buster3
Well-Known Member
have you looked at saul juction marina and we do moor up on the canal loads of places on the severn to moor up for a night or two
New to the Bristol Channel
- Thread starter boatingdave
- Start date
boatingdave
Well-Known Member
The old tub is 45'LOA and 14' beam - I was told she would be too big for Saul Junction?
Who
Well-Known Member
Did not take long to mention the pubs 
Look forward to seeing you
Dont forget to book up for the Bristol Harbour Festival (you will need to get on the list now, to get a decent spot)
Look forward to seeing you
Dont forget to book up for the Bristol Harbour Festival (you will need to get on the list now, to get a decent spot)
Allan
Well-Known Member
I see your point, but I always try to arrive when the water is going up and has covered the white lines!
Allan
Allan
Csail
N/A
Damo, why not put p&s buoys to mark the channel?
solitaire11
Well-Known Member
hi thamesboater,
welcome to this part of the world,
as buster 3 says, in summer there is always somebody waiting to lock out of sharpy, wether it be narrowboat, cruiser or sailor.. i'm sure they would'nt mind you tagging along? or you could come with us at easter or numerous times through the summer if your round about.. as everyone else says there's plenty of knowledge on here and don't be afraid to ask however stupid it may seem, we all start somewhere /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. my first trip down was in a carrycot some 35 years ago and everytime it's different/eventfull.lol. on the right day its the best place on water, but she can get real mean if she wants /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif a few trips under your belt and you'll wonder what the fuss is about /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif anyway here's to a good summer.......and below is a slideshow to get you all in the mood..not long now..
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welcome to this part of the world,
as buster 3 says, in summer there is always somebody waiting to lock out of sharpy, wether it be narrowboat, cruiser or sailor.. i'm sure they would'nt mind you tagging along? or you could come with us at easter or numerous times through the summer if your round about.. as everyone else says there's plenty of knowledge on here and don't be afraid to ask however stupid it may seem, we all start somewhere /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. my first trip down was in a carrycot some 35 years ago and everytime it's different/eventfull.lol. on the right day its the best place on water, but she can get real mean if she wants /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif a few trips under your belt and you'll wonder what the fuss is about /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif anyway here's to a good summer.......and below is a slideshow to get you all in the mood..not long now..
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damo
Well-Known Member
The mud acts as a safety valve! If you are so late that depths are critical, and you don't have the local knowledge, it's better to stick on soft mud than jam on the outer cill /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Seriously though, the risers on buoys would have to be so long that they would be all over the place as the level falls, and the depth variations are less than a metre-ish anyway. IMO it's not worth the expense and confusion they would create. Like coming into Cardiff Barrage - if you assume that the buoys are an aid to navigation at low water you would soon be on the mud. The echo sounder is much more useful in those conditions IMO.
Seriously though, the risers on buoys would have to be so long that they would be all over the place as the level falls, and the depth variations are less than a metre-ish anyway. IMO it's not worth the expense and confusion they would create. Like coming into Cardiff Barrage - if you assume that the buoys are an aid to navigation at low water you would soon be on the mud. The echo sounder is much more useful in those conditions IMO.
Csail
N/A
True i suppose but echo sounder won't work out of Cardiff with all the mud.Guess i just need to remember to turn hard port just before the wood bit ends entering your place. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
damo
Well-Known Member
My e/s works there at LW /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. that's how I keep to the deepest bits.
And at Portishead, keep close to the pier until the third yellow obstruction mark on the pier, then go to port about 45 deg until in line with the left side of the outer lock barrel, then head back right to the middle. Keep left of centre across the cill, and go portside-to. HTH /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif (Only needed for keel boats at the beginning and end of the tide)
And at Portishead, keep close to the pier until the third yellow obstruction mark on the pier, then go to port about 45 deg until in line with the left side of the outer lock barrel, then head back right to the middle. Keep left of centre across the cill, and go portside-to. HTH /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif (Only needed for keel boats at the beginning and end of the tide)
zlod
Well-Known Member
There was an article in Boat Angler Monthly (or something like that) about Portishead a few months ago (it was a mate's copy). It said the pilotage for Portishead was easy: stick to the pier on the left and just motor out. I was reading that thinking "oh no, oh no".
It's quite good fun trying to stick to the deepest water into Portishead. Actually it's good fun until you have to do it for real on the last lock: it gets quite nerve wracking then.
I don't think the mudbank is usually a big issue, especially if you follow Damo's pilotage plan (if you're on the last lock).
Does anyone know why the lock was designed with that slope to the left?
It's quite good fun trying to stick to the deepest water into Portishead. Actually it's good fun until you have to do it for real on the last lock: it gets quite nerve wracking then.
I don't think the mudbank is usually a big issue, especially if you follow Damo's pilotage plan (if you're on the last lock).
Does anyone know why the lock was designed with that slope to the left?
Severnman
Well-Known Member
The Gloucester Harbour Trustees website has a wealth of information for small craft users with particular reference for the passages to and from Sharpness. Pilot contact details there also and they are really nice friendly people... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
damo
Well-Known Member
There was a thread a while ago about the lock, with more pics. Nearest I could find is this one The entrance was dredged last year, which flattened the whole area to the pier, but the channel is re-establishing itself, and the mud lump building again. (Due to the storm drainage into the Hole).
Last time I checked, the top of the lump is at 4.2m acd, which would be 1.2m max on the cill (0.4m on the shallow side). So if it is showing then you are way too late /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Last outbound lock time is calculated on 3m on the cill and falling, so last inbound should have about 2m clearance on the portside. The latest I have seen anyone come in was a fishing boat with engine problems, who crept in at 4.4 acd.
AFAIK the slope is to brace the foot of the wall, whch is the original Victorian stonework. The lock control side is recent reinforced construction, where the lock barrel was significantly reduced in size. You can see the original curved base in the outer lock barrel at LW
...and as an "interesting" aside, one of the reasons for having a minimum marina impound level, is that if it drops much below 12.0m acd (don't ask me how much - a "few" metres I spose), although there will still be plenty of water for the boats, the old quay wall would have less support and be liable to collapse /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Last time I checked, the top of the lump is at 4.2m acd, which would be 1.2m max on the cill (0.4m on the shallow side). So if it is showing then you are way too late /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Last outbound lock time is calculated on 3m on the cill and falling, so last inbound should have about 2m clearance on the portside. The latest I have seen anyone come in was a fishing boat with engine problems, who crept in at 4.4 acd.
AFAIK the slope is to brace the foot of the wall, whch is the original Victorian stonework. The lock control side is recent reinforced construction, where the lock barrel was significantly reduced in size. You can see the original curved base in the outer lock barrel at LW
...and as an "interesting" aside, one of the reasons for having a minimum marina impound level, is that if it drops much below 12.0m acd (don't ask me how much - a "few" metres I spose), although there will still be plenty of water for the boats, the old quay wall would have less support and be liable to collapse /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Elza_Skip
Well-Known Member
Hi and welcome
We used to keep our boat at Sharpness marina you might try there. I was also going to suggest the new marina at Saul, but it sounds like you have ruled that out, otherwise you could try Gloucester.
Locking out at Sharpness is a bit nerver racking at first, but bear in mind our boat was a 21 footer and felt lost in the huge lock- you should be more comfortable
When the tides are right it is quite practical to go down to portishead for a week-end trip and even watchet or Cardiff, but then you may want an extra day or 2.
I am not sure where you live, but we are in Bristol and we decided to move our boat to Penarth to have much better access to the sea as well as the convenience of the bar for the odd quick spin. There a plenty of moorings around Cardiff Bay now due to expansion in the river Ely
We used to keep our boat at Sharpness marina you might try there. I was also going to suggest the new marina at Saul, but it sounds like you have ruled that out, otherwise you could try Gloucester.
Locking out at Sharpness is a bit nerver racking at first, but bear in mind our boat was a 21 footer and felt lost in the huge lock- you should be more comfortable
When the tides are right it is quite practical to go down to portishead for a week-end trip and even watchet or Cardiff, but then you may want an extra day or 2.
I am not sure where you live, but we are in Bristol and we decided to move our boat to Penarth to have much better access to the sea as well as the convenience of the bar for the odd quick spin. There a plenty of moorings around Cardiff Bay now due to expansion in the river Ely
ash12
Well-Known Member
there is nothing like coming out of sharpness, its brilliant. but sharpness town is a bit errie its like stepping back 20 or so years.
solitaire11
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
there is nothing like coming out of sharpness, its brilliant. but sharpness town is a bit errie its like stepping back 20 or so years.
[/ QUOTE ]
try 40 years..lol. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
there is nothing like coming out of sharpness, its brilliant. but sharpness town is a bit errie its like stepping back 20 or so years.
[/ QUOTE ]
try 40 years..lol. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
pepsimax11
New Member
you were a young starter /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
boatingdave
Well-Known Member
All - sorry, not been on line for a few days, only just caught up. Been reading the threads, will try and tag along with someone methinks! Too much mud to avoid eh LOL.
Been to Saul Junction today, just to check. We will get in the marina entrance (just - as long as we lift the fenders as the entrance is very narrow) but the manouvers out on the main canal will be challenging if the water is either busy or it's windy (it was very windy today at Saul, a lot worse than Victoria basin (which I visited as a comparison)!
Anyone on the forum actually moor at Saul? The marina is very quiet compared to Gloucester docks! It would be a shame if our passaged were restricted by the wind (as in the weather!!!) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Been to Saul Junction today, just to check. We will get in the marina entrance (just - as long as we lift the fenders as the entrance is very narrow) but the manouvers out on the main canal will be challenging if the water is either busy or it's windy (it was very windy today at Saul, a lot worse than Victoria basin (which I visited as a comparison)!
Anyone on the forum actually moor at Saul? The marina is very quiet compared to Gloucester docks! It would be a shame if our passaged were restricted by the wind (as in the weather!!!) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif