Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

[1011]

Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Not had a boat for several years and previously boated on the river. My husband now has this great urge to go to sea and Lowestoft seems a good place to moor because we can use the Broads too - for my benefit!!!!! Never been on the sea before in our own boat. We have looked at a boat near Newark which we are hoping to buy and obviously need to get it to Lowestoft - any suggestions/tips etc. etc. He thinks I'm crazy.

 

[nedmin]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

3 choices, whats the air draught? will it go thro. the glory hole at lincoln? if so you can come out at boston, if not you will have to go via the humber, which means a stop at grimsby to pick a weather slot, unlike our southern cousins you have to travel about 110 miles before you can find a safe haven. 3rd choice by lorry.as the distance via grimsby or boston is about the same at 8 knots you will be about 13hrs.so you need good weather f/cast

 

[Sixpence]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Can you give a few details of the boat you are looking at , as already said , the trip from Newark to Lowestoft is a typical East coast one , with lot's of reasons for not doing it as a novice . A road move may be better , but that depends on the boat .

 

[hlb]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Much depends on the boat you are thinking of buying. Dont know the area but from other reports looks like you got 110 miles of open sea. Before safe haven. Not necesarily a problem for a well founded 30ft plus boat. You need to know about tides. Currents and navigation. GPS and a chart plotter will help. Dependant on boat speed and timing. This might equate to equivilant of 220 miles or 55 miles. Probably some where in between.

Need to know much more about boat and speed. Also your ability to navigate and understanding of charts.

For instance. A sailing yacht setting off at the wrong time, might well be in the same position six hours later!!

 

[jcmmarine]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

As an ex-East Coaster I would not advise first timing on your own. However there are pleantly of experienced East Anglian Ditch Crawlers up there who, if you ask nicely, will let you cruise in company with them. All you have to do is buy them beer and listen to their salty tales. Seriously, ask in the marina for someone going your way, but also a good idea to get some training.

 

[David2452]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Apart from the trip itself there are other considerations, has the boat been used as a river boat for a long time? if so any sludge in the tank(s) will get stirred up at sea and may block filters and stop the motor(s). Is she equipped for sea or just rivers? if the engine(s) have not been run at other than river speeds for a long time that may raise issues. I guess as others have written a bit more info on the boat and its history will be needed before any appropriate advice can be given.

David

 

[1011]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

To: Nedmin/Trevera25/hib/jcmmarine/David2452.
Thankyou for your replies - we looked at the glory hole in an old canal book is clearance really only 5'. We are looking at a Princess 35 with flybridge so if thats the case it looks like the other way, without speaking to the marina I do not know what the airdraught is? Yes I agree - I think we would feel better with other boaters or even someone experienced on board with us, we do plan to get to know the boat and arrange some training. My husband did a day skipper course on the Solent about 3 yrs ago but obviously needs to understand the equipment on board ie radio, radar, navtex etc and also to be able to plot by hand? is that the right expression?? He is not thick and quickly picks these things up, not like me!
Does anyone have any experience of the marina at Lowestoft ? Whenever Ive seen the sea on the East Coast it looks a nightmare!??
Linda

 

[hlb]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

You will be pleased to hear, than a P35 was concidered one of the best planing sea boats ever built at the time.

However you make no mention of the engines fitted, or the condition of the boat.

I'm afraid, seamanship is not something that you can just pick up from a book. It takes years of practice and understanding. Particularly in some where as hostile as the east coast.

Having said all that, your boat is perfectly capable of doing this trip. Mind has done countless similar.

Things likely to go wrong, are simple things like blocked filters. You need spares, know how to change them and be able to restart the engine, which will now be airlocked.

Course, whilst this is going on, you may need some one else capable of steering the boat, in the most comfortable direction as possible.

Theres nothing particularly difficult about the trip you have in mind. It's more about knowing where trouble lies. How to avoid it, or repair it. But most of all, not to panic and blindly head for land. You'd be surprised how many folk do just that, then pile up the rocks!

 

[D3B]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Linda
The headroom in the glory hole is about 2.8 metres. Burton Waters have advised they can get Sealine S29 (2.8 with mast down) through.

I took my new boat from Torksey to Hull (took 1 day) then Hull to Kings Lynn another time. Now in Lowestoft Haven Marina.
Torksey to Hull I had an RYA instructor who lives near to Lincoln on board. he is excepionally good but a little expensive. I would recommend having someone on board for that leg at least. the Trent gets very shallow in places. PM me if you would like his details.
Hull to Lowestoft can easily be done in a day. a forumite does it quite regularly. Pete...help the lady out please /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Lowestoft. There are two marinas. I think it unlikely you would get into RN&SYC as they are full and I am already on a waiting list /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Lowestoft Haven still has spaces at the moment though they could put you on the visitor pontoon. Its ideal for your trips into the Broads, 30 mins slow walk to town and has several nice forumites as well.

As others have said get the boat thoroughly checked for seaworthiness. plenty of spare filters incase sludge in fuel tanks, spare belts etc....Its a long way from Hull to Lowestoft with a boat with iffy engines.

When you are ready to come to Lowestoft let me know...we could organise a forum outing to bring you in. I think there are about 20 forumites with boats in the lowestoft area and many more on the Broads.

Doug

 

[DAKA]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Princess 35 will need to have the Radar arch hinged for Newark town bridge.

The Tidal Trent is tricky so you will need Sission's Chart.

Unless you have a great deal of experience of the Trent I would suggest you break the trip up

Cromwell to Torskey
Torskey to West Stockworth
West stck to Grimsby


Unless you split the trip you will need to navigate in very shallow water and risk numerous groundings.

I have grounded 2-3 times, I had out drives that I could lift and navigated as the Barges do and deliberately run aground and wait for flood tide to come in.

By doing this it is possible to Navigate from Newark to Sth Feriby in a Tide and probably only ground once every third trip.

As you have shafts I recommend splitting the trip.

You could just stop at Gainsborough floating pontoon But it is not very nice.

If you leave Torksey at Flood and break the speed limit you could make Sth Feriby and if you can cruise at 26 knts you could make Grimsby before the water runs out but not advised.

From grimsby to lowerstoft fairly easy just go outside Ross spit and head for Sherringham. (bit more complicated but you will see from the charts).

You will know how reliable your boat is before you head for sea as you will have done 100 nm ish by Grimsby.

Lowerstoft

Call ch 14 for permission to enter

Good write up in MBM this month but be aware you might be better to go under the bridge the the Better Marina inside.

Good luck

That trip is great fun.

 

[D3B]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[1011]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

This is technical for me: twin Volvo TAMD41 200hp diesel, actual boat is very clean and been looked after, Dave reckons the engines look very clean too?? (He has been in the motor trade most of his life, amongst other things, that is until recent years. It was built in '89.

 

[DAKA]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Best forget the 26 knt cruise.

Aim for Gainsborough floaties.
Wait for flood.
No speed limit (Technically 14 knts ABP but not even they know that and not enforced apart from Stockworth and Keadby locks, dont crash them if any boats trying to get in/out !)
You should be fine at 20knts. to Sth Feriby
Check diesel available at the time you want it tel clapsons 01652 635620.

You can lock out sth feriby 3 hours before tide, punch to Ross spit and then have the tide carry you down to Lowerstoft.


By the way dont let the grounding bit put you off, this is not like hitting a sand bank at 20 knts.
you simply run out of water.
You only touch the bottom, raise the legs and the current takes you to deeper water.
If you get stuck, you send all crew and yourself to the bow and you float away into deeper water(most the time).

The Trent is in flood at the moment with lots of Fresh water (rain water )adding to the Tide so you would be unlucky to touch the bottom for the next week or two.

 

[DAKA]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Hi Dougie,

Its a good job I dont know how to do a link /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Have you got the proper Marina name and tel. no. handy ?

 

[D3B]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

PM sent

doug

 

[1011]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Spoke to the marina who reckon we will have to go via Hull, so thats sorted!!! I quite like the idea of splitting the journey - its handy to know some idea of the time it takes too - thankyou. Daka said this trip is great fun - did I sense a note of sarcasm????

 

[hlb]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

<span style="color:red">A P35 is on shafts. It's imperative that it does not touch bottom, as the first thing to hit are the props, then bend the rudders and shafts maybe. </span>

 

[D3B]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

sarcasm....no.
He is very experienced on that stretch so would take his advise carefully.
but dont worry about the going aground bit. the trent is very soft and provided you aren't going too fast in shallow water you wouldnt do any damage.

Still check timings from Newark. its a long way to Hull in one day and i am not sure it would be possible. As DAKA said gainsborough is not too nice. a drunk threw a half full beer can over the rail and tried to hit my boat.

Though i would still recommend the skipper i had to go with you at least to Hull. let me know if you want his details.

Doug

 

[DAKA]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

Sorry if you thought I as been sarcastic, no not intended this time, it really is a great trip.

Hull , yes doable but 30 mins from St Feriby and 20 mins of water so you can get in at Sth feriby with 50 mins over Hull. Both are tight at 2o knts.

You could wait at Trent falls but that is for slow boats and not very nice to anchor, very isolated.

I did not try to suggest it was safe to ground in a P35.

I was saying it is an accepted method of navigation in the trent for commercial and pleasure craft.

I had bought a boat with groundings in mind.

I bought a Corniche on outdrives instead of shafts.

that said the method of touching the bottom and how to get out of trouble is worth knowing.

If you adopt the above method you might get away with it.

On shafts I wouldnt attempt in one run which is why I recommended splitting.

You also need to take account of slowing for narrow boats, canoes etc.


If you do buy your boat and you decide to go by sea then send me a pm and I will talk you through everything I know.

Put this with everything else you hear from others and read up and you will have a very enjoyable adventure.

If you are looking for an element of sarcasm; with regard to Lowersoft RN&SYC, a warm welcome -only if you have a sail and speak Dutch. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[D3B]

Re: Newark to Lowestoft hopefully.

If you are looking for an element of sarcasm; with regard to Lowersoft RN&SYC, a warm welcome -only if you have a sail and speak Dutch.

Tut tut /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif