Sailing to Camber Dock in Portsmouth Harbour

I used to go there regularly when the kids were little (because you could walk to the fair). Go chance of grounding, but saw a lot of boats hanging from their warps over the years.
 
I was moored against the wall about two years ago, next to the pub. As I returned to my boat I found a fisherman on his boat threatening to cut my lines and shunt off unless I left immediately. I assumed I had parked in his spot. Turns out there are no dedicated Fishermans berths at that spot. It is totally open to anyone, first come first served. Anyone can enjoy, remaining sensitive to those that earn their living by the sea, of course.
 
In the past I’ve suggested to someone making the same threat that it can work the other way as well, thoughts of their livelihood floating away made them compromise
 
Well scupper me starboard flip flop. Camber Docks has not been in my mind for donkeys, yet just last night we were dining ashore with some friends. Many tides ago I used to grab HMS Dolphins establishment yacht and nip over on a nice evening with some chaps for a few beers in the Bridge. My oppo last night worked for many years commercial fishing from there and used the Bridge.

The yacht I managed then was a Sadler 34. My pal the ex fisherman has a Sadler 34........

Made for an interesting reminisce and now this thread....:ambivalence:
 
Navionics says the piles next to the pub dry, paper charts say they don't. Local knowledge proved right...

I noticed that discrepancy when I leant against there in the autumn. But I was there over a high tide so I never got to find out which the truth was. What was the ‘right’ local knowledge?
 
I noticed that discrepancy when I leant against there in the autumn. But I was there over a high tide so I never got to find out which the truth was. What was the ‘right’ local knowledge?

I spoke to KB Boat Park, they were very helpful and confirmed:

1. There is 2.5m of water at low tide against the Bridge Tavern Wall.

2. Anyone is free to use the space, first come first served.
 
I spoke to KB Boat Park, they were very helpful and confirmed:

1. There is 2.5m of water at low tide against the Bridge Tavern Wall.

2. Anyone is free to use the space, first come first served.

That’s helpful, Dave - and better news than that drying height that Navionics SonarCharts showed!

Did they say 2.5m over chart datum, or over the LW of that particular day? Portsmouth LW can be typically 2m at Neaps or 0m st Springs.
 
That’s helpful, Dave - and better news than that drying height that Navionics SonarCharts showed!

Did they say 2.5m over chart datum, or over the LW of that particular day? Portsmouth LW can be typically 2m at Neaps or 0m st Springs.

He implied always a minimum of 2.5m of water (i.e. at LAT) rather than 2.5M above CD. We arrived at LW+2 neaps and still had a little more than 3m. Not absolutely clear but hope it helps a little. Dave
 
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But Navionics is showing it as drying? Surely that errs on the side of safety or am I missing something?

Good point Norman, would be far worse if the other way around. The problem is that it could stop us exploring some nice spots if we assume we can't get in. To be fair there are not many such discrepancies with Navionics.
 
The OP reported that
We arrived at LW+2 neaps and still had a little more than 3m. Not absolutely clear but hope it helps a little. Dave

Portsmouth neaps are approximately 1.5m LW to 4m HW. At LW+2 neaps there's about 2.2m over CD. As the OP measured a little more than 3m at that time, we know the depth at that location was about 1m below CD; ie we believe a correct chart would show ~1m charted depth.

The regular Navionics chart (first picture below) shows the depth on those piles was drying ~1m ABOVE CD. That's about two metres out from the OP's experience - albeit a charting error on the safe side.

Navionics' 'SonarChart' chart (second picture below) shows the depth on those piles was drying ~0.5m. That's reasonably accurate.

So perhaps SonarChart depths are indeed more accurate than the regular Navionics ones? Or am I getting something wrong?

Screen Shot 2018-01-31 at 12.36.53.png

Screen Shot 2018-01-31 at 12.37.01.png
 
Not on the 'proper' navionics charts it doesn't.

That error came from the 'sonar charts' which everybody needs to treat with upmost suspicion

On my iPad the 'proper' Navionics chart shows '-2 - 0m'. On the Sonar chart it shows '<0m'. Having witnessed an actual low spring tide of 0.4m there is no way that any part of the bank is exposed to a height of 1.6m
 
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By '-2' do you mean 2m above chart datumn?

I have just looked on the web app, it shows a drying section but doesn't give a height.

On the iPad if I touch anywhere within the green area I get '-2 - 0m' which I translate to mean 'dries to anywhere between 0m to 2m at LAT.
 
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