First time Marina stay (Mercury)

[matt13]

This Friday and Saturday I will be staying over on the boat for the first time since owning it (2 years) at Mercury on the Hamble my lad who is 5 wants to come with me and stay the firday night so I was after any advice really, my boat is an 8 metre Crownline with the cubbyhole/berth under the cockpit so we will both sleep in here. One question is does it make a difference berthing bows in or stern to for a quieter more comfortable nights sleep, im pretty sure I wont be getting much sleep anyway with a fidgeting 5 year old next to me but any tips greatly received. He will be bringing his quota of top trumps and failing that we have the ipad to keep him (and me) amused.

If anyone is at Mercury this week (ill be bringing the boat over wednesday) come and say hi, fridge will be stocked with haribo and smoothies, plus whatever my boy is bringing : )

 

[lisilou]

Matt just get him loads of that sea air and he'll be out for the count I guarantee it! Oh and do some crabbing off the end of the pontoon at low tide. As for bow or stern to...I've no idea, sorry but may I suggest Quies wax earplugs for you...they're ideal.
L

 

[matt13]

Matt just get him loads of that sea air and he'll be out for the count I guarantee it! Oh and do some crabbing off the end of the pontoon at low tide. As for bow or stern to...I've no idea, sorry but may I suggest Quies wax earplugs for you...they're ideal.
L

Crabbing bucket is on the list but hadn't thought of earplugs good idea. Looking forward to it!

 

[Winchy51]

Hi matt13 great video I have a mid cabin on the S25 I moor bows in on a short finger pontoon a bit tricky getting on board it would be safer with your son on board to go stern to perhaps we are coming down Thursday night we will look out for you We are on A47 Steve d and thanks mum arr Thursday so with all those goodies in the fridge I would keep it LOCKED lol hope to see you at the weekend

 

[vandy]

I take it as you have a TV on the boat?! never underestimate the power of DVD in keeping everyone on the boat amused!!!

We will be heading to Poole on the rib this weekend or Brighton depending on the wind direction!

 

[Firefly625]

This Friday and Saturday I will be staying over on the boat for the first time since owning it (2 years) at Mercury on the Hamble my lad who is 5 wants to come with me and stay the firday night so I was after any advice really, my boat is an 8 metre Crownline with the cubbyhole/berth under the cockpit so we will both sleep in here. One question is does it make a difference berthing bows in or stern to for a quieter more comfortable nights sleep, im pretty sure I wont be getting much sleep anyway with a fidgeting 5 year old next to me but any tips greatly received. He will be bringing his quota of top trumps and failing that we have the ipad to keep him (and me) amused.

If anyone is at Mercury this week (ill be bringing the boat over wednesday) come and say hi, fridge will be stocked with haribo and smoothies, plus whatever my boy is bringing : )

sounds an exciting weekend, we are berthed at Mercury (c10), we are off Friday (all things being equal...and turbo re-installed...) to Yarmouth, return Monday so will not be about. I will be down Wednesday late afternoon for a couple of hours so will keep an eye out for you.

 

[colhel]

We too will be down on Thursday night but leaving early on Friday for Chichester.

 

[matt13]

May see some of you at mercury then. I may well be singlehanded on weds so if you see my struggling to berth you're more than welcome to take a line Firefly!

 

[Firefly625]

May see some of you at mercury then. I may well be singlehanded on weds so if you see my struggling to berth you're more than welcome to take a line Firefly!

no problem I will look out for you, there are a couple of berths empty each side of us so you may get put pretty close! I won't be down until around 5pm, earlier if I can slip out sooner... . However don't struggle, the guys in the office are always happy to help, just ask them to catch you as you are short handed and they will.

Just a tip at Mercury, the tide sweeps past Mercury and the further out you are (towards the centre of the river) the trickier it can be to get in your berth, the closer you are to the land side the less effect the tide has. Over the years we have witnessed a few boats broadside against others when they have misjudged just how fast the tide rushes past, especially on springs.

 

[colhel]

I hereby invite you all to a rope warming party on C pontoon on Thursday night

 

[Firefly625]

I hereby invite you all to a rope warming party on C pontoon on Thursday night

...and a Turbo warming party.

 

[targa31]

Top tip for crabbing - bacon in a one of those bags intended for washing machine tablets!

 

[AndieMac]

.......Just a tip at Mercury, the tide sweeps past Mercury and the further out you are (towards the centre of the river) the trickier it can be to get in your berth, the closer you are to the land side the less effect the tide has. Over the years we have witnessed a few boats broadside against others when they have misjudged just how fast the tide rushes past, especially on springs.

Would waiting until the slack water period (high or low) in the tide be more advisable for Matt to berth in the marina FF, seeing as it's his first time?

 

[matt13]

Would waiting until the slack water period (high or low) in the tide be more advisable for Matt to berth in the marina FF, seeing as it's his first time?

All done and safely on e pontoon, although the berthing process was interesting to say the least. Anyway back down to the boat Friday before the adventure begins!

 

[AndieMac]

All done and safely on e pontoon, although the berthing process was interesting to say the least. Anyway back down to the boat Friday before the adventure begins!

Ah, good job Matt. I was about to make a post about setting your fenders up, running bow and stern lines back into the cockpit ready, prior to coming alongside, making you appear fully organised in the eyes of any observers

Hope you and the lad enjoy your weekend together.

 

[matt13]

Ah, good job Matt. I was about to make a post about setting your fenders up, running bow and stern lines back into the cockpit ready, prior to coming alongside, making you appear fully organised in the eyes of any observers

Hope you and the lad enjoy your weekend together.

Thanks a lot I'm sure we will. And any observers would have seen the complete opposite of what you just said. Basically I had someone there to grab the lines, came in bows in tied off with not much fuss then we decided it might be better to be stern to so tried to spin the boat round using the warps only it was too long to allow a full 360 turn then some more faffing before finally getting settled. All good fun, no harm done !

 

[AndieMac]

Thanks a lot I'm sure we will. And any observers would have seen the complete opposite of what you just said. Basically I had someone there to grab the lines, came in bows in tied off with not much fuss then we decided it might be better to be stern to so tried to spin the boat round using the warps only it was too long to allow a full 360 turn then some more faffing before finally getting settled. All good fun, no harm done !

Glad it's coming together Matt, as Lisa mentioned earlier, don't under estimate the usefulness of earplugs during your first night aboard, especially if there is any wind about whistling through yacht rigging and clanging halyards (wire cable and rope) against alloy masts, because you will be listening for any unusual noises........you son of course will sleep through anything

 

[matt13]

Quick update, it went really well, great night spent at mercury my son absolutely loved it, will definately utilise mdl's freedom berthing and stay for a month this summer.
Didn't realise just how quiet it would be staying in marina although I'm sure that's not always the case everywhere you go.

Good to meet forumites Steve and spottydog, thanks mum berthed just a few down from us, you all looked like you had fun coming back from the rib ride, we headed over to wooton creek for lunch in the sun at the yacht club. All in a great weekend.

 

[Andy Bav]

Quick update, it went really well, great night spent at mercury my son absolutely loved it, will definately utilise mdl's freedom berthing and stay for a month this summer.
Didn't realise just how quiet it would be staying in marina although I'm sure that's not always the case everywhere you go.

Good to meet forumites Steve and spottydog, thanks mum berthed just a few down from us, you all looked like you had fun coming back from the rib ride, we headed over to wooton creek for lunch in the sun at the yacht club. All in a great weekend.

A nice summary of what boating is all about. Days and nights like that make you forget about everything else for a while.