How big should a marina berth be?

[robinborton]

Yesterday I took delivery of my new boat an Aquador 26C.My new temporary mooring is at Windsor where she will be before the big day when she goes down the Thames and up the East coast to the Norfolk Broads.The marina where she is now is good and the staff excellant but my berth was smaller than I expected .The finger for the pontoon was about 75% the length of the boat and the width was about 2ft wider than the beam.
Is this the norm? and is there a standard? or am I just looking for someone else to blame for the complete mess I made trying to park my pride and joy?
Robin

 

[ccscott49]

Thats a good size finger, some I've been in the finger is less than 50% of the boat length, the width seems OK to me aswell! To be honest the longest finger pontoon I saw, was only 75% of the of the boat length intended for that berth.

 

[hlb]

Oh yes this is perfectly standard. The proceadure is. To fit the biggest boat possible into the smallest space. Friends of the earth have also insisted, that the pontoon is the shortest and narowest possible. To save wood. Some marinas are also trying to save water to. so pontoons are nearly on dry land. All to help the planet..................!!!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

Morning Haydn, I see you have got out the sarcastic side today, are you on the boat, I hear the weather is a bit inclement!

 

[hlb]

No Colin. No computer on boat. But your right about the weather. I wasn't being sarcastic. What other reson could there be for it???

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[paulineb]

The weather in Brighton isn't inclement, it's totally shit. Sooo bloody windy and the sea's as rough as a bear's arse ;-)

Pxx

 

[halcyon]

What you see, is what you get, no standard.
Though there is one golden rule, the size of the berth reduces in proportion to the manoeuvreability of your boat.
With a long keel, 8hp and 2 blade prob, they always put obstructions in just the right place, that or arrange for you to do a 90 degree turn into the wind whilst going astern to get out of the finger.
Then theres the cost, another tread though.


Brian

 

[longjohnsilver]

Bears bottom

Now Pauline do tell all about how you discovered that a bears arse is rough, can't be many others with personal experience in that particular field! ;-)

 

[ccscott49]

Pauline! Pauline, it's sunday for f...ks sake!

 

[ToMo]

Re: Bears bottom

Oh no!...for goodness sake don't do it! - the thought of you bareing your bottom on here doesn't bear thinking about.
TôMö

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Bears bottom

Once made love on a bearskin rug, believe me it was rough, mind you so was she, Oops! didn't mean to say that!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The marinas get you both ways, Robin. If the pontoon was any longer they might charge you on the basis of 'minimum length' which they reckon to be the maximum length of boat that could possibly be squeezed into your berth which, of course, is longer than your boat. As regards the width, look on the bright side; once you've got your boat halfway into your berth, its not going anywhere is it? Just put plenty of fenders out

 

[Guest]

sounds about right mines at Penton Hook boat about 12m pnotoon no more than 9m and distance to
next boat about 3ft.

cneighbour

 

[tcm]

Re: finger pontoons? Luxury!

In the med, it's stern-to berthing, which means that you back you boat up to a wall with the anchor out, hook two lines to the shore, and pull tight. The boats on either side have their fenders out and if it's really windy we all sway together in 50-boat rafts. The good thing about stern-to mooring is that there's no need to wash the side of the boat.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: finger pontoons? Luxury!

I was surprised to see at marina port vell (Barcelone), they have finger pontoons or fixed fingers, never seen them befopre in the med, but I believe you still pick up a bow line, but not sure.

 

[kghowe]

the first marina I had my boat was Birdham Pool, just South of Chichester Marina. Olde Worlde place with acres of space to move around in. Really tough though when as a newby you venture somewhere else and the pontoons are 'standard sizes'. We are now at Portsmouth and originally we had short 3/4 length finger pontoons but with young kids and dog they moved us at no extra charge to an AB which makes getting kids dog clobber in/out a doddle, or yeah berthings easy too, secure bow line, turn helm in, astern outside engine or something like that.Thank god for independant marinas!!