Newbie seeking Solent berthing advice

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Granthsmith

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2 Oct 2009
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Berkshire, boat at Saxon Wharf
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My wife and I (plus 5 year old) are looking to make our first forray into Motor Cruising this year with a 34ft boat. We have decided the Solent is a good place to start out as it is easy access for us down the M3 and from a boating perspective presents plenty of cruising opportunities.

We are now starting to look into where we should keep the vessel. As total newbies, the appeal of a full marina with everything needed easily available is obvious but conversely, the costs are already mounting up with everything we need to get sorted just to get the hobby started and premium berths in marinas aren't cheap. Can anyone offer advice on the type of mooring/berthing we should sensibly be looking at and any particularily good/bad marinas/locations?

Thanks in advance

Grant
 
I'm biased, but I think Ocean Village, South Side is fabulous. We've been there for 2 years and the proximity to the town centre makes it for us - if the weather is iffy, there's plenty to do within a 10 minute walk. You really don't want a swinging mooring or a mid-river pontoon with a 5 year old.
 
Hamble is expensive unless you can fit under the bridge at swanwick, cheaper places would be gosport / portsmouth area, Royal Clarence for a full marina and full tidal access, they also have alongside berths which make it cheaper, it's very sheltered.

If your under 36 foot you can actually get a berth at port solent on a sublet not through the marina but through the property management service agent at half the marina price.... I enquired this year but my boats too big and it was going to be about 2.5K for the year.
 
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Wiggo said:
I'm biased, but I think Ocean Village, South Side is fabulous. We've been there for 2 years and the proximity to the town centre makes it for us - if the weather is iffy, there's plenty to do within a 10 minute walk. You really don't want a swinging mooring or a mid-river pontoon with a 5 year old.
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I have to agree with you Wiggo even though you are my neighbour in Ocean Village!!
For access from the M3 Ocean Village is really easy and quick plus you get the MDL benefits at other marina's.
I'm about to start my second year and it's a great place to access the Solent. Definitely recommended and something for you to consider.
 
Marina berthing

Hi there Grant,
Happy new year to you and the family.
Berthing in a full services marina will never be cheap, especially in your intended location but I would still recomend you do it.
There are of course cheaper options but as newbies the ease of access is very important.
Swinging moorings (if you could get one) are ok but not easy when starting out, you need the safety and sociability of walk on/off boating, you will use it more often, even just sitting onboard is pleasurable in a marina, not to mention all the great folks you get to meet and socialise with.

You do not want to put the family off right from the start, I would sudgest taking a car ride around the marinas and speak to the dockmasters at the locations you are interested in, take the opportunity to view a few brokerage boats while your researching, (Ancaster at Mercury Marina for example), find what sociable facillities there are on site, shops, play areas, walks and of course local pubs and resturants, ease of access from the M3 is great but you will be spending a lot of time at your intended berth so driving that slight bit further might be a better idea than pitching up at the first one.

I would try and do it soon, most berthing agreements run from April to April, if there is a boat whose owner is selling up the berth may well be transferable, he will also be keen to move on as the fee's will be due soon.

Good luck with the search and keep us posted.
 
Well, if you can get a berth at Port Solent for £2.5k then grab it. Personally it wouldn't be my first choice of marina due to the lock and the long drag out to open water, but it's easy to get to from M3, has good facilities and is as protected as you can get, so at that price you wont beat it.

Otherwise, it comes down to priorities. If you want quickest drive from the motorway, then a Southampton marina or top end of the Hamble, but either way you'll have a longer cruise to get to the places you're likely to want to go.

If being in a protected (from swell) berth is top priority, then probably not the Gosport marinas. On the other hand, if you want to be able to get places quickly in the boat, then Gosport marinas are ideal, as is the lower end of the Hamble, but they are pricey.

If it's all down to price (and assuming PS £2.5k berth not available), then top end of Hamble, or maybe a smaller marina without the same facilities, like Itchen marine.

For us, the best compromise was Lymington. Nice town, good facilities, all tides access, protected berths, no lock, turn left into Solent (Yarmouth/Newtown Creek/Beaulieu River) if the weather's bad, or right, out past Totland/Alum Bay/Needles, if its good. The marinas are still pricey, but less than the better positioned marinas on the Hamble. You could fit on a 10m berth at LYH, which would be about £5.5k. Also the drive from M3 can be a pain at certain times, but we found it no problem as we always arrived late-ish on Fri night, and left after 7pm on Sunday nights.
 
Top end of the hamble is fine, im there and flybridge but yet have not had 1 weekend when its been difficult to get under the a 27 bridge at swanwick.

There are spaces at our yard, eastlands boat yard if your interested pm me for the details.
 
Thanks for the replies, I like the sound of Port Solent for £2.5k and will definitely look into that, why would anyone not take that option? Is there a downside to subleting? Also, how do you get hold of the 'property management service agent', I can't see any reference on the Premier website and I'm not having much luck Googling it at the moment either?
 
Granthsmith said:
Thanks for the replies, I like the sound of Port Solent for £2.5k and will definitely look into that, why would anyone not take that option? Is there a downside to subleting? Also, how do you get hold of the 'property management service agent', I can't see any reference on the Premier website and I'm not having much luck Googling it at the moment either?
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Take a day or so and meander around the marinas, because they do vary both in facilities (from fantastic shower blocks, some so-so), and in atmosphere. Some have little going on, some have good bars etc,some remote, some close to shops (milk and bread, for example!)
Personally, while we enjoyed eastwards in Chichester, having moved more centrally makes you realise that every time you decided to go anywhere in CHI , you pretty much had to go west. IE, now being in the "middle" means either way is a bit closer. I may be wrong, but there seemed more chop over towards Chchester too- and the entrance can provide some thought if you are starting out.
The only thing I'd also have a think about is how long it takes to get back to the marina. If you have a long speed restricted journey (and maybe a lock too), you could be looking at 1.5 hours to get back your berth even from somewhere local in the Solent. And if you have to do that EVERY time, it can get a bit frustrating.
MDL now give you plenty of free days at their other marinas with an annual berthing contract.. Starting out, that can give you some fun nights "away", otherwise 34ft is about £30-35 a night.
Oh, and I d also have a look at the proposed berth itself.. some are drive straight in, some might be awkward to say the least. You dont want to end each day in a cold sweat!
Otherwise, everyone is always very friendly- and the best tip I can offer is never be too embarrassed to ask for help!
Have fun.
 
Granthsmith said:
Thanks for the replies, I like the sound of Port Solent for £2.5k and will definitely look into that, why would anyone not take that option? Is there a downside to subleting? Also, how do you get hold of the 'property management service agent', I can't see any reference on the Premier website and I'm not having much luck Googling it at the moment either?
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Personally I don't like the place at almost any price. The last time I was there the convenience store had closed meaning a drive out to Tesco for any supplies at all. All the shops seemed very 'samey' and if you didn't like what was onsite, it was a long drive to anywhere. The lock can be an abject PITA in summer as well, and that's before you trundle through the harbour.
 
Granthsmith said:
Thanks for the replies, I like the sound of Port Solent for £2.5k and will definitely look into that, why would anyone not take that option? Is there a downside to subleting? Also, how do you get hold of the 'property management service agent', I can't see any reference on the Premier website and I'm not having much luck Googling it at the moment either?
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Just sent you some contact details.... via PM. I have no expeience of it other than a quote in november last year, but my boat was too large, so don't know the pit falls.
 
Wiggo said:
Personally I don't like the place at almost any price. The last time I was there the convenience store had closed meaning a drive out to Tesco for any supplies at all. All the shops seemed very 'samey' and if you didn't like what was onsite, it was a long drive to anywhere. The lock can be an abject PITA in summer as well, and that's before you trundle through the harbour.
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I agree totally with you.... but it would depend on the price to park the boat !

I'm in gosport, what a terrible place that is, a delight to sail away from ! but it's functional for the solent and across channel.
 
I'm in gosport, what a terrible place that is, a delight to sail away from !
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I am also berthed in Gosport and there's not a lot to recommend it either in terms of pubs or places to eat. However the best thing is that even if the weather is poor there is always a strong incentive to head out to find somewhere better for a beer and a meal. When we were in Lymington and the forecast was a bit poor it was always the excuse to stay put and enjoy the many attraction of the town.
While Gosport has its drawbacks, the marina (Premier) is good with much improved shelter from tidal surge. Can also visit other Premier marinas for "free"
 
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