Raymarine Lighthouse Charts - do they include any info on Norfolk Broads

[picardy]

I need to purchase an electronic chart for my Raymarine AXIOM + and am torn between Raymarine LightHouse charts and Navionics. Although not critical, I'd like it to include some data on Norfolk Broads as well as South and East coast of England. Can anyone tell me if Raymarine LightHouse includes much / any info on Norfolk Broads?

Many thanks

 

[jwfrary]

Not sure what you need on the broads, mostly designed for hire boats so the nav aids are pretty good. Expect breydon waters on the books, gets a bit sketchy after that.

Got a 2.5m draft up to brundal once but we touched quite a few times!

 

[Neeves]

I might have thought the Motor Boat part of the forum might have the answers.

Jonathan

 

[TomK]

Don’t know about Lighthouse charts, but Navionics does cover the broads. However - the depths are not accurately covered, as the broads and rivers are constantly being dredged.

The most up to date depths and dredging info is recorded here: Water depths and navigation notes

Navionics also doesn’t include bridge data which is here:

Bridge heights and openings

You don’t mention what kind of boat you have, or where on the broads you want to go, but as a rule I recommend a good old fashioned OS map, and Google maps on a phone!

 

[Slowboat35]

Not sure why anyone would need marine charts for the Broads, there are no navigational issues there whatsoever. A diagram is all that's needed.
Depths are suffcient for all based boats and as no visitors of any size can enter unless thay can limbo under the broken bridges that's a bit by the by.
As for the rivers "constantly" being dredged...er. No! They occasionaly dredge sections but its a rare event.
I've sailed the Yare from Postwick bridge to the sea a dozen times and never seen less than 3-4m in mid-stream

 

[LittleSister]

I can't see the value in detailed digital charts for the Broads at all!

It's all eyeball navigation - extremely well (one could say excessively) buoyed/marked; there are signposts at river junction, warning signs before every significant (and many arguably insignificant) hazard ahead, and even some mileposts!

The bridges are the principal challenge - working out which ones are on your potential routes, air drafts (and of you need it how much extra headroom tide could give you), which open - and when and how, etc.

For depths a depth sounder, common sense and observing the buoyage is more useful than unreliable charted depths on a chart (they're surveyed and dredged rarely and piecemeal). The big rivers, e.g. Yare and Waveney are plenty deep for most (quite big ships used to go to Norwich), be aware that side branches off the rivers, and close to river banks, will be shallow. (Watch out for overhanging trees when mooring if you have a mast or flybridge!)

Buy one of the readily available commercial maps of the Broads sold. (Some are better than others, but I can't advise which.)

In the unlikely event you get confused as to where you are, just use the GPS on your phone with Google Maps or Apple Maps. You barely need anything else, other than that, except bridge locations and their various height/opening info, in any case..

IMPORTANT P.S. Check in advance with Broads Authority website (or by email or phone) whether any opening bridges are currently inoperable - they are almost all very old, and breakdowns are quite frequent and sometimes prolonged . When last I heard, the Haven Bridge (the only option into and out of the Broads for some visitors) had been out of action for months, and dates for anticipated opening had been pushed back IIRC to sometime around now when I last heard.

Also note Broads Control's telephone number and VHF channel (see Broads Authority website), and carry that info with you on your visit. Source of good info, and the number to call in emergency or if otherwise in trouble (they can contact relevant emergency service/RNLI/Coastguard/commercial towage or whatever's required.)

Beware of hireboats! Many hirers haven't a clue. Some are inebriated too!

 

[TomK]

As for the rivers "constantly" being dredged...er. No! They occasionaly dredge sections but its a rare event.

There’s over 100 miles of theoretically “navigable” (!) waterway, one part or other of it is usually being dredged, it’s just other parts silt up as quickly.

I agree with what you’re saying though.

 

[picardy]

Thanks all for the advice and comments - much appreciated