Choosing a Marina?

D

D12ty

Member
Joined
28 Sep 2016
Messages
32
Visit site
Evening all, as above really, I have 3 options (that I know of), I have placed them below in order of distance away from my home

Shepperton - 10mins
Walton - 15 mins
Penton Hook - 25mins

All traffic dependant

So, what made you chose your marina? They all seem similar in price give or take.

Potential intentions of boat use - weekends and evenings (in summer). No intention to live aboard, not sure if permanent power is even required?

I have seen in other posts people recommend penton hook?

Just after some guidance and personal experience really?

Thanks In advance
 
You really should have a look a bit further up the river. It is prettier further up and it gives you access to places like cookham, Cliveden,Windsor and Henley.

MDL Bray is a great marina, as is Windsor. Another possibility is Windsor Racecourse Marina.

I live near Hampton Court but made a deliberate choice to keep the boat a bit further away from home, and it has worked well for us.
 
The one you start with may not be the one you end up with.Judging from the posts on here over the years many boaters sort of migrate up and down the river in order to be close to the bit of the river they wish to explore and after getting bored move elsewhere. For some a clubhouse and bar can also be attractive on the social side of things especially for crew and partners.
Other factors include you may well fall in with a bunch of boaters with similar interests and decide to go where they are based. Some Marinas have active boat clubs organising cruising, visiting different rivers and the London marinas.
Cruising in company in a stress free way (nearly) of expanding your horizons and gaining experience.
You are probably aware that the big advantage of a chain marina is free nights at other marinas elsewhere in the chain.
When a berth could cost you £30.00 per night,something to consider long term.
Perhaps the only negative is just how busy the locks can be immediately up and down from some marinas,especially that weeny one at Bray,on busy summer weekends,however the ability to get up early will sort this. :)
 
Last edited:
Quite right Fred, although I moor in Bray, I use Penton Hook from time to time thanks to MDL's Freedom Berthing scheme.

I understand Windsor Racecourse, Walton? & Thames and Kennet have a similar deal for their bertholders.
 
Hi

I wouldnt necessarily base it on distance from home.

Personally i think that end of the river is a bit devoid of good places to visit on an average weekend and hence as others have said i would base yourself further upriver and just drive for half an hour to an hour instead.

Again, this is personal experience but river gets much nicer above Maidenhead, certainly above Windsor.
 
I did mention Bray or Windsor being in the best bits!

Your drive is't that relevant of course, as a ten minute car drive is an hour by boat!

MDL have freedom berthing, so you could spend four months at Penton Hook and Eight at Bray, for example.

Also consider what clubs you have as you'll quite probably want to enjoy a social life and some decent planned events from time to time...

The modest cost is nothing compared to the real world benefits of having a network of mates to help you on the River, somewhere to raft alongside just by making a quick text, while others go home with no riverside moorings, and lots of knowledge to share.
 
It's very much a matter of 'a piece of string'. All have strengths and weaknesses.
Even something like getting across the River (by car) can be a pain depending on your and the marina's location.

Most staff are friendly and helpful - if you're polite.
Some (one) car parking is grotty and get congested at peak times.
Some are awkward to get in or out - come to think of it all have some challenges.

For once I agree with Apollo - much nicer away from the roar of Heathrow....
We love our marina but I won't tell you where it is..... :)

I suggest you draw up a list:-
Location
Access by road
Park near the boat
Facilities - pump out, fuel, chandlery, porta potty, restaurant
Style - serried ranks / bankside
river congestion at peak times.

Probably a lot more...
 
D12ty said:
Evening all, as above really, I have 3 options (that I know of), I have placed them below in order of distance away from my home

Shepperton - 10mins
Walton - 15 mins
Penton Hook - 25mins

All traffic dependant

So, what made you chose your marina? They all seem similar in price give or take.

Potential intentions of boat use - weekends and evenings (in summer). No intention to live aboard, not sure if permanent power is even required?

I have seen in other posts people recommend penton hook?

Just after some guidance and personal experience really?

Thanks In advance
Click to expand...

You will find contented berth holders at all your mentioned marina's. They all have their pro's and con's as mentioned by others.
It is very much personal choice.
We have been at Penton Hook for many years. Have always had good service and security. Definately an advantage being able to use Bray and Windsor and further a field if you wish.
Floating pontoons is a 'must have' in my opinion espically during times of flood which I suspect all the marina's you mentioned have.
The MDL fuel at cost deal works well for us as well.
So my vote says MDL.

Unlike buying a house, if you dont like the one you choose not a big deal to move when your contract expires
 
Which bit of the river ?

Something else to think about,is your "crew".
Personally if it were me would be mooring at the most isolated,stinging nettle infested bit of riverbank miles from civilisation everytime.
My crew (and certain others on this forum) would not even consider thinking about getting out of bed on the most perfect day of the year without a written in stone guarantee on the mooring being no less than 50 m from the nearest leisure centre,nearbye at least 50 chinese takaways(that deliver) and 100 metres from some noisy town centre bridge. :)
 
Last edited:
Re: Which bit of the river ?

Avoid Thames Ditton Marina - going down the pan big time!!! Have many old friends leaving there in droves.
 
Permanent power- good if you want to keep the battery topped up. No point popping down to the boat and finding a flat battery. Other option is solar charger.
You say you'll use in the evening. I think that criteria will dictate your marina choice if you only want a short drive. But have to agree with other posts- the river is much better further up, especially if you intend on picnicking and barbecues. You'll need a decent meadow or field to enjoy that properly, which are few and far between downriver. For summer evening fun I'd pick Harleyford and use the meadows/ fields nearby or go into Marlow or Henley for a meal/ pint.
We keep a launch, 10 minutes from our house, at Buscot, which is way up river, but we have access to fields/ pubs which is great in the summer. And being so close means we can be spontaneous.
If you're after a pub crawl then Penton etc may be fine.
 
apollo said:
Hi

I wouldnt necessarily base it on distance from home.

Personally i think that end of the river is a bit devoid of good places to visit on an average weekend and hence as others have said i would base yourself further upriver and just drive for half an hour to an hour instead.

Again, this is personal experience but river gets much nicer above Maidenhead, certainly above Windsor.
Click to expand...

. . . . and nicer still once you get above Reading.
 
Once again thanks to all for the suggestions.

Apart from marinas, is there temporary places where the boats can be moored overnight without charge?

For example Kingston/Richmond/Brentford ?

Apologies if it's a silly question but it's something which has crossed my mind?

I imagine if there was such places then the security of the boat would be compromised more so than it would be in a marina

Thanks
 
D12ty said:
Once again thanks to all for the suggestions.
Apart from marinas, is there temporary places where the boats can be moored overnight without charge?
For example Kingston/Richmond/Brentford ?
Apologies if it's a silly question but it's something which has crossed my mind?
I imagine if there was such places then the security of the boat would be compromised more so than it would be in a marina
Thanks
Click to expand...

Kingston- Yes
Richmond -No
Brentford - not really unless you (can) get onto CART's waters - then there's a licence fee.
The last two are tidal / semi tidal and there are no floating pontoons.

On the non tidal bit, there are a number of EA moorings where you can stay overnight and many informal moorings where the 'riparian owner' doesn't charge - a larger topic which I won't expand on here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top