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Crossing the Murray Mouth

Created by erasadent erasadent  > 9 months ago, 15 Apr 2015
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erasadent
erasadent

1 posts

15 Apr 2015 9:12pm
SOme advice if i may.
I have a 25' catamaran 15'6" beam and would like to move it from the patawolonga to hindmarsh Island.
Is it possible to sail across the murray mouth? I am ok with sailing it to the mouth but am very unsure re crossing the mouth.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
MorningBird
MorningBird

NSW

2703 posts

15 Apr 2015 11:47pm
Only ever seen the mouth from ashore at Goolwa. It looked (on that day) like a normal bar with breaking waves (no more than a metre sea on the day) but I understand it can be very shallow. It has even been closed completely with sand when the river flows have been low for some time.
Pekeri
Pekeri

VIC

81 posts

16 Apr 2015 12:38pm
Forget the entrance. Truck it in to the lake.
I would truck it further up the Murray and enjoy a cruise down the river.

The entrance is not really an entrance.
southace
southace

SA

4794 posts

16 Apr 2015 1:10pm
The mouth has been closed for a number of years due to drought and rice farming. however now I hear reports in the past year that it is deep and flowing. On calm days it's certainly possible to enter. I would take a drive down there with a personal GPS and Mark the Channel from the shore as it shifts regularly and is uncharted. P.s the Coorong is awsome place to explore .
Pekeri
Pekeri

VIC

81 posts

16 Apr 2015 4:47pm
I think it would be awesome to enter the river from the sea, but when I visited from Hindmarsh it definitely was a no no. I have visited 3 times in the past 15 years.

Then again what do I know?

Here are some successful entries and the latest on the dredging.






Love to hear how you get on.

Safe sailing.
dralyagmas
dralyagmas

SA

380 posts

17 Apr 2015 9:53am
it is currently being dredged and will be for quite a while

it can be crossed but you need the right combination of low swell, high tide and good seamanship
scruzin
scruzin

SA

559 posts

17 Apr 2015 12:30pm
Select to expand quote
dralyagmas said..
it is currently being dredged and will be for quite a while

it can be crossed but you need the right combination of low swell, high tide and good seamanship


Also, the situation might be improved in a few weeks/months when some of the recent rain dumping on the Riverland works its way into increased river flows.
Regardless, I second the remarks about good seamanship, etc.

Assuming you go through the mouth, have you checked the width of Goolwa barrage lock? I've only been through in a powerboat and it did not strike me as particularly wide.
scruzin
scruzin

SA

559 posts

17 Apr 2015 12:37pm
Also, consider crossing with a drogue and setting the drogue to the side the waves are coming from, or directly astern. It will minimize the chances of broaching in the waves, as that boat in first video that Pekeri shared almost did at one stage.
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