The 'Jesus Christ, don't do that you idiot!' advice thread.

DenningLJ

DenningLJ

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So tomorrow, I'm moving my Seawych 19 from Cuxton to a new mooring in Hoo. It's about 7 miles give or take and I'm quite looking forward to it, however, I have never taken it out. Or any boat out. I've barely taken a woman out!

I've got a little 5hp Seagull to motor me along and I'm planning on getting the sails up and having a proper crack it and I'll be going out with the tide to carry me along but...

What bit of advice can you give to an absolute novice on a river so I don't have people screaming at me from the banks/financial institutes or other other boats.

Cheers!
 
I should have about three meters to play with...I hope. The height of Seawych is 6 meters and the intertubes are telling me that the Rochester bridge is generally 9+. I'm aware that the previous owners used to take it up the Medway a reasonable amount so I'm hoping I'll be reet.
 
Make sure the Seagull works! Give it a good shake up and start it in a tank, then let it run for at least 15 mins. Watch for water coming out of the block. If it revs and idles well and stays cool then at least you have an engine. Take extra fuel.
Check that you can get under Rochester bridge like Xyachtdave says, and check that you can get onto the mooring two and a half hours after you leave. If there is a bale of straw hanging under one of the bridge spans, don't go through that one.
Check the sails go up and down before leaving.
Take an anchor and rode. You don't want to go to sea. (Arthur Ransome quote)
Take food and water, it might take longer than you think
Take someone who knows what they are doing ideally, but you probably won't die in any case
 
If you're on a river, I reckon FullCircle has given you the most important bit of advice. When everyone can only go upriver or down, most of the complexities of the full Collision Regulations boil down to "drive on the right". Oh, and if you find yourself overtaking anybody, you have to keep clear of them.

If your engine should conk out, don't forget you have an anchor (you do have an anchor, I take it?)

Enjoy yourself :)

Pete
 
I loved my Seawych, though it did long distances on a car transporter-

Is the Seagull completely reliable? Are you happy to furtle and fettle, drying/swapping an oiled plug, dealing with a string starter etc.?

Spare pair of hands going with you?

How are you getting off the new mooring? Towing a tender?

Have you had the anchor and chain looked at? Is the bitter end (far end of the chain from the hook) tied on with something you can cut if needed (not that you will)

Got a radio and ticket to holler for help? Or a well charged mobile and some numbers in the memory.

Got some nice biscuits? Go for it!
 
Ok HW Rochester is 13.41 and a whopping 6.3m above chart datum.

The good news at 13.41 is you won't go aground under the bridge, the bad news is the top 600mm of your mast is going to cut the bridge in half.

I'd leave aiming to be at the bridge earliest 16.00 to take the tide to Hoo. I'd work it out properly for you if I had an Alamnac handy.

Maybe 17.00 to be sure!
 
Will you be using your new skills to pick up a woman.ie impress with prowess, etc Suggest go to a gentleman outfitter and properly tagged out.At all cost look like you know what your doing..... and
 
Rum Run said:
Make sure the Seagull works! Give it a good shake up and start it in a tank, then let it run for at least 15 mins. Watch for water coming out of the block. If it revs and idles well and stays cool then at least you have an engine. Take extra fuel.
Check that you can get under Rochester bridge like Xyachtdave says, and check that you can get onto the mooring two and a half hours after you leave. If there is a bale of straw hanging under one of the bridge spans, don't go through that one.
Check the sails go up and down before leaving.
Take an anchor and rode. You don't want to go to sea. (Arthur Ransome quote)
Take food and water, it might take longer than you think
Take someone who knows what they are doing ideally, but you probably won't die in any case
Click to expand...

I've had the seagull running for 10 minutes today and I've got another 5 litres of petrol, water was coming from the block but I was thinking that was the impeller cooling? Should it not be?

What's with the bale of straw advice??!

The sails do go up and down, I've double checked them today, however there is more slack than I'm happy with but that's a job and a thread for another day.

I have and anchor!! I best check it's attached to something...

Got a kettle for a brew and some pies! Need the important things!

NickRobinson said:
I loved my Seawych, though it did long distances on a car transporter-

Is the Seagull completely reliable? Are you happy to furtle and fettle, drying/swapping an oiled plug, dealing with a string starter etc.?

Spare pair of hands going with you?

How are you getting off the new mooring? Towing a tender?

Have you had the anchor and chain looked at? Is the bitter end (far end of the chain from the hook) tied on with something you can cut if needed (not that you will)

Got a radio and ticket to holler for help? Or a well charged mobile and some numbers in the memory.

Got some nice biscuits? Go for it!
Click to expand...

I think you've made most of those words up but the (unimpressed) missus is coming with...someone needs to make the coffee.

xyachtdave said:
Ok HW Rochester is 13.41 and a whopping 6.3m above chart datum.

The good news at 13.41 is you won't go aground under the bridge, the bad news is the top 600mm of your mast is going to cut the bridge in half.

I'd leave aiming to be at the bridge earliest 16.00 to take the tide to Hoo. I'd work it out properly for you if I had an Alamnac handy.

Maybe 17.00 to be sure!
Click to expand...

Along with keep right, this has made me happy I've posted this thread! I'm thinking if I set off around 3:30 I should get to the bridge a bit after 4 but if I don't like the look of it, I'll drop anchor and give it a bit longer.

clyst said:
Make sure you are well insured!!!!
Click to expand...

Sooooo far ahead of you.
 
A portable radio would be nice. Ch 74 is the one to listen to for other traffic movements.
Bit of work going on around Rochester bridge, look out for tugs and pontoons on the move..
With those big spring tides the current going through the bridge can be "impressive" to say the least at full flood or ebb.
If things go wrong, just find something to moor against until to get yourself sorted, loads of bouys piers and barges to grab a hold of.

I'll be going out with the tide to carry me along but...I'm thinking if I set off around 3:30 I should get to the bridge a bit after 4 but if I don't like the look of it,
Click to expand...

HW at Darnett is 14.12 BST according to Easytide..
Reckon you need to start going into Hoo Creek around 2 hours before HW ?
Say two hours motoring from Rochester Bridge to Darnett ?
If you intend going out with the tide that day you will be leaving in the dark !

http://www.ukho.gov.uk/easytide/EasyTide/ShowPrediction.aspx?PortID=0108C&PredictionLength=7
Do not forget to add 1 hour for BST.
 
Last edited:
oldgit said:
Err .....if you are going on a falling tide do you realise how long it could take to get there and will you have to wait before there is sufficient water to get into Hoo. Bear in mind its dark around 8.30 ish.
Click to expand...

Hoo have said that at roughly four knots it will take about an hour and a half to get to them so it's not /too/ bad, but to be honest if it's a trade off between arriving a bit later than I would like or taking the top of my mast off I guess I'll just have to wait a bit.
 
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