Is St Kat's the best marina in the world?

[Gary Fox]

I spent a few weeks in St Kats. About six years ago. The pricing was fine then. But I think they have put prices up since. … I also spent a couple of weeks in Limehouse. Overall I preferred Limehouse. … in St Kats there are tourists everywhere. I’ve nothing against tourists. But I was berthed next to Starbucks and I felt like an exhibit in a zoo sometimes

We followed a ship under Tower Bridge when it was open, that was quite spectacular!

 

[Bristolfashion]

I spent a few weeks in St Kats. About six years ago. The pricing was fine then. But I think they have put prices up since. … I also spent a couple of weeks in Limehouse. Overall I preferred Limehouse. … in St Kats there are tourists everywhere. I’ve nothing against tourists. But I was berthed next to Starbucks and I felt like an exhibit in a zoo sometimes

We were in the E. dock which doesn't have any cafes etc - very peaceful. Since there's no river, no boats moving & no connection to the navigation when the lock is closed, it's amazingly calm at night.

Although, as a "peacock" I don't mind a few sightseers.

 

[Bristolfashion]

I spent a few weeks in St Kats. About six years ago. The pricing was fine then. But I think they have put prices up since. … I also spent a couple of weeks in Limehouse. Overall I preferred Limehouse. … in St Kats there are tourists everywhere. I’ve nothing against tourists. But I was berthed next to Starbucks and I felt like an exhibit in a zoo sometimes

We walked down to Limehouse which was also nice - the CA is there & we had a very reasonably priced beer & pizza overlooking the water.

 

[Frogmogman]

"The old river in its broad reach rested unruffled at the decline of day, after ages of good service done to the race that peopled its banks, spread out in the tranquil dignity of a waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth."
the River Thames from
The Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad

Sorry for the rather tardy reply to this post, and to Poignard's input.

Nice quote. I've always thought it truly remarkable that Joseph Conrad, a Pole, writing in his third language (after Polish and French), should prove to be one of the finest writers of English prose, when he only achieved fluency in the tongue in his twenties.

FWIW, a stay at St Kats is always worth a diversion to the Little Ship club by Southwark bridge. The club has an excellent specialist library of all things to do with sailing.

 

[mainsail1]

Your comment "... they just provide a pontoon and maybe a loo. " suggests you have not been there, as it is factually incorrect. Clearly you have not been therefore a while, so your post is misleading.

Now I see why you are so agitated......... When I said maybe a loo I did not mean they don't provide a loo, show me a marina that does not. I meant maybe you will use their loo. I would use my own onboard (with holding tank).

 

[JumbleDuck]

What an appalling, misleading, dishonest misrepresentation of reality.

The truth hurts, eh? Do you know what the Opium Wars were and why we fought them?

If you hate this country so much why do you still live here and not in some bastion of decency, humanitarianism and freedom like Belarus, Uzbekistan or Venezuela?
I'm sure all those would welcome you with open arms.

I don't hate this country, or any country. It would be a pointless emotion. I do, however, recognize that Britain has an absolutely appalling history of repression around the world, and that the Royal Navy was a prime instrument of that oppression.

Sailing relevance? Well, only in a negative sort of way. I sail for fun, not to re-enact our "glorious" colonial history. It does explain, in part, why the ensign I fly does not include a union flag.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Certain parts are cherry picked and used today to uphold arguments . Personally, I don't feel the need to feel guilty about past generations actions. That's the way it was.

I agree completely. However, I think that decent people recognize just how awful British colonialism was and recognize the long-term effects it has had on much of the world. It's not a matter of guilt, but of acknowledgement.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Why is this neo-communistic 6th-form anguish allowed out of the Lounge?

To counter the neo-fascist, golf club bombast?

 

[Bouba]

I thought we had a clear out of the lefties during the Great Lounge Purge

 

[Frogmogman]

I thought we had a clear out of the lefties during the Great Lounge Purge

No, some of us are still here….

 

[JNKScot]

No, some of us are still here….

The Reactionaries are still in full song, though.

 

[Bristolfashion]

And when we left St Kat's, the marina sent us this!

 

[oldgit]

St Kats at night.

......none of the marinas can be described as "budget " but having had the pleasure of going to St Kats, Limehouse, South dock, West India and Chelsea Harbour, know which we prefer .
We visit usually once a year with the odd overnight to break the journey to or from the non tidal Thames.
Close behind St Kats would actually be West India which has many of the advantages of St Kats but without the expence.


Location ideal for club rally but you will need at least 6 boats to make it worthwhile for CaRT to open that lock , it is BIG.

 

[Bilgediver]

It's a stunning location, we've visited a few times. The locking-in process was fraught, but once inside it's lovely.

I' ve done all that and more without a boat. Dinner Dances at The Dorchester great food in The Princess Lounge and watched the water spraying on the Dolphins , also a short walk to work in Trinity Square .No that that place I am a Grease Monkey. Yes for location and great for walking around but prefer a bit more from a marina than just location and even the chandlery was mainly aimed at the tourist trade.

 

[dslittle]

…in St Kats there are tourists everywhere. I’ve nothing against tourists. But I was berthed next to Starbucks and I felt like an exhibit in a zoo sometimes

In the UK, ‘you‘ are slightly cosseted by the way that most Marinas are run i.e. secure pontoons, no public access etc. Being an ‘exhibit‘ is unusual.
The majority of French Marinas have little or no security (nor is it needed!) and it is not infrequent to have the chatter of school kids on the pontoon whilst they share their baguettes for lunch. If you start to do ANY work on deck, it quite quickly becomes a spectator sport for the passing populace…
Oh, and Honfleur very much fits all of the above and is lovely

 

[Stemar]

If you start to do ANY work on deck, it quite quickly becomes a spectator sport for the passing populace…

As does making a cockup of your arrival or departure...