Porlock

clarinettist

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None of the pilots are definitive about the mooring situation at Porlock Weir. We are thinking of visiting during this summers' cruise. Can anyone advise please?
 
Depends on boat etc. Dont go there if you need to stay afloat and are more than maybe 34 ft - your arse will be altogether too near the mobos coming out of the inner harbour for comfort. Dont know about times at the moment since they depend on whether the shingle has been moved by the digger - something that hasnt always happened in recent years.

Personally I wouldnt dry out there with anything other than a bilge keeler - the bottom is mostly shingle.

Nice place though
 
Hmmm, my nearest 'harbour'.

This shows the extent of the drying out problem. Well, no problem, if you are <30ft and twin keels.

porlockweir.jpg


Further out, the holding is pretty good, but in any sort of W or SW wind it's a bit uncomfortable, with no immediate shelter for emergencies.

If you get ashore, there's a good day's entertainment at the weir and Porlock town itself, and a reasonable pub (good beer and food) and some classy (read "expensive") restaurants.

You may be lucky and contact the boatmen for fresh fish.

Porlock Weir - Harbour Office. Tel 01643 863187


If you make it over there, PM me and I'll bring a red cross parcel :D
 
you pick up one of their moorings as directed by the HM. there are two aft ropes leading to a ground chain down the middle and two forward ropes to posts. immediately in fron tof the bow there is a vertical bank maybe 3 ft high so dont pull any further forward than the other boats moored there permanently.

withies on the way in
 
I wouldnt try to anchor in the weir.Its criss crossed with mooring chains.

Visiting bilgekeel boats often go on the bank on the port (east)side as your going in amongst the local boats ,if theres noone around to direct you thats where I would go .Not much room for manouvering in the weir so put out lots of fenders both sides before coming in.

I havent been there this year but have been told that the pool normally used by fin keel boats is full of mud ,apparently you can still sit in it safely but wont be able to get ashore when the tide is out.

005-1.jpg

Looking back out to sea from in the weir.The boats on the right of the picture are bilgekeelers that dry out on a pebbly bank about 2 hours after HW.There are also boats on the other side doing the same.
 
We've anchored off three times this year. One it was flat calm - took me three times to set teh anchor as I was too close in - felt rocky or pebbly. Second time was perfect. Third time it was a NW force 4, and we had a rough night. Holding was fine though.

Not as rough as a friend, who shall remain nameless, who had to get up and move during the night after toughing bottom..........
 
porlock

Give Brian the harbour master a call. very helpfull. 07791 964 946 01643 863 187.Brian will give you the latest information on the entrance (the Gut) and the depth on the withies around the entrance.
 
Porlock is one of my favourite stop offs. If you anchor off be aware that the holding can be quite variable. Look out for the big boulders if you take a dinghy ashore- make sure you've got some shear pins to hand (I'm speaking from experience on more than one occasion!!).

Again, from my own experience, I would advise you to get ashore at low water and have a very good look at where the lumps and bumps actually are on that day: they do change almost daily, especially if there's been a blow.

I have been to Porlock many times, but only had the nerve to go into the harbour once!

Good luck.
 
Alcyone, you are wrong! My anchor stayed in the correct position, it was England that crept up on us in the middle of the night!
Allan
 
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