Port Solent 2018 update

[Sticky Fingers]

Hi folks

Still undecided about whether to go for the Hamble and swallow the cost, or find somewhere more "affordable" nearby.

Southsea seems very compromised on both road access (traffic) and boat access (tides). What does the panel think of Port Solent.

 

[dom]

Port Solent and Gosport are twinned marinas, so one can mix and match depending on requirements.

Gosport traffic is terrible, but then PS is a long way up the harbour, so depends on your location. The PS single lock is a PITA on a busy w/e with 1-2 hr delays on busy Bank Holidays. Finally, if you do choose PS avoid the unprotected N-pontoon as pilfering is a problem.

 

[derekgillard]

I moved there two seasons ago and like it, I keep my boat in the water all year so it's well sheltered during the winter storms. Graham the manager is pro-active as such i would say the service level is high.
I do use the free nights at other premier marinas, one interesting point is i can have unlimited use of Gosport marina which i use often.

Downside is queuing for the lock, however, I've only found it a problem on busy summer weekends when they give you a number and call you up when it's your turn. If I am out on a busy weekend i come in late or go to Gosport for the night and come back Monday am.

All in all I like it there.

delbuoy

 

[prv]

Never been based there, but from visits over the years I'd second the issue of the lock, both inwards and outwards. Especially waiting for an inbound lock at low tide you can end up with a lot of people milling around in a small space trying not to run into the mud at the edge of the channel.

Pete

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Um. Locks. That's a point.

Eastbourne where we are now has two locks operating in/out in tandem, 24/7 usage and it's been OK with the two in use, but even they got very busy at times and we had to wait.

Done a lot for my boat handling skills though...!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I...s, one interesting point is i can have unlimited use of Gosport marina which i use often.

Downside is queuing for the lock, however, I've only found it a problem on busy summer weekends when they give you a number and call you up when it's your turn. If I am out on a busy weekend i come in late or go to Gosport for the night and come back Monday am.

All in all I like it there.

delbuoy

Some interesting points there. We live 2-3 hours away so we need reliability of access. Wasting time on road traffic or locks isn't a happy thing. We stayed at Gosport last year, ran aground at LW even though I'm only 1.6m. Was a right PITA with the road traffic to get there.

 

[t21]

Porto Solente ooh i was based there a while. Yeah there's a lock... and a longish hack out to the Solent, hence it is more favoured for powerboats than loadsa sailing boats. But if you like going to the boat anyway and your boat isn't a godawful (cold/small) place to hang out if the weather is rubbish .... and especially if actually sailing isn't a must-do thing for the majority of the crew ... then it's pretty good imho. You get used to the lock procedure and calling early is best on a nice day of course, rather than waiting until ready to go.

 

[ashtead]

Cannot see why anyone would want to be in PS in summer compared to the easy access to Haslar or other Gosport marina . Yes you do have to contend with Gosport drivers but arrive late on Friday evening to cruise through but no worse than Tesco shoppers on the way to Hamble point. It's really a call if you prefer the motor up to end of day to PS or to hop into Gosport berth and know once you navigate past the QHM volunteers you are safely home for the evening. How much cheaper is PS than Gosport though ?

 

[Dawnrazor]

How much cheaper is PS than Gosport though ?

A lot cheaper if you get a private mooring at Port Solent.
11m mooring from Premier - around £6500/year the last time I looked, might be a bit cheaper now
11m private mooring - £3,300/year and the electric is cheaper

I'm not paying much more for a private 15m mooring.

And on a private mooring you still get access to Premier facilities and the car park for £65/year.

Tried Gosport and hated being stuck in traffic trying to get down there. The 35minute journey from Port Solent to the entrance of Portsmouth harbour is more enjoyable than spending 35minutes stuck in the car trying to get to Gosport.

But, each to their own.

 

[Piddy]

The PS lock isn't that bad - generally to go West, we leave 2-3 hours before HT and avoid Saturday mid-morning if no free-flow. Arrive back at HT and usually get Free-flow inwards. This tends to get the best use of the tides.
Bank Hols can be gruesome but a little bit of planning helps a lot.
We usually use the time coming up the harbour to clear up and clean down below so minimising the time on the berth after arrival if we are in hurry to get home.

Having done Haslar for a few years, I don't think there's that much in it. Either sit in the car for an extra 50mins (or more) or be on the boat for that time. Haslar car park is also quite a walk to get a trolley if there are none available at the top (may have changed since we left). When the kids were small, it was a difficult process to get them onto the boat with an adult and get all of the gear on board - particularly if it's raining!

It's worth the effort to look at renting residential berths - most are restricted to 11m and they are very strict on that but there are a few berths that are easy to get to and have options for electricity/water.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Sure, the drive to Goport can be a slog at times but in the three seasons I have been at Haslar I can't remember it taking an hour.

 

[cmjames]

I've just moved from Port Solent to Haslar and it's revolutionised my sailing! I am usually single-handed and found the lock very tedious, especially waiting to return when it's busy. I also became tired of the noise and dirt from the motorway, the pervasive smell of food from the numerous restaurants, the blackberry eating starling effluent and the longish drag down to the harbour entrance.

If you choose your time my trip from Winchester takes about 15 minutes longer to Haslar than to Port Solent but it's worth it to be able to be outside the entrance and sailing so quickly and easily and it removes the mild dread of the rush back to the lock whilst being overtaken by MoBos and then sculling around for quite some time. The freedom to come and go is marvellously liberating!

I also like the sense of being close to the harbour action, the tides(!) and the rather roomier berths and fairways. And the view from the lightship with a cold pint is unmatchable.

What finally decided me to move was the pontoon changes over the winter where I was told I had to move to a much less satisfactory berth without any apparent consideration of my preferences. I won't go into the details but I thought the customer service left a lot to be desired and that they were focussing on large motor boats rather than average yachts. The contrast at Haslar couldn't be greater. Friendly, helpful, responsive and welcoming staff and a really good feel amongst the bertholders I've met.

Port Solent has advantages (shelter, boatyard, accessibility, on-site services, things to do, big chandler etc) but, for me, Haslar feels like a breath of fresh air - literally!