East coast marinas

pessimist

pessimist

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7 May 2003
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Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
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Are they all full? At the beginning last week we contacted all that we could find enquiring about berth availability for next season. We used either their contact form or the email address on their web site. We've had the courtesy of one reply and even that asked a question already answered in our original enquiry. I can only assume that they are all full and require no further business.
 
A post in another thread on this board recently suggested that Chatham MDL is about 75% full - do you consider that to be "east coast"?
 
pessimist said:
Are they all full? At the beginning last week we contacted all that we could find enquiring about berth availability for next season. We used either their contact form or the email address on their web site. We've had the courtesy of one reply and even that asked a question already answered in our original enquiry. I can only assume that they are all full and require no further business.
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What facilities are you after? Afloat all states or drying pontoon? What access/depth ? Which river? What size boat?(some marina only have spaces for certain length/beam). Bridgemarsh Marina certainly has a spaces but the office is only manned a few hours each day.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Ramsgate ( the southernmost marina on the East Coast) is deserted apart from yours truly, wind cats and shyte hawks.
Royal Quays I think will have a berth for you. Hartlepool could squeeze you in.
Whitby, Scab, GY, Lowestoft all looked jam packed recently.
Shotley has vacant pontoon footage but not a vast amount.
Heybridge Bsn had a space about 10 days ago.
You are better off phoning them in my opinion.
 
I think there are places in most marinas. Your choice might be governed by accessability to you by road, and the kind of sailing you wish to do.
 
Always plenty of spaces in Burnham Yacht Harbour on the Crouch.

Bradwell usually say they are have a waiting list but my mate got in there very quickly. Contracts will be issued soon for 01/04 renewals so a good time to ask.
 
Thinking about it!!
Who really wants to be bothered typing email replies to inquiries which are probably sent out to several recipients in one go, with little effort, but require greater effort, with possible little, or no, return to reply.

I would probably ignore them- as others have done- or reply by saying- "If you would like to telephone we can discuss in detail". Then if you did not bother to phone one would know that you are a time waster.

Use the phone & speak to people. It shows that you really are interested enough to put a modicum of effort into it & might actually be a genuine punter.

Perhaps I am too "old school" .---- But I bet that I could get a berth in a few marinas :encouragement:
(or graveyards:nonchalance:)

Phone numbers for marinas on the Orwell on this website under - marina guide
If you cannot get a berth the same website will give details of a mooring site on the Blackwater

https://stonemoorings.com/cruisers/welcome/navigation/places-to-visit/rivers-orwell-stour-deben/

 
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Old Harry said:
Marinas will not know the extent of renewals, if their contracts are year ending
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I don't think any of the major marina chains still have the concept of a contract year, do they? Certainly both MDL and Premier now have rolling 12 month contracts.
 
maby said:
I don't think any of the major marina chains still have the concept of a contract year, do they? Certainly both MDL and Premier now have rolling 12 month contracts.
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My MDL contract starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March. I have just had the renewal contract and there is a 6% discount for full payment by 15 Jan (my option). Other options include an upfront payment and 11 monthly payments by Direct Debit with a 2% discount. A continuous Direct Debit of 12 equal payments with no discount. The strangest option is a 3 year deal with full payment by 15 Jan at 3 times the current full annual fee.
 
Concerto said:
My MDL contract starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March. I have just had the renewal contract and there is a 6% discount for full payment by 15 Jan (my option). Other options include an upfront payment and 11 monthly payments by Direct Debit with a 2% discount. A continuous Direct Debit of 12 equal payments with no discount. The strangest option is a 3 year deal with full payment by 15 Jan at 3 times the current full annual fee.
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Your annual contract runs from the 1st April to the 31st March, but your neighbour in the same marina may be the 1st of June to the end of May. When we first took up sailing, most marinas had all residents on the same year start/end. We moved our new boat into MDL Chatham some time in October and had to pay the pro-rata fraction of the annual fee to cover us round to the 1st April next at which time they expected us, and every other resident, to pay a full year.
 
maby said:
Your annual contract runs from the 1st April to the 31st March, but your neighbour in the same marina may be the 1st of June to the end of May. When we first took up sailing, most marinas had all residents on the same year start/end. We moved our new boat into MDL Chatham some time in October and had to pay the pro-rata fraction of the annual fee to cover us round to the 1st April next at which time they expected us, and every other resident, to pay a full year.
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When I moved to MDL Chatham in 2014, all contracts started on 1st April. I have not heard of anyone having a different start date.

My brother sold his boat at the beginning of this year and ended his contract at MDL Chatham, receiving a refund for the balance until 31 March. He bought another boat in September, but only brought it into the marina for several weeks paying a weekly rate. He then moved out and is currently out of the water at MYC as it was cheaper than MDL. He has booked a permanent berth starting on 1 April.
 
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