Douglas IOM

[Budgie]

I recently enjoyed a week in the marina in Douglas IOM.

The reason for this post is that the Douglas marina was recently slated in a sailing magazine. I can only say that my experience was almost uniformly positive. I found the staff universally friendly and helpful, and the facilities good and well priced at around £12 per night including shorepower.

Apparently the management took the criticism to heart, and sent all their staff on a customer service course!

The only downside is that fuel is only available fron 25 litre drums, which can make refuelling a slightly messy process.

That aside I would recommend Douglas as an excellent cruising destination. The marina is very close to the centre of town with its shops and restaurants, and there is much to see and do on the island. The nautical museum in Castletown is especially worth a visit.

 

[claymore]

Hi
There's a guy on the island with a small tanker - he fills up the trawlers and I got a fill up from him last time I was in Port St Mary - just lowered the pipe down the wall to me and filled up nice and gently - no spillage and competitively priced.

Agree with your comments about Douglas - not been in for a while and the new marina was not built then - must be better than bouncing around on the visitors pontoon. we used the steam railway to get down to Castletown - great stuff and eyes full of cinders!!
I heard that the marina was quite full - do they keep some berths free for visitors?
Always used to stay in Ramsey but it had really gone downhill so we swapped for Douglas and Port St Mary. - did you see the Peggy exhibition?

regards
Claymore

 

[escape]

Didn't they pull the plug on the marina...literally letting all the water out leaving yachts stranded and in some cases with damage?

 

[Budgie]

Douglas marina has an automatic sill which failed some time ago leaving everyone high and dry - all now repaired and working fine.

There is limited space in the marina - we are 40' and we got probably the only suitable berth. However if you are a little smaller there are lots of berths.

 

[mldpt]

I visit IOM frequently, and far prefer to go to Port St Mary, or Castletown, great town and wonderful pubs, I like to dryout on the wall on the sea side of the bridge, last year I antyfouled there, I hope to fit a new transducer next time I am there, I found the marina at Douglas a little cramped, my boat is only 36ft, but there are only one or two pontoons realy long enough, and it can be a long reverse job getting out, however I found the staff to be very helpful and we have had several great nights in the club house. My boats Paget's Lady so next time you are in the IOM keep a look out, and you can buy me a pint.
Regards Mike.

 

[KevL]

Is that Paget's Lady out of Fleetwood by any chance?

--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL

 

[claymore]

I have the dubious fortune to be related to Giles Stothert - I believe you know him.

regards
Claymore

 

[claymore]

I thought he was from Glasson?

regards
Claymore

 

[KevL]

Maybe he is but when I first arrived at Fleetwood at the end of March this year and the VHF decided to play up it was a boat called Pagent's lady that kindly showed me the way in to the Marina. Just wanted to say thanks that's all.

--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL

 

[mldpt]

Yes thats me I have know Giles for 25 years or so and the rest of the family, I used to have the village shop in Holme where they lived, I still see Barbara occasionly.
Regards Mike. www.sailingforfun.co.uk

 

[mldpt]

I used to keep Paget's Lady in Glasson but the last three years I have been in Fleetwood on and off up In the clyde most of the time but I find Fleetwood much more convient at the lock gate is open for ages 3hours as compared to Glasson which is only open for one hour before HW once out thats it for the day, or night and MOrecambe bay is no place to hang about in bad weather.
Regards Mike www.sailingforfun.co.uk

 

[hlb]

Are there any visitors mooring buoys in the river at Fleetwood?
I've always dismissed the place as probable pain in bum with no where to park and visit the pub. Is there a pub worth visiting? Often thought of Glaston Dock to. Much nicer setting but then theres the lock!! Wish I could save the 310 miles to Plymouth though without compromising on the ease and scenery.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[claymore]

Haydn
there are moorings on the other side of the river (Knott End) which are fine forn overnight or just waiting for the dock to open. There's also a visitors mooring just outside the dock but the channel dries for the best part of 6 hours so its only useful if you are there at half flood. The big snag to that is that there's often a trawler or two hanging around and we all know how lacking couth they can be. If you pick up a mooring there's the old sailing school jetty you can get on and off and its a 10 minute walk to the pub. Oh I forgot - you don't.

regards
Claymore

 

[KevL]

As Claymore has already said there are visitors mooring buoys at knott end, they are yellow and are directly opposite the RORO terminal. There is oodles of parking at Fleetwood and it's patrolled at night by the site security but if you really don't want to leave your car on the carpark then you can bring it inside the 10 foot steel fence onto the dockside.

Can't comment about the pubs I'm afraid, SWMBO doesn't like that sort of thing so we spend the evenings on board but I am told that there are some good ones.

What I like the most about Fleetwood is how frendly everyone is, everyone speaks, everyone helps. Also Fleetwood would no doubt cut your south coast mooring fees by about two thirds.



--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL

 

[KevL]

You forgot to mention that there is locking in and out 2.5 hrs either side of HW available on springs at the weekend giving a total playtime of 5 hours per tide this weekend.

Did you get the buntin out and do your bit for the RNLI this weekend?

--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL

 

[claymore]

Fleetwood Arms for a scrap
North Euston for a decent pint
Victoria for a live bands
Kings Arms when you've lost the will to live.

regards
Claymore

 

[KevL]

Worth a post on the YBW good pub guide forum?

--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL

 

[claymore]

Decided not to - the bulk of posters there are very southern - think they'd find it too much of a culture shock!

regards
Claymore

 

[Aja]

Thought I recognised the name. Have seen you in Rothesay and up the Kyles.

Been back this season? Weather has not been up to much..... until last weekend. Oh it was burning.

Donald

 

[hlb]

Well thanks for that you two. I'll bare it in mind for when I get old! Not sure I'm ready to swap the Cornish coast for Fleetwoods mud banks just yet!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn