Marinas-Pontoon and Berth Markers?

[C08]

Had a little confusion in Brighton Marina a while ago. Some of the pontoons were not well marked when approaching by boat and the berth numbers were not visible at the pontoon finger ends although were well marked at the pontoon finger bases. It did not help that the berth we were directed to was already occupied and it was going dusk and was extremely busy with mainly foreign boats and many with language difficulties!
I know some marinas have a numbering system where the port side of the pontoon fingers but approached by the starboard side of the boat are numbers starting at 1 and 1a and working away from the first finger and even numbers on the starboard side starting at 2 and 2a and working upwards as you go down the aisle.
I have also come across numbering where the numbers just run down one side and up the other so as you approach the aisles you do not know which side the berth is on, unless you know the marina or have been advised which side the berth is on. It is not always possible to communicate with the marina office at busy times to take advice.
So, is there a convention for berth marking and what is it and in general are berths well marked enough in others experience?

 

[prv]

So, is there a convention for berth marking and what is it and in general are berths well marked enough in others experience?

There are a few common schemes, but I don't think there's any definite convention.

The Marina Guide that comes with Reeds can be handy, as among the copious advertising it does include plans of each marina with the pontoons labelled and some idea of the numbering scheme. But I only started paying attention to this last year, previously I used to throw it away assuming it was all just adverts

Maybe I've just been lucky but I don't remember ever encountering any major problems due to poor berth labelling.

Pete

 

[Yngmar]

It often helps to check the marina website when planning a passage. For Brighton it does: https://www.premiermarinas.com/~/media/Marinas/Marina Maps/brighton marina map.ashx - and yes, it's indeed poorly marked on the pontoons, although perhaps that will be remedied with the current burst of improvements (it's finally being dredged starting next week!).

As for schemes, I quite like letters for the pontoons and numbers for the berths, so e.g. C13 is clearly identifying where you are. Each side of the pontoon gets a separate letter, and they're clearly marked on the pilings. Of course there isn't a standard, and it may just be "find a suitable berth somewhere on pontoons R to T" (and the marina has no idea if there even is one available nor do they care where you moored when you go to the office or that someone kindly moved their boat to make room because there were no suitable berths).

 

[cliveshelton]

I know of no standard system. I never fail to ask where to find the space when calling ahead (phone or VHF) to ask for a berth. Most marina staff understand the need to know well in advance.

 

[NickRobinson]

I know of no standard system. I never fail to ask where to find the space when calling ahead (phone or VHF) to ask for a berth. Most marina staff understand the need to know well in advance.

Milford Marina, when asked, gave me a berth number and told me that 'odds' were first and 'evens' after which made finding the berth a doddle. Shotley handed me a highlighter marked map in the lock right to my berth. Falmouth didn't inform so I went down the wrong'un first. Dartmouth told me to 'moor on the H shaped pontoon' which, without a birds eye view in a strange harbour was a little difficult to process in the dark-
All good, no gelcoat was harmed in the doing.... ...

 

[Leighb]

There seems to be no common standard as others have said it can be odds one side and evens the other, or up one side and back down the other, also 1 might be by the hammerhead or the other end entirely.

Once inside the only kind to visitors system is to have the numbers clearly marked on the ENDS of the fingers. It is then a doddle to work out were you are going, the, apparently more common, system of puiing the number at the inside of the berth is useless as you cannot see it unless the berth is empty and it is further away so less visible. Presumably this system is easier for the staff and b*******r the customers.

Another slightly related question is how many marinas with a cill have markings on the piles to show the depth over the cill? AFAIK there is only Tollesbury on the East Coast, it is a big help when you are planning to leave as early on the tide as you can squeak over the cill. Usually you have to walk a fair way to look at a tide gauge near the entrance.

 

[prv]

Another slightly related question is how many marinas with a cill have markings on the piles to show the depth over the cill? AFAIK there is only Tollesbury on the East Coast

I was about to reply saying "rubbish, lots of places have markings to show the depth over the sill". Then I realised you meant that all the piles throughout the marina have marks on them - that's clever, that is :encouragement: . And no, I've never come across or heard of it anywhere else.

Pete

 

[johnalison]

There seems to be no common standard as others have said it can be odds one side and evens the other, or up one side and back down the other, also 1 might be by the hammerhead or the other end entirely.

Once inside the only kind to visitors system is to have the numbers clearly marked on the ENDS of the fingers. It is then a doddle to work out were you are going, the, apparently more common, system of puiing the number at the inside of the berth is useless as you cannot see it unless the berth is empty and it is further away so less visible. Presumably this system is easier for the staff and b*******r the customers.

Another slightly related question is how many marinas with a cill have markings on the piles to show the depth over the cill? AFAIK there is only Tollesbury on the East Coast, it is a big help when you are planning to leave as early on the tide as you can squeak over the cill. Usually you have to walk a fair way to look at a tide gauge near the entrance.

The Tidemill at Woodbridge has a sill marker too. The one at Titchmarsh is less than helpful, and I have done my bit in trying to make the channel deeper.

A helpful marina office will usually give some idea of where a visitor is to berth, such as "Bravo 38, port side to, past the yellow boat "Luvaduk".

 

[Leighb]

I was about to reply saying "rubbish, lots of places have markings to show the depth over the sill". Then I realised you meant that all the piles throughout the marina have marks on them - that's clever, that is :encouragement: . And no, I've never come across or heard of it anywhere else.

Pete

Not all the piles, but one on each of the pontoons, so only a short stroll to see how the tide is making.

Johnalison, yes Tidemill and Titchmarsh both have cill markers, but you have to walk a long way from your berth to be able to see them (depending where you are berthed)

 

[Stork_III]

Not all the piles, but one on each of the pontoons, so only a short stroll to see how the tide is making.

Johnalison, yes Tidemill and Titchmarsh both have cill markers, but you have to walk a long way from your berth to be able to see them (depending where you are berthed)

Titchmarsh has (had?) a remote cill depth marker at the fuel pontoon, pretty much visible from all berths with binos.

 

[salar]

Southsea Marina (Premier) is a great model. Illuminated digital depth guage over the cill and high level traffic lights both ways; each finger clearly marked with a letter and a sign directing to the "odd" side and "evens". On top of that the marina crew do care a lot. I must be spoilt, I thought all marinas were like this but I have had a protected life being in this marina for 21 years next month.