Mudweighting Southern Rivers

[Jona]

Evening all,  

We are down this Monday for a week on the southern rivers out of Brundall.

We intend, weather permitting, to mudweight on Surlingham Broad at some point, does anyone know of anywhere else down south where we could safely do it?

I thought maybe Oulton Broad, but would that be too busy?  It would probably be a midweek night so as to be quieter.

Many thanks in advance.

Jon & Jo

[Viking23]

Rockland is a broad, but really unsuitable for mud weighting, as you are best keeping within the marked channel. The high rise and fall could leave you high and dry, and there are some serious underwater obstructions out there. 

There are a few deep places outside the posts, but without local knowledge, and a depth sounder,  best avoided. 

 

[Jona]

Aye we have a healthy respect for Rockland, as you mention tides, we are also on springs midweek as well i think.

I reckon it's probably as we suspect, Surlingham and if do-able and allowed, Oulton.

Thanks

Jon & Jo

 

[SweetKingfisher1]

Hi Jon & Jo,

Surlingham Broads and Oulton Broad are the only two location on south river where you can mudweight. Rockland Broad is one Broad where you are unable to mudweight.

Regards

Marina    

[Jona]

Thanks for that Marina,

It's something we've always wanted to do, but have had dogs with us so we couldn't until now.

So weather allowing we shall have a go, any advice from any of you good folks will be greatly appreciated

Regards

Jon & Jo

 

[senator]

Usual apply's, allow lots of rope. at least 6 times the depth of the water, then remember how far you are going to swing so that you don't hit anything if the wind changes.

[JennyMorgan]

Six times the water's depth, up to seven, even eight or nine feet of water at high water, means a great deal more rope than most hire boats are equipped with. The industry has been doing it for a long time now and will provide enough rope but no more, just lob the mudweight with all the rope over the front, bow, and, unless the wind blows, I'm sure that you will be quite safe.  At the worst you'll drag towards the bank, that does happen, but very rarely. I see many boats mudweight on Oulton Broad where I live, problems are rare and then generally with boats rafting up and relying on just one mudweight for two boats. Senator's recommendation is absolutely right for an anchor and is a general guideline that I wholly respect and would follow, at sea, but on a shallow, possibly sheltered Broad, with little tidal flow, the supplied mudweight and rope is generally quite adequate, in my honest opinion. 

Edited October 10, 2015 by JennyMorgan

[Jona]

Thanks very much for that advice Gents, the only remaining question is where, on Oulton, would we best be placed "Outta the way" so to speak ? 

Am thinking after leaving the dyke over towards the left hand side, but I dare say that will depend on the wind. On saying that, if it's blowing a hooley we won't be mudweighting anyway  

Thank you

Jon & Jo

 

[JennyMorgan]

Jona, over to the left, best place, unless it's a South Easterly gale! Plenty of soft mud to hold a mudweight too. About thirty feet out from the bank would be my choice. You might see an otter there.

[Jona]

Thank you Peter,

Hopefully then we shall be able to do both Surlingham and Oulton this coming week, as i said earlier something we've wanted to do for a long time, really looking forward to it now.

Thanks everyone for your advice, it is much appreciated.

Oh, and Peter, yes, without our beloved but rather excitable Jack Russell, we may just get that elusive otter photo  

Many Thanks and Kind Regards

Jon & Jo

 

[diesel falcon]

hi there was a pair of otters just at the start of oulton dyke on the main river a week ago good luck!!

 

[wombat nee blownup]

Also otters, kingfisher and even a dear in Surlingham (Bargate) Broad approx a month ago 

[Viking23]

A deer... on the island part? ie the land between the broad and the river, cut off by the two entrances...  we have seen a fox on this part too. Clearly foxes can swim.

Bargate must be our favourite place on the southern broads, no mooring lines to adjust due to the tidal change, but at the weekends it does have quite a few gin palaces some of which have only travelled 100 metres lol. Why not... it's better than being tethered to your own home mooring. 

[Oddfellow]

too many people tie up their mud weight line without thinking. 

Don't do it!

Drop the weight at low water and tie tight, the flooding tide will pull the mudweight free as you rise and you will no longer be secure!

Take two mud weights and you and secure fore and aft.

 

 

[Hockham Admiral]

Also otters, kingfisher and even a dear in Surlingham (Bargate) Broad approx a month ago 

Last week I posted a pic of a young deer swimming in the  New Cut.

[JennyMorgan]

I normally have the highest regard for Andy's advice but I will take issue with the suggestion that you should put a mudweight out at both ends, fore and aft. I'll explain, two reasons, one being that mooring that way stops your boat from laying with the wind. Other boats will swing with the wind and at Bargate where several boats may be moored, better that all boats swing the same way so they are then less liable to hit or touch each other. Second reason is that of windage. If your boat swings with the wind then it will probably point towards the wind thus presenting minimum resistance and will therefore be less liable to drag. Twelve foot wide or thirty six feet long, you do the maths! Sorry to take issue with your advice, Andy, but fore and aft mooring is not always wise, in my opinion and experience.

[JennyMorgan]

P.S., just a thought, I would put out a mudweight at both ends if I were laying against the bank/reed bed, that would stop me swinging out into the river. Windage would obviously be reduced by the reeds and trees so would probably not be a problem unless it was an out and out hoolie of a day.

Edited October 12, 2015 by JennyMorgan

[Oddfellow]

I can't argue with Peter's points, for sure (either post  ) 

Two are handy, particularly in an emergency or as Peter says, laying by a reedbed, etc.  

A lot of fishermen ask us for two mud weights.

[JennyMorgan]

As a fisherman I do use two mudweights in order to stop the boat swinging whilst I'm fishing. If a boat swings then bite indication can become poor thus putting fish's welfare at risk. However I wouldn't wish to go to sleep! 

A word of caution for when you use two mudweights over the bow/front. If the boat swings right round during the night the ropes become twisted and then lifting the weights becomes much harder. I can understand people doing it, I wouldn't recommend it. Personally I wouldn't mudweight in open water if it was so windy that I needed the extra weight.

[Jona]

We arrived at Brooms yesterday and during the handover I did ask if it would be possible to take along an extra mudweight. No problem was the reply and 5 mins later it was aboard.

Weather is holding out, certainly no wind to speak of, so may not need it, but it's there if we do.

Cannot praise Brooms enough for the boat turnout, immaculate.

Regards

Jon & Jo

 

[JawsOrca]

Make sure you guys go across Breydon if you have a brooms.. Apparently they can get to 16mph so you can do the crossing in about 20 mins!

[Jona]

Evening Alan

Well, we may just have to have a play tomorrow, heading down to the Dukes Head for our spoily meal of the trip.

Will head out onto Breydon for a spin. 

[JawsOrca]

Dukes head Somerleyton? Bloody good pub if so. BBQ chips and sticky pigs highly recommended.

What broom have you got?

I think it's both the cadet and captain that are unrestricted although they may have had to restrict them now as everyone was getting caught and the rangers on the southern side were keeping a good look out. So although you can open her up at breydon you really need to watch it around the other areas. I've had a nose around them when getting fuel in brundall and they are amazing boats.

Have fun  

[Jona]

We have Broom Capt 1 Named Horatio, and yes, quite simply the nicest boat we have hired to date, and we have never had a bad one so that is an accolade.

Coming onto the Wensum early today I opened her up a bit and yes, I very quickly reined her in again. Tomorrow may well be fun 

[JennyMorgan]

As I sit here the weather outside is dire. Think I'd moor up at the Oulton Broad Yacht Station and head off on a pub crawl.