How much would you expect to pay for a lunch stop in a marina?

[ProDave]

So last week, we were having a cracking good sail, probably the best of the season. And where we ended up we passed by a marina (I won't say which one but you might work it out) and decided to call in for a short stop to drink our tea and eat our lunch. We thought it would make a change from eating on the go or dropping the hook.

We called the marina on the VHF and told them out intentions and they invited us onto a visitor berth.

A short while later the marina operative made his way to see us, handed us the marina's brochure, then proceeded to say "short term rates start at £17.50"

We were both gobsmacked and sat there in stunned silence. To say that was not in line with our expectations for a lunch stop was an understatement.

After an awkward silence, he said "you are not stopping long so I won't charge you on this occasion" So this time we got a free lunch stop, but won't expect to be going back at least not for a lunch stop.

I feel they have missed a trick and had they said £5 for a daytime stop, we would have paid and likely used it again.

I just wondered what other places charge for that?

 

[Topcat47]

I pay £10.00 in the Solent; mainly Cowes and Yarmouth. The Hamble Harbour pontoons at Warsash are around the same. At £17.50, I'd be tempted t anchor off in Loch Ness and pump up the dinghy for a lunch trip ashore.

 

[ProDave]

I pay £10.00 in the Solent; mainly Cowes and Yarmouth. The Hamble Harbour pontoons at Warsash are around the same. At £17.50, I'd be tempted t anchor off in Loch Ness and pump up the dinghy for a lunch trip ashore.

I must edit my profile, our boat is back on salt water.

 

[mainsail1]

£12 to £15.... I do get the feeling recently that quite a few marinas don't want the hassle of short stay boats?

 

[RichardS]

We've had a couple of lunch stops in marinas in Croatia in our early years of sailing there and quickly learned that 50% of the full rate is normal. For a 40 foot boat that's going to be around £40 - £50 .... plus the cost of the lunch. :ambivalence:

Richard

 

[DJE]

I have been charged £22 for a lunch stop on a waiting pontoon outside a marina. But seeing as you're not naming names neither am I. ?

 

[capnsensible]

If you pit stop for lunch at the reception dock in Puerto Calero Lanzarote a couple of hours are entirely free.

 

[ProDave]

There is a community owned pier half a mile away. They make no charge. I think we will go there next time.

 

[Poignard]

A common problem in Brittany is little motor boats that are out for the day and stop in marina visitor berths all afternoon while their elderly owners toddle ashore for a leisurely lunch, then return and have a snooze until it's time to return home for dinner. They pay nothing and prevent the berths they occupy bring used by genuine cruisers who are willing to pay.

Charging a substantial fee, or even a full 24 hour fee would curb this nuisance

 

[Findhorn]

There is a community owned pier half a mile away. They make no charge. I think we will go there next time.

Findhorn then ? :encouragement:

 

[NormanS]

Tobermory Harbour has pontoons and moorings, and doesn't claim to be a marina. They take the enlightened view that people using the pontoons or moorings for short periods (ie not overnight) are doing so in order to get stores, fuel, gas etc from the suppliers in the village, thus benefiting the community. They make no charge, although there is a converted gas cylinder strategically placed at the top of the gangway, for voluntary donations.

For the avoidance of doubt, let me be quite clear that there are charges for overnighting. Other pontoons, not a million miles away, do charge for short stays. The remedy is in your own hands.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I just wondered what other places charge for that?

Portavadie is free for lunch if you eat there.

Largs is free as long as you are not on a pontoon at midnight - they absolutely refused to charge me anything when I was there from 2pm till 11.40 once, though I bought some fuel because I felt it was unfair on them.

Port Bannatyne charges £6.

Salen (Loch Sunart) charges £5.

Gigha charges £5 for a day on the pontoon. Their pricing structures seems odd to me because the pontoon is £20 overnight and the moorings are £15, so there is no incentive to free up pontoon space by overnighting on a mooring.

 

[Graham376]

There was/maybe still is no water on the Cascais fuel pontoon so, if water needed meant moving to berth. Current price 6 hours short term 10-12m €12.30, 12.01-15m €30.75.

 

[Muddy32]

Best part of £23 at Teignmouth for 2 hours!!!
It was a full 24hr rate - "they don't do short stays"

Another place to avoid.

 

[Dan Tribe]

We have stopped for lunch or shopping a few times in Holland and always offer to pay. This is usually met with amused incredulity.
"You only pay if you stay the night"
One placed charged us the tourist tax, about 1 Euro per head.

 

[Newboy6458]

I pay £10.00 in the Solent; mainly Cowes and Yarmouth. The Hamble Harbour pontoons at Warsash are around the same. At £17.50, I'd be tempted t anchor off in Loch Ness and pump up the dinghy for a lunch trip ashore.

Sorry guys. Hamble river harbour master website quotes £6.00 for four hour short stay. Warsash sailing club pontoon is even cheaper but you are expected to use the bar ( no hardships as beer is cheaper n better than the Rising Sun). Good food as well.

 

[maby]

It does seem expensive - even the mighty MDL - widely regarded as being expensive - will let you have four hours in a Solent marina for less than a tenner!

 

[alancollins]

When I mentioned some time ago that Bucklers Hard charged me £11.50 for a brief stop in a 7.6 metre boat I was accused of being tight fisted. Cowes Yacht Haven charges me £8 for a lunch stop.

 

[Quandary]

Before the Belgian took over the Old Forge and drove every one away we used to by pass Mallaig and stop there, but passing one Saturday I decided to drop in to the marina for some diesel, the assistant took our lines then asked how long we were staying, 'just long enough to go round for a container of fuel', so he charged us £12 before telling us that Johnstones was closed on a Saturday, so about £3 a minute that time.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Before the Belgian took over the Old Forge and drove every one away ...

You piqued my curiosity, so I checked TripAdvisor.

Wow.

Sounds as if he trained in the same place as the man who ran the Russian Tavern in Port Bannatyne.