Pros & Cons of the River Exe

[steveej]

Good afternoon to the forum,

I am in the process of looking for my new boat which will probably be a French production fin keel in the low 30ft range (partly because of cost but also they tend to have aft cabins which helps a lot with two young children/toddlers on board.

The season before last was spent sailing my Hurley 22 out of Cardiff Bay which was a great learning experience, but now that I have sold the boat and live in Bristol I am looking for new options on the south coast. The advantage of Cardiff is that it was only just over an hours drive and also had very good train connections.

So I have been looking at Southampton, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Poole, Plymouth all of which seam to be at least 2 hours drive away and some of the Marina fees in these places are simply unaffordable, so I would consider a swing/ trot mooring. I have a decent dinghy and new outboard.

So what do people think of the Exe? Its certainly the next quickest place to get to. It would mainly be for weekend sailing trips, but what are the practicalities with tidal restrictions and places to visit for weekend trips. I do actually want to go sailing on my weekends.

Any other sailors in Bristol and where do you keep your boats?

 

[FWB]

Young children will want to go to a beach.
Probably best bet is a mooring in Poole Harbour. You get to sail to Studland bay, crush a few seahorses with the anchor and the kids get to play on the beach. You then get to sail back.

 

[steveej]

this is exactly the kind of knowledge and recommendation I was hoping for. thanks

 

[jwilson]

The Exe is going to be a lot cheaper than Poole,which usually has pretty high mooring prices anywhere convenient. Go and have a look at the Exmouth area, especially the entrance at half tide and below. Your sailing there is VERY tide-dependent. You have Torbay, Dartmouth etc to the west, but not really for there and back in a day or weekend in a small boat. Nowhere for a fin-keeler eastwards till past Portland. Plymouth is possibly a much easier base for the sort of sailing you describe, with prices probably lower than Poole, but higher than the Exe.

 

[theoldsalt]

steveej,

I have kept 2 boats on the Exe over the last 25 years. Only moved to a marina in Plymouth due to limited personal mobility.

The advantages are that it is sheltered and relatively inexpensive. From home I could be on the boat in about 80 minutes. Lovely day sailing to destinations such as Torquay, Brixham, Dartmouth plus a little further to Salcombe etc. or turn east across Lyme bay and round Portland to Weymouth and beyond.
Many coves to anchor and lots of beaches. If you don't go out then spend the day on Exmouth beach.
Disadvantage is it is tidal but depending on draught and time of tide there is plenty of scope for getting in and out. There are strong currents especially on springs and off Exmouth marina entrance. For me being bilge keel the tide was an advantage as I could beach the boat for underwater maintenance. Moorings are usually vacated for the winter (October to March) as most, if not all, insurance companies will nor cover the boat at Exmouth and Starcross for the winter. In the upper Exe the moorings are vacated due to winter flood water being very fierce at times.
I enjoyed my stay In the Exe and recommend it. Moorings at Topsham are difficult to get. A mooring at Retreat Boatyard is suitable for bilge keelers only but very convenient as free parking and dinghy storage is available and it is only 5 minutes from the M5 plus yard maintenance and winter storage readily available.
Most moorings on the lower Exe are controlled by Powderham Estate. Check their web site for availability. Good and frequent local public transport is available.
Let me know if you need further information.

 

[chriss999]

I've had my little bilge-keeler on the Exe & loved it. The Exe is quite a laid-back area & nowhere near as busy as Poole. The sailing is not as good as Plymouth or Salcombe or the Dart, but it is reasonably easy to access them from the Exe.
You have to watch the tides in the river, but once you know them, it is fine. No rocks to speak of. There are beaches if you want sand. The wildlife is good, with some seals, seabirds & I've seen dolphins off Exmouth.
It might be good for a year or so, and then go further afield?
Salcombe is a much longer drive, if you are thinking of basing yourself there.
You might need to factor in the cost of joining one of the yacht clubs, to give you access to their facilities, slipways etc.

 

[johnalison]

Don't overlook the advantages of being tide-dependant. We have done this all our sailing life to some extent, though on the Easr Coast, and the 12 and a half hour rhythm connects you with the elements in a way that just casting off from any-old-where whenever you like doesn't. I have not been in the Exe by boat, but it looks lovely, and would be on my list if I lived in the area. True, it is occasionally inconvenient to have to cut short your weekend, or set off at an uncivilised time in the morning, but it will give you and the children memories to treasure, and a proper appreciation of the ways of the sea.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

There are swinging and trot moorings in Plymouth.

 

[Corribee Boy]

I keep my boat on the lower Exe, on a swinging mooring near Starcross. The Old Salt's post above hits the nail on the head - it's a great, and reasonably inexpensive river to sail from, though there is the downside of the slightly noisy railway line running along the embankment!

I don't find the tidal restrictions too much of a problem, and consider it all part of the rhythm of sailing as johnalison points out. I usually go out on the ebb which is often middle of the day for Springs, so can come back in on the flood.

 

[steveej]

my experience on the bristol channel out of cardiff which was a 24hour access location through the barrage was that to travel west you had to leave at HW and to travel east you had to leave at LW so even though you 24 hour access it wasnt really if that makes sense.

Ive done plenty of solent bashing so know that area well but have not spent much time to the west of that.

Poole is a solid 2 hour drive. Plymouth looks better but could be 2.5hrs +. I want to be down on the boat every other week through the season at least.

Maybe I should do another season out of cardiff

 

[Corribee Boy]

Once you're out of the river adverse tidal flows are'n't an issue, and there are some nice destinations; I'd say give it a try. Even the summer weekend traffic down the M5 isn't usually a problem.

 

[Muddy32]

Why not Dartmouth. Costs have remained the same for some years now. The waiting lists for your size of boat are almost non existent for swinging and trot moorings and the children will love it, as will your spouse. Plenty of places to visit, both up the river and both N and S along the coast.

 

[Joker]

Have you considered Teignmouth? Nice town and swinging moorings in the river.

 

[[70521]]

Lots been said about the Exe above. Just to add that I enjoy having a boat there.

Started with a bilge keeler and have moved onto a fin and it has not changed my sailing habits.

I am a member of Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club and they have recently installed a pontoon that has ment loading the boat before a voyage much, much easier.

PM me if you want more details

 

[coveman]

Weymouth was one location you mentioned. Although the marina fees at Portland and Weymouth are extortionate there are other possibilities here. I belong to Castle Cove Sailing club who have swinging moorings in Portland Harbour ( available at all states of the tide) and this is very competitive on cost. From here you can cruise east to Poole, Swanage etc. You can also travel west after passing the race!
The area is not as pretty as Dartmouth /Salcombe but I imagine may be closer. If you are interested PM me and I'll give you further details.

 

[Hencha21]

I have had a deep water swinging mooring in Area 4 ( see LEMA website) for the last 4 years and have found it excellent. My boat is 34' and draws 6' and it's afloat at all times, even at high springs.

It's a great place to keep a boat with excellent access by car or train to Starcross or Exmouth. I have joined Cockwood Boat Club and keep my tender there and so it's easy to get aboard and away to sea.

Best of all, it's the cheapest place I've ever come across - only £136 for 6 months afloat.

Sadly I have health issues and now find it too hard to make the journey, so if you're looking for a mooring there, give me a call on 07742 694322.

Keith

 

[steveej]

Thanks everyone for your help. It seems like there are quite a few options. I think I'll go and visit a few places by car in the next few months to help narrow it down a bit. I will probably pm a few of you early in the new year once I've narrowed down the choices. Thank you.

 

[steveej]

so the current favourites are Dartmouth and the Exe. Teignmouth has a very long waiting list but Dartmouth is likely to have a mooring next season if I put my name down now. The plan is to go and visit each of these for a weekend, so I get better sense of how long the drive down will take.

Where do people store their boats over the winter period in these two locations? On the Exe, I have checked out retreat yard and exmouth marina and these seem to be substantial winter storage costs when you include the costs of cranes, power wash etc.

 

[NigelBirch]

I was with the Retreat for several years but now I use Topsham Quay. I don't think it's any cheaper but I prefer being in the town. Baltic Wharf at Totnes is another possibility.

 

[chriss999]

I keep mine at Exeter quay. About £70 per month for a 20-footer, plus £60 craning each way plus about £30 or so (Not sure of this figure) each way on the Exeter canal.