One for the East Coast fleet.

[rays]

Have been offered berth in both Shotley and Wolverstone. My first time on the Orwell with a yacht, although was born locally so know environs well. Does anyone have an opinion as to which is best? Whist I can obviously compare prices, locations and so on, I bet there are some less obvious factors to take on board (!) All informed opinions welcomed.
CD

 

[fluffc]

Wolverstone can get quite bouncy when ships go up the river.

Shotley requires locking in & out. Shower facilities at shotley great.

Wolverstone great views; close to Pin Mill.

Shotley closer to Walton Backwaters and Blackwater.

Wolverstone I think is an MDL marina (decide for yourself if that's good or bad...)

 

[Mirelle]

Slightly sideways reply...

I keep an under-powered gaff cutter on a swinging mooring on the Deben, so the only thing that I can comment on is the ease or difficulty of getting in and out of each!

Woolverstone is, as you know, a very pretty place, good selection of services, not far from Ipswich if you need anything else. The tide runs fairly hard through the pontoons at times, and you need a certain element of verve and confidence in your boat handling to get onto an inside berth! On the other hand, I've never known conditions when one could not get alongside a hammerhead, there.

Shotley has a lock, which is very well organised. However, in strong winds, I have chickened out of the approach cut before now (ditto Levington!)

All things considered, my favourite marina on the Orwell is Ipswich Haven!

 

[asj1]

No lock at Woolverston vs
Does the tide flow through the marina t Woolverstone ( I don't know I haven't used it)
Much nearer the sea at Shotley vs
Pleasant sail up the river to Woolverston
Woolverston is amuch more pleasant parkland location.

Personally I am in Ipswich Haven, where I can walk from the station and I understand it is quite a bit cheaper than Shotley and Woolverstone, and a long way from the sea.

 

[oldestgit]

Hi:

Best access to the sea is both Shotley and Levington.

The advantage Levington has over probably all others (for me) is road access its a doddle straight off the A12, where as the worst is Shotley, miles down that winding road, but an excellent and friendly marina, with better pub & food facilities than its nearest neighbour Levington.

If you want to be near the town, well its got to be miles up river in the Ipswich ones, but that long trip down river especially if you want a tide is a real down side.

For me my first choice would be Levington and that only just before Shotley, sorry to Wolverstone.

Have fun....... Peter

 

[Keiron]

Hi Cambridgedon

I currently have my boat at Shotley and live just outside Cambridge! Have been into Wolverstone only once. Shotley is pretty convienient for the sea and river and very sheltered. Wolverstone can get pretty choppy with wake and strong winds and I have heard rumours of boats being damaged. Levington has a 3-4 year waiting list but is cheaper than Shotley. If you are interested send me a private email and I'll fill you in on more details about Shotley...

Keiron

 

[Neil_M]

As a place to visit, Woolverstone for local walks - but as a base I'd go for Shotley, with some reservation over queues to lock in/out & the driving distance.

Having said that I much prefer the peace (& lower cost!) of my swinging mooring up the Deben...

 

[Athene V30]

Re boats getting damaged at woolverstone - my previous boat had the whole rubbing strake ripped off when she rolled badly on an outside berth after being launched and before the marina staff put her on her swining mooring.

I am in Brightlingsea now and much happier!

 

[pvb]

I'd echo the comments made by others about Woolverstone, as I kept a boat there for a while. It's quite exposed, and strong current running through the pontoons can create mooring difficulties.

Shotley is very sheltered and ideally located, but the lock can be a real pain - usually because people meander up the channel so painfully slowly and take ages to sort themselves out once in the lock. Visitors are even worse than residents. If your sailing involves Saturday morning departures and Sunday afternoon returns, you'll need to allow at least an hour for each lock transit during the summer season. On weekdays, it's a doddle.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

We've just taken a berth at Shotley (or more accurately, will be using the new berth when we get our new boat) after 2 years in Neptune (opposite Ipswich haven)

We have moved because we simply got fed up of the slog up the river...

On a warm afternoon cruising up the river is a treat, but after a long north sea crossing, the extra hour or more up the river is a real ball ache..... and Woolverstone is a fair way up the river too... it can also be a pain if you want an early start, as it means either hanging off your hook up by Harwich, or leaving an hour earlier...

Shotley is in a superb location for exploring the Stour, diving out to sea, to head up towards the Deben or south towards the Blackwater, to drop into the Backwaters etc etc...

Plus, our initial treatment by Shotley as a new customer has been outstanding, which bodes very well indeed...

 

[Otter]

Don't dismiss the Blackwater - further to drive but a wonderful cruising ground and loads of marina's to choose from, some without any of the hassles discussed above.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

But, if his username implies his location, then the drive to the Blackwater from Cambridge isn't a nice one..... not undoable, but much further timewise....

Whereas with the Orwell, he could be on his boat with drink in hand in under an hour.....

 

[Ayeshaman]

I keep my gaff cutter in Shotley having kept boats at one time or another at Ipswich, Woolverstone, Levington and on swinging moorings on the Orwell. I think Shotley is the best compromise - you don't spend all day sailing up and down the same bit of river. Security is excellent - and you always know that the roughest bit of water you will see all day, no matter where you go, is between the exit posts and the Guard Buoy!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

We found ourselves nor appreciating the beauty of the Orwell, as we sailed/motored past it all twice every weekend.... itbecame mundane....

I am sure that moving to Shotley will allow us to appreciate just how lovely it is all over again......

 

[Stork_III]

Sholey is building new shower block at present, at current progress summer 2008 finish, but probably this year. Lock is not real problem, resident get serupticious preferential treatment on entry, "your on my list, I'll call you when its your turn to come down the channel"

Cheaper than Woolverstone, less exposed, secure, nearer the sea. We like it.

 

[Koeketiene]

At one time considered Wolverstone - price and the strong tide put me off.
Also, Guapa draws 2.1m - touch bottom at times.

Kept previous boat at Shotley winter 05-06.
No real complaints - lock access fairly straightforward - staff helpfull - close to sea
Downside: lock can get quite busy - long drive - trip up the B1456 can be a real PITA

Now at Levington - no lock - far better access - cheaper
Winter pontoon - summer swinging mooring - under £2K

 

[samwise]

We had two seasons in Ipswich Haven before the pleasures of a two hour run up the (admittedly lovely) Orwell to get to sea paled. We eventually got a place at Levington which is ideal. All tide access, sheltered, shoreside facilities ( showers, bogs etc) recently upgraded. Very good chandlery, marine engineers, sailmakers, rigging, woodworking and stainless experts on site, first class launch and recovery crew and if you join the HPYC youi can use the Lightship pub/ restaurant. Thinking about it, dunno why we upped sticks and sailed down to the Algarve -- maybe it was the weather! Seriously though, we looked at all the options and Levington came top of the heap. Worth waiting for.

 

[Mukes]

Between the two - Shotley would be my choice if I were going to use a Marina. I would have thought the extra 15min drive from Wolverstone to Shotley and time to lock in and out would be less than the trip up/down the Orwell - which can get busy. (But then my boat is rather slow!)