Poole bridge - how bad is it ?

[baart]

We have moved the boat to Poole this year and are on a swinging mooring at Salterns. It is working OK for us but sometimes we would want to be able to arrive later in the afternoon but the taxi is only available till 5pm and it is nearly impossible to get a visitor berth in the marina for one night. Our mooring is quite far from the shore so in a blow it would be a wet ride in a dinghy which neither of us fancies. Lakeyard marina is a bit too expensive and has a waiting list at the moment for marina and moorings anyway.

So we started thinking that maybe Cobbs or Davis's Boatyard are worth considering. But then there is the bridge problem. I don't mind the fact that it opens once an hour as long as I know I will get through, but will I when it is busy?

So can anyone with a boat there advise how bad can it get? I have only been to Cobbs once but it was mid week with only 3 other boats crossing with us so probably not very representative. How often does it break so that nobody can get in or out or is so crowded that you have to wait for the next slot?

Thx,
B

 

[Tranona]

Not bad in the way you describe - that is the bridges stay open as long as required for boats go through. Provided you are there on time there is no problem. Nowhere near a busy as it used to be as the now of boats has changed over the years and there are now far more boats hat are low enough to go under the bridges. The only real downside now is the time to go through both bridges with the potential waiting between the two. If your pattern of sailing is based on weekends and longer periods away then it is manageable, and depending where you come from access by road and parking are better.

 

[bignick]

Have you considered Poole Yacht Club?
It’s much cheaper than Salterns for a swinging mooring and the launch for boats on swinging moorings runs until ‘dusk’. (occasionally the launch operator's view of what defines dusk is different to mine)
The facilities are great and haul out charges reasonable.

 

[CM74]

Another option if you don't mind the bridges (they never bothered me particularly, there's lots of space to wait if need be, including pontoons - though I was going out for infrequent, long ish trips)
is the moorings in Holes Bay - I can recommend these guys: Poole Moorings who have some moorings there to rent, the dinghy trip is very short launching from the public slip by the lifeboat college or at whittles way, and usually reasonably sheltered.

My insurers considered holes bay to be sheltered enough to allow the boat to be moored there over winter too.

 

[baart]

Have you considered Poole Yacht Club?

I thought you need a proposer and a seconder to join the club and as we don't know anyone there we never tried? Is there a way around it?

the moorings in Holes Bay

We want some facilities ashore and I understand there is nothing there just the moorings?

 

[bignick]

they prefer you to, but I’ve known people join ithout.

 

[colhel]

The major inconvenience that we found was if you wanted to go out mid-week after work. If I remember correctly the bridges open every hour during the weekend but mid week it was every 2 hours or so which made evening sails quite restricted

 

[Tranona]

I thought you need a proposer and a seconder to join the club and as we don't know anyone there we never tried? Is there a way around it?

We want some facilities ashore and I understand there is nothing there just the moorings?

No problem joining - you will be welcome if you are an active participant. There is an aging membership and a desire to boost the younger active cruisers. I have been a member since 1987 and reckon just about the best club in terms of facilities and activities in the harbour (or indeed anywhere on the S coast). The moorings are at the less frantic end of the harbour, the launch service is good and there is a dinghy rack if you need it. Car parking good except when there are big national regattas - once or twice a year. Long wait for a marina berth, but it is possible to get a berth and storage ashore for the winter.

Happy to sign you in if you want a look around, although you can just rock up and ask in the office for an application form.