Places to use a boat in Essex

[Franknstein]

Hi All

Had such a good time on my last excursion to Poole harbour, so want to try and get in one or maybe two more outings before winter sets in.

As I live in London, trekking to Poole is quite expensive and also requires time, so I'm looking for a spot to launch and enjoy a day or perhaps a weekend outing around Southend-on-sea / Leigh-on-Sea / Canvey island area... as to me thats the closest it gets.

Does anyone have any experience in these waters? I've been told its very tidal and muddy, but then I found Poole to be quite that too - is this area that much worse though?

Any tips or thoughts would be appreciated.

ta

 

[dingdongs]

we have a lot of members from london who use st lawrence bay in essex's speedboat club which will launch a boat for your membership during weekends and you can self launch if you have a 4x4 365 days a year at all but the lowest tides.not a member myself as work away but if i was home i would be there.Mersea island is 15 mins away and you could be all the way to clacton within an hour.can go all the way to maldon on the tides.a chartplotter would be worth its weight in gold as the east coast has sandbars anything upto 10 miles offshore.fishings good and watersports good too.look here http://www.stonewatersports.net/;
i live in the village for the watersports myself and like the way of life whether sailing or powerboating.have a look and not as bad as getting to southend on a weekend.
60 miles from central london and easily accesible from A12 or A13
camping in the village available or motorhome in the club.

 

[VicS]

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/ should give you some ideas of possible launch sites and some details about them

Direct links to Easy tide too ... not noticed those before.

 

[David of Essex]

Recommend Burnham on Crouch pretty little village, nice restaurants recommend St Peppers and the Swallowtale in our marina.
If you fancy going back in time visit the old cinema very quant. Nice walks and plenty of local pubs.
David

 

[oldgit]

Much more interesting than the watery version of M25.

East coast can provide a much extended boating season ,mainly due to most rivers providing sheltered waters from wind.Also a good chance to explore many out of the way creeks due to boat such as your own requiring little more than a heavy dew to float.
Good chance to open the boat up(away from moorings) because of calm water.
Just keep an eye on the tides and do your exploring on the flood.
Ps.You will find proper boaters up here on the east coast,we have boat yards and trots and tide floods and ebbs.
Unlike the south coast world of gin palaces,where the water goes up and down making the climb up the marina gangway to the boutique for yet more luridly colourful "techical" clothing rather tiresome.

 

[Alan_C]

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/ should give you some ideas of possible launch sites and some details about them

Direct links to Easy tide too ... not noticed those before.

As a newbie, I haven't come across this very useful link before. Thanks

 

[Strake]

If you could stretch your journey a bit further north to Titchmarsh Marina near Walton-on-the-Naze, you could explore the lovely Swallows and Amazons country of the Walton Backwaters and see the local seals. Then, head out along the Twizzle into Dovercourt Bay and across to Harwich/Felixstowe ports to get a close-up of the large container ships and ferries. Your choice then is the Stour and Orwell rivers both with a number of places to stop off or navigate through to Mistly and Ipswich respectively.
We kept an S28 at Titchmarsh for a couple of years and didn't manage to see everything so you might need more than a couple of weekends..
If you are launching your boat then I presume it's not drawing that much so I don't think you need to worry too much about tides apart from any extreme lows at Titchmarsh. We had no problems with the S28 with a bit of planning.
A Google search of Titchmarsh Marina and Walton Backwaters will give you plenty more information on the area.

 

[davidej]

Yes the Southend side has little to offer (I know, I was born there) for your type of boat but it is not far across to the Medway or the Swale.

Alternatively not far north to the Crouch/Roach or the Blackwater

A bit further north to some of the loveliest rivers in England - Orwell, Stour, Deben and Ore/Alde

 

[David of Essex]

Very useful and a good selection of books. www.eastcoastpilot.com.
David

 

[Franknstein]

Thanks all for the helpful advice, I will check out your suggestions! Might join that Stones watersport club, looks ideal, but will also check out Walton on the Naze.

 

[dabsolute470]

hi ansd welcome

fambridge marina on the river crouch has a good park and ride service.
you call them and they launch your boat for when you get down and take it out when ever you are finished, flush it and store it again.
its not that expensive and not worth the hassel launching yourself but you could if you wanted.