River Medway

btlynn

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Hi, I have a 26ft Bella Flipper boat which I have had on the Gt River Ouse for a few years.
Due to circumstances, I am considering moving down to the River Medway. Has anyone any exoerience of this river. Is there sufficient moorings? Is it very busy? Is the scenary ok? etc. etc
If I get negative vibes, I may change my mind.
Thanks
B
 

Piere

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Only been up Medway twice but had great time both times . Me , I prefer open water myself (cruising ground includes france belgium and holland) . But was well impressed with the Medway . You don't say what type of cruising you do but from the mouth you can easily make passage up the Thames . or inland to maidstone tunbridge and beyond . Loads of tidal creeks to explore as well . Make sure you visit the Malta inn /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 

Colin_S

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There's more than a few forumites with boats on the Medway so I expect you'll get a few replies. I don't think there's any shortage of moorings of all types to be had and plenty of yacht clubs, marinas, etc to choose from.
 

LeonF

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Hi I keep my boat on a swinging mooring at Gravesend on the Thames. The Medway is a frequent cruising ground for most of us. Some nice creeks...try Stangate and Sharfleet. As stated the main marinas are Gillingham and MDL at Chatham. Both good but pricey as marinas are. Gillingham has slightly more limited lock access, but does have workshop and lift out facilities..and may be slightly cheaper, but also has excellent security. There are swinging moorings at Queenborough through Queenborough Yacht Club or try the harbour master or his assistant Mick.
The Medway is a nice safe cruising area, but Queenborough to the marinas can be a long slog. Another alternative is Swale marina round the back of the Isle of Sheppey at Conyer near Faversham. Excellent and very pretty marina, reasonably priced, only snag is it dries out.
If you want to be more adventurous come and check out Gravesend Sailing club. There are a few ongoing issues at the moment with the basin dredging etc, but a swinging deep water mooring is about £320 a year. half tide moorings are less. We are uncertain about the basin moorings at the moment. contact me if you want any more info.
 

ClassicPlastic

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I've cruised the navigable length of the Medway, and found some good and bad experiences.

First, there is a problem with lack of dredging and obstructions under water. Granted, perhaps my draft (about 3ft, twin diesel, props quite wide on the beam) exposes me to this rather more than other 'river boats', but I certainly hit obstructions a few times (Cars? Shopping trolleys? You know the sort of thing..).

Second, I did have lots of trouble finding berths for more than the odd night, especially mid-cruise when I needed to go to work for a few days.

Third, there are some spots where I was emphatically advised not to leave the boat unattended. Sadly, this was mostly in towns - making runs to shops difficult.

Fourth, the locks are almost impossible to single-hand, as there is only one ladder, at the downstream end of each. I ended up reversing into all the locks on the way down the river, so as to reach the boat after emptying the locks.

Fifth, my beam is too great to use just one lock gate - but other river users only open one gate, as their beam permits this. Bl**dy annoying when you're single-handing a biggish boat.

On the plus side, there were some nice spots and friendly people, but I would certainly not base my boat on the non-tidal river. The estuary is not everyone's cup of tea, and is quite industrial, but with a few good places to stop.
 

celandine

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There is another marina above Rochester bridge which therefor caters mainly for motor boats and is nearer to the non-tidal part, whilst retaining direct access to the estuary.

Mick
 

pappaecho

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Moved from the Medway after 26 years to the Solent where I was brought up. The advantage of the Medway is the availability of mooring and their relative lowish cost. The disadvantage is the 8 miles from Chatham reach to the open sea before any proper sailing can take place.
In Gosport 15 minutes to the mouth of Portsmouth harbour, and you are away
 

Spuddy

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Should be plenty of moorings choice of all types.
Also try mariners farm .. poster on here name of mick the mariner.. and google the web site.
it's all fairly muddy of course... scenery is a mixture of industrial and rural.
regards...spuddy
 

Colvic Watson

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Based at Swale Marina - couldn't recommend it highly enough - very friendly, very reasonable and 2.5 hours either side of HW (deep mud so fin is fine). Mariners Farm has an excellent reputation (but you need a tender) if you want to be the other side of Shepey. Gillingham is much cheaper than MDL Catham which itself is nearly five times the price of Swale. A lot to pay for all tide access?

Just a rather un-pc comment on the Medway towns; for peace, quiet and an absence of high revving Peugeot 205's you either have to find small coastal hamlets or go a little inland; it's just that, um, the word 'Chav' does originate from there!
 

Stoaty

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[ QUOTE ]
it's all fairly muddy of course...

[/ QUOTE ]

But it's safe mud. The finest softest available. I have never heard of anyone knocking holes in their hull grounding in the Medway.
 

ClassicPlastic

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...and I had heard that 'CHAV' came from 'CHeltenham AVerage', a remark by students of the eponymous Ladies' College... Do tell more of the Kentish entymology, please!
 

FullCircle

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Chav is a Pikey or Traveller term.
Pikeys originate from the Mercenaries hired as Pikemen to defend Dover Castle sometime in the Middle Ages. When they were paid off, not all of them left, and some joined the travellers, like Gypsies. So over the years they became Pikeys, and had developed their own language. Chav is actually a bloke, and Mort is a Girl, and Jook is a dog.
The expression I used to hear around Ashford area in my youth was 'moi little chav' i.e My Boy, as said by an elder to a younger. Also used the word Shaver, which is a youth just starting to shave I guess. Theres lots more to it, as I am sure someone else will jump in and tell us.
 

celandine

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I always thought that pikey came from the fact that they were closely associated in people's minds with the turn-pike roads upon which they were frequently to be seen; though I may stand to be corrected. The pikey word that I remember most from my childhood in mid Kent is mush meaning bloke.

Mick
 

duncan

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There are a number in that stretch within 3 miles upstream of Rochester Bridge. All have full tide berths some have drying ones as well.
I was based at Medway Bridge Marina and it was excellent.
Yes the river does have some 'rubbish' in it as you head upstream but I travelled up to the second lock a couple of times (first non tidal) as well as many trips up the tidal secton to the Malta for lunch.
Running downstream you do have a fair number of miles before you can open up a planning craft; but it is ideal for displacement/semi craft.
Downstream there are also a lack of places to go if you want to get off your boat unless you really are going to cover the ground - Burnham on Crouch for example! The Harty Ferry on the Swale being the only real reason for a tender I can remember.
Having moved to Poole 5 years ago, despite living on the upper reaches of the Medway, I have absolutely no thoughts of going back; even for a visit! However this is based on dayboating. If you have a serious little cruiser then being based on the Medway would be a good idea - a lot of Corvette's etc are based there for exactly that reason.
 

daveyjones

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I kept a boat on the Medway for some years and still live in Rochester. It seems to be the cheapest place on the East Coast for moorings - as well as the marinas there are river moorings available. medway Ports Authority used to run some but I'm not sure if they still do. There are moorings up at Strood Pier and off Ship pier.


I like the Medway, partly because it is "industrial". I prefer that to pretty pretty, and the big ship traffic at least makes for visual interest. It is easy to avoid them as they go up and down on the tide usually, especially if you listen to Port Control on VHF.


It is a good place to get to France and Holland from, especialy Calais - a straight run with no doglegging through the channels, like you have to do coming from say, Burnham on Crouch.
The famous Medway mud is great to run aground on, no rocks there I know of, although the same mud and large tidal range makes it difficult to land at low water without a pier.

There are miles of creeks, especially good is Stangate, sheltered all round. Queenborough on the Swale gives good shelter and all-tide landing. Medway towns are good for road and rail links.

The only downside is the vandalism - don't leave your dinghy9especially inflatables) unattended on the Sun pier at Chatham, it is infested with yobs. If you are alone go up a few hundred yards to Ship Pier, much safer. Both are close to shops, supermarket, banks etc.

I used a battered old plywood dinghy with a big lock and chain, with a fcility to dismantle and lock the oars, and the worst that happened was a few muddy footprints from kids playing about (i often left it locked to say the ship pier for weeks between sailing trips).
Further downstream it gets more civilised, but the same applies to the Strand off Gillingham.

In 5 or 6 years on the Medway I suffered one "visit" late at night - I think they were after my outboard. I was on board at the time and stuck myhead up as they were about to board - "sorry mate wrong boat". Makes a change from "does John live here?".
Apart from that no problems. I think crime is everywhere now, I suppose the Medway is no better nor worse than anywhere.

The towns themselves are indeed full of chavs and relentlessly proletarian, but there is an underlying courtesy and helpfulness which was a relief after living in London. Anyway if you go sailing you can get away from all that!
 

LeonF

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Hi Simon
You say 2.5 hours either side of high water??? is this at neaps as well??
My boat is there for the winter and I have been told that with a 4ft draught I may not get off on neaps...Great place to keep a boat but couldn't bear the tidal restriction and the damper on spontaneity. Give me a deep water mooring every time..
 

Cantata

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Pasta_Simon mentions Conyer, which is indeed a nice place. Going further east you can also try Oare Creek (where we are), and Iron Wharf at Faversham Creek. They do also dry out though. Quick access to the Estuary. Lovely soft mud, tons of wildlife, a great area.
 

Colvic Watson

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It depends what part of the Marina you are in - and 'Monkey' (Halcyon 23) only draws 2' 3" /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Also thought the Oare looked really nice, and a bit nearer the main estuary.
 
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