Plymouth Marinas

Montemar

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We are thinking of moving down to Plymouth for the summer months in 2021.
We have had a look at Sutton Harbour and Mayflower, both nice but quite different.
Any observations about the pros and cons of the several marinas there would be greatly appreciated.
 
We’re in Sutton Harbour. Great location if you like being where the life is, in normal times anyway. Totally sheltered. Water’s a bit grubby, as you’d expect. Very damp - ie green, but this may just be a West Country thing - been our first year moored down here. Staff are generally fine, if not so enthusiastically engaging as some places. In the year we have been there, lock operation has not quite been the 24/365 advertised due to lock maintenance, but mostly works very well. Marina car parking is expensive. Paying per day for local car parks works for us but still adds up. 20 minute walk from rail station. For us, the access to shops, pubs, restaurants and the shelter tip it.
 
We’re in Sutton Harbour. Great location if you like being where the life is, in normal times anyway. Totally sheltered. Water’s a bit grubby, as you’d expect. Very damp - ie green, but this may just be a West Country thing - been our first year moored down here. Staff are generally fine, if not so enthusiastically engaging as some places. In the year we have been there, lock operation has not quite been the 24/365 advertised due to lock maintenance, but mostly works very well. Marina car parking is expensive. Paying per day for local car parks works for us but still adds up. 20 minute walk from rail station. For us, the access to shops, pubs, restaurants and the shelter tip it.
We’re also in Sutton, I’d agree with all the above. Being totally sheltered was the deciding factor for us.
We spent 2 years in Plymouth Yacht Haven on Mountbatten side, more isolated, but some lovely walks, and a few good pubs, but a long drive into the city, or a ferry ride. We found it a windy marina and it could get quite rough at times.
 
We spent a couple of years in Mayflower in the noughties. Nice marina with great staff but, as said above, quite a distance from the bright lights. 24 hour access to all berths but a bit exposed closer to the outer breakwater. Prone to wash from passing ships, mostly Navy, and roly poly in high winds from south to south west.
 
Just for the summer I think I would choose Plymouth Yacht Haven, but, as longjohn has said, it is a little further out. You don't get the minor irritation of having to enter Plymouth by road, at the start and finish of your trip and access is fine from the A38. I would probably branch off at Ivybridge and go through Yealmpton, you can arrive thus without knowing the city is there. Parking is good.
If you like pubs etc ( assuming pubs etc exist in 2021) then Sutton Harbour.

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PYH would be my choice too. The town is only a ferry ride away of you want it, but a lifetime away in terms of noise, hustle and bustle.
 
We are in Mayflower and its true it can get a bit bouncy in there and wash from the ferry rocks any boats on the outer pontoons, the odd war ship has the same effect but I like watching them go out.Staff are great and Jolly Jacks , the on site resaurant is very good.Berth holders are allowed to take tenders over to royal william yard which I really like and has lots of better known resaurants and bars. Personally I think it's the prettiest of the marinas, and Mount Edgecombe house directly across the Tamar is great for walking the dogs even as far as Cawsands , where you can get a bus back to the Cremyll ferry.
 
I agree with all the above based on our experience of (1) staying in Mayflower for a while and knowing someone who has kept a yacht there for years, (2) spending the last 12 months at Yacht Haven, and (3) now being in Sutton Harbour for this winter.
I wouldn't put a boat in Queen Anne's or the other little basin beside the Brittany ferry terminal. Washing machines, both of them, from what I have seen.
If you are thinking of being down here for some time it may be worth mentioning that we found the lift operators and yard workers very good at Yacht Haven and will definitely do next year's lift-out there if we are still in the area.
 
I agree with all the above based on our experience of (1) staying in Mayflower for a while and knowing someone who has kept a yacht there for years, (2) spending the last 12 months at Yacht Haven, and (3) now being in Sutton Harbour for this winter.
I wouldn't put a boat in Queen Anne's or the other little basin beside the Brittany ferry terminal. Washing machines, both of them, from what I have seen.
If you are thinking of being down here for some time it may be worth mentioning that we found the lift operators and yard workers very good at Yacht Haven and will definitely do next year's lift-out there if we are still in the area.
The yard guys at QAB are excellent. I would not hesitate to use them again.
 
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