oldgit
Well-Known Member
Did take some time to fill in the quiz with an honest appraisal.
Anybody else get a request for Observations about how St Kats is doing ?
- Thread starter oldgit
- Start date
PeterBoater
Well-Known Member
Same here; another "honest appraisal", ie probably not what they wanted to hear.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
As you are probably aware St Kats is on our "doorstep" and invariably gets visited every year regards our organised club cruises with sometimes a dozen or so boats or by individuals on transit going to and returning from visits to the non tidal parts of the waterway.
Once there was a wide choice of tidal Thames stopovers from Gallions in the East to Chelsea in the West with several inbetween which provided a decent nights sleep away from the somewhat turbulent waters of the 24/7 commercial Thames.
Have spent a night or two "outside."
Over the years the choice of where to stop , especially for a single night, has narrowed considerably for various reasons including marinas actively discouraging over night visitors and favouring long term moorers to ensure a regular supply of revenue.
If you know the form you can still get a nights mooring but a casual inquiry results in a polite Sorry we no longer provide this.
West India will open , if you can get enough boats, 50 might do to spread the cost, still welcome a rally or two.
Which leaves St Kats, frequently changing hands from one hedge fund or sovereign fund to another no doubt at some impressive tax loss in Bermuda or IOM.
Apart from the always interesting challenge of the inevitable chaos on entry system, old hands soon become battle hardened, personally have always found St Kats with its location and service to be second to none.
Think the 3 night deal is good value for money the single night rate somewhat less so.
MoodySabre
Well-Known Member
I did and I thought it was great. We were in the central basin which is the best place to be. Nothing to complain about.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Remain convinced that probably the most accessible capital city in the world ? by water is woefully unwelcoming.
Appreciate the volume of visitors by boat is tiny and although UK yachties have a totally undeserved reputation for being a bunch of mean tightwads , all and any craft especially from foreign parts coming into London might be a good target to extract some much need cash ?
Appreciate the volume of visitors by boat is tiny and although UK yachties have a totally undeserved reputation for being a bunch of mean tightwads , all and any craft especially from foreign parts coming into London might be a good target to extract some much need cash ?
PeterBoater
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Gravesend Marina open only for one hour around HW, Gallions closed, Royal Group Docks not available to leisure vessels, West India Dock around £800 per lock/bridge cycle, Limehouse effectively closed to visitors, Poplar closed to visitors, Chelsea effectively closed to visitors, leaving South Dock and St Katharine, who effectively share a monopoly with prices to match. Greenwich Yacht Club does have a small number of all-tide pontoon berths. At a PLA public meeting earlier this week, the PLA was asked about this (not for the first time) and they trotted out (not for the first time) the availability of mooring buoys and anchorages, not addressing the problem of how to get ashore from such places.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
The suggestion of folks in leisure craft even attempting to pick up any bouy in a strong Thames tidal stream and then spending a night out there.
Have moored on one of the lighters outside South Dock before, making sure was on the inside of same for at least some protection from wash of passing craft.
