sailorman
Well-Known Member
shut yer eyes n go 4 it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
dont forget the tilly hat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
dont forget the tilly hat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Tides
- Thread starter muckypup
- Start date
ianc1200
Well-Known Member
At LW springs my mirror dinghy needs it's centreboard about 3/4 up to get out the entrance channel. Lowest point about 3rd orange can in from the tide pole, also seems deeper towards the cans than the withies.
Anybody else think it would be useful if the upper creek entrance was better buoyed?
IanC
Anybody else think it would be useful if the upper creek entrance was better buoyed?
IanC
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Yep, looks good. I go with 0.1 to clear, but then I can just go aground (its very soft and I have never found a shopping trolley) It takes about 10 minutes to float off and go over. If the pressure is low, it will be a bit higher too.
Takes some soundings from on the way in - that will give you a clue if it is going to prediction. This year I have known the tides to be wrong by 20 minutes.
BTW 0.45 is loads..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Takes some soundings from on the way in - that will give you a clue if it is going to prediction. This year I have known the tides to be wrong by 20 minutes.
BTW 0.45 is loads..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
muckypup
Well-Known Member
Actually, not much point arriving too early if I want to get to bradwell around high tide. I have just done a trip plan on excel (yeah, very geeky I know).
If I set off at 9am, 10mins to clear the marina, 5kn past Burnham, 7kns to the sands and I arrive at 10:20am, about 2 hours before HW. 3kns over the sands and then 7kns to Bradwell will have us arriving just before 12pm. With HW at 12:11pm that should be enough water over the bar to get us in.
Would you suggest phoning ahead to ensure there is space?
S.
If I set off at 9am, 10mins to clear the marina, 5kn past Burnham, 7kns to the sands and I arrive at 10:20am, about 2 hours before HW. 3kns over the sands and then 7kns to Bradwell will have us arriving just before 12pm. With HW at 12:11pm that should be enough water over the bar to get us in.
Would you suggest phoning ahead to ensure there is space?
S.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Not this time of year - loads of boats coming out of the water...
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
I've a feeling we've done this before. Don't forget that Mean HW Springs and Neaps at the Raysand is about +27 minutes on Walton.
As to Bradwell Creek. If you can get to a mooring buoy you can get in. The shallowest part is around the second withy in the marked channel but if you don't go round the starboard hand buoy (which does look like a daft thing to do at low water - but isn't) you'll miss the best water. The leading marks are in the right place.
As to Bradwell Creek. If you can get to a mooring buoy you can get in. The shallowest part is around the second withy in the marked channel but if you don't go round the starboard hand buoy (which does look like a daft thing to do at low water - but isn't) you'll miss the best water. The leading marks are in the right place.
muckypup
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I've a feeling we've done this before.
[/ QUOTE ]
Variations on a theme... This is one of the most useful parts of this forum. Finding people with local knowledge. I am only a beginner.
Does the blackwater get much commercial shipping?
S.
I've a feeling we've done this before.
[/ QUOTE ]
Variations on a theme... This is one of the most useful parts of this forum. Finding people with local knowledge. I am only a beginner.
Does the blackwater get much commercial shipping?
S.
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I am only a beginner.
Does the blackwater get much commercial shipping?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nope. A few fishing boats in and out of Mersea and Brightlingsea, and there sued to be a few coasters in and out of Brightlingsea, but I haven't seen one for a few years.
I am only a beginner.
Does the blackwater get much commercial shipping?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nope. A few fishing boats in and out of Mersea and Brightlingsea, and there sued to be a few coasters in and out of Brightlingsea, but I haven't seen one for a few years.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Oh I wasn't complaining. Just checking on my mental state after a Heathrow experience!
No, haven't seen any shipping in the Blackwater for a number of years. Still a few coasters going into the Colne via the Spitway/Colne Bar but I doubt its much more than one a week.
You will, of course find it pretty shallow heading up the Dengie and St Peter's Flats (note by the way that as you pass St Peter's Flats, the tile roofed building is probably the oldest church in England built on the site of Othona, the Roman defensive fort of the Saxon shore - to keep the Anglo-Saxons out - the fort that is not the church - well worth a visit if you can do the walk and tear yourself away from the fleshpot of the Green Man!). Back to the shallows, basically its pretty flat heading due north and if you stick to the 1 degree East meridian having got over the shallow part of the Ray Sand, you should be ok.
Don't be phased by the position of the green buoy in Bradwell Creek - its in the right place. The deep (well ish) water goes from the marked entrance (withies to starboard, red (well orange) cans to port) to the green buoy. As you turn sharply to starboard round the green buoys you will be faced with the question of whether to go to the port or starboard of the line of moorings nearest the shore. Generally people coming in go to starboard while those coming out come the other side - in which there is slightly more water. At the entrance to the marina there is another can buoy which is left to port and then an avenue of posts (well three pairs) guide you in.
You'll enjoy it. Done that floor yet?
No, haven't seen any shipping in the Blackwater for a number of years. Still a few coasters going into the Colne via the Spitway/Colne Bar but I doubt its much more than one a week.
You will, of course find it pretty shallow heading up the Dengie and St Peter's Flats (note by the way that as you pass St Peter's Flats, the tile roofed building is probably the oldest church in England built on the site of Othona, the Roman defensive fort of the Saxon shore - to keep the Anglo-Saxons out - the fort that is not the church - well worth a visit if you can do the walk and tear yourself away from the fleshpot of the Green Man!). Back to the shallows, basically its pretty flat heading due north and if you stick to the 1 degree East meridian having got over the shallow part of the Ray Sand, you should be ok.
Don't be phased by the position of the green buoy in Bradwell Creek - its in the right place. The deep (well ish) water goes from the marked entrance (withies to starboard, red (well orange) cans to port) to the green buoy. As you turn sharply to starboard round the green buoys you will be faced with the question of whether to go to the port or starboard of the line of moorings nearest the shore. Generally people coming in go to starboard while those coming out come the other side - in which there is slightly more water. At the entrance to the marina there is another can buoy which is left to port and then an avenue of posts (well three pairs) guide you in.
You'll enjoy it. Done that floor yet?
muckypup
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
You'll enjoy it. Done that floor yet?
[/ QUOTE ]
Whats a withies? (withy? withie?)
[ QUOTE ]
the fleshpot of the Green Man
[/ QUOTE ]
All being well, I shall be investigating the green man in a couple of weeks in the laying down supper (if still on..)
[ QUOTE ]
Done that floor yet?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nope. Last time I was down I installed a new battery charger on the aux battery (used for the gene & diesel heater). Found that the battery was knackered and installed a new battery. Re-installed diesel heater pump after an engineer told me it was knackered and removed it. Diesel heater now works perfectly, however it isn't strong enough to pull fuel from the aux fuel tank right at the back of the lazerette, into the engine room, through a full size filter and over to the heater. So next weekend I will be installing a new small fuel tank in the lazerette just on the other side of the bulkhead to the heater.
S.
You'll enjoy it. Done that floor yet?
[/ QUOTE ]
Whats a withies? (withy? withie?)
[ QUOTE ]
the fleshpot of the Green Man
[/ QUOTE ]
All being well, I shall be investigating the green man in a couple of weeks in the laying down supper (if still on..)
[ QUOTE ]
Done that floor yet?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nope. Last time I was down I installed a new battery charger on the aux battery (used for the gene & diesel heater). Found that the battery was knackered and installed a new battery. Re-installed diesel heater pump after an engineer told me it was knackered and removed it. Diesel heater now works perfectly, however it isn't strong enough to pull fuel from the aux fuel tank right at the back of the lazerette, into the engine room, through a full size filter and over to the heater. So next weekend I will be installing a new small fuel tank in the lazerette just on the other side of the bulkhead to the heater.
S.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
A withy is a stick - well a big stick and I ought to be able to remember what timber - birch I think, stuck into the mud to indicate the edge of a channel, oyster layings and that sort of thing. So if you go into Bradwell the starboard side of the channel is marked with a line of withies where a line of buoys would be impractical (at low water with an easterly wind they would lie well over the bank they mark). Keep to the left of the Bradwell ones! Well on the way in anyway.
If you go over to Thirstlet Creek (to the north of the Spit which dries LW springs), you will find that both sides as you get in are marked by withies. Done in that case by the fishermen. Difficult to see until close but once you spot one, they can be seen in a line. Can be quite a nice low water anchorage.
As you pass the second withy on the way into Bradwell reflect that my wife bashed with with it. I was putting on a fender and leaning overboard and she went so close as to give me a wack around the ear. Unfortunately my wife is blind in the starboard eye. She claimed she didn't see it but it wa perfectly timed so I don't believe her!
Sounds like you've been busy but I guess the floor is a winter job anyway.
If you go over to Thirstlet Creek (to the north of the Spit which dries LW springs), you will find that both sides as you get in are marked by withies. Done in that case by the fishermen. Difficult to see until close but once you spot one, they can be seen in a line. Can be quite a nice low water anchorage.
As you pass the second withy on the way into Bradwell reflect that my wife bashed with with it. I was putting on a fender and leaning overboard and she went so close as to give me a wack around the ear. Unfortunately my wife is blind in the starboard eye. She claimed she didn't see it but it wa perfectly timed so I don't believe her!
Sounds like you've been busy but I guess the floor is a winter job anyway.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am only a beginner.
Does the blackwater get much commercial shipping?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nope. A few fishing boats in and out of Mersea and Brightlingsea, and there sued to be a few coasters in and out of Brightlingsea, but I haven't seen one for a few years.
[/ QUOTE ]
with a 37 ft power boat /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[ QUOTE ]
I am only a beginner.
Does the blackwater get much commercial shipping?
[/ QUOTE ]
Nope. A few fishing boats in and out of Mersea and Brightlingsea, and there sued to be a few coasters in and out of Brightlingsea, but I haven't seen one for a few years.
[/ QUOTE ]
with a 37 ft power boat /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
muckypup
Well-Known Member
It was a steep learning curve. Especially when the chap from the local sailing school took us for a days lesson and I had to scrape the ice and snow off her first!
Worse than that, I had been doing some jobs in the engine room. The instructor arrived and we spent a couple of hours plodding around the marina, doing maneuvers. We had lunch and then headed out for sea. We got into the Tawe barrage lock and the moment the lock doors closed behind us, the engine room build bilge alarm went off.
We popped the floor up and sure enough, the raw water inlet pipe had been kicked off and had caught under the flexible shaft couplings and had worn a hole in the pipe and was now squirting water out with enough force to hit the ceiling of the boat.
I was all for turning back, but the instructor calmly asked if I had any duck tape. Sure enough 5 minutes later the pipe was duly fixed and off we went.
Later that day when I was prodding around in some of the outside lockers I actually found a length of the correct hose of enough length and fixed it properly.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Anything can be fixed with duck tape /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Steve
Worse than that, I had been doing some jobs in the engine room. The instructor arrived and we spent a couple of hours plodding around the marina, doing maneuvers. We had lunch and then headed out for sea. We got into the Tawe barrage lock and the moment the lock doors closed behind us, the engine room build bilge alarm went off.
We popped the floor up and sure enough, the raw water inlet pipe had been kicked off and had caught under the flexible shaft couplings and had worn a hole in the pipe and was now squirting water out with enough force to hit the ceiling of the boat.
I was all for turning back, but the instructor calmly asked if I had any duck tape. Sure enough 5 minutes later the pipe was duly fixed and off we went.
Later that day when I was prodding around in some of the outside lockers I actually found a length of the correct hose of enough length and fixed it properly.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Anything can be fixed with duck tape /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Steve