expensive visitor mooring/anchorages

robertj

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having not visited Salcombe for a number of years due to expensive moorings etc., though harbour staff excellent when last visited, i was wondering is it still expensive to anchor or moor there for visitors?
 
I believe rates are 77p/metre anchoring and 153p/metre mooring, unless they've gone up again.

In 1998 I anchored just inside the bar at Salcombe while on passage to Exeter, it was about 2200, I landed with the dinghy and reported in to SWMBO from the 'phone box at East Prawle then I left at about 0600. As I approached Prawle Pt I was caught up with by one of the HM's ribs with a little blue light on it demanding harbour dues. He said I must pay because I had used the council's facilities, I did query whether the council had anything to do with the BT phone box. By now I had entered rather choppy water rounding Prawle Pt and refused to leave the tiller (I was singlehanded apart from the dog) to go below for a cheque so he eventually gave up saying to make sure I paid what was due next time I entered Salcombe!

Last year when taking my 'new' boat round to Plymouth from Exeter I anchored at Salcombe. Resigned to paying dues I anchored opposite the HM's office, gave their launch a wave, went onto the pontoon to top up my water tank .... but did anyone come to collect my money?? I couldn't believe it as I rounded Bolt Tail the next morning!
 
We now have your address and the invoice for outstanding harbour dues plus compounded interest and fines for non payment together with VAT and administration charges will reach you shortly through HM Mail.

Yours bloodthirstly
Harbour Master Collection Dept.
 
Sorry, I can't shed any light on the current situation, as I 'blacked' Salcombe many years ago because of the fees for anchoring and the attitude of the Harbour staff.
 
A mate of mine went in to Salcombe last year and got nailed for a missed payment the previous season. They must keep a black list!
He was very miffed, after all getting a free night is all part of the sport.
 
We seem to be paying around £18 for 12m on a buoy all along the coast - Dartmouth, Salcombe, Yealm, Fowey.

My experience with Salcombe is that it can be very crowded, even full up, in the high season. I have even been unable to get a meal ashore because of the crowds.
 
seaview yacht club mooring

I was collared for £ 15 for mooring a 6m rib on a Seaview Yacht Club visitor's mooring for just 2 hours! As our group spent over £100 on lunch there, we'd have expected the mooring ex gratia - so £ 0.77 per m for Salcombe sounds a bargain to me!
 
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how about a new forum just for sharing feedback on facilities/welcome and costs at visitors moorings and marinas - could be really useful

for example we stopped at littlehampton last week on the way back to the solent and found it was significantly more expensive for an overnight stop on the town quay than at yarmouth or lymington - that was for us in our 34' - our friends in their 27' were charged the same as us as littlehampton appear to have only 3 size/price bands - next one upwards (largest) started at 11m and cost more than £30 which for rafted up with limited tidal access seems excessive
 
I'd rather die at sea than voluntarily go into Salcombe again - and, having eaten rather too well in Dartmouth one good evening last month, came rather close to it the next morn....

Seriously, Salcombe is beyond a joke. Their people are not just ill-mannered - they're downright offensive!

But the problem is spreading. Not a month ago, I had occasion to visit the Dartmouth Harbourmaster's office, seeking a copy of their really superb met forecast *booklet*. While there, and in the spirit of shared public concern, I happened to mention we'd been seriously and serially 'buzzed' by a low-slung high-speed powerboat without lights, driven by serious drunks at well over 25 knots, when we'd passed through the narrows, under sail, late the previous evening. Now, I'm aware that the Harbour Patrol is 'gazetted' in Reeds to cease at twilight, so we didn't start to 'bleat' in the VHF.

I was more than a little surprised when the Harbourmaster Himself came bustling out of his inner sanctum and challenged me as to why I hadn't reported the problem there and then, and what was he expected to do about it the following morning, and it was all my fault anyway for finding fault.... There was no interest whatever shown in the name and description of the boat, and I wandered away, after I'd apologised profusely, thinking that that was the last time I went anywhere near that particular Harbourmaster.

And maybe that was the idea.....

Only a rather more laid-back and worldly-wise companion prevented me from filing a written complaint with the MAIB. After all, we all know from their excellent 'Safety Digests' what happens in West Country estuary-harbours when a culture of late-night drunken powerboat driving is permitted, unchecked, by the local management.....

After all, I was quietly informed by one of the excellent lady desk staff, it was probably 'that time of the month again' for her deeply-respected and hugely-endearing boss, and that the multiple demands of visiting cruise ships, unhandy warships, and bl**dy visiting yotties might all be getting a bit much for 'im. Poor old fellow!

;)
 
If you have a complaint about treatment at Salcombe by the Harbourmaster or any of his staff, why not contact the South Hams District Council and speak to those in charge.
I did a few years back and received a written apology from the Harbour Masters office.
Mind you. I've just done a silly thing and put the name of my boat on some new dodgers along with the SSR No. Perhaps I'll take them off if/when I go to Salcombe and run the gauntlet for fun!!??
 
I'd rather die at sea than voluntarily go into Salcombe again -

Seriously, Salcombe is beyond a joke. Their people are not just ill-mannered - they're downright offensive!

;)

I thought that until my last visit a few weeks ago we were met as we entered the harbour by a rather nice young HM assistant of the female variety, at a guess she was just doing it as a holiday job from Uni. she was very pleasnt and polite and new her job. I'd sail back again this weekend from the solent for the night if she was on duty again :rolleyes:
 
The problem with Salcombe these days is that greater than 60% are second homes. Shoreside now caters for this group. Hard to get supplies for the boater and restaurants are geared up for the wealthy second home owners. In winter the place dies, pity really back in the 5t0's and 60's it was a rather pleasant working town. There is a danger that Dartmouth will go the same way if the plug is pulled on BRNC.
 
I'd rather die at sea than voluntarily go into Salcombe again


On passage from Exeter to Plymouth a few years ago I started sinking off Starehole Bay (it turned out to be a displaced shaft log) - I didn't dare face Salcombe in that condition so ran full throttle for the Tamar pumping furiously with backup plans for beaching her at Bantham or in the Erme if things got worse (it was dead calm which was why I had been motoring in the fist place). Made it to the beach at Saltash in the end.
 
But the problem is spreading. Not a month ago, I had occasion to visit the Dartmouth Harbourmaster's office,
;)

I was in Dartmouth 2 nights ago, anchored off the town one night and by the anchor stone the second. the harbour patrol staff I came into contact with were very polite and pleasant, unlike the water taxi drivers who on both occassions we used them were rude and unpleasant.
I though there were far fewer boats there than in past years.
 
But the problem is spreading. Not a month ago, I had occasion to visit the Dartmouth Harbourmaster's office, seeking a copy of their really superb met forecast *booklet*. While there, and in the spirit of shared public concern, I happened to mention we'd been seriously and serially 'buzzed' by a low-slung high-speed powerboat without lights, driven by serious drunks at well over 25 knots, when we'd passed through the narrows, under sail, late the previous evening. Now, I'm aware that the Harbour Patrol is 'gazetted' in Reeds to cease at twilight, so we didn't start to 'bleat' in the VHF.

I was more than a little surprised when the Harbourmaster Himself came bustling out of his inner sanctum and challenged me as to why I hadn't reported the problem there and then, and what was he expected to do about it the following morning, and it was all my fault anyway for finding fault.... There was no interest whatever shown in the name and description of the boat, and I wandered away, after I'd apologised profusely, thinking that that was the last time I went anywhere near that particular Harbourmaster.

And maybe that was the idea.....

Only a rather more laid-back and worldly-wise companion prevented me from filing a written complaint with the MAIB. After all, we all know from their excellent 'Safety Digests' what happens in West Country estuary-harbours when a culture of late-night drunken powerboat driving is permitted, unchecked, by the local management.....

After all, I was quietly informed by one of the excellent lady desk staff, it was probably 'that time of the month again' for her deeply-respected and hugely-endearing boss, and that the multiple demands of visiting cruise ships, unhandy warships, and bl**dy visiting yotties might all be getting a bit much for 'im. Poor old fellow!

;)

Really sorry to hear that you had a bad experience in Dartmuff. It's our home port and we have regular dealings with the harbour master and his staff. Never found then to be anything less than friendly and helpful.

The HM must have been having a REALLY bad day. Or he doesn't like hobbits:).
 
Salcombe

Stayed there for 4 days in July, paid about £19 per night for 36ft on the visitors pontoon in the Bag. All staff we came accross, both on the water and in the office were helpful and pleasant, and included a mixture of university holiday and older folks.

I think the price is higher than average for what you get, e.g.£10 per night in the River Truro, but you do have water and waste services available nearby, or £24 per night in Darthaven marina with all facilities. However compare this to £50 in Dart yacht haven or £35 in Brixham marina then Darthaven is at the least expensive end of marina fees.

Whether you pay £19 in Salcombe or £16 elsewhre, (seems about the average like for like), then what is all the fuss about! We had a good experience there this year, what has happened in previous years is a bit irrelevent, it is now what matters.
 
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