Empty berths in St Katharines

[Thamesmariner]

Just had five nights in St Kats, booked a month ago and no problem with availabilty. Previous posts seemed to indicate that getting a berth was difficult, not for us. We were in a prime position in the central basin and plenty of empty berths around us. East dock was full but at least a dozen in west dock. Facilities have improved since our last visit in 2012 for the Jubilee festivities.

 

[oldgit]

If they keep pissing off prospective visitors in the manner of old, you will be in there on your own soon

 

[rubberduck]

If they keep pissing off prospective visitors in the manner of old, you will be in there on your own soon

Indeed, we won't be back until things are changed considerably. We tried to book a space for this summer & were turned down flat, even tried to get an annual berth for a bigger boat to secure a space. Have now made other, probably better plans so won't bother again.

 

[oldgit]

Peeps will only spend so much time trying to get in before getting totally peed of as the failed attempts mount up.Eventually you get to the stage when you will avoid even trying to get in on principle.
Not to bad if its only your boat,but when you gone up there, booked in a dozen boats, only to receive an Email a fortnight later saying sorry but ..

 

[rubberduck]

Peeps will only spend so much time trying to get in before getting totally peed of as the failed attempts mount up.Eventually you get to the stage when you will avoid even trying to get in on principle.
Not to bad if its only your boat,but when you gone up there, booked in a dozen boats, only to receive an Email a fortnight later saying sorry but ..

That was, in my opinion, unbelievably bad behaviour. I have received similar, which I find rather sad. As you say, its the bad manners that gets me, as well as an apparent total lack of ability to run a business. (I have been up to hospital & popped in to see empty berths, phoned from outside the office to ask if there's any space, only to be told no !!!!) Made me chuckle though.

 

[oldgit]

Think it can best be described as shambolic. It cannot be beyond the resources of Kats to sort themselves out.
Anybody capable of getting to the Dock is probably quite capable of squeezing themselves into the odd corner or prepared to raft against something big and commercial ?
Down here at RCC if you have one of the prime outside moorings, the rulz dictate you must be prepared to accept visitors rafting against you,if no other suitable berths are free. Suspect most boaters after a long trip, just want to moor up somewhere ,silence those engines and get the turps out.

 

[ChattingLil]

We spent the winter there and have now taken a residential berth at Limehouse. There is no residential status at St Kats. I think St Kats misjudged their appeal to the long-term berthers and the people who wanted six months contracts (for example, they had a dozen or so boats from the US who like to over-winter at St Kats and who had to leave on 1st April unless they wanted to take an annual contract. Many of them were not ready at that time of year to resume their travels, so ended up on the Orwell or Medway). When we left they told us that they were jam packed full all year, but everytime I pass by there I see loads of empty berths. It's worth trying again if you want to go because people I know have recently made bookings for later this summer.

 

[chanelyacht]

We spent the winter there and have now taken a residential berth at Limehouse. There is no residential status at St Kats. I think St Kats misjudged their appeal to the long-term berthers and the people who wanted six months contracts (for example, they had a dozen or so boats from the US who like to over-winter at St Kats and who had to leave on 1st April unless they wanted to take an annual contract. Many of them were not ready at that time of year to resume their travels, so ended up on the Orwell or Medway). When we left they told us that they were jam packed full all year, but everytime I pass by there I see loads of empty berths. It's worth trying again if you want to go because people I know have recently made bookings for later this summer.

Could a number of the empty berths be corporate bookings, paid for all year but not necessarily available to others for occupation?

I do agree though, it's getting a farce in there.

 

[rubberduck]

We spent the winter there and have now taken a residential berth at Limehouse. There is no residential status at St Kats. I think St Kats misjudged their appeal to the long-term berthers and the people who wanted six months contracts (for example, they had a dozen or so boats from the US who like to over-winter at St Kats and who had to leave on 1st April unless they wanted to take an annual contract. Many of them were not ready at that time of year to resume their travels, so ended up on the Orwell or Medway). When we left they told us that they were jam packed full all year, but everytime I pass by there I see loads of empty berths. It's worth trying again if you want to go because people I know have recently made bookings for later this summer.

Problem is, if I got a berth booked, as did Oldgit, & made arrangements around this, only to get an email saying sorry mate a few weeks later, I would not be happy. So any dealings with St Kats I would now find stressful and not worth it. I spoke to a Lady there before embarking on the purchase of a bigger (60'+) boat, who indicated it should be OK. After visiting LIBS & looking around I had pretty much decided on which boat, but as St Kats was a large part of the plan, I wanted written confirmation before parting with a sizeable chunk of dosh. After numerous phone calls & emails being ignored, I finally got an answer, pretty much along the lines of no chance & stop being a pest. Have now chosen to keep existing 43' boat & spend dosh elsewhere, not in the marine industry cos they're all twats IMHO !

 

[maybh1]

I most certainly will not return whilst it is run by the current very ignorant and arrogant management

May
Xx

 

[rubberduck]

I most certainly will not return whilst it is run by the current very ignorant and arrogant management

May
Xx

Thing that makes me laugh is the people who run it seem to think customers have to jump through hoops they put in place, whereas in actual fact, most people who can afford to chuck a few hundred thousand at a half decent boat are also half decent businessmen / women & find the management of St Kats to be rather less so !

 

[rubberduck]

We spent the winter there and have now taken a residential berth at Limehouse. There is no residential status at St Kats. I think St Kats misjudged their appeal to the long-term berthers and the people who wanted six months contracts (for example, they had a dozen or so boats from the US who like to over-winter at St Kats and who had to leave on 1st April unless they wanted to take an annual contract. Many of them were not ready at that time of year to resume their travels, so ended up on the Orwell or Medway).

Nearly forgot this little gem. Paid our PB2 instructor to grab the boat & bring her back home about 18 months ago, as we were too busy. He got into the river & all hell broke loose with alarms going off & not behaving herself, so he turned round & took her back to St Kats for safety. They took great delight in charging for locking in, locking out & of course the daily rate until we moved her to south dock to be looked at. Thinking about it, I don't know why we went back for more after that.

 

[No Regrets]

Never been charged for locking!?

 

[rubberduck]

No, neither had we up till then, thought it was a special service for boats in trouble !