Watchet Harbour Marina

[shaunb]

Hi all
Does watchet dry out? thinking of taking our fin keeler there for a few days next week. Assuming it is ok for our boat, any tips on visiting watchet.
Thanks in advance
Shaun

 

[kds]

1. Check time of gate closing carefully - perhaps phone ahead. It is automatic and can not be held up.
2. Watch tide across entrance - it can be quite fast as you get closer and bottom is not soft.
3. You will float inside marina - but may be in mud.
4. Nice little place - drinks in club on harbour front cheap.
Ken

 

[graham]

Watchet Marina does have some berths that dry to very soft mud due to silting up .If you tell the staff you need to stay afloat they will direct you to a deep berth.

The gates are open about 2.5 hours each side of HW.THe predicted opening /closing times are on their website (all times are local allready adjusted for BST.).(Remember these are predictions and may vary slightly on the day)

Watchet Website

There is a traffic light system at the gates alloweing you to proceed in from the outer harbour on the green light. There is a strong current running through the gates for thre first 20 minutes or so after the gate opens. Not a problem ,just be aware of it .

Rig ropes and fenders both side in the outer harbour or as you approach if its calm outside.

We go over a few times each year, staff are allways helpfull and friendly quite often they will take your lines on arrival.

This shows the gate across the entrance holding back the water in the marina at low water.When the tide reaches the same height the gate lowers. You can see the traffic lights at the top right of the picture.

Beer and Food in the "Star "is good. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PS Shaun, have you noticed the Bristol Channel Forum now on this site?

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
4. Nice little place - drinks in club on harbour front cheap.
Ken


[/ QUOTE ]
hello Ken.Is that the Watchet Boat Owners place .?Havent been in there yet ,will pop in for a beer next time over.

 

[kds]

Yes - we have always been made very welcome.
Ken /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Most of the info has been already given.

But be aware there is a red beacon on the starboard side of the harbour entrance.

When challenged, the harbour master agreed and said there was a green light on top of it.

Not a major problem, bt it confused me during the approach (easliy confused!!)

Have a look at http://www.markjohnsonafloat.org.uk/watchet_week.htm

Nice little harbour, showers were a little grubby, but all else excellent.

regards

Mark Joknson

 

[1937rogerdon]

I think you will find, when the gate is closed that a boat with around 5ft draft will sit in some mud. Also, when I arranged to go in a few weeks ago when the gate opened at around 20.00hrs,no staff where on duty just had to find my own berth. In spite of being told to give then a call on VHF and somebody would take my lines as I was single handed.

 

[graham]

I dont think theres normally anyone on duty at night.

I arrived about 2100 on one occasion and had to phone for instructions on how to get a pontoon swipe key.Wont repeat the instructions on here for obvious reasons but the phone numbers are on the gate and on the office door.

My boat draws about 4'6" with the keel down (I dont like manouvering with it up as the rudder needs to be halfway up then as well),as we need to leave immediately the gate opens to get to Cardiff before the tide starts ebbing too strongly against us I allways check we will be able to get out early.

The berths near the center seem to be the deepest.But as they dredge the berths with a JCB on a barge some may be more recently dredged than others.

 

[Allan]

I was talking to a berth holder last week and he said there is a continuing problem with silting. I seem to remember he said a few mm of silt settled on every tide. His boat has made it's own hole and sits safely in that while the gate is closed. He has to wait 20 minutes or so after the gate opens before he can move. I would not let this worry you as the silt is very soft. I agree with all the above, well worth a visit.
Allan

 

[shaunb]

Thanks for all the info. I haven't noticed the bristol channel forum, I will try and find it now.
Cheers
Shaun