Best time of year

[russ]

We took a drive down to MDL marina Hamble today with a view of moving my boat from its Thames mooring.
I want to use some of my 30 day visitor mooring and have a bit of sea going experience and also complete the power boat level 2. It will make a change to be able to push the throttle a bit further forward.
I have no sea experience at all and just 9 months on the river.
In the forums opinion when would it be the best time off year to temporally change moorings? Considering weather and congestion of the Solent or doesn't it really get that busy in the summer?

Will Hamble be a good place to start for a novice or can you suggest elsewhere?

 

[lisilou]

Russ, we started with absolutely no experience and have been at Hamble Point since the beginning when we did our PB2. We'd been told the Solent was one of the busiest areas and so it is but we knew no different so it made no odds to us. We're still there 3 years later and love it. For us, it's a fantastic start point for cruising to various destinations. Would we change for somewhere 'quieter'?...nope, always something going on. As for when's a good time to move temporarily...others with more knowledge than me will beable to give you the dos and donts on that one.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Lisa

 

[powerskipper]

hi

It depends on the boat you have, and the cruising speed you can maintain. The main concern will be weather window for the trip and tides. Its a long trip in one day if you have not done any sea time before, So plan it as a 2 day trip at least, and that's at 20 knot ish. Your stop over option are, Ramsgate, Dover, Eastbourne, and Brighton. I suggest you do some planning and see which one you want to stop at.
Thames to Dover you need to get timing right for North Forland as the seas can get big around there at certain states of tide, and with winds help they can be nasty.
Dover to Solent, just watch out for the over falls as you go past the headlands, I think its about 120 odd NM along there, depending on your boats range this may be a consideration.

Hope this helps.

 

[thomshap]

We're you planning on moving it via the M3 or the English Channel?

The Solent is a very busy place but there is plenty of room for everyone, I've never been on a river but imagine you'll have more fun down here with many more places to explore, the bigges difference between the two will be the bumps on the water and the lobster pots. You've picked the most expensive spot to go, as you have a power boat there are lots of alternatives if you head east a little.

As for time of year, I've never winterised a boat and always used them all year round, you get great days all year round and you also get some pretty terrible ones too, the biggest difference is the kids tend to moan more about being cold in the winter than they do in the summer.

If you've never been on the sea then I'm sure someone on here would take you out for a trial.

 

[Elessar]

We took a drive down to MDL marina Hamble today with a view of moving my boat from its Thames mooring.
I want to use some of my 30 day visitor mooring and have a bit of sea going experience and also complete the power boat level 2. It will make a change to be able to push the throttle a bit further forward.
I have no sea experience at all and just 9 months on the river.
In the forums opinion when would it be the best time off year to temporally change moorings? Considering weather and congestion of the Solent or doesn't it really get that busy in the summer?

Will Hamble be a good place to start for a novice or can you suggest elsewhere?

I used to do south coast in the summer and Thames in the winter.

The trip round really needs an overnight or it's an endurance run. For that you can use Ramsgate, or stop in Chatham and leave her there for a few weeks free. Chatham's a nice marina in a bit of a grim area, and too far upriver for an overnight. I love the trip round and if you want a crew call me

If you go to ocean village, hythe or shamrock quay they are in a lower charge band than the hamble marinas under their new system. Hythe puts many off because of the lock - its not going to trouble you

When I used to do it they used to do it, MDL let me change from one marina to the other, just paying the annual rate for each pro rata. This was very fair.

Under there new freedom berthing I can't see them letting you get away with anything less than paying the area 2 charge for the whole year if you go past your 30 days.

Summer or winter?

Winter
In the solent you are more likely to be weather bound than on the river. Yes they red board the river when it's rained a lot but I always ignored that, I had a powerful sea going boat that could easily stem the flow. They used to hand me an advisory "what you're doing is dangerous" notice at every lock!
But the lock maintenance closures on the river spoil winter boating there.

Summer
both are busy, but I found lock queues on the river in summer worse than anything the solent can throw at you busyness wise.

Is solent the best place?
Well it's only downside is that lots of people think so. You can boat for years in the solent and still find new things to do. Compared with the river the variety is huge. As you get experience, France and the channel islands will call you too.

There is a competitor though - sparkes marina. Chichester harbour is beautiful and if the wind is strong you could spend a whole holiday in the harbour and not get bored. Then you're straight out for a short trip to the solent, and it's handily closer to London too.

Can you do it?
Your boat handling will almost certainly be better than most of the boaters in the solent already. You will need to brush up on pilotage stuff, lots people are out there offering a day or two's own boat tuition if you want a comfort blanket.
You will also need to check the safety kit on your boat is up to scratch, practice a high speed MOB and consider how you would handle things if things kick up rough.

PB2 may not be the course for you though - how big is your boat? Dayskipper may be more appropriate.

Should you do it?
I can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[paultallett]

Hi Russ,

I was in the same position as you 5 years ago. Had a year on the river Thames but really wanted to get on the sea.

We moved from Windsor to Port Solent (we are now moored on the Hamble) and I couldn't recommend the Solent more to you.

As Ellsar said your boat handling will be better than most after handling all the locks and very tight marina fairways of the Thames. Yes the Solent can be busy but no worse than Bank holiday weekends on the river...... the only differance being half the boats doing 20knots + but take it steady and with care you'll be fine.

The only thing I would do if I was you would be have your boat lifted and transported down..... This for us was cheaper than the fuel to get her there under her own power!!

Then you can spend a month or 2 enjoying the Solent and learning as you go...... If you then decide to return to the river, you can do it under your own power with your new found skills........ But I get the feeling once you arrive on the Solent, you might not want to go back...... We didn't!!

Best of luck and lets us know how you get on.

 

[russ]

Many thanks for all your comments.
I have a small 27' Bayliner 265 which can be trailered and so have been quoted around £550 to drop off and then to return it back to Bray. Probably safer and cheaper than the coastal route although it would be a good learning experience.
Also being a petrol engined boat I would have problems refuelling.

Regarding marinas, which would be the most accessible to get to via the M3. At the moment it only takes half an hour to my mooring at Bray so no more than hour would be ok to the coast.

One other point is that I have to persuade the family to come along or is it possible for solo trips being there are no locks to handle etc.

 

[crazy4557]

Many thanks for all your comments.
I have a small 27' Bayliner 265 which can be trailered and so have been quoted around £550 to drop off and then to return it back to Bray. Probably safer and cheaper than the coastal route although it would be a good learning experience.
Also being a petrol engined boat I would have problems refuelling.

Regarding marinas, which would be the most accessible to get to via the M3. At the moment it only takes half an hour to my mooring at Bray so no more than hour would be ok to the coast.

One other point is that I have to persuade the family to come along or is it possible for solo trips being there are no locks to handle etc.

Ocean Village in Soton centre is by far the best to reach from the M3. Just 10 mins from end of motorway down The Avenue, couple of sets of traffic lights and your'e there!

 

[thejonesey]

Hi Russ,
We have moved to the Thames Valley this year and are enjoying our first year on the Thames, having grown up on the coast! Very different experiences but both great fun. If you don't have the experience of the coast, I would strongly recommend you get some tution regarding tides, chartwork etc. Also, make sure your safety equipment is complete and up to date along with a decent chartplotter and VHF. We are planning to do the same thing this summer and return to the coast for the 30 free days with MDL (we are at Windsor.) Don't forget that Poole and Chichester are worth exploring too! I would be very happy to get together for a chat at some point in the new year if you fancy discussing it further!!! Always good to talk boating over a beer... I can pick your brains about the Thames in return!! Feel free to PM me.

Finally.. who quoted for the transport as this seems very reasonable. I was/am considering coming round by sea but at 120 NM and 1NMGP going by road is A LOT cheaper.

Rob

 

[vandy]

Our first rib which was a humber 5m was delivered to Kew through sea from Solent! It took them 3 days though!

Don't underestimate the sea condition even on a nice day and its effect on boat handling between beachy head and North Foreland.

As powerskipper has pointed out.

Transport it easily and just relax and enjoy. A couple of trips to IoW will them give you better confidence!

 

[rib]

june max day light warmish.petrol at dover,good weather for cast plus the ness safty gear,then come back before summer hoildays start.imo

 

[Sulley]

Russ, we are thinking of doing the same thing so really interested to see your post.

I thought of having it transported by road down unfortunately at a Bayliner 285 we are just over trailer size and weight. Same as you we are petrol so I'm worried about the cost and my skill getting it there!

We are both doing a day skipper theory and the plan is to both do our day skipper practical on our own boat as it's more relevant once it's moved there. Any advice from anyone on this? Or recomendations on instructors? Should I do a PB2 first?

Rob, I know where you are just down the pontoon! So I will be coming to annoy you for a chat. Russ, you are just up the river maybe we can all get together and swap info??

I have a VHF, licence and reasoanble chart plotter on board as well. I'm comfortable with the VHF but the chart plotter is a different matter at the moment!

 

[russ]

Sulley, this was my main reason for the a boat of this size. I would of loved a larger boat but my intentions were to keep it on a trailer to tow to different cruising areas.
After buying her and then having it professionally trailered to Chertsey for its service I had second thoughts. Its very big and having never towed anything before decided best leave it moored. Plus the forums correct suggestion that I would use it more if left in the water. Add as well the extra cost of storing a trailer.

Chatting to the guy in the Mercury Marina office he thought it would be better to do the day skipper theory course as opposed to the pb2. Although I didn't realise its a 5 day course and I think the practical is even longer and quite a few quid more.

Rob, Simone I would love to swap info but I know very little and so would appreciate any of your advice.

Having some gel coat repairs(not my fault) done Saturday morning so if your about I'll pop over.

 

[Sulley]

Hi Russ,

We will be around at some point this weekend but not sure what day as we are planning on attending the London boat show.

Would love to get together at some point.

To the forum, would appreciate any recomendations of RYA trainers to do the Day Skipper practical on my own boat in the Solent.