Arklow pontoon?

[pagoda]

We heard from a boat in Belfast about a new pontoon on the SW side of Arklow River/harbour. Deeper water than the Marina pontoons on the East/North side. An alternative to the Fishing harbour for deeper draft boats.
Can anybody confirm this? We need 2.3m so the original marina/riverside pontoons don't look promising.

thanks, Graeme

 

[lpdsn]

Last in summer last year. Didn't notice anything or any preparations then. Did your informant say where it was? To seaward of the fish harbour entrance I guess to get enough depth.

The river pontoon was fine for 2.1m, but of course always the question of whether there will be space as the marina is so tight.

 

[dslittle]

We heard from a boat in Belfast about a new pontoon on the SW side of Arklow River/harbour. Deeper water than the Marina pontoons on the East/North side. An alternative to the Fishing harbour for deeper draft boats.
Can anybody confirm this? We need 2.3m so the original marina/riverside pontoons don't look promising.

thanks, Graeme

Why would you not use the Fish Dock? Paul the Harbour Master couldn't be more helpful.

 

[Big Andy]

Why would you not use the Fish Dock? Paul the Harbour Master couldn't be more helpful.

I can only agree with the above, stopped there last year for a couple of nights. Not the most appealing to look at but plenty of water and safe, use the new pontoon if there is one but not a disaster if not.

 

[Sybarite]

I can only agree with the above, stopped there last year for a couple of nights. Not the most appealing to look at but plenty of water and safe, use the new pontoon if there is one but not a disaster if not.

I asked permission to tie up to a fishing boat there some years ago. When we came back from dinner there were a further 6 boats outside me.

We woke up in the morning to find that we were a raft of 7 boats freely floating around the harbour.....

 

[TSB240]

We visited a couple of weeks ago. No pontoon where you describe. The pontoon on the end near the most depressing Marina basin ( full of rotting algae coveted boats) I have ever visited was like a cheese grater and was badly fixed to the others. Whilst the HM was welcoming the open sewer was not. I doubt I would ever visit this cesspit of Ireland again unluss my life depended on it. I understand Wicklow is a much better venue , improved facilities and a warm welcome.

 

[savageseadog]

We visited a couple of weeks ago. No pontoon where you describe. The pontoon on the end near the most depressing Marina basin ( full of rotting algae coveted boats) I have ever visited was like a cheese grater and was badly fixed to the others. Whilst the HM was welcoming the open sewer was not. I doubt I would ever visit this cesspit of Ireland again unluss my life depended on it. I understand Wicklow is a much better venue , improved facilities and a warm welcome.

I found Arklow OK, a bit of character, but maybe I'm used to cesspits, I grew up in one.

 

[pagoda]

There are a few minimalist pontoons in the fish harbour. Maybe 2,6m? Not officially allocated, but almost full, yachts, motor boats and inshore fishing boats. Pretty niffy, but good to get lines ashore. Plenty of vacant tractor tyres also along the walls. At least 2 partly sunken fishing boats in here as well :-o

 

[[3889]]

I found Arklow OK, a bit of character, but maybe I'm used to cesspits, I grew up in one.

My opinion also. Arklow makes a refreshing change from sterile marinas with the obligatory 'Jolly Ketch' selling over priced burgers and chips in a wire basket.

 

[Gwylan]

In Arklow a few days ago. We were told, before our arrival, that there was a pontoon in the fish dock. Not obvious from the river. But the pong was.

Ended up on the long pontoon outside the marina. Calling the hole filled with water and a rag bag of flotsam a marina is a bit ambitious.
Facilities are not 3 * but Aldi is very near

The end of the pontoon near the marina entrance has been damaged and a cobbled repair attempted. Real bodge job.

Fine for a stopover but not a prolonged stay.

 

[savageseadog]

My opinion also. Arklow makes a refreshing change from sterile marinas with the obligatory 'Jolly Ketch' selling over priced burgers and chips in a wire basket.

Glad to hear it, I wan't implying Arklow was a cesspit, it was just a joke about my life. It's a real place with real seafaring and real people.
We went into it in gale force winds from the NE, the worst direction straight into the entrance. I hadn't been there before so was a bit uncertain of how bad it would be, I noticed that a boat coming in an hour or two later had called in by phone or VHF and someone had gone to the entrance to see them in. The only other option we had was to go round Tusker which wasn't very appealing.