Conwy Marina - Noob Suitability

Take5

Take5

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Oct 2007
Messages
799
Visit site
Hello all,

Myself and the missus have just purchased our first boat (1997 Rinker 266).

My boating experience extends as far as 7 mins on the "Bumper Boats" at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1977 (I only rememebr that coz it was a scorching summer).

We took a ride out to Conwy Marina last week and to be honest I took a liking to the place straight away. Everyone was friendly towards us and our kids (who aren't the quietest around).

So we are looking to bite the bullet and take out a 12 month contract there for the boat when she arrives next month.

Is the area suitable to a complete boating noobie?

Anything we should be aware of in the area for a noobie?

We intend on taking the Powerboat Level 2 course at the Conwy RYA school. Are there other things we should be looking at (I am currently reading anything and everything to do with boating to gain as much info as I can) ?

ANY info on the area and of what we should be reading up on would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
Conwy is actually quite a good place coz you can get plenty of practice in sheltered areas before venturing out to sea. Ditto a good place to do your PB2 - I did mine there. The trainer's name was Frank Radcliffe, North Wales Sailing School. Dunno if he is still there but he was good and as he was an ex RN Frigate navigator he had a wealth of experience outside classroom conditions. A lot of my knowledge I owe to him.

Good luck with your boating, I hope you and your family enjoy many seasons. Here a little list for you:

1) Life jackets for all
2) VHF radio and VHF radio course
3) Flares
3) Anchor and chain / rope
5) First aid kit
6) Compass
7) Some form of navigation
8) Powerful torch
9) Small binocs
10) Grab bag to stash the smaller stuff
11) Life raft if going far out to sea, which of course you would only do on a very nice day!
12) Fire extinguisher. Fires on boats are not the joke that you might think!

I'm sure there's more, but that lot will get you going safely.
 
Actually not all plain sailing round conwy although I broke my teeth with a first boat there some years ago. Compared to the Solent for example it is a little more demanding. Just take care to learn all about tides - they are fairly critical in that part of the world, especially the menai straits, swellies , Caernarvon bar etc. Also tidal access in and out of Conwy bay needs to be watched - you can't steam in and out whenever you want as I'm sure you already know.
A very pretty area though and some great places to visit.
 
Thanks again guys for the info.

I definately wouldn't just steam in and out mate that's for sure.

Infact I don't intend moving the boat until I am convinced I have a fair understanding of what is going on and what I should expect.

I may get down there at the weekend and see if anyone is willing to take me out and give me some pointers if I pay for their fuel, if not I will just pester as many people as possible to pick their brains.

Cheers for the help.
 
LOL... I know exactly how you feel!! Just about to buy my first one and and am going through the same massive learning experience... I have taken the helm of boats in the past, but only under supervision. So being a Skipper in charge with the nearest and dearest on board is diff ball game!
 
"My boating experience extends as far as 7 mins on the "Bumper Boats" at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1977 (I only rememebr that coz it was a scorching summer)."

That was 76............ the yera I got married!

Conwy, now lets see if I can add to the other posts errrrrm


Watch out for KAWASAKI he'll want to take you through the swellies!

Tom
 
We moved to Conwy from Port Solent this year and absolutely love the area.Agree with all advice about tides, weather and sea conditions etc.You have to organise your boating around the cill gate times at Conwy which at times can be frustrating.
Frank Ratcliffe is still around,great guy and excellent training Skipper, you can contact him on www.powerandsail.net
Ian
 
Thanks to everyone for the comments and input above. Mucho appreciated.

Good luck to you also BigD, im sure we will get an handle on it.

(p.s im sure it was 77 /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )
 
I have been looking around teh area as well, Conwy is a nice friendly marina thats for sure. The run out to sea can be a little bumpy in some conditions though for a smaller boat.

Have you thought about Port Dinorwic? In the lower basin you have pretty much 24/7 access to the menai, which is a nice place to cruise and sheltered most of the time. We had our 21ft cuddy there and its easy t go left or right according wo which way the wind blows. A certain Kawasaki will be able to show you around and take you through the straights if you decide you like it.

I hope to be in Deganwy (t'other side of Conwy) for 2008 so I will PM you and come over and say Hi!

Best of luck, I am sure you will have great fun.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A certain Kawasaki will be able to show you around and take you through the straights if you decide you like it.

[/ QUOTE ]

He sounds like a character. I keep hearing his name mentioned /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
[ QUOTE ]

I hope to be in Deganwy (t'other side of Conwy) for 2008 so I will PM you and come over and say Hi!

Best of luck, I am sure you will have great fun.

[/ QUOTE ]

I will look forward to it. Thanks for your advice.
 
Conwy is a nice place! I have chartered a yacht (in superb conditions) from Conwy School of Yachting twice and can really recommend there service -a very friendly and competent bunch.
 
Take5

We have been at Conwy marina for 5 years with boats ranging from 18 to 28ft.

As others have said you will have the option of using the boat up the river when it's lumpy in the bay, it has it's dangers to be aware of but it is navigable 11 miles inland from the marina.

You will have a huge cruising area in your boat, we have been to Liverpool, IOM, Holyhead, Pwllheli and Porth Dinllaen on our trips, along with some beutiful bays on the Island of Anglesey.

The main issue with Conwy is the sill gate , it provides between 6 and 7 hours access centered on high water.

We have met some good friends at the marina and the staff are very helpful and have gone the extra mile when requested, any issues have been listened to and dealt with.

We trained with Brian Allen an RYA Instructor, he has a large motor cruiser in Deganwy. His knowledge of the Straits and the river has proved invaluable, he completed own boat tution with us and taught us a lot about the boat that you may not have an interest in if you were on another persons or the school, www.northwalespowerandsail.co.uk.
 
Thanks for that info James.

Do you still use your boat at Conwy over the winter months?

The reason I ask is that I am hoping to have her berthed there sometime next month with a view to learning what we can over the winter months. Whereas if she is likely to sit there doing nothing till March I may as well store her ashore until we will be able to use her.

We have 2 young kids and until I am satisified that I am competent enough to take them out safely they will not be going with us. Which is a shame really as the pair of them are excited about us getting the boat.

I have a million and one questions to ask and I fear the members of this forums may get fed up of me sooner rather than later. I have a list much longer than any arm I have ever seen, listing things that I need to get my head around.

Much of it probably daft like "How reliable are the automatic inflated life vests ?". I don't want one of me kids going MOB and the things not inflating. But questions I need to ask all the same.

So many questions and so little time.

Once again, thanks for taking time out to reply to this thread.
 
Good Mornin Take5! and Welcome to the Forum.
Look at the Piggin time!
Dammit, I fell asleep again, reading one of Dave Snelson,s posts! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Conwy has it's Pros and Cons.

Quite a few Pros there and I believe some Con Merchants ,Pirates , and some Ner do Gooders they reckon. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Just look at the previous Posters/ Pirates specially now Martynk will be about the Place, look at His Av, phew --- Scary! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Good bits.
Like yer say- Childer friendly, pretty place.
Marina, good facilities, etc etc.

BUT, IMHO.
The biggest drawback for newbies.
Actually getting out to Sea can be a bit of a snag under certain conditions.
It's a nice and sheltered place in an around the Marina, the River, around Deganwy Marina under the Bridges and up river.
Up river is nice and You can get as far as Tal Y Cafn, then it's Kayak Country!

But, what they call Conwy Bar, the one out to Sea not the one in the Mulberry, can be a bit bouncy.
Dries out on a big tide too (Springs), summatt You will learn about .
So if the wind is in the wrong direction and the Water is also in the wrong direction , you aint going anywhere cept up and down the River bit.
Or in the Mulberry!
Then again that might suit You!

So, You have purchased Rinker 266.
Nice Sports Cruiser.
Tricky boat for a First Timer.
Nowt to do with the Make but the type of boat.
Close quarter handling at slow speeds in this type is a bit of a knack.
Won't go into the why's and wherefore,s right now but believe Me they are tricky at first.
If You need a hand I will nip over and give You some pointers if yer wants.
This aint an Advert but I do a bit of training too.
There are some good Guys in Conwy who can sort you out as well, some have been mentioned earlier.
Yep tiss a Great area to muck about in Boats.
Others have mentioned stuff like it's a Pretty Area and lots of places to explore etc.

As others will also know (Martynk mentioned Port Dinorwic) My feelings are that a base in the Menai Straits also has some advantages.

Oh! and by the way, there is a newish Park and Launch facility in Menai Bridge.

That's Bye the Bye.
What I am getting at if You base Yourself in PD, that,s where I am. There is never a problem getting out to Play.
Albeit , weather permitting You may have to stay in the Straits if it is really blowing.
The beauty of the Straits is----- If it is blowing at one end You ca go the other way!
There is also a Marina at Caernarfon.
Moorings on the Straits too but that an be a hassle, especially with children.

Dinorwic marina does not have the same facilities as Conwy.
No Chandlery, not as "Posh" either as Deganwy a bit further up the Road for You.

PB2 available though, I,l do it a Quid cheaper than anybody else!!!!!
Plus, as said, I can frighten the life out of You and the Family through the Swellies!

Hey they are a load of Gits on ere, shown a few through the Area and all yer gets , is the Blighters extract the Urine ---- Harruummph. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Anyway wherever You choose to Berth in North Wales , You won't be dissapointed.
Flip, I,ve been mucking about the Place all me life and Saturday I went out with a Fellow Forumite on a Yachty thing for the first time, blimey that was different.
More of that in a Post to come.

What I am trying to say, as You get used to this Forum, You will notice I try to say lots of stuff but sometimes it takes quite a while! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
What I am trying to say is I have been mucking about the place for ages and still can't get enough of it. (boating I mean!) I think the fact that it can be a bit of a nuisance with Tides and Weather conditions and Marina access and Pubs to visit and the Scenery and the Peeps and the Pubs to visit and Mooring/ Berthing fees and Learning to drive a Sports Boat with an outdrive and the Weather Conditions de blah de blah etc etc it's Gods Own Country for Me.

So Yeh ,Saturday I was out in a Yacht. Sunday I was training some Peeps in a R.I.B.
Weather?
Different on both Days.
That's one of the reasons it's so nice about the place.
Never two days the same, well I suppose that's boating throughout the UK.
That's why peeps like Martynk come back to play here even after trying the Med.
Tha's another Storey but yer gets Me drift.

On a Serious note(Blimey that could be a First)! have a look around the place, check out Deganwy, Beaumaris, Menai Bridge, Felinheli (Port Dinorwic) Caernarfon,even Holyhead. Well someone has to keep Little Ship company.
Mind You, unless You like drinking wine more than boating, You could do worse than berthing next to Dave Snelson in Port Madoc or Little Ship in Holyhead.
Anyway PM sent.
Swellies , swurlies, see Ya soon around these parts.
Hopefully
K /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
PM sent.
Dunno if yer know?
But if yer sees a flashy thing at the top of yer page click on it.

Well I dunno do I?
Could be Take 5 is a Computer Dodo like Me.

OK, OK , OK
No comments You lot.
Bog Off, before yer starts /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
lol. That was a whirlwind of a post.

Firstly, I spotted the flashing thing straight away /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif (I am a computer techie type).

Secondly, I gotta get out to the office now but I will reply to your PM very shortly.

Finally, you are a legend in my eyes for taking the time to reply in such an indepth manner at the ungodly hour you did.

MANY THANKS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top