Ready to Explore the Medway and Estuary (in a 4.8m RIB)!

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vjmehra

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So, our boat is finally back in the water (at Gillingham), all the electrics re-done, engine serviced, tubes nice and clean (and air tight :-)

Whilst we've probably missed summer (having officially ended on Monday ;-) it must be time to go exploring!

Obviously our boat is quite small, so we can't go to far afield, but I'd like to think we're relatively well kitted out, obviously we are very shallow draught and fairly narrow (1.8m I think) beam, so we can probably access most places.

In terms of equipment we have the following:
1 x life buoy
5 x auto-inflate lifejackets (we never go out with more than 5 and generally only 3)
1 x fixed DSC VHF
3 x paddles (no idea why its 3 not 2, but at least we have a spare :-)
1 x depth finder
1 x (really, really basic) gps plotter, but no charts, no idea if we can get them actually, will investigate that...
1 x anchor with (I think) 15m of combination chain and warp
1 x 20l portable fuel tank
1 x 30l portable fuel tank
1 x 10l fuel can
1 x 5l fuel can
1 x fire extinguisher
2 x fuel hose/primer
1 x manual bailer (small bucket)
1 x manual electric bilge pump
1 x pump (for the tubes)
1 x anchor light
2 x lights (not sure what the correct description is, two white lights to see in the dark)!
2 x nav lights (i.e. 1 red, 1 green)
1 x 60hp 2-stroke petrol engine (no backup engine)
1 x fixed compass
1 x set of flares (in date)
3 x kill cord (and complete set of keys for everyone, i.e. anyone could re-start the boat even if someone fell overboard with the complete set of keys & kill cord)

Now, I guess the big omission there is probably the backup engine which we are reluctant to buy as we are planning to sell the boat at the end of the season (or early next season), but with that in mind, where should we be looking to explore?

Is crossing the estuary a step too far (I have sailed round the estuary before, but never been in a small RIB)?
If so, how far round the Kent coast would be within reach for a small RIB?

I have the East Coast Pilot, East Coast Rivers and Crossing the Thames Estuary, so I've had a bit of a read, but I'd still like to get suggestions from those that actively sail there, in terms of day trips, places to visit etc. We would like to push the boundaries a bit and take on some more adventurous trips, but obviously we have no accommodation so would need a pontoon mooring and a nearby hotel/b&b if we do longer journeys.

Also, one point I'm struggling to clarify, in terms of speed limits, I'm aware of the 6 knot limit west of Folly Point, but I can't seem to find information about an 8 knot limit I read about on the Swale. Is anyone able to let me know where exactly this begins and finishes?

Other than that I believe we should listen on ch 16 & 74 and I welcome any other advice/suggestions!

Oh and in terms of crew experience we are made up of the following:

1 x Intermediate Powerboat, Dayskipper (sail), VHF, First Aid, (that's me)
1 x PB2, Dayskipper (sail), but far more sailing experience than me
1 x PB2

The other crew members have approx 10 hours Powerboat experience logged and some sailing experience.

So, apologies if that was a bit long, I just wanted to try and give all the facts, but in short, where should we go?
 
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You don't say what your fuel range is. Make sure that where you stop sells petrol and of just diesel.

On a calm day you could hop over the Thames and through the Havengore to Burnham Marina but you will need a chart and should ring the bridge first to check opening time for that day. Even in a RIB its a top of the tide trip.

They used to do B and B at the Ferry Boat Inn at North Fambridge so you could stop on the pontoon there or go in the marina after exploring the upper Crouch

There's a fuel pontoon at Essex Marina opposite Burnham Marina but not much to stop for on that side.

If you went from Burnham to the Blackwater via the Raysand channel then Bradwell has petrol and the Green Man has limited B and B.
 
Great thank you and you also raise a good point, well at 12 knots, I believe we get around 4mpg does that sound feasible? I am just thinking back to our trips from Kew to Greenwich and I think that's roughly what it worked out to if I recall correctly.

We would normally set out with approximately 50-65l of fuel on board, so at 12 knots I guess that would give us a range of approximately 40-60ish nm (which actually is a lot less than I would have imagined)!

Ah yes I have been to the Ferry Boat Inn before, that is probably a good shout, I thought they had petrol at North Fambridge too, but will have to confirm that!

(Also I edited the original post as it occurred to me I hadn't put down some additional safety equipment, namely flares, kill cords and a fixed compass).

In terms of charts, I have the Imray C1 & C2 charts, am wondering if Y18/Y17 would be better or perhaps one of the folios (bearing in mind large paper charts are a bit awkward in an open RIB)?
 
The Imray folios are on coated paper which I imagine makes them more resistant to dampness (mine live below on an old fashioned chart table so are hardly challenged). Only trouble is that you will need Imray's 2100 series for the Mewdway and their 2000 series for the Roach/Crouch.
 
Ha yeah that is annoying at nearly £40 a pop, but I'd rather have charts than not to be honest round the Estuary, there are a lot of hazards!!!
 
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