agi
New member
Hello!
I'm completely new to boating so please forgive any silly questions.
I am planning ditching my habit for fast cars and am instead getting my first boat in time for next season and am trying to get ahead of the detail as much as I can. We're either getting a 34-40ft flybridge or a similar sized sports cruiser - still to be decided.
I'm currently trying to work out where I'd keep her. I live in Chepstow, and I think I've narrowed it down to Portishead or Penarth. I thought about going up the river, but I don't like the idea of being x hours from open water and I understand the Severn can be quite a challenge the further up you go.
I had pretty much decided on Portishead as it's a closer drive and I like the surrounding area better than Penarth. With that said, can anyone help me with these questions?
* I've visited Portishead 3 times this year. Each time, the lock was broken - last time was on the bank holiday just gone. Have I just been exceptionally unlucky?
* I am looking at the Portishead locking times for 2020. Today, lock outs are 0730, 0830, 0900, 1300 & 1400 and that's it until tonight. So if I want to leave at 1000, I have to wait until 1pm? And if I want to come back before dark, I have to be back before 2pm or I'm stuffed? Am I reading this right?
* I can't find locking times for Penarth, but it does have a lock?
* Is there another marina in the area that has fuel, water, electricity & 24x7 access to the sea? I'm guessing not - it's tidal, I know that. I'm just wondering if I'm missing something. A FOAF had a boat years ago and he kept her in Poole even though he lived near Bristol? I can't think of why anyone would do that? Is this typical?
* Penarth is marginally more expensive than Portishead even though they're both owned by the same company - what am I not seeing at Penarth to justify that?
* Fuel is at cost to members at both marinas - does anyone know what this cost is - I can't find it listed anywhere? This won't sway me - I'm just curious!
Sorry, if any of these questions are silly - I've done my VHF and am doing my RYA Helmsman @ Portishead later this month - but as you can see, I'm struggling with some of the fundamentals!
Thanks
Paul
I'm completely new to boating so please forgive any silly questions.
I am planning ditching my habit for fast cars and am instead getting my first boat in time for next season and am trying to get ahead of the detail as much as I can. We're either getting a 34-40ft flybridge or a similar sized sports cruiser - still to be decided.
I'm currently trying to work out where I'd keep her. I live in Chepstow, and I think I've narrowed it down to Portishead or Penarth. I thought about going up the river, but I don't like the idea of being x hours from open water and I understand the Severn can be quite a challenge the further up you go.
I had pretty much decided on Portishead as it's a closer drive and I like the surrounding area better than Penarth. With that said, can anyone help me with these questions?
* I've visited Portishead 3 times this year. Each time, the lock was broken - last time was on the bank holiday just gone. Have I just been exceptionally unlucky?
* I am looking at the Portishead locking times for 2020. Today, lock outs are 0730, 0830, 0900, 1300 & 1400 and that's it until tonight. So if I want to leave at 1000, I have to wait until 1pm? And if I want to come back before dark, I have to be back before 2pm or I'm stuffed? Am I reading this right?
* I can't find locking times for Penarth, but it does have a lock?
* Is there another marina in the area that has fuel, water, electricity & 24x7 access to the sea? I'm guessing not - it's tidal, I know that. I'm just wondering if I'm missing something. A FOAF had a boat years ago and he kept her in Poole even though he lived near Bristol? I can't think of why anyone would do that? Is this typical?
* Penarth is marginally more expensive than Portishead even though they're both owned by the same company - what am I not seeing at Penarth to justify that?
* Fuel is at cost to members at both marinas - does anyone know what this cost is - I can't find it listed anywhere? This won't sway me - I'm just curious!
Sorry, if any of these questions are silly - I've done my VHF and am doing my RYA Helmsman @ Portishead later this month - but as you can see, I'm struggling with some of the fundamentals!
Thanks
Paul