feedback on itchen river moorings please

[yelbis]

I have been toying with the idea of moving from Brighton marina toward the solent in search of better sailing grounds but trying to avoid the expense of marina fees, I have a berth offer mid river on the Itchen. I am interested in learning the good and the bad about the location, ease of access to Solent, tides, exposure. I shall be leaving the comfort of Brighton marina after eight years and guess alittle feedback from others would not go amiss.

The price difference is £1500 in my favour per annum, versus the travel of 2 hours by train rather than 15 minutes by bike in Brighton. And of course the inconvenience of dinghy to the boat and back in all weathers.

Possibly worth a little on line discussion though.

Thanks

 

[prv]

Not quite sure which mid-river moorings you mean - assuming you're not so big as to be on the yellow ABP buoys, I guess there's the pontoon opposite Itchen Marine Towage, and Kemp's midriver pontoons further up past Shamrock Quay. Oh, or the ones opposite Shamrock, not sure whose those are.

We're at Kemp's, on the walk-ashore pontoons.

Access to the Solent is easy, and unless your particular berth is shallow, unrestricted by tides. Getting up or down Southampton Water can start to feel like a chore, but just requires the right mindset - you're already sailing, does it really matter whether you're in the Solent proper yet?

I wouldn't consider anywhere upstream of the Itchen Bridge to be exposed.

Do you know where you're going to keep the dinghy, and launch it from?

Do you plan to lift out over winter, and if so do you know where? Kemp's for example have more water space than shore space, so may not be able to accommodate non-residents.

The potential for theft (of outboards, electronics, etc, not boats) needs to be considered. It was reputed to be a problem for Kemp's midriver pontoons. Though I hear of more problems in Chichester Harbour than Southampton.

Pete

 

[yelbis]

Thanks for the brief. Its of Shamrock Quay, I guess security is a problem everywhere. Thats one reason for paying the extra for marina berthing.

I am weighing up the pros and cons. I have done umpteen channel crossings from Brighton and do not race around the cans. In fact I am off to Dieppe this Friday. Again!