Non-tidal Thames marinas with floating pontoons?

Steve Grubb

Steve Grubb

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Just looking at potential future options of where to moor our boat. We have a preference to be on floating pontoons and I'm trying to work out how many places this gives us to choose from. This is the list as I see it, have I missed any?

Shepperton
Bates Wharf
Penton Hook
Windsor Racecourse
Windsor Marina
Bray
Harleyford
Thames and Kennet
Abingdon
 
Windsor Racecourse have increased the number of berths this year. If you have a large boat 30ft+ then getting in and out of the stream that feeds the marina from the river can be tricky. Twist and turns and trees. Your best bet is to go there and ask the other berth holders.
 
We were based at Racecourse for a season and our boat was fine getting through the stream but I did wonder how some of the bigger boats managed and was glad to have never met one coming the other way! We've spent a season at Thames and Kennet, then Racecourse and currently Shepperton. Each have their pros and cons, we're still exploring :)
 
Steve Grubb said:
Just looking at potential future options of where to moor our boat. We have a preference to be on floating pontoons and I'm trying to work out how many places this gives us to choose from. This is the list as I see it, have I missed any?

Shepperton
Bates Wharf
Penton Hook
Windsor Racecourse
Windsor Marina
Bray
Harleyford
Thames and Kennet
Abingdon
Click to expand...

DB Marine, Cookham and Bourne End Marina have floating pontoons albeit on the main river.
 
Thanks for the replies so far. We've no intention to move anywhere just yet, Shepperton is fine for now (and pretty full as mentioned). We're just thinking ahead and wondering what our options might be when we next choose to move on.
 
One's marina has both floating pontoons and bankside moorings, with an almost total absence of ugly poles to spoil then view doncha know.
When it rains a lot and the River rises an army of flunkies rush around and adjust one's mooring lines.
I thought all Thames marinas were so furnished....
Obviously not....
 
TrueBlue said:
.
When it rains a lot and the River rises an army of flunkies rush around and adjust one's mooring lines.
I thought all Thames marinas were so furnished....
Obviously not....
Click to expand...

Goodness, you lot will soon be wanting to be able to hire "online of course" a crew to take out your boats.
Would save you all the trouble of actually boating.

The menu should need to include the
Type of skipper.
A. Stroppy one who will shout at crew and grumble incessantly about rowers.
B.Half cut one who has been on the sauce since leaving office last night.
A.Know it all skipper.(probably some ex commodore your club could notwait to see the back of ) :)
A .Total incompetent but cheerful as hell.

Type of crew.
A. Much put apon wife who would rather be somewhere ....(anywhere) else.
B. 2 x sullen teenagers (see above)
C.A close chum , much better at boat handling than the actual skipper and with vastly more experience helpfully pointing out the skipper mistakes at every opportunity.Probably from the *edway.
D. Incredibly attractive young lady who insists on changing into her bikini immeditely apon boarding boat and demanding that you accept her offer of rustling up something in the galley to eat and drink inbetween sorting ropes and fenders while hand winding the locks.(Booking essential)

Weather
A Far too hot
B *issing down
C. Howling gale.

Problems on offer.
A. No power. battery flat.
B. Awful pong from Bog/fridge.
C.Outdrive with funny grinding noise.
D Outdrive with thin film of gearbox/hydraulic fluid expanding halfway across marina .
E Outdrive will not lock down in reverse.
F.Your mooring bill waiting in the office on your return.

You choice..... Credit card at the ready .....Whats not to like ? :)
 
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