River Exe entry with shoal draft

[sabresailor]

Hello,

I have previously kept a yacht on a mooring on the river Exe - but that was 5 yrs ago and I know the channel depths & markings change.

Can someone who regularly sails these waters give me an update please. I plan to enter the Exe in a couple of weeks with a new boat - drawing just under 3ft.

I have read the entry on visitmyharbour.com - but would like to know what the depth is like at about half tide.

Cheers

Mike

 

[prv]

I've never been there, but I remember making some fairly major changes to the approach buoyage and nearby shore light while correcting my charts a couple of years ago. Make sure you're up to date with that.

Pete

 

[alahol2]

This appears to be the latest info... http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=7067

 

[Rigger Mortice]

You should be Ok but are you aware that East Exe buoy is no more? The channel completely changed about 5 years ago and the safe water mark is now nearer to Dawlish.

 

[sabresailor]

Cheers - it seems not a huge amount has changed since I was last there - broadly 1m below CD in the buoyed channel.

 

[[70521]]

Cheers - it seems not a huge amount has changed since I was last there - broadly 1m below CD in the buoyed channel.

I draw 1.1m (or just over 3ft in old money) and you should be fine at half tide, athought I am sure my dept sounder turns into a random number generator in the channel. Where are you planning to moor the new boat?

 

[sabresailor]

I have looked at the soundings and should be able to creep in not much after low water - depending on weather / springs etc. I previously had a 3ft draft sabre 27 and managed ok - it looks like not much has altered since then. I have a Powderham estates mooring just off Starcross. I have to get the boat from Chichester to the Exe - so looking forward to fair winds & weather!!

 

[david100952]

I moor in the Exe and come in and out through the swashway regularly. The new entry channel has been in place for 5-6 years now so you may have already used it but my records show the outer safe water mark is at 50 deg, 35.9N 03deg 23.7W approx. and comes in towards the church steeple. I don't believe there are any lights on these buoys so best approach in daylight when you should see a fair amount of traffic hinting at its location, presuming you will approach from the East - the new channel starts a fair distance from shore (unlike the old entry along Sandy bay) so stay out about half a mile as you pass the headland west of Budleigh salterton and be aware there is a firing range there so steer south of the marker.
You should be fine for depth if you are only going in as far as Starcross as most of the movement of sandbars in the Estuary has occurred further up the channel off the Powderham Castle itself - thankfully new buoyage has been done last winter and the channel clearly marked until you venture past Lympstone where you need to watch your depth sounder carefully between the widely spaced buoys.
Hope to see you on the water

 

[[70521]]

I have looked at the soundings and should be able to creep in not much after low water - depending on weather / springs etc. I previously had a 3ft draft sabre 27 and managed ok - it looks like not much has altered since then. I have a Powderham estates mooring just off Starcross. I have to get the boat from Chichester to the Exe - so looking forward to fair winds & weather!!

Sounds like you won't be far from me then. Let us know when you come over from Chichester and we can wave when you pass.

 

[sabresailor]

Thanks all for the advice - I'm aiming to sail down from Tue - probably stops at Poole & Lyme Regis - may be more!!

 

[andygc]

I draw 1 metre and usually plan to enter when the tidal prediction is 1 metre or better, depending on how calm it is. The survey chart on the link given above shows more than 1 metre in the channel at chart datum. Last time the least depth I had was 1.9 metres - I started at the SWM at exactly 1630 on 23 August when the prediction using the Plymouth tidal curve was just a tad under 1 m. There was enough water for a leisurely motor up to Topsham, with the shallowest bit being 1.1 metres between No 33 and No 20 - the height predictions for Exmouth approaches do not apply up river!

You need to be much more cautious if there is any swell. Even on a calm day it is normal to be swept forward into the beginning of the swashway on a bit of a wave.

Several of the buoys are lit - in the entrance channel you have the SWM, Nos 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10. Mind you, I've never made a night entry and can't think of a reason to do so.