Get on your bike (or boat, as the case may be) Marina help pls.

[sarabande]

Mercenary that I am, it looks as if I shall have to pack up from the Thames, and head oop North as I have been offered a contract south of Manchester near Knutsford.

I am therefore looking for a marina or similar secure berth in the Chester / Runcorn / S Manchester area, sea or canal based.

Snag is that my boat is 35 ft loa, 13ft beam, 5'6" draft, and weighs 16 tons.

If anyone can advise me of a potential berth, I shall be eternally grateful (read, provide a crate of ale).

Ideally I want to be within 30 minutes (max) drive of Knutsford.

My copy of Nicholson's map shows lots of marinas, but it's the personal recommendations that are important to me.

(Easy access to the sea is not a big criterion; I am looking for somewhere to berth the boat for use as a weekday flat/office, while I continue to refurbish/renew)

In advance, many thanks.

 

[landlockedpirate]

I know nothing about the canal network apart from the stretch outside my old hotel was a very strange colour !(In Worsley)

If you want to leave the boat on the sea then North Wales is your best bet. Its about 2 hours in real life Friday night traffic from Knutsford, so too far really. Other options are Liverpool which is within your time limit but its takes about 2 further hours to get from the marina to the sea.

Preston is around an hour from Knutsford and Fleetwood is about another half hour further on. Preston is getting very silted up and is a huge distance from sea. Fleetwood is a better bet with great cruising for your type of boat-Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man and Wales all within reach.

Mark

 

[winfarthing]

I belive that Northwich is accessible from the sea via the River Weaver and the Weaver navigation. I have seen yachts laid up there. Not sure about access for a boat your size but i'm sure that someone will add more detail. Its quite close to Knutsford I think.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Ah, tis a lovely area around Knutsford. I go back ocassionally as there is a family grave nearby.

I can't help with marinas though, sorry. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[bigwow]

[ QUOTE ]
. Other options are Liverpool which is within your time limit but its takes about 2 further hours to get from the marina to the sea.
Mark

[/ QUOTE ]

Liverpool bay not the sea then? it only takes me 20 mins from the marina to just off New Brighton which to me is the sea. Must be quicker for power boats.

 

[Salty John]

If you want to work on the boat rather than use it then Northwich is your best bet:
www.northwichmarina.co.uk/

It has access to the sea, but quite a way. It is, however, near Knutsford. I kept my Jeanneau 32 there for a few months while I put a new engine in her and loads of other work. It was a few years ago and it may be under different management now.

 

[Richard10002]

I'll second Northwich as a convenient location, and seems to be a not bad place to live.

Me and my mate, who used to live in Knutsford, had a habit of going for a bite to eat once a week or fortnight and, despite all the nice places to eat in, and closer to Knutsford, we often went to Northwich for a change.

I think there is a fairly active boating business community there so it should be fairly easy to find boaty stuff, or get stuff done.

 

[sarabande]

thanks team. Advice much appreciated.