Medway - warning - Thunderbolt Pier

xyachtdave

xyachtdave

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 May 2009
Messages
3,229
Location
MYC
Visit site
Just to let the locals know, dont even think of touching down here!

Struggling with the weather this weekend and whilst on a mooring last night realised important medication was at home, in the Historic Dockyard, a 2 minute walk fom Thunderbolt Pier.

Touching down here....10 minutes.....£25. In cash to the rather aggressive 'pier master' with a hint of 'or else'. I offered to leave immediately, (had only landed 2 mins before) apologised, but was told I wasn't leaving without paying the £25. It got slightly awkward when I refused. He then asked for £20 and eventually had to consider myself lucky with £10.

The pilot says it can possibly accommodate visitors by arrangement, I would give it a miss unless you are desperate!

I appreciate I landed on it uninvited, my mistake, I just wanted to let you lot know it's not a great idea.... it's the nautical equivalent of wheelclampers!
 
I think Chatham Maritime (which might also have done for you) charge £8 to lay on their waiting pontoon for a period - still daylight robbery but not in the same league as £25. However I suggest checking first, they might have changed it to the "benchmark" created by Thunderbolt Pier.
 
That's shocking. I believe it's run by one individual who I guess is the one you encountered. I do know (as the pilot infers) that you need to book ahead, but nevertheless there's no need for the sort of reception you received.
 
Cant believe that someone would act like that considering your situation F** a holes!

I dont think Chatham would even have charged Dave given the circumstances, although its a bit further to yomp.
 
aquaholic said:
Cant believe that someone would act like that considering your situation F** a holes!
.
Click to expand...

I try not to judge on appearances, but I had a feeling it wasn't going to end well....

I might load the boat up with some of my larger friends and pop back at the weekend, see if we can't get my £10 back!
 
xyachtdave said:
Just to let the locals know, dont even think of touching down here!

Struggling with the weather this weekend and whilst on a mooring last night realised important medication was at home, in the Historic Dockyard, a 2 minute walk fom Thunderbolt Pier.

Touching down here....10 minutes.....£25. In cash to the rather aggressive 'pier master' with a hint of 'or else'. I offered to leave immediately, (had only landed 2 mins before) apologised, but was told I wasn't leaving without paying the £25. It got slightly awkward when I refused. He then asked for £20 and eventually had to consider myself lucky with £10.

The pilot says it can possibly accommodate visitors by arrangement, I would give it a miss unless you are desperate!

I appreciate I landed on it uninvited, my mistake, I just wanted to let you lot know it's not a great idea.... it's the nautical equivalent of wheelclampers!
Click to expand...
Wow, I can't believe I came across this, well it looks like he is still at it. Last Thursday 9th he told my friend to move her boat by this Monday 'today' or he would tow it into the Medway and attach it to one of Peer Ports mooring buoys. She explained that she could not leave the house due to the lockdown, his reply was 'yes you can' there are other people on the river! What an arse :-(
 
They're out there, that's for sure!

I don't think the guy I met was the owner maybe a representative of his or possibly a berth holder trying it on. Was a while ago but I do remember trying to leave and untying the boat and the guy grabbing the rope and saying I wasn't leaving without paying him something.

I don't know your friends circumstances but Thunderbolt Pier would be my last choice for a mooring on the Medway, even when I lived in the Dockyard (2002 until 2017) and could walk there in 2 minutes, I didn't fancy it.

Expensive for what it is, no facilities to scrub or lift out, no boatyard storage, no decent showers/loos, the boat crashing about against the pontoon in wind over tide on that reach, wash etc etc.

Have a look at the yacht clubs locally lots on offer for less cash if she sails, or maybe Rochester Cruising Club if mobo'ing.

Vote with your feet, or in this case your boat!
 
xyachtdave said:
They're out there, that's for sure!

I don't think the guy I met was the owner maybe a representative of his or possibly a berth holder trying it on. Was a while ago but I do remember trying to leave and untying the boat and the guy grabbing the rope and saying I wasn't leaving without paying him something.

I don't know your friends circumstances but Thunderbolt Pier would be my last choice for a mooring on the Medway, even when I lived in the Dockyard (2002 until 2017) and could walk there in 2 minutes, I didn't fancy it.

Expensive for what it is, no facilities to scrub or lift out, no boatyard storage, no decent showers/loos, the boat crashing about against the pontoon in wind over tide on that reach, wash etc etc.

Have a look at the yacht clubs locally lots on offer for less cash if she sails, or maybe Rochester Cruising Club if mobo'ing.

Vote with your feet, or in this case your boat!
Click to expand...
IMG-20180416-WA0007.jpg
 
Perhaps Thunderbolt Pier was named after this person, a highwayman in English.
'Frederick Wordsworth Ward, better known by the self-styled pseudonym of Captain Thunderbolt, was an Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Island, and also for his reputation as the "gentleman bushranger" and his lengthy survival, being the longest roaming bushranger in Australian history. '
 
HMS Thunderbolt (1856) was an iron screw floating battery launched in 1856 and converted to a floating pier at Chatham in 1873. Between 1916 and 1919 it was named HMS Daedalus as a nominal depot ship for the Royal Navy Air Service. It sank in 1948 due to a collision with a tugboat, and was raised and broken up the following year.
 
Have dropped off/collected at the MDL Chatham jetty a couple of times for various reasons usually to do with marina etc.
Quick call on the radio to ask if it would be OK.
No problems.

The management of the Victory Moorings with their shouty absolutely NO VISITOR MOORINGS signs etc do seem a bit insular compared tot he rest of the river.
Amazed the dockyard have not come to some arrangement regards over night moorings for visitors coming by boat.
A win win situation for both parties.
Suspect a bit of the ex services command ethos in there somewhere.
 
Last edited:
Interestingly, we called up Thunderbolt Pier last summer to ask if we could moor for a few days. They couldn't have been more helpful. Mooring fees were reasonable. It was a great place to be, right in the middle of the Historic Dockyard and the gangway to shore just happens to come up beside the Nelson micro brewery.
 
wingdiver said:
Interestingly, we called up Thunderbolt Pier last summer to ask if we could moor for a few days. They couldn't have been more helpful. Mooring fees were reasonable. It was a great place to be, right in the middle of the Historic Dockyard and the gangway to shore just happens to come up beside the Nelson micro brewery.
Click to expand...
I had the same experience 2 years ago. I think the clue is to phone and ask first.
The guy was a bit brusque and probably wouldn't make a good salesman, but was helpful in his own way.
Agree it was great to be right in the centre of the Historic Dockyard. I had a problem finding my way out to go shopping before they openned in the morning.
 
Funny to stumble across these posts. The owner is not a very nice man! We secured a mooring last year at Thunderbolt but then couldn’t use it due to restrictions and non-essential travel etc. We emailed him asking if he would consider a refund and received the following response:

In reply to your E Mail
Firstly we do not have winter moorings
Secondly Anyone who tries a scam relying on
Covid 19 deserves to get of the virous
and end up in a pine box.

Please invite me to your funeral

I may be old but not senile
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
A bit shocking to say the least and we resent his previous email saying we could have a winter mooring so he’s also not even clear on his own moorings!! Have forwarded this to MSBA as he is their representative too so see what they have to say about it.
 
Wow maybe it's not just me then!

A long, long time ago now but this is what I remember my '£25 or else' guy looked like...the lack of muscle, a couple of gold teeth and the massive beer belly failed to intimidate to the extent the owner expected.


football fan.jpg.gallery.jpg
 
xyachtdave said:
Wow maybe it's not just me then!

A long, long time ago now but this is what I remember my '£25 or else' guy looked like...the lack of muscle, a couple of gold teeth and the massive beer belly failed to intimidate to the extent the owner expected.


View attachment 118833
Click to expand...
:ROFLMAO: That is not what the pier master I dealt with looks like so obviously there are a few “charming” characters running the place!!
 
Sorry to resurrect this corpse, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I asked for a guest berth and the answer was simply "We don't do that. Only annual berth holders".

Was not a pleasant email exchange, felt like I was bothering him. Like asking a neighbour for salt at 8pm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top