Boatfolk

[ryanroberts]

They seem rather better run than MDL, and have a much better deal on the number of nights in their other marinas. Does anyone have any experience of how willing they are to turn a blind eye to liveaboards? My boat is in good nick and I sail a lot in season.

 

[PlanB]

Out of curiosity, I looked at the T&Cs. No 9 seems to indicate that living aboard with prior permission is a possibility.

 

[ryanroberts]

I think I will stick to my usual don't ask don't tell tactic. I do spend quite a lot of time in London away from boat, sail in season. 300 days for Haslar / East cowes is handy too

 

[Petertheking1982]

Haslar accept live aboards, not sure about the others.

 

[ryanroberts]

Yeah I noticed the usual signs in Haslar when I was there last summer, didn't check when I was briefly in Weymouth - I usually anchor in Portland when around there

 

[V1701]

I like it round Gosport, not to everyone's taste. I dunno if it helps any but Premier Brighton now have available "extended use" contract that allows stays of up to 12 weeks at a time for up to 48 weeks per year. AKA living aboard. We pay an extra about £1k, Brighton I believe now has a waiting list for them, I'm not sure whether the other Premier marinas have them available...

 

[ashtead]

Haslar not only has good if limited in number washblocks but also over winter a new block seems to arrived on G pontoon which I have yet to visit. Once the catering is sorted out at lightship or ashore it would seem to have much to offer liveabords . Haslar has its own yacht club which might also be of interest. Clearly not subsidised like the nearby Hornet sailing though but prices seem competitive when compared with all access marina on south coast unless you fancy say east cowes.

 

[Robin]

ISLAND HARBOUR NO LONGER ACCEPT LIVE ABOARDS SO WE HAD TO LEAVE FRIDAY AT END OF OUR CONTRACT. SAD DAYS AS WE REALLY ENJOYED THE PLACE AND ESPECIALLY THE FRIENDLY STAFF. IHBR CURRENTLY UNDER ADMINISTRATION WITH NO INDICATION OF SALE IMMINENT THOUGH BOATFOLK RUMOURED TO SHOW INTEREST BUT NOT ALLOW LIVING ABOARD OFFICIALLY AT THEIR EAST COWES MARINA. WE WERE NOT HIDING AT ISLAND HARBOUR AND PAID FULL COUNCIL TAXES AS PROPER RESIDENTS. WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY HOMELESS IN A HOTELWHILST WAITING FOR OUR MOVE INTO SHELTERED ACCOMODATION ON THE MAINLAND NEAR OUR SON, MY HEALTH OF LATE MADE THE DECISION FOR US TO SWALLOW THEANCHOR FULLY THIS TIME, NO GOING BACK.

PS EXCUSE CAPS NOT RETYPING THIS LOT MY STROKE HAND HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN STILL WITH CAPS LOCK..

 

[Caladh]

They seem rather better run than MDL, and have a much better deal on the number of nights in their other marinas. Does anyone have any experience of how willing they are to turn a blind eye to liveaboards? My boat is in good nick and I sail a lot in season.

It wouldn't be too difficult to do things better than MDL …..

 

[lektran]

I think I will stick to my usual don't ask don't tell tactic. I do spend quite a lot of time in London away from boat, sail in season. 300 days for Haslar / East cowes is handy too

Not sure if typo, but you're allowed 30 nights max. at each of the sister marinas. So 300 nights total if you spent 30 at each of them.

 

[lustyd]

Haslar not only has good if limited in number washblocks but also over winter a new block seems to arrived on G pontoon which I have yet to visit. Once the catering is sorted out at lightship or ashore it would seem to have much to offer liveabords . Haslar has its own yacht club which might also be of interest. Clearly not subsidised like the nearby Hornet sailing though but prices seem competitive when compared with all access marina on south coast unless you fancy say east cowes.

The new block isn't fitted out yet, but from what I can tell is going to mirror the existing recently refurbed one and a roof over both will be installed. The lightship is also being refurbed and should have facilities again. Hoping the lightship restaurant gets better reviews than the other one that recently opened.

Haslar have a bunch of rules for livaboards and a limited number of contracts, but they do allow it. From what I could tell overhearing a conversation it's stuff like boat can't be "a project" and must have holding tank. From a wander of the pontoons I assume a bicycle is mandatory too

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I have no info to add re liveaboard, but my experiences with boatfolk have been entirely positive. It feels weirdly like they want you to visit. Odd, for a marina these days. If I were looking for a marina berth, it would be in a Boatfolk harbour.

 

[lustyd]

100% agree with this. They are unusually welcoming and competent. They walk the pontoons and (pay attention Premier) actually look at the boats to see if they are OK. I've been in several of their marinas and every single one has been really well run and boater focussed. Just had my boat lifted and they took photos and emailed them through along with anode condition reports so I knew what to expect. The real surprise was that the bottom was so clean it almost looked ready to launch when I arrived.

The only other marina I've been this impressed with was in Plymouth where they literally tracked us on AIS so they could meet us on the pontoon when we arrived. They'd given us the berth number when we left Fowey, so we didn't even call in when we got there

 

[Chiara’s slave]

A particular shout out for East Cowes. Really helpful to us. The staff are all water users in one form or another, maybe that helps.

 

[ryanroberts]

Yes I have been impressed with all the boatfolk marinas I have visited, certainly the nicest marina group. MDL set the bar pretty low however.

 

[ashtead]

Yes we always enjoy trips to east cowes marina although absence of chain ferry (never know if it will have broken down and exorbitant charges) and water taxi shortage can be a hassle . As said staff always friendly even if sometimes hard to find a berth in summer months.

 

[lustyd]

I've never had an issue with the ferry, they always put on a passenger service when the main ferry is out of action, or have when I've been there.

 

[ashtead]

Yes they do have a replacement tender but it’s capacity is limited so waiting 40mins or so due to numbers becomes an issue for me leaving aside the lack of car transport . It’s also slightly interesting taking a bicycle across on the replacement tender.

 

[lustyd]

Don’t they use the old pilot boat any more? Seemed more than adequate to me

 

[xcw]

I have been at Haslar for 15+years and Boatfolk certainly do look after us well and since the new ownership a couple of years ago have invested heavily in the marina. The staff are excellent and Ben runs a very good operation. The only thing that annoys me with the 'free' nights scheme is that East Cowes charge 50% of the overnight fee for Saturday nights from 1st April to 31st October. I can understand charging during Cowes Week and maybe July and August but charging during quieter times seems a little churlish. I enjoy my trips to East Cowes but if I have to pay I prefer the convenience of mooring in West Cowes, particularly out of peak season.