Lower Beaulieu River Mooring

[stranded]

We are seriously considering a move to the Beaulieu River next year. The only available berth at present is a swinging mooring at the lower end - in the 40s so a significant way below Gins Farm I think. Obviously this will be less sheltered than further up, and it will be much easier if Royal Southampton will allow us to join so we can use dinghy storage etc., but I wonder if anyone has any experience/views on the lower mornings - is the shelter acceptable, how bumpy if at all will it be in SEerlys, what's the Bucklers Hard yard like, etc. Cheers, Mark

 

[jonjo]

I cannot answer your main question, shelter is half decent from buoy 100 upwards and much better from 130 thru to the marina.

Tender storage afloat at the marina is chaotic and a real impediment to transfers, there seem to be many abandoned dinghies or maybe this is just an end of season problem. Recommend an external outboard tank for regular marina to buoy 40 transfers.

I think it is a fabulous place, magical in the evenings when the last tourist trip boat has passed, great crew in the harbour office and an old fashioned attention to detail.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

We are seriously considering a move to the Beaulieu River next year. The only available berth at present is a swinging mooring at the lower end - in the 40s so a significant way below Gins Farm I think. Obviously this will be less sheltered than further up, and it will be much easier if Royal Southampton will allow us to join so we can use dinghy storage etc., but I wonder if anyone has any experience/views on the lower mornings - is the shelter acceptable, how bumpy if at all will it be in SEerlys, what's the Bucklers Hard yard like, etc. Cheers, Mark

We had our 44 on the Beaulieu river for one summer, and it is very pleasant to be there on a calm day, winter or summer.

The HM always puts new berth holders, especially of the size of Nooka, south of Gins then you get to move up the river over time. My guess is you would be further up within a year.

Apart from the reduced cost (which I appreciate) there are no other benefits compared to where you are now.

- you always have to get and from the boat by tender, whatever the weather !
- you will be less inclined to do so if the weather is a bit iffy
- you are constrained by the shallow water at the entrance
- there is nowhere in walking distance to eat or drink
- the boat is more exposed to visitors

Hope this helps !!

 

[mainsail1]

I was moored down the river many moons ago and found access to the boat was a pain. Getting out from the Royal Southampton is tidal and I always seemed to arrive when mud stopped play. There also seems to be a bit of a risk on the river moorings of some muppet bashing your boat and not leaving any details. I moved up to the Marina for a few years but that is expensive and now I am on a pontoon in the river near Bucklers Hard which is cheaper than the marina but more expensive than a mooring and is great.
I thought the HM had a spare space or two on the upper river pontoons but maybe they have gone. You could ask the HM specifically about them if you can afford a bit more. Although the river pontoons are more expensive than the river moorings I think the extra is well worth it. Better access and sheltered. Some even have electricity.
Bucklers Hard Boat Builders do a good job but it can be fun getting the job done.

 

[PhillM]

it will be much easier if Royal Southampton will allow us to join

Its really very easy to Join Royal Southampton. There is an introductory membership that means you get to join and then a year later you get to be a full member.

Talk to Maggie in the office, she is very helpful and will get you sorted out.

 

[stranded]

Thanks for all the replies chaps, public and private - a lot to chew on. Obviously need to do some serious thinking re access - I knew about the tide on the bar but hadn't considered tidal constraints even getting to the boat if from Gins. And having spent a week in August on a buoy in Dittisham and experienced the tender scrum there, not overly attracted to that. Our first choice was one of the mid-river pontoons but unfortunately none is available at the moment.

Not sure though that cost is the only benefit Nick, even if it is a very significant one - the views (even if lesser lower down), tranquility when calm, and ability to just chuck a fishing line over the stern of an evening if I can't be bothered to go out, are pretty compelling reasons as well. And having recently read an article in a US sailing mag about brewing beer on board, maybe even the absence of a nearby pub is not a fatal flaw. I can't think of a better marina location than current, but Beaulieu sounds like the mid river equivalent - certainly if we could be further up (possibility of being bashed is a serious concern). Time for a chat with Hils tonight I think, then we are are due a recce weekend after next.

Thanks all again for views and PM, much appreciated. Mark

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I agree about the peace and tranquility but as you can easily get there from current location it's very easy to vivit on a short weekend or even just a day out to get the same result.

 

[PhillM]

I agree about the peace and tranquility but as you can easily get there from current location it's very easy to vivit on a short weekend or even just a day out to get the same result.

You could just join royal Southampton and visit gins for extended time, from time to time.

 

[stranded]

Well, having considered all the excellent advice, we have decided to take the plunge. There are cons, of course. But the mooring we have been offered is less than 5 minutes dinghy from Gins, and from a fleeting visit RSYC seems like a really friendly club, so going to join if they'll have us. The deciding factor was another visit to the boat last weekend and realising that having arrived Friday evening at the marina, our sailing weekend didn't really start until we cast off on Saturday morning. Whereas I reckon on a mooring it will start as soon as we launch the dinghy (or get the launch, whatever). We know that on a cold wet windy evening in March it might seem less than idyllic - but then if you consider that my choice (from almost anything in the world) to do on my 50th birthday (in November) was wild camping with a proper camp fire, then at least it is in character...

 

[Middleton]

Hi Stranded, how did you find your experience on the lower river mooring at Beaulieu ? I'm thinking of getting one.

 

[stranded]

We enjoyed it very much. Only there for a year, but only because we got early retirement and went off to the Med. Back in the UK now and were planning to go back to Beaulieu this year until we got offered a mooring on the Dart, which is just so much closer to where we live now.

 

[Ian_Rob]

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