Pwllhelli Marina problems again

I expect they will get some refugees from Holyhead.

I suspect the problem is more about many
-younger people being unable to afford boats
- younger people not wanting smaller less palatial boats
- younger people being addicted to video games rather than getting involved in outdoor pursuits of all kinds
- its a long way to Pwhelli from significant population centres
 
It's a long and awkward journey from the A55 to Pwllheli. The few miles after Caernarfon can be very slow indeed with lots of old Welsh drivers holding the English up. A great place to sail when you get there though.
 
Pwhelli is one of the most expensive marinas I've ever visited, it's a reasonable hike into town, and since they redesigned the harbour entrance, it's subject to heavy silting, requiring frequent dredging. On my last visit a few years ago, the entrance was very narrow and shallow. it's not a place I'd keep a boat, too expensive and restrictive.
I've sadly come to this conclusion, I grew up sailing in the area, and in the late 60's and early 70's I was a member of both South Caernarfon and Pwllheli sailing clubs, we raced Dragons, dinghys and a 1/4 tonner in the area. My parents lived just outside Pwllheli, after they retired, so I know the area quite well.
 
It revealed that just 60 of the 81 available berths at the Outer Harbour have not been taken up for 2018, meaning it is only 25% occupied.

At Hafan Marina, only 200 of the 409 berths are occupied, amounting to 48% occupancy.


“Although the service continues to operate an annual profit, a combination of the above factors has contributed to a reduction in the number of annual customers over the past decade,” the report says
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If they're making a profit with those occupancy rates why are they worrying? Looks like BS to me and if it isn't I suggest they drop their prices to get the occupancy rates up, that way they'll attract more people to the town, which really does come across as run down.
 
SimonFa said:
If they're making a profit with those occupancy rates why are they worrying? Looks like BS to me and if it isn't I suggest they drop their prices to get the occupancy rates up, that way they'll attract more people to the town, which really does come across as run down.
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48% might be the winter occupancy rate, but not the summer. I'd guess more like 80%. The number of empty berths seems to be about the same as the number of boats that have moved to the new yacht club pontoons, which won't have helped the marina.
 
Ian_Edwards said:
Pwhelli is one of the most expensive marinas I've ever visited, it's a reasonable hike into town, and since they redesigned the harbour entrance, it's subject to heavy silting, requiring frequent dredging. On my last visit a few years ago, the entrance was very narrow and shallow. it's not a place I'd keep a boat, too expensive and restrictive.
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Visitor berthing for one night for 10m boat...

Pwllheli £25.70
Conwy £30
Peel £22.30
Aberystwyth £30
Troon £29
Milford Haven £27
Stranraer/Kirkcudbright £18

So it's in the normal range for that bit of the world.
 
Caer Urfa said:
It says £380/mtr No way would I pay that, that's why it's half empty, as usual the council think all boat owners are an easy touch
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That would be quite modest for the Solent, but seems steep for somewhere in the back end of nowhere. For comparison, Bangor (NI) charges around £275/m and Port Bannatyne is £265. Mind you, Bangor is half empty too these days.
 
JumbleDuck said:
That would be quite modest for the Solent, but seems steep for somewhere in the back end of nowhere. For comparison, Bangor (NI) charges around £275/m and Port Bannatyne is £265. Mind you, Bangor is half empty too these days.
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It might be the back end of nowhere geographically & economically, but remember that there are large conurbations a few hours away (Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham) where the nearby decent places to sail are few & far between. If you lived in Liverpool for example, it might be drive 15 minutes to Liverpool marina, but then 2 hours motoring to the open sea, the distinctly unscenic Liverpool bay. Alternatively, drive 2 hours to Pwllheli, & then 15 minutes motoring to some of the best coastal scenert in Wales. I know which I'd prefer to do.
 
JumbleDuck said:
That would be quite modest for the Solent, but seems steep for somewhere in the back end of nowhere. For comparison, Bangor (NI) charges around £275/m and Port Bannatyne is £265. Mind you, Bangor is half empty too these days.
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+1. £380/m is just too expensive for what Pwllheli provides.

Bangor, at over £100/m less, is by a significant amount the most expensive marina in NI. But to be fair to them they put the effort into providing a service that reflects them being at the top end of the scale. And they're prob about 75% full at the moment (don't be fooled by the space they keep on E pontoon for visitors)
 
lpdsn said:
And they're prob about 75% full at the moment (don't be fooled by the space they keep on E pontoon for visitors)
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Last time I was there the whole system of pontoons nearest the promenade was tumbleweed city, but of course it could have filled up a bit since. I like Bangor marina very much, by the way. Great location, very friendly people.
 
Pwllhelli is hard to access by water or by Road. It really has little to attract a visitor or an Irish Sea passage maker. It is a considerable detour and is no replacement for Holyhead. It does not provide 24 hour refuge. The huge investment in the sailing academy has done little to benefit and attract new Marina users but has helped the dinghy sailors who turn up in their hundreds for training and championships. It made me quite angry as an ex outer harbour berth owner as we were not permitted to use the new facilities. Cheaper trot moorings were removed and the uncontrolled rib and power boat movements shattered their tranquility. Not everybody wants to be in an expensive floating caravan park. The out of town location and lack of integration with the local community make it a beacon of resentment for locals. The Cardiff sponsored gravy train is well and truly derailed. I just hope some experienced marine operation is allowed a free hand to make a success of running the place. I might even be tempted to revisit should they introduce a reciprocal discount arrangement between local marinas.
 
TSB240 said:
Pwllhelli is hard to access by water or by Road. It really has little to attract a visitor or an Irish Sea passage maker. It is a considerable detour and is no replacement for Holyhead. It does not provide 24 hour refuge. The huge investment in the sailing academy has done little to benefit and attract new Marina users but has helped the dinghy sailors who turn up in their hundreds for training and championships. It made me quite angry as an ex outer harbour berth owner as we were not permitted to use the new facilities. Cheaper trot moorings were removed and the uncontrolled rib and power boat movements shattered their tranquility. Not everybody wants to be in an expensive floating caravan park. The out of town location and lack of integration with the local community make it a beacon of resentment for locals. The Cardiff sponsored gravy train is well and truly derailed. I just hope some experienced marine operation is allowed a free hand to make a success of running the place. I might even be tempted to revisit should they introduce a reciprocal discount arrangement between local marinas.
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I agree entirely having had my yacht in Pwllheli for a number of years. I cant see there would be much room for improvement since Pwllheli is the centre of Welsh nationalism and the council has no interest in integrating English and Welsh requirements. The council have always seen the the marina as a cash cow. I am quite pleased that they have 150 vacant berths and the English have taken their cash elsewhere. The local council do not deserve the income. They make little effort and only false promises to the berth holders. The local facilities at the marina and harbour are poor.
 
JumbleDuck said:
Last time I was there the whole system of pontoons nearest the promenade was tumbleweed city, but of course it could have filled up a bit since. I like Bangor marina very much, by the way. Great location, very friendly people.
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The promenade goes most of the way round. I guess you mean A & B pontoons for smaller boats. They're without power and water and I think up to 8m max. They're cheaper per metre too. But Strangford Lough with loadsa moorings available is only a few miles south by land so those berths are often half empty. I doubt they're a huge part of the marina's income even when full.
 
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