New to south wales

[Baysailor]

Just Moved to Mumbles area and will be bringing my Bavaria 37 up from southampton next month, weather permitting ! i was wondering where would be the best place to berth her and is there any good marine services in the area ? i've been spoilt in southampton.

 

[Anwen]

I would think that Swansea Marina or the Yacht Club pontoons on the river would be ideal. The Yacht Club is a bit cheaper, but some prefer the facilities in the Marina. The usual facilities are available, including a hoist and yard storage for the winter. Force 4 and Youngs chandleries will provide pretty much everything you need. The Marina is run by Swansea Council, and is very reasonable compared with the South Coast.

The main difference you will probably notice is the need to lock out to the sea. We used to have our boat in Plymouth Yacht Haven, and it was very nice to be able to go sailing at any time without having to check the state of the tide and go through a lock. Locking back in on a busy Sunday evening can be a right pain and take ages. However, you soon get used to it, and the Bristol Channel is comparatively quiet compared with the Solent, with lots of good places to go for a day sail.

We are in the Marina phase 2, along with several others who frequent this forum!

 

[Baysailor]

Ahh

I have already spoken to the marina and was so shocked that my berthing would be £7000 less a year ! The yacht club has a waiting list apparently so that may not suit me right now. Who can service my engine near by ?

 

[Oceanis]

Just Moved to Mumbles area and will be bringing my Bavaria 37 up from southampton next month, weather permitting ! i was wondering where would be the best place to berth her and is there any good marine services in the area ? i've been spoilt in southampton.

We are in phase one in the marina and brought our boat round from Swanwick three years ago. The marina fees are roughly a third of the fees on the Hamble. As Deepjoy has already said, there's the marina and the SYASC pontoons in the river. Both are good but the marina is slightly more protected, however the yacht club has a good bar and resonable food. Swansea Marine Group and Peter Wray offer a range of marine services, Simon Brewer of Sabre Sails does the obvious as well as biminis, sail covers, dodgers, etc. There are a couple of riggers offering services in the marina and yacht club. We are down on our boat this weekend - Friday to Monday, Oceanis 411 on E2 in phase one, gives us a shout from outside the Pumphouse (pub on the marina) if you're about and fancy a chat - John/Sea Magic (parked next to Greyhound).

 

[Oceanis]

I have already spoken to the marina and was so shocked that my berthing would be £7000 less a year ! The yacht club has a waiting list apparently so that may not suit me right now. Who can service my engine near by ?

Swansea Marine Group or Peter Wray of Wraymarine - I use SMG for the engine.

 

[Baysailor]

ahh

I think i've decided on swansea marina, after meeting a few people around the the area over the weekend and some of the very welcoming messages i've recieved it seems to suit me perfectly ! This morning i also visited the Force 4 in the marina (the other one was closed) i met a very helpful/slightly mad irish man whos name escapes me, the shop is very small compared to the force 4's near the hamble but seems to have the essentials in stock and is in someway connected to SMG mentioned above ?

 

[Oceanis]

I think i've decided on swansea marina, after meeting a few people around the the area over the weekend and some of the very welcoming messages i've recieved it seems to suit me perfectly ! This morning i also visited the Force 4 in the marina (the other one was closed) i met a very helpful/slightly mad irish man whos name escapes me, the shop is very small compared to the force 4's near the hamble but seems to have the essentials in stock and is in someway connected to SMG mentioned above ?

Niall is the guy you met in Force 4, he is very helpful and can get you anything from the Force 4 catalogue within 24 to 48 hours if they don't stock it. SMG and Force 4 seem to be part of the same group of companies. Paul Jones is their engines man, ex Royal Navy and certainly seems to know what he's talking about. Youngs is more often closed than open and I certainly have found them not very helpful when they are open.

 

[Morpheous]

I've used Niall & Paul at SMG & Peter Wray and been very happy, shame swansea is a bit too far for us cos they are good reasons to keep a boat there. Youngs - less so but still a reasonable retailer if open!

 

[lancelot]

I agree with the above posts, Swansea is a great place to keep a boat, good facilities and generally good shelter. Plenty of entertainment around the marina and in town.
Unfortunately, on bank holiday weekends, when the weather is fine, locking in and out can take some time due to increased volume of traffic.
We are in Phase 2 on L pontoon and very happy there.
Owners are always more than willing to lend a hand.
Fair winds,
Lancelot

 

[Oceanis]

I think i've decided on swansea marina, after meeting a few people around the the area over the weekend and some of the very welcoming messages i've recieved it seems to suit me perfectly ! This morning i also visited the Force 4 in the marina (the other one was closed) i met a very helpful/slightly mad irish man whos name escapes me, the shop is very small compared to the force 4's near the hamble but seems to have the essentials in stock and is in someway connected to SMG mentioned above ?

One suggestion, try and avoid the pontoon directly below the tower at the bottom end of phase three, the main pontoon parallel to the wall, not the pontoons running out into the dock. We spent the first year there and if there's a blow it really whips around the sides of the tower especially during the winter, you actually get spindrift! Also, some of residents in the tower like to use your boat for target practice with fag ends and the like. It's a long walk to the loo as well.

 

[wotayottie]

If there is an option other than the marina dont dismiss it too quickly. The barrage locks at Swansea are too small and badly managed so you can end up waiting for three or four lockings on a popular summer saturday, as priority is given to the fishing boats. Whats more the lock into the marina is quite the worst designed I have ever come across - just look at the damage to the edges on the marina office side of the lock. All that was done by boats accidentally hitting the lock side thanks to its silly shape and the cross currents that result.

I avoid Swansea for exactly these reasons