Getting away from the main centre of Plymouth there are many opportunities for the adventurous to seek out peace and quiet, and a shoal draft boat although useful is not necessary.

To the eastern side of Plymouth proper lies the Cattewater, which houses Plymouth Yacht Haven, as already described in the main Plymouth article. The Cattewater is not navigable too far before it is blocked by a low bridge, and therefore does not provide much of an opportunity for exploration.

The Western side of Plymouth proper feeds into an area known as the Hamoaze, which is home to the Navy dockyards, and also contains a couple of marinas and boatyards. This area has to be passed to reach St Germans or Lynher River which branches off to the West, and leads to the small town of St Germans. It doesn't look too promising on the chart, but even deep draft craft can find peaceful anchorages, and lay afloat as far as Dandy Hole, a deeper patch with over 5 m at LAT. Shoal draft craft that can take the ground can make it up to St Germans.

The River Tamar is a direct continuation of the Hamoaze, and winds inland 12 miles passing Saltash, Cargreen, and Calstock. The River offers several anchoring and mooring opportunities for deep draft craft, together with some facilities.

It would be wise to stock up well in Plymouth or Saltash if planning to spend some time exploring this area, as provisioning could be difficult. You will however be cheered to learn that anchoring in these areas will not result in some irritating little man arriving in his launch demanding money..... anchoring is free. As it always should be. ... read more

To approach the Hamoaze, follow the instructions given in the Plymouth main article as if you were going to the Mayflower Marina.

Beyond Mayflower Marina everything widens out into the Hamoaze, and you will see the Royal Naval Dockyards lining the eastern shore. Before you reach these on the western shore you will see Millbrook Creek and then Torpoint Yacht Haven, a small Marina surrounded by incredibly thick walls, formed within an area that used to be the Ballast Pound.

Moving further northwards you pass the dockyards, and several large navy mooring buoys on the Western side. Remember you are not allowed to pass closer than 50 m to any navy ship or shore establishment. This area is normally busy and the skipper will need his wits about him, and to make things more interesting there are chain ferries operating just north of Torpoint Yacht Haven. These ferries show an orange flashing light at their forward end, and have right of way... pass well astern. ... read more

The visiting yachtsman or motorboater will find numerous opportunities for mooring or anchoring in the area covered, from Hamoaze to Calstock. Southdown Marina, Torpoint Yacht Harbour, The Mulithull Centre, and assorted boatyards in the Tamar may offer pontoons and moorings.  Various clubs,  and even the "Crooked Spaniard Inn", have moorings for thirsty passers by !

All these are now covered together with some pilotage details... ... read more