Thames vs. E Coast

[MBJB]

Currently the boat is about an hour or so away, on the Thames. Close enough to be able to go down for a day, certainly close enough for weekends. I fancy the idea of giving the Thames a bit of a break and basing the boat on the east coast for a while, which is about 2.5 hours away,

SWMBO is of the opinion that if we move to the east coast, we won’t be able to do any weekend boating because “it’s all sea or muddy river flats, with nowhere to go”!

One of the things I like about being on the Thames, is how easy it is to go for a gentle motor for an hour or two, find a nice quiet spot, moor up, get the barbie out and relax with a drink or three, followed perhaps by an evening trip to a local.

If I was in Ipswich, is this kind of thing still doable – or is it all drying mud, uncomfortable anchorage’s, or long cruises to somewhere suitable?

I’d be interested in what others think - is she right?




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[Happy1]

Well I am in Chatham marina, wonderful, secure and well kept /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I have never had trouble with mud, it operates with a lock and has 24hr access. You can visit many places from there including pottering up the river medway then through a lock to Maidstone.

If you fancy a look around or a spin out in a boat send me a PM and I will sort it out.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[MBJB]

thanks Happy

I'll have a look at Chatham - according to the AA routeplanner it's an hour closer than Ipswich. What about overnighting? Am I right in thinking there's a height issue on the Medway or have I got that completely wrong? I need 10' 6

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[Happy1]

No height restriction up to Chatham, there is a 6 knot speed restriction from about a mile or so out from Chatham. There is a bridge about an hour or so up the river, oldgit on here will be able to give you height details as it does not affect me. But feel free to be my guest down there for a look around and a trip out on my little boat. Very, very nice facilities in Chatham, plus you get 15 free visitor nights at any other MDL marina in the group.

Good luck,

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[trev]

I was in the same situation as yourself a few years back, and have had several extended cruises up the East Coast and the Medway since then. We are still based on the Thames - there is nowhere comes close if you want a hassle free week-end or just a day time potter and a BBQ in pleasant surroundings. The Medway is a bit restrictive, muddy and tidal, and the headroom above Maidstone is crucial. - and the East Coast can be quite unpleasant in even a slight blow (wind against tide), and some of the nicer places are very tide dependent.
I did toy with moving the boat to Burnham for one season, but realised I would have much further to travel for just a few hours peace and quiet pottering around.
This is just my view -

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[MBJB]

Ooer. Thanks for that - I think!
- does this mean that I might have to admit defeat to SWMBO.....

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[MickJ]

I'm based on the Crouch, in Essex,

“it’s all sea or muddy river flats, with nowhere to go”

is probably the fairest summary I've heard!!

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[Happy1]

I don't know about your personal circumstances, but if you want to give it a go, but don't really want to come to Chatham, I am sure for a beer or two I can arrange a horrific visit for SWMBO so that she never wants to visit gain /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[AJW]

Depends what you are after from your boating. East Coast will not give you same flexibility to potter along a river for a couple of hours and moor up, get the BBQ out etc. But its not all a bleak wilderness of mudflats either. (Although the Crouch is pretty flat and unexciting surrounds imho)

If you based yourself at Ipswich then there are loads of places you can go in a few hours or for a weekend. Much of it could involve picking up a mooring buoy or anchoring. From Ipswich you could:

- Potter down to Pin Mill. Pick up a buoy and go to the Butt and Oyster.
- Go down to Harwich. Overnight at Halfpenny pier moorings. Fish and Chips at the Pier Hotel opposite.
- Go around the corner up the Stour to Mistley quay. Lie alongside for a couple of hours at HT and stroll upto the pub in Manningtree. (Anchor Hotel). Or overnight afloat at Mistley marine.
- Out of Harwich and down to the Walton backwaters. Anchor off stone point for beach, sunbathing and swimming. Then into Titchmarsh marina for overnight.
- Ditto and up the Deben. Pick up a buoy off the Ramsholt arms for good grub.

More adventurous - down the Wallet to the Colne & Blackwater - Brightlingsea, Rowhedge, Tollesbury, West Mersea, Maldon to name a few destinations. Alternative head north to the Ore or Southwold.

Undoubtedly it would be different boating than the upper Thames. But its all within the bounds of possibility and if you are sensible about weather and tides nothing to put SWMBO off too much!

HTH,
AJ


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[MBJB]

sounds more promising! I was looking at that area for two reasons
1) it's a lot cheaper than the south!
2) the coastline looked like it would be more interesting than most with all the tributaries etc. Also I've always had a soft spot for the broads which would be just round the corner.

Thanks for all the replies. I've probably got a while to make my mind up, what with waiting lists and all!

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[HowardB]

I'm at Shotley Marina. Can come and go at all states of tide, and have a fair range of things I can do- as per AJW's posting. It costs me about £1000 less per year for mooring than Southampton (37 foot boat). Good facilities, good pub, reasonable pricing servicing compared to S coast too. I hate Southwold though- Unfair of me having never seen it, but the harbour entrance wall lept out and bit my Stbd flank when I timed my entrance badly.
Howard


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[oldgit]

My Princess 33 will go as far as Yalding on the upper Medway.Your 10ft AD will let you go to Maidstone but the old medieval bridge at Farleigh will cause you problems.max 2.9M X 3.2M.Still if i can get through?/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Two boats please one here n one in the Med