River Blackwater or Crouch? Which one recommended for mooring

[jbm1967]

Hi, I need to move my new (to me) boat to either the River Blackwater or the River Crouch. This is my first season sailing so that may come in to the equation. Out of the two which one has more to do and see? I am thinking of mooring at either Blackwater Marina or Fambridge Yacht Haven and looking at a swinging mooring (I'm on a budget). Open to suggestions on other places near by. Any help/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[johnalison]

Although the Crouch is nice in many ways, it is a long way to the sea, so it is very much river sailing for a couple of hours. The Blackwater has more options for weekend visits and is wide enough for tacking not to be too much of a chore. Places to visit would then include Bradwell, Tollesbury, W Mersea and The Colne and Brightlingsea. On the other hand, The Blackwater gets a bit busy with the Romford navy at weekends and the upper Crouch is probably quieter then. We kept a boat at what was then Maylandsea boat yard, now the marina and were very happy there. There is a bar between the creek and the main river. Depending on your draft, you can usually get in or out for about 4hrs each side of HW and nearly get in at LW neaps but I don't know the current situation at the marina, which is probably more restrictive, probably about half-tide at the deepest.

 

[jbm1967]

Thank you, that is very helpful.

 

[johnalison]

Just wait 'til you get a load of posts contradicting me, and then you'll wish you never started.

 

[DoubleEnder]

I had a lifting keel boat at Tollesbury for a few years and really liked the Blackwater. Lots of interesting places not too far, and quite wide and spacious. I have found the Crouch a bit limiting, it's narrow and straight up and down, and a long way out to sea. But I dont know the upper reaches at all.
Blackwater is great but also maybe look at the Orwell which is possible even better!

 

[philld]

I'm at Fambridge on a summer swing and would agree with johnalison! It is quiet (unless you go down to Burnham), and it is a long distance from the sea. However, it has better transport links, and you don't have to worry about tidal access. Also the last couple of times I've anchored at Osea, it's been pretty noisy at weekends with some sort of music blasting out over the water from the direction of Maylandsea (which is why I stopped anchoring there). I don't know much about them but have you considered the Blackwater Sailing Club?

 

[jbm1967]

Thank you. I have considered a sailing club. I was looking at Marconi but thought for the first year at least I would stay at Marina. I’m new to sailing and think I’d feel more comfortable at a Marina. I also like the additional facilities you get. Certainly from a financial point of view a sailing club looks like a good fit. I’m swaying more towards the Blackwater over the Crouch at present. Another concern I have is how safe is a swinging mooring in this area?

 

[Bru]

Upside of Blackwater is immediate access to open water and several places to go

Upside of North Fambridge is sheltered waters, ease of access to boat (parking, tender dock, weekend trot boat) and use of river pontoon (short stay free, overnight charged but not silly money).

Plus on site services at Fambridge, flexible mooring packages (summer swing, valet berthing) etc

On balance, after due consideration, we decided Fambridge suited us better. After 8 years, and further due consideration, we decided it still does!

The one caveat I would add is that we're not day sailors. When we go out it's for at least a weekend, and often a long weekend at that. So the hour and a half or so twixt Burnham and Fambridge is useful sorting out time rather than lost sailing time

 

[Daydream believer]

Much better & no noise problem at Stone
Please go to our new website for info-
I have only just set the site up but you should get the gist
Look under the "St lawrence fairway committee" heading & link " about" also under "cruising"
There is a contact form for our harbour master. There is a plan showing where we are. We will commence laying new moorings at the end of the month. All the old ones came out yesterday.
http://www.stonemoorings.com

 

[Pye_End]

Just wait 'til you get a load of posts contradicting me, and then you'll wish you never started.

I agree! Good place to visit the other rivers, or if conditions are poor then an hour sailing can lead to a night out somewhere different eg Hebridge or Bradwell, 2 1/2 hours to Brightlingsea. Was there when it was D,W&F and loved it, though can't say I was ever brave enough to get HW +- 4, even with a lift keel.

 

[ianc1200]

"Much better & no noise problem at Stone"

Stone SC is lovely, but not sure I would agree with the no noise bit - there is the other club for jet skis, water skiing etc, constantly charging in and out of the moorings when we were there last July. Has it become quieter now after the tragic accident?

 

[Tam Lin]

Just wait 'til you get a load of posts contradicting me, and then you'll wish you never started.

No, you are right. I have been on both rivers and from a sailing point of view the Blackwater is nicer.
Marconi and Stone both have deep water moorings but I know that there is a waiting list for Marconi so you need to plan a year ahead. Pm me if you want to come for a look around.

 

[jbm1967]

Thanks for the replies. I think Blackwater will be more suitable for me from what I’ve read. The. Next thing is the best way to get my boat from Dover to there. I will start a new thread for this and hopefully get some more useful advice. Cheers to all.

 

[tillergirl]

Thanks for the replies. I think Blackwater will be more suitable for me from what I’ve read. The. Next thing is the best way to get my boat from Dover to there. I will start a new thread for this and hopefully get some more useful advice. Cheers to all.

Good decision. For the route Dover to Blackwater there is plenty of advice: what boat? If you PM me an email I can inflict a 42 minute of an uneventful windless day of video from Stone, past the Marconi into Lawling Creek and up to the Blackwater Marina. I just left the video running. If you look at my Download page you will find a chartlet of Lawling Creek.