New Company taking on Watchet Marina

[SaltIre]

Same guy pulling the strings behind the scenes we have been told by a very respectful source.

Only that the administrators stated there were no directorial links between the Marine Group and Western Marines. They appear to have new financial backers.

Perhaps the respectful source should contact the administrators, unless of course he/she is supportive of same guy.

 

[38mess]

Perhaps the respectful source should contact the administrators, unless of course he/she is supportive of same guy.

That's a distinct possibility

 

[Birdseye]

Theres more info on the Watchet town face book page.

There called Western Marinas or something similar.

Hopefully they know what they are up against.Fingers crossed and wishing them good luck.

Clearly they dont know or they would not have become involved. Watchet has had nothing but problems since the building of the marina. It silted up before that but with some scouring from the stream that then flowed through it only the town side of the harbour was affected.
Since the installation of the gates silting has been far worse - the local university did some work and came up with a tonnage of silt deposited every tide. I think the number was 50 tonnes. It defeated the council then the next owner and then Smee. If you look at the number of berths possible, do a quick calculation of income there is no way IMO that it will cover the cost of dredging plus the maintenance of harbour walls, gates , infrastructure etc and leave any sort of profit to cover loan interest charges.

 

[PCUK]

A sea lock and redirecting the stream would solve the mud problem.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

A sea lock and redirecting the stream would solve the mud problem.

Agreed but seemingly it was the authorities who insisted on the current stupid arrangement though I cant remember which marine ignorant lot it was.

Doesnt necessarily need a lock just the stream entering at top of harbour though porlocks arrangement help if stream very small and needs gathering up to make a bigger swoosh

 

[Allan]

Agreed but seemingly it was the authorities who insisted on the current stupid arrangement though I cant remember which marine ignorant lot it was.

Doesnt necessarily need a lock just the stream entering at top of harbour though porlocks arrangement help if stream very small and needs gathering up to make a bigger swoosh

On another Watchet thread on here I outlined a relatively simple idea to help reduce the silting. I won't rewrite the whole thing but one simple part of the plan was to involve either a university or possibly a PhD student.
Allan

 

[PCUK]

Can you post a link please?

 

[Allan]

It took some finding but it's on this page:

Harbour dredging at Watchet to start next week!

Allan

 

[PCUK]

Thank You!

 

[Allan]

Thank You!

No problem, it's funny to read some of the posts back then from people optimistic about the takeover by the Marine group! My thoughts now are simple. If the 'new' people do the same as the last lot, they will get the same result.
Allan

 

[MisterBaxter]

On another Watchet thread on here I outlined a relatively simple idea to help reduce the silting. I won't rewrite the whole thing but one simple part of the plan was to involve either a university or possibly a PhD student.
Allan

And give them a shovel?

 

[38mess]

I love watchet, been there spent money in the pubs and restaurants. But I can't see anyone taking it on, it's a money pit unfortunately.

 

[Allan]

I love watchet, been there spent money in the pubs and restaurants. But I can't see anyone taking it on, it's a money pit unfortunately.

I think many people, including me, think exactly the same. Another thing to consider is the alternative, I can't see one. Leaving it to completely fill up may be where it goes but I think it's generally thought that it would drag the whole town down.
Allan

 

[MisterBaxter]

I guess one option is to revert into a tidal harbour, as it always was. Not sure how popular that would be but plenty of towns on the west coasts do just fine like that.

 

[Birdseye]

I guess one option is to revert into a tidal harbour, as it always was. Not sure how popular that would be but plenty of towns on the west coasts do just fine like that.

Reckon its too late for that unless you contemplate knocking down the existing walls that separate the marina from the harbour. And its not that brilliant a solution anyway - I remember half the harbour being heavily silted before the marina was built.

Was chatting to one of the new guys in the old Cardiff office by Force 4. He said they had had some success with the initial dredging. What he didnt seem to be aware of was the University investigation into how much silt is deposited on every tide and therefore how continuous the dredging would have to be. Its an economic issue - no way can the income from a small marina like Watchet cover the cost of dredging and marina maintenance.

 

[MisterBaxter]

I remember spending a couple of days in Watchet in a twin keel Corribbee in the late eighties, it seemed to function well enough as a basic tidal harbour back then. But I don't suppose it makes any financial sense to spend a load of money to make the place less appealing to the general run of sailers by taking it back to that arrangement.

 

[Birdseye]

I am surprised by some comments along the lines of "the harbour didnt silt up before the marina was built" because it most certainly did so. It was a common port of call when I sailed from Chepstow in the 90s and frequently in a bilge keeler I wasnt able to get to moorings in the shore side of the harbour because of the silt build up. The inside area close to the outer wall was fine except that the fishing boats monopolised it since it allowed them to get out early with their trippers. The stream was and still is a feeble affair.

There are a number of harbours with small reservoirs to allow flushing of the mud - Bullo Pill and Lidney used to operate like that at one time but its difficult to see how this fits in with pontoons and boats permanently moored there. Its also difficult to see how proper dredgers can work round a piled marina.

I dont know what the answer is but for sure the main problem is not so much how to shift the mud as how to pay for the amount of shifting needed. Certainly thats the problem the previous 2? 3? owners have had.

 

[PCUK]

I know many people say the injection dredgers don't work as they definitely do. The problem is once the marina is cleared they need to carry on working on a near continuous basis.

 

[38mess]

It's a pity as watchet is a nice place to visit

 

[xcw]

Just looked at the Watchet Harbour webcam and it looks as if someone has lost their mast in the storm. Looked about 30 mins ago and a headsail had come unfurled and was flogging. Just looked again and it looks as if the mast has come down. I may be wrong but it looks like a Hunter. Keep safe everyone.