Mercury vs Port Hamble vs Swanwick

We have in the past been resident in Port Hamble and Swanwick.

Port Hamble is great for the convenience of Hamble village but the marina can be very busy in summer months. The charter and race boats mean that you have to keep a close watch when leaving or entering berths. Damage from other boats largely because of the current through the marina, can be a problem. We had three or four occurrences only one of which was resolved with some payment for damage. Very handy for chandlery and yard repairs etc. Ten minutes to Southampton water which is a convenience that you don’t always appreciate until you move further up the river.

Swanwick was better for motorway access and a longer ride up/down the river. Yacht services are better than Port Hamble because of all the units in the yard and over the river at Deacons. Eating and drinking places are fewer but 2-3 pubs are within walking distance. There is still a strong current through some of the berths so best to check which berth you are offered, ask the neighbours, and decide if you are comfortable with it. They have the best bathrooms we’ve experienced, and plenty of them.

I think that they are both great marinas but ferry gliding is a regular required skill.

Garold
 
Garold said:
We have in the past been resident in Port Hamble and Swanwick.

Port Hamble is great for the convenience of Hamble village but the marina can be very busy in summer months. The charter and race boats mean that you have to keep a close watch when leaving or entering berths. Damage from other boats largely because of the current through the marina, can be a problem. We had three or four occurrences only one of which was resolved with some payment for damage. Very handy for chandlery and yard repairs etc. Ten minutes to Southampton water which is a convenience that you don’t always appreciate until you move further up the river.

Swanwick was better for motorway access and a longer ride up/down the river. Yacht services are better than Port Hamble because of all the units in the yard and over the river at Deacons. Eating and drinking places are fewer but 2-3 pubs are within walking distance. There is still a strong current through some of the berths so best to check which berth you are offered, ask the neighbours, and decide if you are comfortable with it. They have the best bathrooms we’ve experienced, and plenty of them.

I think that they are both great marinas but ferry gliding is a regular required skill.

Garold
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Can be a real problem at Swanwick.
Also strong currents at the marinas down river, but more dependable direction.
Important to factor in driving time, since it can take well over 30mins from m27 to Port Hamble even on a clear day, Tesco customers & car boot on A27 can spoil your day.
 
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I have been in all three:

Swanwick: Good boat services, you can avoid the Tesco roundabout by using the back roads. This can save quite a bit of time at rush hour. Long way from Southampton water and it could take 45 mins in my little boat. Check your pontoon and position carefully for tide as close-in are much much less tidal that further out. Nice wide fairways makes manoeuvring on the ebb easier. Good selection of pubs within walking distance and short drive to small or large shops. Excellent staff.

Mercury: Half way down the main road to Hamble, so you will suffer with the Hamble traffic at peak times. Chandlery is OK. One onsite restaurant and that was always a rather sad place with not much in the way of food or service quality in the two years we were there. Pontoons are closer and more likelihood of getting bashed by someone getting it wrong on the ebb. Poor staff.

Port Hamble: Walking distance to pubs, shops and yacht clubs. Busy. Can get noisy with charter crews. More likelihood of getting bashed by inexperienced charter crews. That said, I never have been bashed in any of the three (fingers crossed that stays that way) although I have seen incidents in Mercury and PH. Excellent staff.

In my opinion Swanwick and PH have advantages. Mercury is the worst of the three.

After Mercury, I moved to OV as it was close to my office and is so very sheltered. This year I move to a river trot near PH and I expect I will come in and use visitors nights there.
 
alant said:
Can be a real problem at Swanwick.
Also strong currents at the marinas down river, but more dependable direction.
Important to factor in driving time, since it can take well over 30mins from m27 to Port Hamble even on a clear day, Tesco customers & car boot on A27 can spoil your day.
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Car boot is gone ;-)
 
Scala said:
Some excellent info here thanks. I wasn't aware of the Mercury dev plans, that's maybe an issue.
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Start reading here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?488883-MDL-Mercury-redevelopment

My experience of the three is limited to Mercury. I like the (currently at least) generally quiet atmosphere and lack of charter fleets, have found the on site restaurant/bar is rather better than it might look at first appearances and the walk into Hamble and back is perfectly manageable. However my experience of customer service from the marina staff has been somewhat mixed. I'd echo the comments that traffic by the Tesco roundabout can be a real issue at the wrong time.
 
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Worth checking out Universal Marina. Less traffic problems and a full service marina in a nice location. Once you are underway the actual time difference between the marinas is not really that great.
 
The traffic in and out from Hamble is mostly a 10 minute or less drive from the M27, except after 4 and before 7PM weekdays, when yes then it can take up to 30 minutes, but on most evenings around 20 minutes.

The Mercury application is very speculative and highly unlikely to get planning consent, with massive local opposition, despite MDLs best soft soap routine. Mercury is (presently) more rural and the restaurant / bar, the Waters Edge, has the best views on the entire river.

I would prefer the housing application is kicked out, but the buildings in the marina could do with replacing. Tidal flows are less at Mercury than either Swanwick (which varies with position), and Port Hamble. Do not rule out Universal, but apparently they too are flying kites for re-development. Apparently one tactic is to overcharge for moorings so they end up with a substantial tranche not used, giving them grounds to state a change of use would make the area more sustainable.

Deacons and the Elephant yard (the famous Mermaid Yard of Howard's Way) is also well worth checking out.
 
I've been at Mercury and Hamble Point - both have the same traffic mentioned above (not really a problem) but HP has better boatyard facilities (lots of trades there) and a bit quicker to the Solent if you're just down for the weekend.
 
Having on a number of occasions walked from stations to all the big hamble marinas except universal...I hate the walk to mercury from hamble station because there's no paths on most of satchell lane so it's not especially safe (especially at night). Port hamble is a long way to carry a sailing bag but at least you can walk on a path. Swanwick is an easy stroll from bursledon. I do understand that a disturbingly large proportion of forumites recoil in horror at the notion of they or their friends taking public transport...

Personally I never get tired of the trip up and down the hamble. Like the trip to and from bucklers hard but marginally less natural beauty and more boats to look at. At least you're never rushed deploying or stowing lines, fenders and sails. Having said that I've only been a part-timer at swanwick (maybe 3 months berthing and a few more pitstops in the past 5 years?). The force 4 at swanwick is a bit rubbish but the one 5 mins walk over the bridge at Deacons is very well stocked and was much appreciated during my 2013 re-fit.
 
I started in Hamble Point Marina, on the basis that it was closest to the real sea. Traffic on race days was always a worry, we sometimes lost a crew or two, stuck in the traffic down to Hamble. Parking fine for me as berthholder, OK for crew. Next boat was a cruiser which we kept at Mercury. Same traffic but loads of parking , fierce ebb tide at a wicked angle to the pontoons. Then in a miserly mood we moved to a mid river berth, accessed via the Royal Southern and their bum boat. Much cheaper but so inconvenient. No parking in Hamble village for guests, who had to leave their cars about a mile away outside the old village. And the day we came back late after the bum boat had finished will live in my memory; rowing the rubber dinghy half a mile up stream in the dark was not fun.
Then it was either get rid of the boat or whip the wallet for a proper Marina. For work reasons Swanwick was chosen and proved by far the most user-friendly of the lot. Best access, easy parking for car, pretty easy parking for the boat (or was I getting more skilful?). Admittedly it is a longish trip up or down the river, but this was mostly useful for knitting up or down, and always interesting to watch all the varied activity.
 
Scala said:
Thanks. We were in Swanwick before and I agree with the comments from people about how friendly they are there. It's the cost really.
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......and there's a bus stop right outside the marina for Southampton or Portsmouth, so you can use your bus passes! Marina staff are great, helpful and friendly. Swanwick far from cheap, but maybe less than those further down the river?
 
Scala said:
Thanks. We were in Swanwick before and I agree with the comments from people about how friendly they are there. It's the cost really.
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We found that the extra cost of Being in a good Marina was balanced by the amount more usage we got out of the boat. And the ease of getting guests on board.
I also appreciated in winter being able to go on board and tinker!
 
Another vote for Swanwick. Was there for 5 yrs. yes, some berths are affected by the tide, but once you learn how it affects you, you soon compensate. Good road acces (once you learn the back way from the M27), station nearby, pubs and excellent chandler just over the bridge at Deacons. Like a previous comment, I too find the trip down the Hamble really relaxing, and it give you plenty of time to get your boat ready for sea, or packed away for leaving.
 
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