Is Port Hamble dangerous?

[Garold]

My boat has just sustained bow damage for the second time in two months whilst moored at Port Hamble. We were once more hit by a visitor misjudging the current through the marina.

The marina is a full tide access marina with a river current running through it mid ebb and flood. It is tricky to get in and out mid tide as the current can reach 2-3 knots.

However, since this is the second time that we have sutained damage, I am a bit teed off, and I was just wondering if this is normal in these type of marinas. If so, I guess that Port Hamble is no more dangerous than any others.

I also thought that if Port Hamble is more dangerous than most other marinas and the operator MDL is well aware of the number of accidents, then should there be some extra warnings given by signage or harbourmasters instructions to visitors (and annual berth-holders)?

Or maybe the guy last week who posted that he hung an anchor from his bow to fend off visiting yachts had the only solution. Just so that we are clear, after last month's bow damage, I did buy bow fenders, but predictably the damage this time extended over and above the new fender.

Opinions?

Cheers

Garold

 

[capt_courageous]

The Hamble is like a cross between a huge car park and the M25. Sadly few of the 'drivers' there have passed the test or have had much experience. I guess lots of fenders are your only only answer.

 

[l'escargot]

I use Port Hamble regularly and I don't think it is any worse than a lot of other places. What we have now is a whole load of people who see thirty five feet as a starter boat and aren't experienced at close quarter manoeuvring. There seems to be a widespread need to do everything at speed and a belief that you can motor in or out of every situation where the considered use of warps would be easier and safer.

 

[sarabande]

I think that tidal stream warning notices are an excellent idea.

Drop a line to the marina management (addressed to the Director responsible for Risk) and ask them to assess the advisability of putting up warning notices, given the number of accidents. He should jump at it as an identifiable risk with an easy mitigation.

 

[SimbaDog]

It seems to me to be a general problem, I was watching a chap yesterday on a
b*****a who obviously had no idea, we had just been discussing that it looked as though he had just got the boat.
When he left it was like watching a teenage joyrider in a nicked GTi
Massive bursts of power & careering in all directions, god knows how he managed to avoid hitting anyone
His wife/girlfriend looked terrified!

 

[Sans Bateau]

We visit Port Hamble and Mercury from time to time and I would say the cross tides are scary, you have to very prepared and think carefully before you go into the aisle, putting your boat broadside to the current. I would hate to have a permanent berth there, I'm not at all surprised boats sustain damage.

 

[jimi]

... however ferry gliding against a strong current gives you almost total control.

 

[Sans Bateau]

... however ferry gliding against a strong current gives you almost total control.

Spot on! However there is not enough room between the pontoons to ferry glide.

 

[Ruffles]

... however ferry gliding against a strong current gives you almost total control.

We used to have a berth on a long pontoon at Crableck and the strong tides did help there. Just needed to remember which line to get on first!

But a marina is a bit different. With the fingers aligned with the current I imagine you still have to negotiate across the flow to get to the berth. And there's a 50/50 chance you'll have to park down tide.

Not been in there myself though.

 

[DJE]

Yes!

Well I would say that after making a complete Horlicks of a downtide berth there on the Kids Out weekend this year. Fortunately no damage and if we had thought about it a bit more there was probably enough tide to take us into the berth backwards.

 

[ianat182]

Premier Marinas(ex-Moodys) also has a cross-tide problem which changes direction at the river bends. Local yachtsmen know of it and have to make due allowances as they berth to the fingers,sometimes less than a 35ft boatlength to enter or leave/turn but satisfying to do first time,each time! This is where the propwalk comes into play too.
Some of the yachts permanently leave fenders to their open sides,a sensible precaution if your neighbour is a poor astern steering yacht upstream of you!

ianat182

 

[Angele]

As a PH berth holder for the last 6 years I can report that I have sustained no damage from other boats hitting mine. (Some pr#t reversed his car into the boat when she was lifted out overwinter and took a chip out of the rudder, but that is all).

However, I know what you mean and I have watched disasters unfold while sitting in the cockpit.. What happens is people forget they are in a river and don't realise, at mid tide (especially on the ebb), that there is a strong cross tide until it is too late. They are swept onto the down tide boats and then can't extract themselves because they are being pinned on.

Berthing bows in, I leave a big round fender hanging out over the stern and long fenders on the open side to give added protection. Hopefully this has saved me from damage. Have you considered doing the same?

Are you on the seaward end of pontoons E, F or G by any chance?

 

[Martin_J]

The other thing to watch out for at Port Hamble is the sudden lack of tide.

You can be quite happy ferry gliding in a knot or more of tide... then 2/3 of the way along a fairway the tide disappears! It's quite a sudden change...

 

[Garold]

Even the bow fenders didn't save me.....

After our boat was first damaged 3 or 4 weeks ago, I bit the bullet and spent £200 on (x2) bow fenders (catamaran). But after this weekend's damage, I have now spent another £200 to double up the fenders because the damage was above the fenders (higher up the bow).

We always berth stern first so I am not sure what else I can do.

Cheers

Garold

 

[davel]

I berth in Port Hamble and have been damaged on one occasion (hit and run grrr) and been hit without damage more than once. I've also witnessed another hit and run (fortunately was able to track down the offender who was having his damage fixed in Gosport!).
There's no doubt that the tide runs fast through the marina and it catches out the unwary or inexperienced. I've never yet heard any warnings given to visitors requesting a berth there.