Medway visit

[rosssavage]

Off to chatham for a few days in june. Whlst there, we would like to have a nose around the Medway, cos we haven't been there before.

Boat is 38' long and draws 3 1/2' - if we left MDL Chatham in the morning and turn left:

a) How far can we go upstream with this size of boat?
b) Recommendations for an overnight mooring reachable in a days cruise from the marina?

Cheers!

 

[rosssavage]

...and, looking at google maps with a low tide, can I even get to Allington lock at all states of the tide?? Looks a bit shallow...

 

[Medskipper]

You need to be quite careful, take the incoming tide to the lock and get through before the tide falls so aim for the lock just before high tide. It is rocky up there so don't try it on a falling tide. Once through the lock you can venture a little way with your size of boat but not a very far. In my opinion you would be better off dropping anchor in one of the creeks off the Medway before Chatham marina.
Barry

 

[Antony Collis]

Hi. The answer to the question "how far can we go upstream" depends on you air draft and not your water draft. I would suggest that you only plan on going as far as East Farleigh lock for a visit before turning round. Also you'd need to make sure you can get under Aylesford bridge which is just before Allington lock. This can be a problem if you aim to get to the lock at HW. The lock is open 3hrs before HW but this can be way to early. Next time I come that way I plan to pass Medway Bridge Marina 1 1/2 Hrs before HW as I've experienced coming up shallow and having to wait at Aylesford for the water to fall.
You can stay at,
Allington marina (very nice and quiet)
The EA moorings at Allington lock (opposite the large pub, just across the foot bridge)
Maidstone town center
Public EA mooring poles at East Farleigh (Free and I've never seen them full, a short walk to 2 pubs)

Hope this helps.

 

[Antony Collis]

Just seen you have a Princess 385.
If your radar arch won't come down, you won't make it past the bridges in Maidstone.

 

[oldgit]

H.mm.It all depends !

The trip up.

If you turn left from the marina to try to get to Allington Lock you need to worry about one thing your flybridge height,actually its two,your depth as well .
This is as far as you can get with any Flybridge Boat which is East Farleigh lock and you need to be pretty keen to get this far.

This Is the view at Allington at low tide.

But as you can see,its is possible to get to the free moorings at East Farleigh which is about an hour beyond Maidstone Town centre.

Maidstone Town Centre.Bit noisy due to road running alongside river.
£5.00 a night but have never seen anyone collect in the last 20 years.

The bridge at Aylesford.This is the one you need to get under.

Our club winter cruise park.ed outside the Malta Inn above the lock.£10.00 which goes to local charity
Largest boat a Princess 460(not in this Picture. so if he can do it ?

To sum up you should have no real problems getting to Allington Lock.
We have an airdraft of 3.5m and draw 1.m
We normally leave to arrive about 1.5 hours before HW at lock.This gives me water under the keel and space above going under Aylesford Bridge.Keep an eye out for junk in the water.
You can either park on EA moorings at lock(Prebook) or just across water outside Malta pub.
Maidstone town centre is about 30 mins further up and it may just be worth going up to have a look before heading back down to lock for your chosen overnigther.
The brave go to East Farleigh,tight on both airdraft and water depth.
If thats all a bit like hard work there is always Sharfleet Creek just off of Stangate Creek for an overnigther at the mercy of your anchor.

And this is helpful http://www.allingtonlock.co.uk/

 

[rosssavage]

Thanks Barry.

Antony - arch does come down (boat lives in Windsor, lots of low bridges to contend with)

Oldgit - very comprehensive, and your piccies make perfect navigation notes, thank you!

 

[oldgit]

There is a P385 or P388 that moors up there,pretty certain have seen him get under Maidstone bridge.
This is also useful.All bridge heights and profiles.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/132023.aspx
Hope the weather is good.

 

[maby]

Take a turn round the abandoned Russian sub at Rochester - quite a sight! The first time we went up there, I was so busy watching the depth that it didn't register what my wife was saying - then I told her to stop being silly - there are no Russian submarines moored on the Medway!

 

[oldgit]

Take a turn round the abandoned Russian sub at Rochester - quite a sight! The first time we went up there, I was so busy watching the depth that it didn't register what my wife was saying - then I told her to stop being silly - there are no Russian submarines moored on the Medway!

Upstairs

Downstairs

 

[maby]

Upstairs

Downstairs

It's looking very decrepit these days!

 

[oldgit]

Its a lot......well a bit better inside.They do offer a look round every now and then for a donation to the RNLI.

 

[maby]

Its a lot......well a bit better inside.They do offer a look round every now and then for a donation to the RNLI.

Will be interesting to see what happens to it. The time must be approaching when the outer hull collapses - I would assume that it is already incapable of floating and dismantling it in-situ will be a major exercise. I assume that the owners cannot afford to do anything with it now, and the scrap value is probably less than the cost of removing it!

 

[oldgit]

Still merrily floating

The external casement is all a bit distressed but apparently the internal pressure hull is OK.The reason for the list is rumoured to be a leaky valve in a ballast tank.Periodically pumped out when they get round to it.It was being painted at one point.
The sub will have to insured to remain in the port and suppose sooner or later is going to have to be slipped for survey.

 

[maby]

The external casement is all a bit distressed but apparently the internal pressure hull is OK.The reason for the list is rumoured to be a leaky valve in a ballast tank.Periodically pumped out when they get round to it.It was being painted at one point.
The sub will have to insured to remain in the port and suppose sooner or later is going to have to be slipped for survey.

Needs more than the pressure hull to float - that is designed to sink like a stone! I had heard a suggestion that the ballast tanks were coming close to rusting through and, at that point, they have serious problems.