Needed, affordable pontoon mooring south coast Portsmouth/Chichester

[Frontier]

I am in the process of buying my first boat, a 27' Sealine, and am finding it difficult to find an affordable marina in the Solent area. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Ideally I want to avoid tidal access problems. I can only go out at weekends, so don’t want to be waiting for the tide to come in.

Ideally I would like somewhere secure to park the car, with power and water on the pontoon.

I have one other question, the boat is currently on the Thames where there is the Boat Safety Scheme, is there a similar regulation at sea or in the harbours / marinas.

I expect I am not alone in theses needs, hence the prohibitive prices at the major marinas.

 

[tcm]

affordable

hiya....affordable is not a specific amount of money. The rates are high enough so there's always a space - so the choice is eoither they charge a ton of loot so there's space OR nice and cheap but which would mean everyone would have one and not bother using it, like tins of tomatoes in a cupboard at home. Working harder to get more money would be an option, cos asking for a money off doesn't seem to work...

 

[markc]

Cheapest 'marina' I know of is Itchen Marine in Southampton. More like a yard with some pontoons and fuel barge. No idea if they have space. Cheap and Solent is an oxymoron though

Itchen Marine (Towage) Ltd
American Wharf, Marine Parade, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 5JF
Tel: 023 8063 1500

No BSS on sea, or Thames licence - think of all the cash you will save that can be spent on mooring!

Good luck
Mark

 

[jhr]

"Cheap Solent Marina" is a contradiction in terms, as you are finding out. Most of the less expensive ones are tidal, to some extent at least, or several speed limited miles away from the open sea. There is Eastlands above Swanwick Bridge on the Hamble (just above the Sealine showrooms, as it happens) where I think a couple of forumites are moored, and Kemp's (but some berths are tidal) on the Itchen, above Shamrock Quay. There is also Wicormarine at Fareham (but tidal-ish again).

Alternatively, you may be able to find cheaper swinging moorings, particularly in Portsmouth Harbour, though secure parking can then be an issue. Even more alternatively, there are dry storage places, like Driver's Wharf on the Itchen, where your boat is stored out of the water and lifted in and out when you want to use her. I think you' be OK with a 27 footer.

Good luck!

 

[Frontier]

affordable is not a specific amount of money.. good point,

I have seen nice places (on the internet) for just over £3k or places that dry out for around £1500, Its just that there are so many and I dont live in the area, I was trying to limit the list. Thanks (I gotta go back to working harder !!)

 

[Frontier]

Mark,

Thanks for that quick advice (and to the other replies) much appreciated.

Frontier

Frontier

 

[mjf]

Hi and Welcome!

Your bio is a bit shy of info so not sure where you will drive from.

Certainly I believe you should look at the closest (in time )marina to where you will be leaving from ie max the time you have on the boat.

Others are right on the costs but there is huge choice esp. for your boat size. Sounds to me though that you want a pukker job with car park, security, water and power.

Spend some money - you know you will enjoy it more if the marina is a good one with facililities.


PS: Let us know if you find one and tell us where you end up please?

 

[KevB]

Chichester marina will cost you about £2600 per year plus electric which is cheap (the electric is cheap). Access via a lock at all but the lowest spring tides. Plenty of secure parking. No boat safety schemes, that's for inland waters.

I would imagine Brighton marina would be one of the cheapest along the south coast but not many places to visit within a short boaty drive.

 

[silvertop]

Come north, hell of a site cheaper /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[oldgit]

Might just be worth a quick look at the other 99% of the UK coastline if you need to moor on a budget.Must agree tho that the best marina ,assuming all other things are equal,probably the nearest one to home.

 

[miket]

Shamrock Quay was always a little cheaper than the other Solent marinas but still great for mobos.
Be careful when doing calculations. Include all extremities. Sealines have beaks and b platforms that used to be excluded from the length.