Leicester to the coast - which marina ?

P

Peter K

New Member
Joined
2 Sep 2010
Messages
2
Visit site
Hi All,
I am new to boat owning and hope to secure a 6 berth motor boat in the next few weeks.
The issue is I live near Meton Mowbray (Leicestershire), so if I want a coastal mooring the minimum travel time is 1.5 hours (Norfolk or Suffolk), for 2.5 hours I can choose Hamble / Southampton / Portsmouth, Cardiff or Portishead - the Medway is also an option.
Each of these has something different to offer and there are very clear cost differentials which as a novice I am unabale to evaluate.
Cardiff looks the most attractive but any advise you have will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Peter
 
Do you desperately require a coastal mooring, for sea fishing. I would say Nene or Great Ouse. If you are new to boating, and buying a Mobo, you will get more initial enjoyment if the boat is a) close to home. b) non-tidal waters, which will enable you to learn boat handling skills in a situation that is not going to put you, your family or others at risk.
c) river berths are cheaper by a factor of 2-3. d) Otherwise Broads, Boston or Kings Lynn
I suspect that your transit times are going to be seriously screwed on a Friday afternoon, when to make the best of the boat, you are going to be travelling.
 
Peter K said:
Hi All,
I am new to boat owning and hope to secure a 6 berth motor boat in the next few weeks.
The issue is I live near Meton Mowbray (Leicestershire), so if I want a coastal mooring the minimum travel time is 1.5 hours (Norfolk or Suffolk), for 2.5 hours I can choose Hamble / Southampton / Portsmouth, Cardiff or Portishead - the Medway is also an option.
Each of these has something different to offer and there are very clear cost differentials which as a novice I am unabale to evaluate.
Cardiff looks the most attractive but any advise you have will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Peter
Click to expand...

I've nothing against Cardiff and within the barrier it is an easy place to boat. But outside you have to contend with massive tides and permanently brown water.

I'd have thought you would get more use out of the boat, and learn the ropes more easily if you have a berth on the E.Coast or on a river running into the same.
Good Luck.

PS An RYA Powerboat Course would be a good "starter for 10".
 
Peter K said:
...for 2.5 hours I can choose Hamble / Southampton / Portsmouth....
Click to expand...

I reckon that's rather optimistic for (presumably) weekend motoring. If you were to go somewhere like one of the Ipswich marinas, you'd have a lot of lovely river cruising on your doorstep, plus easy access to sea.
 
We live a little north of you near Bingham... and have had the same debate for nearly 12 years now...

1) Local river; you could keep her someplace like Newark on the Trent, which has a few marinas, quite a bit of local boating on the Trent all the way down to Hull or up to Nottingham or into Lincoln....

2) South Wales; As mentioned.. BIG tides... as well you need to get there via the M4 and M5.... which are a lottery at the best times to go boating...

3) Plymouth; were we are.... again M5 and a lottery... sometimes 4 hours... sometimes 6-7. This is a MAJOR issue.

4) Solent/South Coast; Expensive, Crowded, and major traffic bottlenecks including A34, M1, M3, etc etc.

5) East Coast; Cheaper, Brown water (yck) but only 2-2.5 hours and with just the a14 as a bottleneck...

Dont underestimate the PITA that travelling along the M5/ M4 is during heavy traffic... for this reason alone, we have now decided to move the boat after a decade to the east coast from plymouth.... Its cheaper.... and accesible.

Anything SW is a real problem with the motorways, and I would not discount this when making your choice. After a lot of thought and traveling, there is no doubt in my mind that someplace around Ipswich is by and far the best choice both travel time wise and cost... It remains to be seen if its as interesting. But the locals seem friendly.
 
You don't mention how big the boat is and what your main leisure activity will be for the boat, wether it be fishing/diving or just exploring places, it also depends wether the boat needs a marina or is ok for a river mooring/swinging mooring.

On average most boats have 6 berths, which could range from 25ft to over 40ft boats.

Do you like traffic jams, are you retired so you can travel during the days when traffic is low, are you looking on getting a pontoon berth, so you can travel during the night and get on board whenever, trying to get on a swinging mooring at night when its dark and windy, is a little risky at times.

is it a river type boat so would be happier on the broads or east coast rivers.

lots more info required from you to give you a more informed choice of answers.
 
coastal moorings

Hi Peter

I,m just down the road from you in Wigston Magna and sail out of Lowestoft Haven. I travel every second weekend on a friday night at peak time and although it sounds a pain in practice we never have a problem.
A47 nearly all the way with minimum bottle necks, when we were moored in Wells-next-the-sea although closer could sometimes take as long due tailbacks along the tighter roads.
Add in 24hr tidal access and gateway to the broads if the weathers poor we find it ticks most boxes for us.

all the best
Rich
 
i used to live in wigston and we trailered a 20ft shetland to the blackwater and also to chichester harbour on weekends and neither was really bad but i now live in chichester and love being so close to the coast.
 
The Wash

how about Fosdyke or Boston or even wisbeach all with good marinas just over the hour from you? you can't beat the wash for a cruising ground, with so many places to visit and far quieter than down south an no dowut cheaper
 
Hi All,
Thank you so much for your thoughts.
The boat (hopefully) will be a 40ft sports cruiser, with 300hp engines (for those who asked).
I thought coastal as it gives you more options to move around and as I hope to early retire in a couple of years I like the idea of moving along.
I had got a fix on Cardiff, great city, and reasonable access to the south Wales coastline which looks lovely and good access to the north Cornwall coast.
However, the balance of advice is to reconsider the east coast and I must admit there is more to it than I first thought.
Any further advice will be gratefully received
Many thanks,
Peter K
 
Robih said:
Shock horror! when was this momentus decision approved? I don't recall being consulted!

rob
Click to expand...

hmmmm yes.. Swmbo was persuaded by a certain forumite who shall remain nameless... and the concept of having enough cash left over at the end of the year for a few weeks at Ragdale Hall...

Truth be told the driving is taking its toll... but I am a bit cut up over it....

its a "Quantity V Quality" debate and in this instance it appears that quantity may win...
 
Leicester is my home town, and I now live in Burnham on Crouch so maybe I can add something to the Burnham suggestions.

Travelling time is about 2.5 hours on a good day. Direct route is M1, M25, A12, A130 then B1010 (I think that's the road number that goes through South Woodham Ferrers. Alternative is A14, M11 then Chelmsford and pick up the A130 again - useful if the M25 is busy but longer. Leaving Leicester Friday night I think you'd beat the M25 traffic.

You have a choice - the Marina or a swinging mooring from the Marina, Priors or Rice and Coles. (I'm on Priors and can recommend it.) The Marina is expensive but you can walk aboard on a Friday night when you arrive (the rate card should be on the internet). The swinging moorings are cheaper (lots!) and operate a launch service working hours, so Saturday and Sunday you'll be fine to get ashore, but if you arrive on a Friday night you'll need a dinghy to row out and then fetch the boat to the pontoon (easy enough or you could invest in an outboard out of the savings you make on the Marina costs)

I won't pretend that the Crouch is the most scenic of rivers. As a sailing base its great as you can head up the East Coast, off to Holland and across to Ramsgate etc. For pottering around creeks however, there are some nice anchorages like Yokesfleet Creek with its own colony of seals and you can get to Paglesham, Fambridge and Brandy Hole for overnight stops.

One problem with lots of marinas is that they are in the middle of nowhere. Burnham is a nice little town. We have our own cinema, a supermarket, lots of good pubs, and a choice of restaurants (many of them Indian but there is a Thai, a Chinese, pub food, the Marina restaurant, the Galley and Contented Sole which are more upmarket).

Four yacht clubs where you can meet fellow boaties and join in with the local sailing community. They range from posh to less posh but all have their own appeal.

If you want a day trip to Burnham and a look round IM me. Just a thought though, probably not much more travelling time, but Bradwell Marina is less expensive than Burnham Marina and the Blackwater is one of the nicest sailing grounds I know. Brightlingsea and West Mersea for dropping in to, Pyefleet Creek or Osea Island for quiet overnight anchoring, and for long weekends, along the coast to the Walton Backwaters or the Orwell.

One good pub in Bradwell in easy walking distacne - the Green Man (fabulous food and not expensive) and a good club at the Marina but not a lot else. Bring everything you need with you.

As I say for more details IM me or we'll show you around on a visit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top