River Exe -- Berthing, Anchoring?

[Dockhead]

One of the few places I haven't visited on the South Coast is Exemouth in Lyme Bay. I've even been to West Bay, but not Exemouth.

Exmouth Marina is eye-wateringly expensive -- over £100 a night for my boat (16.4m). I can't believe what has happened to berthing costs on the South Coast. And looks hard to enter -- lifting bridge -- and possibly too shallow.

What other options are there? From looking at the chart, one would think there would be plenty of options for anchoring, but VisitMyHarbour says everything is covered in moorings. So visitor mooring? Anything suitable for a larger vessel (25 tonnes)?

Grateful for any tips. I'm trying to get to Ottery St. Mary to see the birthplace of one ancestor. And also to see this bit of the coast I've never seen before.

 

[Malish]

The marina also has an admirable cross tide at the entrance. The Exeter Ship Canal may be a better option but the approach will require careful tidal timing. I'm sure that others can comment further.

 

[stranded]

The marina also has an admirable cross tide at the entrance. The Exeter Ship Canal may be a better option but the approach will require careful tidal timing. I'm sure that others can comment further.

If you call Exeter harbour office with your vitals they’ll advise you - though the approach depth is changeable - we had to plough our way in and out a few years ago because of the silting 2m draft). When I cycled down to Exmouth a few days ago I noticed that the sand on the beach below the seawall where I sit and have my coffee was a good 18”, maybe as much as 2ft above normal - don’t know if whatever caused that will have affected the estuary and ship canal approaches similarly.

 

[rotrax]

What is your draught?

Our 12.5 Motorsailer drew 1.1 metres. Jim at Trouts Boatyard in Topsham got us a berth on the end of Trouts hammerhead. We stayed afloat-just-coming down from springs. Not for the fainthearted crossing the estuary! A very winding trip between the channel markers, easy to touch bottom. Your boat is a bit too big for Trouts and probably for a swinging mooring as it is bloody crowded!

You might find Teignmouth a better bet. The harbourmaster often has a deepwater buoy for larger vessels opposite the commercial wharf. A noisy berth if a ship is in, but a safe one. The outside of the two pontoons might suit, but you would take up all of one side! I suggest talking to Trouts Boatyard to see what they can advise re your draught, and the Teignmouth HM in case Exmouth is a non starter.

 

[stu9000]

My Dad had a drying mooring near the yacht club. Sandy at low tide. Handy to walk out at low tide. My grandfather had a floating mooring out by the horse sand. There is a water taxi now, but before that we would go out with a small dingy and an ancient seagull outboard. This is all ancient history so it may all have changed.

 

[stranded]

A particular attraction of the ship canal is if you are leaving the boat for a while - when we used it, around 5 years ago, it was surprisingly inexpensive to leave unoccupied - not much over £100 pcm for 44ft, but to stay aboard, around £40 a night, both iirc. And both wildly less than Exmouth marina, of which I really don’t see the attraction.

 

[Dockhead]

Anyone anchor there? Or is the whole harbour covered in moorings?

 

[Dockhead]

The marina also has an admirable cross tide at the entrance. The Exeter Ship Canal may be a better option but the approach will require careful tidal timing. I'm sure that others can comment further.

The ship canal looks like a very nice place to stay. Just a hassle to get in and out of it.

 

[Dockhead]

This looks nice:

 

[MikeCC]

There are some visitor moorings on left hand side of channel in '03' area behind the Warren around buoys 13/15. They have large yellow/orange buoys. Not sure whether they would be rated for your boat. Contact Exeter Port Authority to check 01395 223265.

The water taxi finishes around 6/7pm so if you want an evening ashore, you'll need to use tender. There is no clear landing zone but the beach in front of sailing club is as good as anywhere. Please don't tie your painter to the gabion wires though.

Unless it's high water I doubt you'll get up to the canal. What's your draft?

 

[Dockhead]

There are some visitor moorings on left hand side of channel in '03' area behind the Warren around buoys 13/15. They have large yellow/orange buoys. Not sure whether they would be rated for your boat. Contact Exeter Port Authority to check 01395 223265.

The water taxi finishes around 6/7pm so if you want an evening ashore, you'll need to use tender. There is no clear landing zone but the beach in front of sailing club is as good as anywhere. Please don't tie your painter to the gabion wires though.

Unless it's high water I doubt you'll get up to the canal. What's your draft?

Thanks! We draw 2.3m.

 

[rotrax]

Thanks! We draw 2.3m.

You are not really suited for going far upstream on the Exe then. The bottom is far too near the top!