How much more marina space is there?

[Guest]

In the med they've let the whole of the visitors pontoon in Nice to a sailboat charter company, and when all the boats are in the water and nobody goes out, or if those who go out come back in the evening, or if they just wander off without letting anyone know...then there's no space in Cannes or Antibes either. Is the same happening in UK?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Yes it is. There's a brand spanking new Swan 50 yacht moored to piles in the Hamble River near our marina because, I understand, the owner cant find a marina mooring. Getting a mooring for anything bigger than 45' is well nigh impossible in the Solent. The veggies object to any new marinas because some obscure newt's sex life might be affected so there wont be any increase in supply.
What we need is a good old fashioned British recession to even things up a bit

 

[jfm]

It\'s patchy

Lymington Yacht Haven is waitlisting all boat lenghts. Berthon Lymington more or less full but they can maybe find a space or two if you're nice provided you promise to clear off when the J class fleet turns up in August. Don't know the Hamble well. But a colleague here was offered space at the new Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays as part of a package with a 40' sailboat, he was told there was plenty of space there. Rates are moving up well ahead of inflation, 7grand for 40 odd feet plus lekky seems to be the going ish rate this year

This is causing me a problem, namely if we move boat to Med next year how much do we have to bribe Solent marina to make em promise to to take us back for 2003 season? Any ideas?

JFM

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: It\'s patchy

Gunwharf? You must be joking! Have you been there? Its right next to Portsmouth latest shopping and eating 'experience' which is even more downmarket than Port Solent (if thats possible). The local pastime seems to be lobbing beer bottles and Burger King wrappers at passing boats. Security seems non existent and there does'nt seem to be a car park anywhere
And then there's the wash from passing boats. You've got cross channel ferries, IOW ferries, Gosport ferries and the world and his wife on their boats all blasting past the marina at a minimum 10knots. Peaceful, it ain't
A lunchtime stopover to see for yourself how awful it is, maybe, but a long term mooring?
I think there's some more berths opposite Gunwharf at Campers which may be available soon but, other than that, you'll be lucky to find anything in the Solent other than Cowes perhaps. Further afield, Sovereign at Eastbourne probably has space if you're a fan of architectural concrete and wall to wall Barratt homes and possibly Brighton too.
Alternatively, you could always bribe somebody to vacate their berth. All substantial offers gratefully considered!

 

[Scubadoo]

Hi Matt,

The problem has been growing over the last few years, Shamrock Quay seem to be full. Every marina I visit (Cowes, Weymouth etc etc) seem to have difficulties finding me a visitor's berth - and I only have a 25ft boat. Fortunately for me I can just about squeeze in most spaces, I wonder what I should do when I upgrade - I guess anything over 36ft is a problem.

Nothing annoys me more when you can't get a berth because a bunch charter sail boats (Sunsail etc) have reserved the night, and then when I do manage it I spend the night listening to their racket.

At least one Marina in Cowes has stopped allocating berths for a couple of hours.

I guess that is the price we pay for boating being very sucessful in the last few years. 10 years ago it was very different situation go anywhere without a problem.

RM.

 

[jfm]

Re: Guffaw wharf

No haven't been there yet but see your point thanks for the update. Hmmmm....we're gonna be a bit stuck if we try to vacate our Lymington berth to go the med for a year, then ask for it back a year later, aren't we?

There are several vacancies in St Kath's dock BTW if you don't mind leaving your boat in a place where there's nowhere to go.

JFM

 

[stefan_r]

Re: Guffaw wharf

....as an aside to this thread I represent parties interested in investing in marina developments and so far thay have been advised by the various banks and 'non-boating' businesses that actually own a lot of the marinas that they are not seeking investment income at the moment...seems to be a bit of apathy as far as creating new berths is concerned...maybe there is a desire to make demand outstrip supply with the obvious consequences...

permanent (long lease 20yrs+) berths are also in short supply (classic sign of keeping the market fluid and having no long term interests that would prevent an easy sale of a marina at the right price

Cheers
Stefan


PS anyone know of a marina that would benefit from a cash injection the usual finders fee is available!!!!

mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[Guest]

Re: Guffaw wharf

Stefan email to shaunwh@hotmail.com may have a idea and place for you

 

[hlb]

Re: Guffaw wharf

Even Plymouths over full. I'm in a brand new 500 berth marina. Its so full I've stopped trying to get to my usual along side berth but just sort of bung it in the nearest place.
Mind you thats on a pontoon half a mile long so I'm already out to sea before I set off!!

Went through three sets of ropes just trying to stop the bugger going off to sea on its own besides the ropes that the marina stuck on it when the new ones had worn half through and the ones the mechanic threw
on cos he felt sorry.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: Anchoring

Why not try anchoring? I know it's not possible everywhere you go but having used marinas for years I now prefer to anchor whenever possible - much quieter and much more privacy (and much cheaper). Altogether more fun.

 

[jfm]

Lie about the length of your.....

.....boat. Richard if you vhf them and they say no space, try re-vhf-ing them 5 mins later (er....you'll need a new callsign, is that legal?) and say you are 40foot. From experience I think you might get a yes answer. You see, on some of the 10m ish pontoons you take up the whole pontoon but they can only bill you 25 feet, whereas they can get more dosh from a 40 footer. I'm serious about this, it's based on actual candid discussion with the dockmaster's office at a Solent marina. And the extra cost to you is nowt really, if you want the berth.

It's a sure sign that spaces are in short supply if SQ of all places is full.

JFM

 

[Guest]

Re: Impressive

This conjures up all sorts of fun images of us all sitting outside marinas doing impressions, and trying to keep track of what voice was used for the various mythical lengths of boat.

 

[Scubadoo]

Re: Anchoring

It is something I have thought about, however I do like to explore the land - eat out etc etc. My fear is just relying on my anchor (unattended) - also my insurance does not cover me if out of sight.

However buoyed mooring not a problem - I know it will be secure and covered by insurance.

RM.

 

[Scubadoo]

Re: Lie about the length of your.....

I'm not sure I would get away with that - but a valid point. I am aware they could be holding out for larger boats. However when I have looked they seem full anyway. Usually end up tying alongside another boat.

What I have seen are larger boats lets say above 40ft being turned away. I have also spoken to heard of people downgraded to a smaller boat just so they can get around more easliy (sad really).

RM.

 

[Guest]

If they removed the boats that never moved off ...

.....their moorings more than four times a year there would be plenty of space.

I could weep when I look out on a week-end at an empty sea being ruffled with a steady Force 5 wind on a sunny day - across a marina full of boats capable of rounding the Horn!!

Where are the owners? Either AWOL or polishing a bit of brass!

Best regards ((

Ian D

 

[jfm]

A technical solution to get multi vhf voices

......it's that exe file that went round on the usual joke list emails a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely hilarious, did you get it? You type in text and then click one of about 20 buttons labelled "martian", "hyperactive woman", "robot", "big man" etc etc and press go and the puter reads the text in the voice style you selected. It really is one of the funnniest exes I've had in yonks. Anyway, take the laptop on boat and play this exe down the vhf, problem solved.

Wish I could attach it but not allowed due to porno regs on this BB

JFM

 

[suzanne]

When marinas charge the prices that they do in the UK you'll soon see why there are so many gaps. Saying that though Penton Hook Marina estimates a 5 year waiting list, but there are loads of spaces in the marina. On the river marinas charge £2000 more than a marina on the south coast for a 32ft boat approx.

Suzanne xXx

 

[stefan_r]

Re: A technical solution to get multi vhf voices

SOUNDS GREAT!! mail me a copy if you can to stefan@athito.com

Cheers

mailto: stefan@athito.com

 

[Guest]

Re: me too pls (nm)

.

 

[jfm]

Re: me too pls (nm)

Stefan, I've sent it, tell us what you think. Matts, need your email couldn't find it on the BB.

JFM