No berths available!

[Trevor_swfyc]

A trip to Burnham in the company of some friends in another yacht, the plan was to see the carnival and maybe have a meal.
Things did not go to plan, first having just cleared North Fambridge the other yacht reported engine trouble. The engine eventually cut out, it would go 300 yrds then cut out again. We decided to tow him to a mooring at Creeksea, all was not lost as we could continue to Burnham in my yacht. We contacted the marina to be told no berths available, determined not to be beaten the backup plan was to find a mooring as close to the marina as possible in my yacht and then go into the marina with an inflatable leaving the other yacht on the mooring at Creeksea. This we did but on getting into the marina we were surprised to discover plenty of free berths, certainly on fingers B and C. We saw the carnival, had fish and chips and made our way back to Creeksea in the dark. I know Burnham Yacht Harbour is under new management but with the increase in overnight fees and this treatment can I assume that we the visiting yachtsman are not welcome anymore.
Was this rebuff a one off or has anybody else had similar treatment?

Happy days!
Trevor

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[paulrossall]

The marina is now owned by the people who own Shotley Marina. I have allways found the Shotley staff to be very friendly and helpfull and often call in for a lunch break if going past. I don't book berths ahead and have never been refused a berth anywhere.

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[Trevor_swfyc]

Paul,
Thanks for the response, we to on several visits have found Shotley staff to be efficient friendly and helpful. They also have the lock to operate which adds to the complications, but they do an excellent job. That is why I was concerned at the situation I found myself in on saturday night. I know the staff do not like visiting yachtmen just comming in and picking up any berth they see, but in future I would be tempted to do this if told sorry no berths available.
Maybe we should have a star rating system, then those that only got a few stars could address the reasons why.

Thanks again.
Trevor

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[Birdseye]

dont know whether this is the cause, but i was in Swansea once and overheard some stinkies talking about notifying the marina that they were going out and would not be back that night. their uniform view was that, since they did not get anything (or very little) back for their berth if it was let out for the night, they would not notify the marina. this was a problem since the marina had let all berths on long term contracts and now relied on people going away overnight to have any space for visitors.

marinas arent going to leave berths empty if they can hire them out - not unless they have a staff problem.

if you ever find out what the problem is, I'd be interested in knowing. probably so would the marina MD

PS Swansea have always found me a berth - nice place to visit. Recommended

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[dickh]

I also have found Shotley staff to be very helpful. I bought my boat from them 5 years ago and on my first trip out was greeted by the lock keeper, "You must be the new owner then, pleased to meet you..."
Have also temporarily moored at the waiting pontoon outside the lock to pick up/deposit crew members after first asking on the VHF. Also used them for a nightime start on trips to Belgium/Holland(It's difficult coming out of the Deben at night...)


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I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[tonyc]

I've always found the people at Burnham Yacht Harbour most helpful - on one occasion I went in for a few hours to investigate a strange noise from the engine. The engineer checked things over and would only accept the price of a drink and the marina just asked for a donation to the Lifeboat. I suspect you were unlucky.

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[mikeb]

The problem is almost certainly that bertholders do not let the Marina know when they are going away - not really surprising as there is no bonus to them. But dont worry of they increase charges anywhere near the way they did last year when they took Burnham over there are sure to be lots of vacant berths for visitors

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