Marina or anchor?

[sighmoon]

Say you're planning an overnight stop somewhere that has a marina, and an anchorage which is likely to be sheltered for the duration of your visit.

Which one do you choose, and why?

 

[l'escargot]

Probably the marina - I don't have to faff around in and out of the dinghy with 3 dogs every time I want to go ashore...

 

[awol]

Depends - as always! If the only shoreside facilities (i.e. pubs) are at the marina then the pontoon wins; if there is ex-marina facilities and the anchorage is closer, the anchor. Basically, whichever fills my needs best. For example, I anchor off Tobermory 'cos I prefer the Mishnish to McGochans.

The real answer is I would probably avoid anywhere with a marina if I could.

 

[BruceDanforth]

Most likely the anchorage because I'm tightfisted. I probably wouldn't have the snail's problem as I am dogless and wouldn't bother going ashore.

 

[VicS]

Just for an overnight stop the anchorage most probably.

Only use the marina if wanting to go ashore for the evening.


the ship's cat is the closest i'd be to having dogs onboard

 

[prv]

Anchorage. Cheaper, easier, calmer.

Pete

 

[Mudisox]

Anchor of course, they charge me an arm and a leg x2 to go into a marina and it is a faffle to get the fenders and warps out as opposed to just putting the anchor down and a riding light. The dog can swim ashore if he really needs to, and swim back. He's been trained to climb the stern ladder.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Anchorage because it is more private. One reason that I enjoy sailing is the relative detachment from the busyness of life. I would not be averse to tying up alongside a remote quay for the same reasons.

 

[NornaBiron]

Always the anchorage. No creaking ropes, squeaky fenders or clanging halyards!

 

[TiggerToo]

anchor

 

[john_morris_uk]

Since we put the dinghy on davits we are much more likely to anchor as the faff of blowing up the dinghy and getting the outboard lowered onto it etc is completely mitigated. Nowadays it depends whether we are feeling lazy and want to walk ashore or tightfisted and want to save money. The real answer is that it depends what mood we are in and what the anchorage and marina look like.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

We always have more fun at anchor, but if I need shore power, water or supplies then would use a marina.

There are also lots of town quays in Croatia too, but preference is anchor, quay, marina.

If I wanted to walk-on, walk-off all the time I would have bought a camper van.

 

[maby]

Our previous boat seemed to be able to drag its anchor in a dead calm with every last inch of chain and rope paid out, so definitely marina. We haven't tried anchoring the new boat yet, so not sure how secure it will be - may take the plunge and try sleeping the night at anchor this summer!

 

[temptress]

Since we put the dinghy on davits we are much more likely to anchor as the faff of blowing up the dinghy and getting the outboard lowered onto it etc is completely mitigated. Nowadays it depends whether we are feeling lazy and want to walk ashore or tightfisted and want to save money. The real answer is that it depends what mood we are in and what the anchorage and marina look like.

+1

 

[lustyd]

Prefer to anchor but almost always marina on my boat because there is no heads, water, or other facilities on board. The only method of charging the batteries while at sea is the outboard and that doesn't produce enough beans while on to top anything up.

 

[Tony Cross]

We always have more fun at anchor, but if I need shore power, water or supplies then would use a marina.

There are also lots of town quays in Croatia too, but preference is anchor, quay, marina.

If I wanted to walk-on, walk-off all the time I would have bought a camper van.

+1

 

[Jamesuk]

Say you're planning an overnight stop somewhere that has a marina, and an anchorage which is likely to be sheltered for the duration of your visit.

Which one do you choose, and why?

Amchor everytime, in a maina when not being used so balance is required. Besides you cannot swim in a marinavand sometimes it smells of "late night" tank dumping

 

[Blueboatman]

On passage anchoring wins hands down. After all there's often only a few hours foul tide to wait out.. Why divert and faff with money, fenders, time and distance?
Besides, it's quite nice sailing on and off the anchor, delightful in fact..and you can be underway in seconds.

Marinas have their uses too , or they would be empty

 

[Bobc]

I prefer to anchor when practically possible. More peaceful and more money to spend in the pub.

 

[RupertW]

I prefer to anchor when practically possible. More peaceful and more money to spend in the pub.

If I fancy a night in a pub or a meal out then a marina, otherwise anchor and meal/drinks on board. We tend to go into a marina every other night if we have guests on board and hardly at all otherwise if the weather is good enough for an evening in the cockpit.