Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Motoring up the river to Swanwick after a day's sailing can seem a long way. Keep expecting to see the spire of Winchester Cathedral looming over the horizon.
Mercury vs Port Hamble vs Swanwick
- Thread starter Sticky Fingers
- Start date
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Couple of folks have mentioned the Force4 at Deacons just over the bridge, as being much better than the Swanwick one - might have changed recently but I used F4 at Swanwick last summer for fitting and found them excellent. Super helpful, well stocked.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
That's a thing although the payback is better shelter and fewer charter boats. Can use that time to get fenders etc ready. Probably compares OK with the time I spend locking in and out at Eastbourne.
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Laysula
Well-Known Member
Look at what else you get in your berthing fees, With MDL you can use any of there other marina free of charge and are also a member of Passeporte escales which give you the short term use of over a hundred continental marinas.
dk
Well-Known Member
I think it’s the same with Premier.
Bobc
Well-Known Member
That's what we do. On the way down the river we put our waprs and fenders away, get the stackpack open and the main haliard on, and have a cup of tea.
On the way back, we tidy the boat up and put everything away, so all we have to do when we get there is switch everything off and go home (or to the pub).
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I don't think Premiere are part of Passeport Escale. TI believe they also limit the number of nights at other marinas which, AFAIK, MDL don't.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Yes that's right. Premier have far fewer marinas, none overseas so MDL definitely have the edge in that offer; but the principle is the same.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
Service wise I would say:
1) Swanwick - always had great service.
2) Port hamble, hamble Point and Ocean Village - fine service, no complaints about the staff.
3) Most other places known and unknown
4) Mercury.
1) Swanwick - always had great service.
2) Port hamble, hamble Point and Ocean Village - fine service, no complaints about the staff.
3) Most other places known and unknown
4) Mercury.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
That's brilliant Phil. I'm wavering between PH and Swanwick. HP too rolly we had a visitor night in there, wifey no likey.
OV, spent one day there seemed very soulless, not helped by the massive hotelshipthing.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
HP too rolly we had a visitor night in there, wifey no likey.
OV, spent one day there seemed very soulless, not helped by the massive hotelshipthing.
One advantage of PH is its proximity to the clubs. Royal southern is recruiting and I think there will be an open day in April.
I enjoyed my time at OV. Party because I had a business about 300m away so I could nip out and varnish at lunchtimes. Partly because it is so very, very sheltered on the Southside. Sadly since SWIMBO passed, finances mean a change to trot. However, when I was on the Hamble I used to spend many more evenings and even week nights aboard, even when I was a work with no time to sail. I didn’t really like sleeping in OV as where I was, close in to the walkway, it felt like camping on a housing estate roundabout.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
>Can be a real problem at Swanwick.
Agree we bought our boat there and because of the strong current, as mentioned, we could only leave or arrive at low or high tide. It would be at the bottom of my list of marinas.
Agree we bought our boat there and because of the strong current, as mentioned, we could only leave or arrive at low or high tide. It would be at the bottom of my list of marinas.
Angele
Well-Known Member
As a berthholder at Port Hamble for the last 13 years I'm happy to give you my views of the place (both the good and the bad). Feel free to PM me.
As others have said, you do become very good at ferry gliding/stemming the tide.
Sadly, I cannot give a comparison with Swanwick, as I have never berthed there.
As others have said, you do become very good at ferry gliding/stemming the tide.
Sadly, I cannot give a comparison with Swanwick, as I have never berthed there.
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
Rumour control has it that the bar/restaurant at Mercury will be closing at the end of March. If it's not replaced that will leave a bit of a gap in the facilities there.
Angele
Well-Known Member
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
Not before the CA talk there on Friday 16th, I hope.
It looks like you just got there in time.
http://www.watersedge.co.uk/
Angele
Well-Known Member
It was my first time at a CA Solent section talk, but I understand that The Waters Edge was their regular venue. The Waters Edge "team" was thanked for everything they had done for CA over the years. I understand that the licence holders are taking on a pub in the New Forest.