Pros and cons of Tollesbury Saltings

James W

James W

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The old boat budget is getting a bit squeezed at the moment, so considering moving the boat.

She's a fin keel, draws 4ft and i'm seriously thinking about a Tollesbury mud berth. The cost is reasonable, I really like the place and there are enough things for the kids to do in a nice environment.

Can anyone with experience give me some honest pros and cons please? What are the tidal restrictions? I like a day sail, but presently only get an hour either side of high water.....sometimes less on the ebb side. So anything more than that would be a bonus! Are the stagings a pain? Is it a pain to clamber down at low tide with bags/stores/kids? Is it as brutally exposed as it often seems on my day trips there?

Thanks loads for any help!
 
I kept my little Westerly there for a month. At springs I couldn't get to my boat because the Saltings were underwater or there was not enough water to get out. At neaps I was, ear, neaped. My wife and guide dog refused to use the walkways let alone use the staging and ladder to get to the boat. Mud everywhere, impossible to keep the boat clean.

BUT, I loved the place, a bohemian, piratical air about it. Wonderful countryside. Bird watching etc were superb. But it just was not for me I am afraid. I would not think it an ideal place for day sailing but am sure others would disagree.

I ended up on a drying pontoon at Maldon. Easy access to shops, pubs etc and the wife likes it. I pay £1400 per annum for a 28'ter. Electricity, water and showers, did I mention pubs?
 
Sorry, don't know about the saltings but how about Marconi Sailing Club? You have to buy your own mooring gear and contribute to laying and recovering it as it is a self help club but you can get a swinging, all tide mooring, ideal for day sails for about half the price quoted above.
 
Tam Lin said:
Sorry, don't know about the saltings but how about Marconi Sailing Club? You have to buy your own mooring gear and contribute to laying and recovering it as it is a self help club but you can get a swinging, all tide mooring, ideal for day sails for about half the price quoted above.
Click to expand...

I like Marconi, and have often picked up the visitors buoy there. The problem is I'm not keen on using a tender to ferry the kids to the boat and so am really after a pontoon or stagings.
 
I have had 3 boats at Tollesbury, The latest draws 4ft 8". The access does depend on the actual berth, I am very lucky because even on a neap tide I can get out and in plus or minus an hour. On Springs I get around 2 - 3 hours before and a couple of hours after. Although I have to say that on my particular berth, coming alongside on the ebb is "interesting". The walkways and stagings do on occasions get flooded, but normally only for half hour or so, and generally only a few inches deep.

I have been there 9 years, and have never regretted it. I don't find the access limits me much, and if I have to get up at 4 or 5 in the morning to leave the creek it is a small price to pay. There are days when I have been down there pottering about, and it is so peaceful and pleasant.

Climbing down to the boat from the staging is achieved in my case by the use of a heavy steel ladder I inherited. Most people use short ladder fixed to the staging. Doug the yard manager is really helpful, really going out of his way to accommodate his clients needs.

The toilets and showers have just been refurbished, and there is water near all berths.

If you want further info, then just PM me.

Ian
 

Cant miss the chance to plug one of our family's films, for those that don't know Tollesbury (and I guess there cant be many looking at the east coast forum that don't) this is what the saltings look like.
 
I haven't been to Maylandsea for very many years but we kept boats there, both on a mooring and at the pontoons. At one time we were on a hammerhead, which gave us about a four or five hour window with 4' 6" draft. I don't know what it's like nowadays, though.
 
Great stuff, thanks so much one and all.

Had a chat with Doug the yard manager earlier about mooring for next season and it all looks positive, just got to go down and have a look around. Ian, i'll be sending you a PM later, thanks for the kind offer!

James
 
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