No Hoses ??

[Portland Billy]

We're just back from a trip to ST Kats - its the first time we've been there for a few years and went to give the boat a bit of a run and let the grandkids see London from the water.
I feel the place has gone a bit downhill -
No water hoses - apparently this is an HSE thing, in case someone gets poisoned - so why isn't it everywhere?
Maybe they just don't want to supply hoses ??
Rickety pontoons in the West Dock with only one badly placed cleat and a mooring bollard on the end - virtually every vessel was unable to secure snuggly alongside.
No clothes washing facility - apparently the 'one and only' washing machine has been broken for some time.
All this for over £50 per night.

It'll be Limehouse or South Dock next time.

 

[oldgit]

Rolls Royce Prices.......Porta Loo at Rock Concert Facilites

Agree 100%.Used to be the destination of choice with facilities as good as anywhere and price not that outrageous for location.
Now its all down at heel and def low rent.
Probably due to its frequent purchase and then resale by various asset management companies looking for short term cash cow portfolio.
It def getting a big thumbs down from boaters now for being expensive and scruffy,a real barstard to lock in and out and very poor communications when you try to book in or contact them.
Go elsewhere

 

[Wavey]

Many thanks for posting this. We were planning a trip there next month so will go elsewhere. Had no idea it was so bad.

 

[elton]

Many, if not all marinas are getting rid of hose pipes to comply with regulations introduced a few years ago, and now being strictly enforced.

 

[mikemanor]

Our marina also has no hoses provided - they were removed some years ago to comply with these regs. If a berth holder (accidently) leaves their own hose connected to the tap after use (we each have our own tap, 2 on each service bollard per finger) the marina staff disconnect it.

However, I agree with the OP. Limehouse is a much better option.

 

[No Regrets]

£50 a night! Crikey, your boats too bit mate!

£40 per night or £180 for a week, which is a more sensible £25 a night for our little tub

We have enjoyed many a night at St Kats, I wouldn't say it's rickety in our experience, and the surroundings are great. I hope Wavey won't be too put off...

Locking in and out has been really good this year, they respond to either VHF or telephone, and bookings are done with ease.

No problems here...

 

[Sulley]

+1 I like St Kats as well for location.

NR - how do you get moorings for £25 a night when it's £4.50 per metre??

 

[Richard Shead]

You could always stay in the hotel for 200 quid a night...

 

[Ramage]

+1 I like St Kats as well for location.

NR - how do you get moorings for £25 a night when it's £4.50 per metre??

Its a Broom 30 (9.14 metres). At £4.50 per metre works out to £41.13 per night. But it seems the weekly rate is cheaper.

 

[Sulley]

Its a Broom 30 (9.14 metres). At £4.50 per metre works out to £41.13 per night. But it seems the weekly rate is cheaper.

Doh, just reread the post! I thought he was really fibbing about the boat size as I knew it was a Broom 30.

Saw you and NR going past when I was outside the Swan in Pangbourne last week, I did wave but you seemed focused on the lock

 

[Ramage]

Oh, sorry to have missed you!

SWMBO (SnowCat) had been helming along the reach. She got shouted at by a Pangbourne rowing coach. Oh boy was he wrong.

SWMBO being an experienced cox of rowing craft and all.... she pointed out they are not proper ROBOs because they only row on a "millpond" and they would never survive down at Kingston or Putney!

 

[thames cruiser]

Oh, sorry to have missed you!

SWMBO (SnowCat) had been helming along the reach. She got shouted at by a Pangbourne rowing coach. Oh boy was he wrong.

SWMBO being an experienced cox of rowing craft and all.... she pointed out they are not proper ROBOs because they only row on a "millpond" and they would never survive down at Kingston or Putney!

ROFL!

 

[mlines]

Reading those regulations posted earlier in this thread, it is not down to Health and Safety, its down to money.

Those regulations permit the use of hoses in marinas providing they are fitted with an anti-syphon/backflow system. The regulations are only to protect the mains water system, not the boat users. It even acknowledges that boat systems can be contaminated and it does not express concern for this beyond syphoning back into the public system.

Therefore the marinas, faced with fitting anti syphon systems (money!) or removing hoses (free!) went the easy route.

 

[Ramage]

MDL marinas have hoses, and I filled up the other day using a hose at an EA water point. Therefore probably not Elf n Safety, but cost avoidance by some concerns.

 

[watson1959]

T&K also very well equipped in the hose dept.

 

[Sulley]

Oh, sorry to have missed you!

SWMBO (SnowCat) had been helming along the reach. She got shouted at by a Pangbourne rowing coach. Oh boy was he wrong.

SWMBO being an experienced cox of rowing craft and all.... she pointed out they are not proper ROBOs because they only row on a "millpond" and they would never survive down at Kingston or Putney!

Like it! Will keep an eye out for you another time

 

[mersey]

Limehouse, Poplar and South dock have also all removed hoses.

 

[No Regrets]

Sorry we missed you Sulley, we did wave and hoot as we saw you at Reading, moored up outside the festival, but you must have been asleep/busy/out

 

[sailorman]

MDL marinas have hoses, and I filled up the other day using a hose at an EA water point. Therefore probably not Elf n Safety, but cost avoidance by some concerns.

it is water companies regs. our hoses were removed 4 yrs ago with dire threats of hoses being confiscated / removed but there are now the odd hose left on stand pipe taps .
typical over reactions by jobs worths

 

[Deefor]

Reading those regulations posted earlier in this thread, it is not down to Health and Safety, its down to money.

Those regulations permit the use of hoses in marinas providing they are fitted with an anti-syphon/backflow system. The regulations are only to protect the mains water system, not the boat users. It even acknowledges that boat systems can be contaminated and it does not express concern for this beyond syphoning back into the public system.

Therefore the marinas, faced with fitting anti syphon systems (money!) or removing hoses (free!) went the easy route.

The taps on the pontoons at MDL Bray and Windsor are all fitted with "anti syphon" protection. In accordance with the Water Byelaws (now WRAS), all this means is taps should be fitted with some form of protection to prevent backflow of contaminated water into the potable mains system. Generally, garden hoses and taps fall into the "fluid category 3 rsik". From WRAS:

2 Prevention of backflow

Where water or water-using equipment is used with fluids or materials which could contaminate it, there must be adequate protection to stop backflow of potentially contaminated water into other parts of the system, especially drinking water. The regulations define Fluid Risk Categories by the type of contaminants which are present and specify the appropriate type of prevention device which must be fitted to guard against backflow

This is usually achieved by something as simple as one or two non-return (check) valves depending on the fluid risk. If a trigger gun is fitted, as per some MDL marinas, then a double check valve should be fitted. Hoses used to supply potable water should be of "food grade quality", not the type of hose one buys at garden centres used for watering plants or washing cars. As we see here, taps are sooo expensive . http://www.screwfix.com/p/15mm-x-outside-tap-with-check-valve/37241 . Potable water hose is considerable more expensive than garden hose, so this may be one of the reasons some marinas have withdrawn the facilty.