Brighton Marina - Depths (or lack of)?

[Lucky Duck]

Various reports and pictures on the forums in the past regarding silting at Brighton Marina and their difficulties with carrying out the required dredging.

Is this still the case or have they sorted it out now?

 

[rotrax]

From a conversation I had in Cherbourg last week with a guy who went aground twice trying to get in with 1.9 draught recently, they have not.

He said he would not be going there again!

 

[Lucky Duck]

Thanks, that is not very encouraging.

 

[WoodyP]

We went in in April in the middle of the night at mid tide. An unlit bouy inside the marina nearly put us on the putty and the staff were most unhelpful by putting us as far away from facilities with the longest walk.
I bought my own boat there about 15 years ago and I have never been impressed by the marina or the service offered.

 

[Benny257]

No. I've had my boat there for a week or so from Chichester. Keel lifted I draw 0.8m. I was put on a pontoon with 'not much water' according to the staff. I was there at LWS last weekend grounded with around 50cm of water under me.

On a positive note however, I was able to carry out some work on my transom hung rudders by simply standing in the marina and thus avoided a costly lift out

 

[Lucky Duck]

This must be an issue for boats transiting between the South East/East Coast and points West, particularly as Newhaven marina is reportedly now given over to vessels servicing the wind farm.

 

[Benny257]

This must be an issue for boats transiting between the South East/East Coast and points West, particularly as Newhaven marina is reportedly now given over to vessels servicing the wind farm.

It can be. Last weekend they were holding vessels off entering at low tide. The sea state outside the breakwaters can be quite confused and lumpy. Best to speak to the marina if planning on arriving at LW.

 

[Sea Devil]

This must be an issue for boats transiting between the South East/East Coast and points West, particularly as Newhaven marina is reportedly now given over to vessels servicing the wind farm.

There is still a good marina there with travel lift.

 

[LadyInBed]

Also you pay for the privilege at Brighton.
Brighton 8m - 12.5m £3.10 per metre per day
Newhaven Visitors £2.50 per metre per day
Cherbourg 9.5 ~ 10.5m about £2.50 ~ £2.70 per metre per day

 

[Lucky Duck]

Despite having plans A through to C which didn't involve being at Brighton somehow we ended up there.

With about an hour or so to go before LW there is 2.6m in our space on the visitors' pontoon (suggesting around 1m at CD) Listening to the VHF they were allocating other berths with the warning that boats were likely to go aground at LW

Notices displayed liberally around the marina advise not to leave or arrive within two hours of LW if drawing more than 1 meter.

 

[Giblets]

So it does look as though the dredger that Premier bought a few years ago ostensibly for use in Brighton Marina is a classic white elephant!

 

[Benny257]

The dredger was out on Wednesday but it didn't seem to be doing much. No one seems very concerned that in parts, the marina is like a car park. I got the feeling that a lot of the boats are liveaboards and they don't really care if the boat is afloat or not. I'm in Eastbourne now which is much floatier.

 

[Lucky Duck]

It wasn't being used yesterday, the notices suggested it being a couple of years since the approach channel was dredged

 

[Blue Sunray]

The dredger was out on Wednesday but it didn't seem to be doing much. No one seems very concerned that in parts, the marina is like a car park. I got the feeling that a lot of the boats are liveaboards and they don't really care if the boat is afloat or not. I'm in Eastbourne now which is much floatier.

+1