The River Deban?

[Medskipper]

I have never visited the Deban, but I hear its worthwhile, so I might include it during our hols in August.

I know that its a difficult entry and that it should be approached at or near the top of the tide because of its sand bar.

Once on the river, are there any good places to moor, eat, get supplies etc,etc. All comments gratefully received!

Barry

[davidwf]

Ramsholt is a fairly good place to moor, the harbour master will generally find you a spare mooring the Ramsholt Arms does food although I havn't eaten there for a few years.

Go upstream a bit from Ramsholt and you will come to a bend in the river known as the Rocks, there's good anchoring here and its very popular in the summer.

Further up river at Waldringfield the Maybush is a nice pub with fairly good food. The boatyard has moorings that you can use if they are free.

If you go up to Woodbridge you can moor at the tidemill yacht harbour and essentially you are a 5 mins walk from the centre of Woodbridge with supermarkets etc all available. Several good restaurants in Woodbridge all walking distance from the marina.

see http://www.debenentrance.com/ for deben entrance details

[Jean]

See also: http://www.woodbridgecruisingclub.co.uk/

[sailorman]

Deben, Deben
entrance easy i have been in neeps @ 2 hrs after lo 1.9m draught
if you stay @ Felixtowe Ferry watch out as the tide id rappid & you would need to be on a mooring on the Felixtowe side well inshore
Ramsholt very pretty i have had a mooring there since 1973, (Pub now **** & not really worth giving them your cash) good walks though+ the church worth a walk as it has an "Oval " Tr.
if you wish to stay over report to Mr George Collins HM ( yacht Brio Nr Quay ) he will allocate a mooring uaually foc.
the "rocks" just up-river from Ramsholt is a very pleasant anchorage with wooded hill but now a small beach as i belive there is now a large expance of mud, lots of fossils though washed out of the hill/ cliff.
Waldringfield anchoring is a problem due to poor holding Nr the sailing club
the Maybush pub i cant comment on as its some yrs since ive been there.
Woodbridge Tidemill yacht Hbr very well placed for the town

[Mirelle]

Starting from the mouth of the river and working up:

The bar itself:

You have already ben given the url for the excellent Deben Entrance website.

Felixstowe Ferry

You may well be able to pick up a mooring at Felixstowe Ferry (but beware of those owned by very proprietorial fishermen, who can be quite hostile!) the deputy harbour master is Stephen Read who is an ex tug chief engineer turned yacht surveyor and a motor boat man - VGB imho and his mobile number is 07860 191768. Ring him to see if there is a suitable mooring. You will need a tender with a good outboard to get ashore here, as the tide runs up to 2.4 knots. Alternatively hail the ferry. There are two reasonable pubs on the Felixstowe side.

Ramsholt

George Collins's mobile number is 07751034959. However he is quite likely to have it off! He is very often aboard his own smallish sailing boat off the end of the hard. Don't try going alongside the quay without consulting George - its treacherous and the landowners are a bit funny - currently they are trying to charge people for using the hard (and my local council have just announced that we yotties are not "members of the public!")

The pub aint great but better than the Maybush I reckon.

The Rocks

Agree with comments above. Can get crowded.

Waldringfield

Agree with comments above; very little room to anchor off the hard, moorings very close together, pub not one that I would choose, having had three poor meals in a row there. Don't go on the quay as the boatyard owners don't like it.

There is very little water at the top end of the cut; best avoid this one (the New Cut at Woodbridge is better)

Methersgate Quay is private; pick up a mooring hereabouts if its low water and you are going to Woodbridge - you are welcome to mine (no 14) if its free.
Woodbridge

Tide Mill Yacht Harbour is very mobo-friendly and a good marina altogether. Highly recommended. Tel 01394 385745

What most visiting motor boats don't know is that if there is water through the New Cut there is water over the sill at the marina.

Pub recommendations - all in Woodbridge and biassed towards proper beer:
Cherry Tree (near Eversons boatyard) My local so I'm biassed. Excellent Adnams.
Also the Seckford Arms and the Kings' Head. For a real crawl add the Old Mariner, the Cross Keys and finish in the Anchor. There is a good Indian restaurant in Quay Street.

Enjoy your visit!

[Medskipper]

Many thanks to those who have taken the time to reply, all your comments have been very informative and helpful.

Best regards

Barry