Island Harbour

pessimist

pessimist

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Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
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Just a quick puff for this marina. I'm used to being charged for breathing in the vicinity of any marina and their (Island Harbour's) attitude is a refreshing change. We had a boat surveyed there earlier this week which necessitated two nights berthing. Imagine my surprise and delight to be informed by email (we were unable to attend the survey) that there was to be no charge for this stay. Needless to say i highly recommend them - their standard rates are also reasonable.
Should also give a honourable mention to the on site shipwrights (Richardsons) - their fee for a lift and hold in strings was also very reasonable.

I would cheerfully use these two companies again.
 
We had a week in Glenarm a few years ago, due to a lost propeller.

When I came to settle up I was told that only one nights fee was to be charged as we had not intended to be there that long.

I said that we had to be somewhere though, where he told me I listened to too many replays of the Goon Show!

" Bluebottle! What are you doing in the wardrobe! "

" Everybody gotta be somewhere! "

Sounds like a great operation at Island Harbour.
 
That’s great - I have very fond memories of Island Harbour as the friendly no nonsense part of the Isle of Wight assuming you are talking about that marina. The only facilities were a great bar with food on the paddle steamer. Having lived there recently it was so sad to see the ship as just lacey rust but the facilities have improved a lot.
 
I recall having parties on the paddle steamer when at school. I recall it was owned by the Ridetts at the time. The marina if your draft permits entry is certainly worth a look particularly if wanting to enjoy the wonders of Cowes week without the berthing charges.
 
I bought my boat in Island Harbour and the marina and Richardson's were good (although a bit over-stretched at the time - pre-easter so fair enough), the marina facilities v. good too. The control tower blokes are really very nice as well.
Apparently it's a surprise to some that you can't get a 2.2 draught boat through the gate on every tide.

On the other hand, I don't think I got any discounts and I hope the OP has better luck with his surveyor than I did.

The paddle steamer probably isn't suitable for kids parties anymore...
 
pessimist said:
Just a quick puff for this marina. I'm used to being charged for breathing in the vicinity of any marina and their (Island Harbour's) attitude is a refreshing change. We had a boat surveyed there earlier this week which necessitated two nights berthing. Imagine my surprise and delight to be informed by email (we were unable to attend the survey) that there was to be no charge for this stay. Needless to say i highly recommend them - their standard rates are also reasonable.
Should also give a honourable mention to the on site shipwrights (Richardsons) - their fee for a lift and hold in strings was also very reasonable.

I would cheerfully use these two companies again.
Click to expand...

We live here at Island Harbour and love it, shame we missed you but you do say you weren't there for thesurvey itself..

So did you buy??
 
The paddle steamer is sadly dead, We partied on it several times with YC rallies long ago, nowadays the Breeze restaurant and bar is a local favourite year round as well as for visiting yachts and club rallies. Richardson's have a useful well stocked chandlery too with basic foodstuffs on sale as well. We only draw 1.3m these days but have been here with 2.15 in the past, judging tides with care, the tower guys will advise if asked...
 
Thanks Robin , we visited before in the previous boat Bav 34 but haven’t yet been brave enough to venture there with our increased draft but mindful it’s possible although the window is narrow
 
Robin said:
We live here at Island Harbour and love it, shame we missed you but you do say you weren't there for thesurvey itself..

So did you buy??
Click to expand...
I may not know you in person but from all the forum times I wish I’d twigged you were on the island for the 2018-19 Winter I spent working there. Would have been fun to catch up.
 
ashtead said:
Thanks Robin , we visited before in the previous boat Bav 34 but haven’t yet been brave enough to venture there with our increased draft but mindful it’s possible although the window is narrow
Click to expand...
the problem is not the marina channel/lock or inside but in the final approach upriver, stay mid channel and do not turn 'in' until by the stbd hand buoy opposite the marina channel, cutting te corner is tempting but inadvisable On the last RTIR boats were entering up to 1am and a couple of biggies got caught turning for the entry lights too soon, but got off eventually and did it right, kept us entertained with g&ts on the flybridge! There were spaces inside even thought it was race day but they don't accept casual off chance visitors, always book ahead and call on ch80 when passing the Folly Inn for entry instructions as the lock is one way even on free flow and you might be asked to dawdle whilst those ahead are dealt with. normally, unless busy expect to go stbd side to in thelock so they can a) pass a line if not free flow and b) give you a berth number and marina book/map to find it.. Once berthed visit the control tower to pay
 
Robin thanks -entering island harbour used to be way simpler in a centaur but we will see if any rallies going there or make our own plans . If there enough space inside that’s always helpful of course.
 
Robin said:
We live here at Island Harbour and love it, shame we missed you but you do say you weren't there for thesurvey itself..

So did you buy??
Click to expand...
We've got friends who live there too, they've got a rather nice Nauticat on their pontoon. We keep our boat in East Cowes during the Summerso next time we visit I'll give you a shout. Also got a mate restoring a Tanterella motor boat in Richardsons yard, a very interesting and good chap. If you do bump into him metion us, Colin and Helen.
 
colhel said:
We've got friends who live there too, they've got a rather nice Nauticat on their pontoon. We keep our boat in East Cowes during the Summerso next time we visit I'll give you a shout. Also got a mate restoring a Tanterella motor boat in Richardsons yard, a very interesting and good chap. If you do bump into him metion us, Colin and Helen.
Click to expand...
Are the Richardson’s related to those at the Elephant boatyard on the Hamble?
 
Robin said:
We live here at Island Harbour and love it, shame we missed you but you do say you weren't there for thesurvey itself..

So did you buy??
Click to expand...
Hi Robin,
Had intended to attend the survey - and bum a cup of coffee;) but we had overnight snow and were stuck in the village. Bring back my 4x4!
As to buying - undecided. See the thread "Bum survey"
Cheers,
Colin
 
When I bought my boat it was moored there (about 20+ years ago) and was moving it to a swinging mooring in Poole.
I had a mishap with my car just after I bought it (her!) and was unable to make the move for nearly two weeks but the lovely people in the control tower just waived my two weeks extra marina fees and couldn't have been more helpful. I plan to move to the island in a few years so definately would go back to Island Harbour.
When I was there Barricuda of Tarrant was moored on the next pontoon, Couldn't see Lynn Howard anywhere about though!
 
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