Charts and Medway/Thames

[Croolis]

Hello. So looking at going into deeper water, maybe this weekend. My trip to Ullswater has been rained off and I'm not even going to make a trip to the Trent today like I'd hoped for.

So this weekend I'm heading down Dartford way, where I'm from (my mum's funeral, sadly) and I'm thinking maybe I'll take the boat and see if any of my mates want a run out on the Thames or Medway. The Thames seems a bit more hmm, but I've seen a potential launch spot on Boatlaunch on the Medway (Strand, Gillingham).

Anyone got any thoughts on launching in that area?

Also - charts. You guys have sometimes mentioned charts and I recall some discussion during my lvl 2 Powerboat but that's gone the way of goldfish in my brain. I see this web page here for the Admiralty (at first I thought this was a private company the way the website is lol). Provides charts (yes I am a google genius).

Is this my best resource?

Thx for replies.

[Fenlander]

Do you meant to have a look at or buy physical copies?

Here is a start...https://webapp.navionics.com/#boatin...ey=usyxHo%7CkC

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Do you meant to have a look at or buy physical copies?

Here is a start...https://webapp.navionics.com/#boatin...ey=usyxHo%7CkC

Cool thank you. I've heard of this software. £35 a year subscription though, hmm.

For planning purposes though, that's a good site. Cheers.

[Fenlander]

Is that the app subscription? I don't know as I don't use it. But assuming so it sounds great value. The Garmin software charts for my electronic mapping unit are £150-£250 per area of the UK coast and there are about half a dozen areas. Paper charts from Imray are about £25 per area and there are many of those needed if you holiday in different places.

[paulbrown22]

If you're really running a 2.5hp Mariner, presumably on a smallish SIB, I probably wouldn't be venturing into the Thames there, can be very exposed and bumpy. Depending on the forecast (has been pretty windy along the Thames the last few days), I'd probably more be exploring up the Medway or something. When I drive down the M2 there's a big boatyard (Beacons) immediately underneath on the Medway, I don't know if they have a slip you could use.

My boat's in Greenwich much further up the Thames - there is a public slipway there if you wanted to explore more central London. Tidal flow can be very significant though, my little Walker Bay dinghy runs a 2.5 Mariner and can just work against it, but you certainly aren't going anywhere fast!

[Croolis]

Not 2.5hp, upgraded to a 9.9. Thanks for reminding me I needed to change my profile info .

I'm going to have a go at the Strand at Gillingham and not go all the way up to the estuary. Will depend on the weather on the day. It's been so changeable this week. I'm off work, had boat plans and other things I need to get done and they've all been cancelled as I can't be sure I'll get a dry moment. Right now, I'm sat here just watching some drops come down, just as I was about to get up and go and (ironically) put some sealant around the boot of my car as it has the famous Focus MK2 water ingress.

Really the object of the boating exercise is to get some running in hours on my new 9.9, and I can't open the throttle like I need to unless I'm on bigger body of water. If it's too choppy I'll call it off. I'm taking a mate who's been a scuba diver for many years and who has more experience (being a passenger) in a small boat than I do .

I emailed the boat clubs on the north bank opposite Gillingham and they knocked me back on using their slipway or even giving me any advice on the area, really.

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Is that the app subscription? I don't know as I don't use it. But assuming so it sounds great value. The Garmin software charts for my electronic mapping unit are £150-£250 per area of the UK coast and there are about half a dozen areas. Paper charts from Imray are about £25 per area and there are many of those needed if you holiday in different places.

Yeah I guess it is good value in the great scheme of things. But it still puts me into Bung On Another Thousand territory yet again. I need a £200 radio or something, it seems, and preferably licence and training for that (koffkoff maybe), plus a fish finder for those Lincs coast trips as well.

I was thinking about doing a people smuggling run to Dymchurch while I was down there to cover my costs (joking!) .

[mhill]

We did Brightlingsea to Putney via RIB on the 30th of March and back via Chatham on the 31st. Gravesend to the Medway entrance was best described as nasty! a short sharp wind over tide chop with some stray big ones and bigger holes that caught us unseen. We are a capable crew in a capable craft with much experience with both and the only raft around 3m id play with such conditions in would be an Arancia! The Medway from Queensbrough to Chatham has lots to see without needing to venture out the river unless there is benign conditions.

[Croolis]

I didn't take the boat south, but while I was down there I went down to Gillingham to check out the Strand slipway. Shot this vid in the link at low tide. Looks perfectly reasonable. The road leading down to where I was standing starts with a pay as you go car park (it has height restriction). Would have been a good option. But I was hungover as hell from being at a wake so wouldn't have done it even if I'd brought the boat .

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/eclkq...2bnzgrkos&dl=0