springs would give you 6 meters of water, on this short cut, but most yachts take the long route.