River Exe -- Berthing, Anchoring?

Dockhead

Dockhead

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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 said:
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.
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Malish said:
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.
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The ship canal looks like a very nice place to stay. Just a hassle to get in and out of it.
 
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?
 
MikeCC said:
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?
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Thanks! We draw 2.3m.
 
rotrax said:
You are not really suited for going far upstream on the Exe then. The bottom is far too near the top!
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OK, but presumably even ships get up to the ship channel lock at the appropriate state of tide, no?

What about anchoring nearer the mouth?
 
I think the ship bit is historic. It’s the short channel between the river and the lock that would be the problem. There should be (just) enough water on a biggish spring but the lock keepers somewhat restricted hours make it difficult to coincide with that. If they could be persuaded to get out of bed a bit earlier you might be able to go up the night before and hang on one of the buoys just below the lock channel, or maybe anchor there. But for your draft either a longer stay option, or a very short stopover. Call the harbour office - they should have a more up to date idea of depth in the channel.

Also worth checking on the Turf Hotel reopening as (for me at least) having that on the doorstep would be a significant factor in whether it is worth the hassle (it was a lovely place, and the involvement of the Exe Cafe crowd in the relaunch gives hope that it will continue to be).

Also bear in mind that apart from the Turf, it’s a pretty isolated spot - access on foot, bicycle or boat only (there’s a fun ferry service to Topsham). And I suppose it would be remiss of me to mention that it’s the only place I’ve had something pinched off the boat - only a gps antenna from the push pit though, and I’m not aware that’s it’s a major problem.
 
stranded said:
I think the ship bit is historic. It’s the short channel between the river and the lock that would be the problem. There should be (just) enough water on a biggish spring but the lock keepers somewhat restricted hours make it difficult to coincide with that. If they could be persuaded to get out of bed a bit earlier you might be able to go up the night before and hang on one of the buoys just below the lock channel, or maybe anchor there. But for your draft either a longer stay option, or a very short stopover. Call the harbour office - they should have a more up to date idea of depth in the channel.

Also worth checking on the Turf Hotel reopening as (for me at least) having that on the doorstep would be a significant factor in whether it is worth the hassle (it was a lovely place, and the involvement of the Exe Cafe crowd in the relaunch gives hope that it will continue to be).

Also bear in mind that apart from the Turf, it’s a pretty isolated spot - access on foot, bicycle or boat only (there’s a fun ferry service to Topsham). And I suppose it would be remiss of me to mention that it’s the only place I’ve had something pinched off the boat - only a gps antenna from the push pit though, and I’m not aware that’s it’s a major problem.
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Thanks. Very informative. Sounds like way too much trouble, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to get neaped.

A mooring or anchoring would do just fine, if there's a feasible spot.
 
Dockhead said:
Thanks. Very informative. Sounds like way too much trouble, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to get neaped.

A mooring or anchoring would do just fine, if there's a feasible spot.
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Maybe try starcross yacht club - there are some deep water moorings just off there with decent sized boats on - not sure how deep, or what maximum size though.

Also, if you’re a Facebook user, the River Exe and Exe Estuary Users Group might turn something up.

Good luck.
 
2021 we anchored off Star Cross. Moorings chap then offered us free use of a mooring close by.
Next day moved up to lock in. Can't remember what moon phase was but we draw 1.5 and that second day involved great concentration 😯.

But having since cruised some east coast I know they'd say that it was normal/easy 😂

Worth it though
 
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