got boat, got no mooring

[rsallo]

Hi all!

I am about to buy a 19 feet twinkeeler /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, but I haven't found a mooring yet /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

As my budget is very low, I am looking for a mud berth or swinging mooring. I don't have a car, so I'll be going by train from London, and I can't afford more than £400 a year.

I've been to Grays (Thurrock yacht club), and it's a nice place, but to far from the sea.

Any idea, near Thames estuary or south-east coast?

Many thanks in advance

 

[muzzarak]

Wat Tyler Park has cheap moorings, and it is bit closer to the sea than Thurrock - link here. It is just about walkable from Pitsea station.

You might also want to check out the PLA website for options.

There is a train station at North Fambridge, although the moorings at the local marina may be stretching your £400 budget.

Don't think they do much budget sized at Burnham on Crouch, but other members may be able to correct me on this.

Have you thought about (dare I speak it as an Essex man) the Medway - loads of cheap muddy berths over that way, and I think they do trains in Kent /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hope this helps.

 

[VicMallows]

Welcome to the YBW forums!.

I don't know how far you are willing to travel, but I know of at least one person who keeps his boat at Emsworth, Chichester Hbr, and uses the train from London exclusively.
(Waterloo-Havant-Emsworth; or Victoria-Emsworth).

Half-tide drying maintained moorings rented from the Hbr Conservancy are around £365/year for up to 9m length. There was some availability last year.

www.conservancy.co.uk

Of course, the aprox £25 return train fair would need to be factored in, along with somewhere to keep a dinghy (although free ferry at weekends).

Vic

 

[VicMallows]

Re: North Fambridge

Thanks for bringing back fond memories of North Fambridge....I spent a lot of time there in the fifties as a child (greatgrandparents lived there .... and the rowing ferry still operated!!).

Last time I visited the Marina was around 15yrs ago when it was still quite 'rickety'...how things change!

Vic

 

[FullCircle]

Join the Roach Sailing Association for a fiver - and a swinging mooring in Paglesham may be yours for less than your budget.
Main station Rochford, 6 quid in a taxi.

 

[jonathankent]

I would love for these "cheap" moorings to come to Cornwall - cheapest that I could find for a 19` for the year is over £600, and most of them have got waiting lists that are so long you can't even get on the list. I would jump at the chance to pay less than £400. Anyone know of the cheaper areas in Cornwall, if there are any?

 

[LeonF]

Have you considered Gravesend ??? Just a tadge nearer the sea and a great sailing area. Incidentally with it being your first boat why the need to be so near the sea ?? Possibly less daunting than the Thames with it's busy traffic and strong tides, but at Gravesend there are many options for daysailing or longer. My first boat was a 19 footer and a sail to the Medway was a long sail. Shorter hops can be made to Holehaven Creek near Canvey....not very pretty but a charm of it's own, lots of birds and can be very atmospheric at night or upriver to Thurrock, Erith etc, or even into London. Friends borrowed the 19 footer and got to Burnham, then had a great time on the way back creek hopping in the Medway. For me it was a choice over Erith or Gravesend. Gravesend won because of it's excellent rail links, and it isn't a long walk to the club/moorings. Half tide berths ( around £300) and a newly dredged basin to bring your boat in if you need to work on it. Look at the website. www.gravesendsailingclub.co.uk. Otherwise I reckon the Medway is your best bet, but not so easy without a car. North Fambridge is wonderful and a favourite destination, but again more expensive even on a swinging mooring, more expensive and longer train journey and a longer walk from the station. It would be my choice if nearer to London. Pm me if you want more info.

 

[RMA]

Have you considered a drying mooring along the foreshore at Southend? The last I heard the council charged £50 a year, although you have to lay the mooring yourself. Alternatively, you could try one of the local yacht clubs; you would still be unlikely to exceed your budget. Leigh or Benfleet are the most sheltered, Thorpe Bay has the most water.

 

[rsallo]

Many thanks to all of you /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Thanks for all the info, ideas and suggestions, now I've got a lot of work to do!

Cheers!

 

[Malish]

If the Medway is attractive (now there's a thought), try the Medway Cruising Club and the Medway Yacht Club, both have web sites as I recall

 

[Sans Bateau]

Try Dolphin Quey boat yard in Emsworth, easy walk from the station that would link to Victoria.

Phone 01243 373234

Started out there ourselves, so did some other on the forum.

 

[VicS]

At the risk of repeating others:
In Chichester harbour moorings owned by Paynes yard at the top of Thorney Channel are within walking distance of Southbourne Station. I know one owner who travels there by train. Thornham Marine next to it have a drying marina but is (much) more expensive and there are deep water Conservancy moorings available in Nutbourne creek which are accessed from either but outsideyour budget. There are a many small boats at Paynes and my total annual outlay ther e is well within your budget. If you go looking there feel free to mention Vic with a Seawych but don't mention computers or the internet. See
http://64.34.180.146/pics0/i/20051112/f/0/8/f081df3eb70111dcbd726127cbe918f70 but the empty field in the foreground is really occupied by Thornham marine!

At Gravesend you would have to belong to the sailing club I suspect. It is certainly well within walking distance of the station.

Gillingham marina is also within walking distance of the station. There is a tidal area there which is presumably less expensive than the locked area.

 

[VicMallows]

VicS,

Has that pic been 'doctored', or is it really so old that Thornham wasn't there (apart it appears, from the tidal gate/enclosure) ? Must be 70s if undoctored?

Vic

 

[Piere]

May be just out of your reach but Folkestone offers very good value, A tidal harbour on sand/mud , moorings about £400 per year, active club offers winter storage at the cheapest rate you will ever find. good active club. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif with good transport links from london . Keen and active members are welcome.
Don't foget you will need to insure your boat and maintain it . as well as pay for moorings vhf winter lifts etc good luck. I started out just like you about 10 years ago with a wooden silhouette just 17 ft long . two boats on I'm looking forward to visiting Holland for the 5th time this year . piere

 

[Katouf]

Price increases in force - last year £75+ for a patch of mud and a few hours DIY with a spade. Supply and maintain your own root and chain. Then you'll need somewhere to keep the dinghy unless you car roof rack it from home or join one of the local clubs.
Lots of insurance companies won't touch boats moored east of the pier (what's left of it!) and that rules out Thorpe Bay.

 

[LeonF]

Yes he would need to join the club, currently £80 per year. The Medway is attractive but Gillingham etc are a long way from the sea....he would be better off at Queenborough on a swinging mooring, again within his budget, but a long train journey. Benfleet would be good but it dries and I am not sure how many hours of access one has. I bought my boat from Chichester marina and it's a long slog out into the sea!