Cheap Marinas?????

[Geoff2]

As I have said in my one and only previous post, I am considering getting into boating and would like to know is there such a thing as low cost marinas. Cheap sounds nasty I am looking at a 35foot ish boat and I am surprised at marina costs. What do you get for the money, other than somewhere to sit. Is a swinging or similar type mooring ok for a motor boat, probably shaft drive? More to the point are they available? What do you do when the batteries go flat and the boat won't start, if you are away from marina type berth. Perhaps with so many questions, could anyone suggest a good book on the subject. The geographical area I am looking is anywhere from the Solent to Falmouth.

Geoff

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Talbot]

Welcome to this madhouse. You will normally get lots of advice - some good some bad, and a good sense of comradliness with like minded people - and yes it is even known for stinkies and raggies to talk to each other almost civilly within these forums. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
Within the solent "cheap marina" is a contradiction in terms, Having said that there are some that are not quite so expensive, and other alternatives. The less expensive marinas tend to be either shut during some parts of the tide, and always really only suitable for shallow draft . An alternative normally used mainly by raggies is to look for a well tended swinging mooring (I believe Hardway at Gosport is a good example) where they supply transport to your boat, and thus a means of assistance if necessary. As for your battery - get a small solar panel to keep them topped up.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[duncan]

there are swinging moorings suitable for such a craft available in Poole Harbour.

Your issue will be getting out and back from the boat, continuous wash etc overnight and a lack of shorepower.

A common solution is to get into a routine - you dingy out to boat and.having booked in overnight (or Fri and Saturday to a marina as a visitor - say £30-40 for 2 nights for a boat of your size - take the boat round from the mooring whilst the other half parks and unloads the gear at the marina.

This can give you the best of both worlds but still sufferes from the security issues associated with leaving your boat out in the open somewhere.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[longjohnsilver]

I have a similar sized motor boat to what you are looking for and keep it on a swinging mooring on the Exe, costs about £100 a year + maintenance. I keep a small RIB on a beach or tucked up in front of a friends boat in the marina, so getting to and fro is no problem. I also keep a small generator on board so I can charge the batteries if I need to, but so far in 4 years they haven't gone flat, but I do use the boat a lot!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[longjohnsilver]

I have a similar sized motor boat to what you are looking for and keep it on a swinging mooring on the Exe, costs about £100 to the local council (I own the mooring) a year + maintenance. I keep a small RIB on a beach or tucked up in front of a friends boat in the marina, so getting to and fro is no problem. I also keep a small generator on board so I can charge the batteries if I need to, but so far in 4 years they haven't gone flat, but I do use the boat a lot!

As far as I know there are still moorings available for rent or to buy on the Exe.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[gjgm]

cant help with the swinging mooring, but stinging costs we all know about. Cheap is of course relative, but cheap and marine are two words that rarely meet ! You mention you are considering getting into boating. Unfortunately, it isnt like so may other costs in life, and if you are new but without bottomless funds, this can be a bit upsetting. I think we all started being conscientious, hunting down every saving, but after a period most find , at whatever their level, it is SO bloody expensive anyway, the savings so meagre, it becomes one of those things its best not be too accurate about quite what its costing-especially to SWMBO !Then it becomes much more fun...


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[steverow]

Geoff, I notice from your info that you live in Bristol. Why not look a little closer to home to house your boat when you get it?
Apart from Bristol/Portishead itself, you have Penarth, Swansea and Milford/Neyland in South wales, or Watchet in Somerset all within reasonable distance of Bristol, and at probably only half the cost of a south coast berth.
Add to that the advantage of being able to nip down on a summers evening, when most of us can only do weekends, and that to me adds up to be irresistable.
As far as cost goes, well as a guide I pay just under £2000 for an annual berth for a 35 footer in Swansea, and it is well worth it...a really well run Marina.
Fuel costs here also are amongst the best, if not the best, in Britain.

Swinging moorings are fine for sailing yachts with little equipment, or for workboats, or unless it's very very isolated, but the very nature of motorcruising dictates that you will have many thousands of pounds worth of navaids and personal possessions on board..all very nickable.
Your insurance premiums will probably be considerably cheaper with a decent marina berth.

The south and South west coasts are very fashionable for boating, everybody wants to be there...and this is reflected in the very high Marina charges...it's also very crowded in the summer which to me personally is a downside.
I think it's all about location. I am very happy in south wales, after doing my early motorboating out of the Hamble in the 1970's and it was busy then!!

Cheers

Steve.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Geoff2]

Steve,
I have looked at the Bristol Channel, but, being new to boating, maybe I am wrong, I considered the tidal flow of the Severn to be perhaps a little strong for a novice. I would of course, be taking some lessons, but does the tidal flow of the Severn provide much trouble? I must admit, we are currently working in the Cardiff Bay area, and the area does have its appeal.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[steverow]

As I am relatively new also Geoff I dont have a vast recent experience, and I've never been up the Severn so I can't comment, but I know lots of people who do do it on a seasonal basis, many who come down from Upton and Worcester and Tewkesbury for a Summer season or just a couple of weeks. Although around here in Swansea, tides are not a huge issue really for mobo's. It's not something that everyone talks about in the Yacht club with dread anyway. Sure the difference is quite large but speeds are not really that huge. The channel is 22 miles across at the Gower, so it becomes less of an issue the further down the channel you are.
I'm sure there are people on the Forum who know the upper Bristol Channel well and will be able to give you advice on it.

I think if I were in your position then I would be looking to Park her either at Penarth or Swansea and then perhaps move up the channel when I had got more confidence and training. For a safe training ground you cant really beat Swansea bay and the Gower coast. It offers a bit of everything really.
There's also some great cruising destinations, Across the channel to Ilfracombe,
Tenby, Pembroke, The Cleddau River, Padstow, Ireland....etc and with a reasonably fast boat you can do France in two hops, and if you get a BSS certified boat you could do the Severn and Avon as well.

The ability to get to your boat reasonably quickly would be for me the great plus as well as the saving in car fuel costs...not to be sniffed at and of course Marina charges will be a lot cheaper.

Now...time to buy a boat methinks...

Steve.




<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[RJL]

Geoff

The tidal streams in the Bristol Channel / Severn Estuary should not present any problems for anyone who has learned the basic rules about tides and currents. I got all the theory from a 'Day Skipper' evening course one winter.

You need to pay strict attention to what the tidal state is whenever you are planning to go out in the Severn, but then you should do that wherever you are. You can use the currents to your advantage to save time and fuel.

I would say that Cardiff Bay would be a good place to start. You have the impounded water to play in whenever you want ( a rare situation in the Estuary - see Tidal Range ), almost 24 hour access to the estuary ( again rare ) and ( so far ) lots of nice people. You can have a look at the sea state from the barrage before you set out and if you don't like it you can play in the bay.

You should try and talk to some people in any of the clubs/marina, you shouldn't have any problems finding people happy to go out in company with you to help build your confidence.

The main problem in the Severn is brown water until you get out towards Swansea, but it is a lot less crowded than the South Coast.

Good Luck.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Dave1258]

I foun a cheap Marina for you <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stamp-one.com/dinky/corgi306.jpg>http://www.stamp-one.com/dinky/corgi306.jpg</A> /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Someday my ship will come in, and with my luck I'll be at the airport!!