Moving to Shotley

Otter

Otter

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I’ve heard mixed comments about Shotley over the years, so with some trepidation we signed the forms today to move there.
The staff were incredibly friendly and they’ve allocated us a great berth. The facilities are good enough and of course the parking right next to the berth is a bonus.
I guess we’re going to find out if the adverse comments we’ve read are valid; so far I can’t see how they’re justified.
 
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I used to be a regular visitor skippering Sea Cadet yachts into Shotley, and never had any issues there - always really friendly and helpful.
 
Staff friendly, never found the lock to be a problem, sometimes you wait a little. The shipwreck even 15 years ago was dire you went in clean and came out smelling of old cooking oil and the food was crap. It's accessible to Joe Public and scroates alike which is a worry although I never heard of any thefts or break-ins. Don't know what the situation is now but be careful if you ever decide to sell your boat from there.
 
Felixstowe Dock, the largest container port in the country is a quarter of a mile away and even without an easterly wind you will hear every repeating horn on all the vehicles, every container unloaded on to a lorry tug, and every crash and bang, all night long, its like sleeping on a busy building site so best of luck. I suggest ear plugs.
 
I like it -- I pop in occasionally for a visitor's berth. Always feels like it's for proper sailors who want to put to sea ASAP, not weekenders who never leave the marina. No chandlery, sadly, but there's always Fox's up the road.

As for The Shipwreck I've never eaten there but I did have a nice cappuccino once. (See picture.)IMG_1589.jpeg
 
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I moved my boat to Shotley recently (beginning of April) and whilst we haven’t been there long we’re happy there so far. The staff couldn’t be more helpful unlike some other marinas in the vicinity. And worth mentioning that Marc and the workshop team are very good.
 
elliotmc said:
Felixstowe Dock, the largest container port in the country is a quarter of a mile away and even without an easterly wind you will hear every repeating horn on all the vehicles, every container unloaded on to a lorry tug, and every crash and bang, all night long, its like sleeping on a busy building site so best of luck. I suggest ear plugs.
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I never found the sound from the dock to be intrusive, and I am quite sensitive to sound. It always seemed quite in the background. I positively enjoyed being able to see the ships coming and going and other activity there.

I always found the staff pleasant and helpful. It's good there's someone on site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

I rarely found I had to wait more than a very few minutes for the lock. The exceptions were mainly queueing to come back in e.g. late afternoon on a sunny weekend's Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday.

The lock I found generally a minor inconvenience, occasionally a challenge in certain winds (and very occasionally sharing it with certain other boats!) especially single-handed, but it adds a bit of camaraderie and human contact in what, like most marinas, can be a bit of a soulless place.

As others have said, the Shipwreck is a terrible disappointment. I am amazed that Shotley hasn't got this sorted over so many years. The best that can be said is that it is there if you really need it. Service and food has varied, with different managers over the years, from very average to positively awful. Alternatives, if they're still open, are the Bristol Arms at Shotley Gate, a few minutes walk, and the Rose at Shotley a few minutes drive (the latter used to be well regarded).
 
oilybilge said:
No chandlery, sadly
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It does have a chandlery, open for a few hours twice a week except in Winter, but it is/was the case that the staff could open it on demand if something is/was urgently required. Liftout charges are exorbitant, even their Summer offer. Fuel very expensive. Echo for remarks above on the Shipwreck but there are the Bristol Arms, the Shotley Rose, an Indian takeaway/chippie in Shotley, and in Chelmondiston a Chinese takeaway and a tearoom.
 
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PeterBoater said:
It does have a chandlery, open for a few hours twice a week except in Winter, but it is/was the case that the staff could open it on demand if something is/was urgently required. Liftout charges are exorbitant, even their Summer offer. Echo for remarks above on the Shipwreck but there are the Bristol Arms, the Shotley Rose, an Indian takeaway/chippie in Shotley, and in Chelmondiston a Chinese takeaway and a tearoom.
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Liftouts are inline with Ipswich and SYH, Foxs are £3 per metre less. Best value Summer lifts last year was SYH, hands down.
 
Been at Shotley 6 years, although will be selling our Snappie over the next year or so. Not had any problems with the Marina itself and all the staff are very friendly. I did a lot of research before ending up there, the prices are similar to the other marina's in the vicinity. The lock can get a little busy at peak times and when it is rough out on the river when you are waiting to lock back in, it can feel you are waiting ages!

I've never had any problems sleeping on the boat with any of the dock noise and nor have any of the family, I think we got used to it very quickly.

The Shipwreck is OK I would say, plenty of options for food, kids like the burgers and ice cream. If you are desperate for high-quality food, there is the Butt and Oyster at Pin Mill, or SYC.

They still have the really deep baths which are great and fill scarily quickly!
 
As a new Shotley-ite, where are the baths? Only seen showers.
Agree that the shipwreck isn’t that bad the few times we’ve been there this year.
 
charmedquark said:
As a new Shotley-ite, where are the baths? Only seen showers.
Agree that the shipwreck isn’t that bad the few times we’ve been there this year.
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They are in the main building behind the Shipwreck. When you go through to the Toilets at the Shipwreck, you will see a brown door with a "digital" twist lock. They are through there, the door code is the same as the other Marina toilet block. There are two baths in the gents just before the showers.
 
Been at Shotley for near 10 years and have no complaints. I think the time waiting for a lock is usually less than the time it takes to get up to Levington. Shipwreck is ok for a drink but the Bristol Arms is only a 10 minute walk. It would be nice if they improved the lighting on the "posts"!
 
Dee Bee said:
Been at Shotley for near 10 years and have no complaints. I think the time waiting for a lock is usually less than the time it takes to get up to Levington. Shipwreck is ok for a drink but the Bristol Arms is only a 10 minute walk. It would be nice if they improved the lighting on the "posts"!
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Many people don't have much time for sailing and day sails are the order of the day.

Shotley is a great place for day sails there and back.

Mistley, Ipswich, Backwaters. Rough Towers, Walton/ Clacton piers Deben entrance.
 
I only know Shotley as a visitor, for which it was OK. I always found the road down from Ipswich rather long and tiresome, a bit like Bradwell. Alright for someone who lives nearby but I wouldn’t want to add it at the end of a longer road trip.
 
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