Probably need the space to enlarge the "caravan park".
The Cooks sold of the chandlery and service side just before they sold the rest of the organisation to the caravan site people, so It doesn't surprise me. After all two and a half chandleries in the same area doesn't make a whole lot of sense from the business point of view. No mention of the chandlery on the Walton Marine site, although there is a picture on the page.
It's a shame, "we" seem to be losing more and more services on the river as time goes by.
She's just back in, hopefully should be ready by tomorrow as they have had her for 2 weeks now. Give her a good spruce up on the weekend and then off to Boulogne for Easter for the first proper run of the season. Chandlery at Walton closed mid December, pressure from internet chandlers, then people coming in asking for the chandlers advice on products that they have bought off the internet just to rub salt in the wounds. There is talk of another chandlery opening up, but can't see it happening which is a shame as is always a good meeting point to catch up with peeps. What were you doing in there, having a poke around the swindlery? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I'm based at Bridge Marine, which is just upstream of Walton Bridge. Their chandlery is in the process of being expanded at present -- definitely worth a look at. And they're a good natured lot, too.
Bridge are good people and very willing to help. Best go by car as mooring can be chancy at times, not much space and there's a tatty old bridge in the way
I have been thinking of using Walton Marina to dry-berth my as yet unfinished boat on a trailer, but all this talk of Walton Bridge makes me think there is an alternative.
Any peeps know where the best place in that vicinity to keep a trailered boat is? Security is my biggest concern.
Don't let the ribbing about Walton bridge put you off - its no problem at all, in fact there's many worse on the non tidal Thames.
Come to think of it, getting out of the marina is probably more hazardous.
Howvwer, as an alternative consider Penton Hook - maybe Mike Gates will give you a little encouragement! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I visited Penton Hook a few months back, and didn't see anywhere to park a trailer with a boat on it - they did show me what looked like a boat scrap-yard though? But no slipway...
So that's a no-go, unless they have laid a slipway since then...
Wow lovely boat. For the record Penton Hook has two slips and a trailer park that has secure bolt down points. I will PM you with details of our trailer package that includes secure storage, unlimited use of slipways, 24 hour access and security,10% discount on fuel and free membership to our Cruising Club Scheme.
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I visited Penton Hook a few months back, and didn't see anywhere to park a trailer with a boat on it - they did show me what looked like a boat scrap-yard though? But no slipway...
So that's a no-go, unless they have laid a slipway since then...
T
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Sorry guys, it wasn't Penton Hook that I visited with no slipway. I will have a look sometime soon.
Bridge Marine specialise in trailer-mooring. As well as a 10 ton boat lifting rig, they have tractor launch and recovery (at no additional charge) as and when you want. I recommend them. Pop down and talk things through with Jenny in the office. At present, there are lots of larger vessels that have been lifted out for overwintering but, come Easter, they all start to go back into the water and spaces start to open up. I think you'll find it hard to find a better deal if you want to keep your boat on a trailer. And they have CCTV security, too.
Bridge also have a glass moulding outfit on the same site, great for reasonable prices of resin/hardener/glass in your own containers, also acetone. Everything for a grp boater!