Port Solent or Gosport instead of Brighton

[SeaDave]

I'm considering moving my boat.

I live in Weybridge, right on the A3, and think it might be more interesting to be in one of these marinas as opposed to Brighton.

What say you knowledgeable folk?

 

[Powersalt]

done all three over the years and I would say it all depends on what you want to doa and how you use the boat.

Brighton is the cheapest and has the biggest dis advantage of once out the marina you are at sea, and sometimes it can get very rough. But when ashore it has a good social life, hence why my son keeps his boat there. But for me there is no where to go.

Port Solent gives you a bit of both, but you have the lock to put up with and a long way to the sea.

Gosport was my favourite as its easy to get out onto the solent, giving you plent of places to visit for lunch etc and is a pretty plesent marina.
My opinion for what its worth

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I'm considering moving my boat.

I live in Weybridge, right on the A3, and think it might be more interesting to be in one of these marinas as opposed to Brighton.

What say you knowledgeable folk?

Gosport will cost 50% more than Brighton, and Port Solent will be double. Port Solent is locked, the berths are tight, and it's a long run up the lake to the marina. Gosport is a great location, but there's a lot of movement in the water, and it can be a nuisance traffic-wise to get to down the A32. Gosport is obviously good as a starting point for cruising and has a nice view across the water to Portsmouth.

We have been in Brighton for years, and tried a few months in Gosport last summer - but in the end gave up and went back to Brighton - because Gosport was hard to get to, it can be uncomfy once you're on board, and the sheer volume of boaty traffic in Portsmouth harbour entrance and in the solent generally made it harder work than boating ought to be.

By contrast we've just spent three hours this afternoon drifting a couple miles off Brighton, in completely flat water, and I think the nearest boat that we saw was half a mile away. Lovely.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Nick_H]

I'd choose Gosport, provided you can get one of the inner berths that's more protected. The outer ones are too bouncy with swell from all the passing boats and ferries. Only choose Port Solent if you have some flexibility in when you go boating IMO, so you can avoid the sunday afternoon carnage trying to get back in through the lock, and can live with the long drag up the channel. Haven't been to Brighton marina, but from Gosport there's about twenty different harbours, marinas or good anchorages you can reach in less than an hour.

 

[AdeOlly]

What about one of the Chichester marinas? We're at Northney, basically the bottom of the A3 and across the bridge onto Hayling. Lovely sheltered marina with 24x7 access, and from the entrance to Chi you can get to anywhere in the Solent in about an hour in a planing mobo. If you don't fancy the haul down Chi harbour - which we actually enjoy though others don't -there's Sparkes just round the corner from the entrance and home to a good few forumites, but the road through Hayling can be very busy.

 

[SeaDave]

That's a lot for the insight chaps. Going to take a drive down this weekend and see how convenient they all are and also check out the actual marinas.

I'm genuinely surprised at the variation in price though - this may ultimately put me off. I naively assumed they'd all be very similar.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

That's a lot for the insight chaps. Going to take a drive down this weekend and see how convenient they all are and also check out the actual marinas.

I'm genuinely surprised at the variation in price though - this may ultimately put me off. I naively assumed they'd all be very similar.

Here you go:

http://www.premiermarinas.com/pages/12_month_berthing

In fact it looks like the price gap between Gosport and Port Solent has narrowed a bit since I was looking around last; and for boats < 10m Port Solent might even be cheaper than Gosport; but both still carry a big premium over Brighton. If you're going to Gosport on Saturday then take a walk up through the market in the high street, there's a fast-food van there that does just the best egg and bacon rolls (!).

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[SeaDave]

Cheers for that Jimmy. Chi would only be £50/month more so I'll check it out. Will probably go to Gosport on the way to get a sandwich

 

[henryf]

Don`t forget Haslar marina as well.

We have been there for 8 or more years having moved down from Port Solent. I got fed up with the lock at Port Solent. A busy weekend meant radioing up from your berth and waiting in line to get out of the marina followed by a long shlep down to Portsmouth harbour entrance at 10 knots or less.

I spoke with Gosport marina at the boat show because I was interested in their "add on" benefits compared to Haslar. They were quite a bit more expensive than Haslar though. Haslar is also very peaceful being tucked round the corner from the large vessels leaving and entering the harbour. If you fancy a bit to eat Gunwharf is just across the water and to be honest in the time it takes to get from Port Solent to the harbour entrance you could be in Cowes !

Very friendly staff indeed.

Henry

 

[Nick_H]

Have you checked out Royal Clarence Yard, next to Gosport? I think it's a good walk to the town/village, but I seem to remember some of the berths are reasonably protected by some kind of island or outcrop, and may be cheaper.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Have you checked out Royal Clarence Yard, next to Gosport? I think it's a good walk to the town/village, but I seem to remember some of the berths are reasonably protected by some kind of island or outcrop, and may be cheaper.

It's a short walk into Gosport High street from Royal Clarence Marina; less than 10 minutes
The current prices you can see on the site are frozen for 2010/11.http://www.royalclarencemarina.org/

There is minimal swell from passing ferries; mobo world (or something like that) use RC for weekend rallies.

Nearest pub is 4 minutes walk from the marina. Wifi is Openzone with excellent connectivity (using it right now). Prices are OK if you go on contract and not PAYG - I can't find any free hot-spots.
Cold beer in the fridge if you are passing (and a white wine for the ladies)

 

[RogerRat]

Portsmouth area marinas

Interesting question from OP. I keep gettting mail shots from the main competitors offering special this and that... Up to 50% discounts on winter services for 12 month berthing contracts.

It would appear that more berths are becoming available in the Solent area and pricing is now under review.

I'm at Sparkes on Hayling as quite of you know and live in Camberley, not far from Weybridge. Sparkes is run by MDL, like many marinas, it has its problems like being very small and tight for space, berthing can be quite scary in strong westerly winds. Pontoons are a little rickety with large gaps between planks, so not good for dog owners. MDL brought in some very good offers to help running costs last year which others like Premier are trying to match; large discounts on dockyard services and 30 free nights away at other MDL marinas. Fuel is also discounted to berthholders.

Generally, the closer you get to the Solent the more expensive the berthing. Hayling island is a good location for Mobos' but less good for sailors as it's quite a long haul over to Cowes at 6 knots. If you don't like the idea of slow roads across the island to Sparkes then Northney, also MDL is just over the causway and is larger and smarter than Sparkes.

We went to Brighton last Saturday, a little under 40 Nmiles and generally takes around 2 hrs dock to dock. Nice to visit but not as a home berth, for us. Going West then Poole is almost exactly the same distance and all Solent locations can be reached in around an hour.

'would be interested to hear what you decide, good luck.

 

[AIDY]

were in premier gosport at the moment..... it's okay if you get an inside berth and you do need snubbers on your lines. We were in royal clarence marina from when they openend until last year (maybe 5 years), when we moved. We got fed up with the on going building work, the clipper round the world yachts leaving the showers in a state, the long walk to the toilets and the lack of 24 hour security. the place seemed to go down hill after the origional owner mark went and the new owners at birdham pool took over. The only plus side it's really very sheltered behind the island and there was no rock n roll of the boats.

If i had the time i would moor at chi. but it's the lock and the long drag out to the real water that's the problem at the moment !

 

[SolentPhill]

What about Littlehampton Marina, its a bit cheaper than some but more expensive than others, you dont have the ferries to put up with, or an hour to wait for a lock, or an hour to sea, just a rough river. Its nice when your there.

What size boat do you have?

 

[ianhs]

Hi SeaDave,
I'm surprised no one's mentioned the Hamble. Although further in miles than say Sparkes or Gosport, its quicker in time to get to, and you couldn't be more central for the Solent. We used to be in Sparkes then moved to Mercury (also MDL) on the Hamble. On a weekday outside July/Aug same driving time. Any other time in the season Mercury's quicker in time (and we come down the A3). Friendly, spacious marina, plus great pubs and walks in/around Hamble village, and no waiting for locks!

 

[SeaDave]

A wealth of info - many thanks all of you.

I was only really considering marinas in the OP (and have subsequently added Chi) as they are Premier ones too so I can just pay the transfer fee and 'sail' over there.

I also suspect that my requirements are a little different to some of you. My boat is only a Sea Ray 225 so I don't ever stay on it or spend any real time on it in the actual marina. Things like amenities and building work don't affect me as they would some of you chaps as I drive there, get on the boat and go - return, get in car and go home.

A lot to think about before I renew next year though. In the short term I think I'll head down to Chi at the weeked and see how it suits.

Thanks again - invaluable insights into different marinas from you all.

 

[MRC]

A friend of mine lives in Weybridge, what about Ocean Village? 45mins door to door.

 

[Solitaire]

I also suspect that my requirements are a little different to some of you. My boat is only a Sea Ray 225 so I don't ever stay on it or spend any real time on it in the actual marina. Things like amenities and building work don't affect me as they would some of you chaps as I drive there, get on the boat and go - return, get in car and go home.

Why not consider dry berthing? Cut down on maintenance, boat ready and waiting when you come down.

Facilities exist at Hamble, Portsmouth, Southampton and Chi.

If I had a boat of your size, I'd be in the Solent itself. Chi bar can make it "interesting" to get out in certain winds. Similar problem to Brighton when wind in the south. You also don't want to be using fuel just to get somewhere, I guess you use petrol!

 

[mjf]

I think a lot depends on when you travel to your boat.

As ever there are compromises to be made. I'm at Puerto Solento and every now and then think of moving to Gosport / Haslar / swanwick / hamble point etc etc.

For me being O/B only minutes after coming off the A3(M) on Friday eveing swings it.

i like the security of the lock and Wx protection that affords too. Good shore facilities, lift etc. Frankly the run down to the Ballast pile is fine gets everything warm and I would rather have that 5 miles on my boat than the extra time in the car - in traffic getting to the other places mentioned.

PS was one of the 'sportier' prices when i first berthed there but others have caught up..

 

[SeaDave]

Well I went down to Chi marina on Saturday and really liked it.

My concerns are the lock in/out...not used to that in Brighton and am concerned that busy days may see us waiting on the berth for ages rather than just going out.

Also the channel out from there looks like it would take 20-30mins (?) which may well be enjoyable but in a small boat it would mean that once we're out, we're out- not easy to pop back in for her to use 'facilities' or re-fuel etc.

I think I'm going to go for it though - can always move back if it's not for us.

It was certainly nice to see a LOT of available parking/room and no real worries about the carnageous Brighton traffic.

Now I jsut need to decide if it's worth moving this year or wait till spring.