Ramsholt moorings

[Otter]

We are now very close to boat sale/purchase and the question of where to keep her has come up. I'm not keen on staying at the Tidemill because of the huge cost (£2250) and Waldringfield is almost a thousand just for the summer. We really want to be at Ramsholt but last time I asked the friendly harbourmaster he said there were 30 people on the waiting list and only 3 come up each year so he wouldn't even put us on the list. Maybe he didn't like my ugly face. Shame because I was very nice and polite
Every time we go past Ramsholt we see lots of vacant bouys so I wondered about finding someone who isn't using theirs. Then I also wondered about having one put in at one end of the long trot because I'd heard a rumour that you can do that on the Deben. Anyway - any ideas?

 

[Koeketiene]

Get in touch with sailorman - he owns a mooring there.

 

[sailorman]

I had already PMed Simon lunchtime with advise

 

[Koeketiene]

I had already PMed Simon lunchtime with advise

Silly me - should have known

 

[sailorman]

We are now very close to boat sale/purchase and the question of where to keep her has come up. I'm not keen on staying at the Tidemill because of the huge cost (£2250) and Waldringfield is almost a thousand just for the summer. We really want to be at Ramsholt but last time I asked the friendly harbourmaster he said there were 30 people on the waiting list and only 3 come up each year so he wouldn't even put us on the list. Maybe he didn't like my ugly face. Shame because I was very nice and polite
Every time we go past Ramsholt we see lots of vacant bouys so I wondered about finding someone who isn't using theirs. Then I also wondered about having one put in at one end of the long trot because I'd heard a rumour that you can do that on the Deben. Anyway - any ideas?

sent more info via PM

 

[East Coast Yawl]

Really the mooring situation at Ramsholt is a disgrace,a jobs worth so called harbour master who seems to think he's God.
There are more unused moorings at Ramsholt than used,many have had no vessel sitting on them for years,a system should be employed if you don't put a vessel on the mooring,then it should be put to use by those in need.
Those that give the HB cash for the use of the mooring are wrong and it further corrupts the present system.
I've been told that a vessel would be back that night and I shouldn't use the mooring,in fact the vessel in question was laid up in a boatyard and the owner gave me permission to use the mooring.
A system of a waterproof card attached to the mooring,giving details of its suitability ,weight of vessel,length etc and time of return would be a welcome benefit to all visiting yachtsmen

 

[ditchcrawler]

I know three owners who have moorings at Ramsholt who keep their boats in a marina.They think this is OK as they have had their mooring for a long time and see it as their right.They probably use the mooring half a dozen times in the year.George of course knows them well and does a Nelson.Unfortunately this deprives other people from getting a mooring.It is unfortunately unlikely to change.

 

[Tam Lin]

I didn't used to believe in reincarnation.........

 

[Cantata]

Perhaps you have to like watching Apache helicopter gunship training to stay at Ramsholt these days. I'm here tonight and they were driving us nuts but thankfully the mess bell at Wattisham must have rung for dinner as they have cleared off and peace has been restored.
Oh, and least depth seen at the entrance at half-flood, 3.3m.

 

[East Coast Yawl]

Time to challenge the bad practice that exists

I know three owners who have moorings at Ramsholt who keep their boats in a marina.They think this is OK as they have had their mooring for a long time and see it as their right.They probably use the mooring half a dozen times in the year.George of course knows them well and does a Nelson.Unfortunately this deprives other people from getting a mooring.It is unfortunately unlikely to change.

That unfortunately is the English approach approach,turn the blind eye.
The classic case is the sexual abuse cases which are coming to light,I'll turn a blind eye and it will go away,yes it will and you have another person suffering.
Time is now to challenge bad practice,be it with people or to prevent access to open country side and yes even moorings.
Use the mooring at Ramsholt ,and ignore Nelson or any other jobs worth.Unfairness is there to be challenged.

 

[greylag]

That unfortunately is the English approach approach,turn the blind eye.
The classic case is the sexual abuse cases which are coming to light,I'll turn a blind eye and it will go away,yes it will and you have another person suffering.
Time is now to challenge bad practice,be it with people or to prevent access to open country side and yes even moorings.
Use the mooring at Ramsholt ,and ignore Nelson or any other jobs worth.Unfairness is there to be challenged.

You are probably a Rambler too, who thinks because there is a track you can use it even if it a private track.

Comparing Ramsholt moorings and child abuse is ridiculous. Rather keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool, than open your moth and prove it.

 

[East Coast Yawl]

You always know you are hitting the target when you get the insults, a rambler and proud of it.
Mass trespass worked on the mountains now it's time for the rivers,Ramsholt beware.

 

[Otter]

You are probably a Rambler too, who thinks because there is a track you can use it even if it a private track.

Comparing Ramsholt moorings and child abuse is ridiculous. Rather keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool, than open your moth and prove it.

I know he's been rather forthright but East Coast Yawl has a point. A large number of Ramsholt moorings are unoccupied, a good number on permanent lease to owners who are moored in marinas and treat a Ramsholt mooring like an occasional weekend cottage. The upside is that there are always spare moorings to pick up, the downside is that local people can't get a local mooring, some retired banker has his boat there six nights a year. A waiting list that closed 6 years ago because an average of three moorings a year come vacant. I no longer want one but would have welcomed one for a couple of years.

Having said all that we've spent about 40 nights there over the last six years and only ever been asked for a fiver a couple of times. The vacant retired bankers paid for the upkeep of the moorings we've been using so actually maybe the current situation ain't so bad after all

 

[FullCircle]

As a long time user of Ramsholt moorings, I have always been glad that there has been space for visitors, which also helps the Ramsholt Arms out with a bit of turnover/profit. I personally think that the bygone politeness and manners of the Harbour Master is something of a delight, and I certainly don't wish to see the status quo change. It is anachronistic in today's world, but other moorings are available elsewhere.
As LK says, those moorings are serviced by their owners, for which you may or may not have to pay. If you are a friendly and polite sort of chap, you would find that those same moorings have been lent out for significant periods of time.

I am not sure I would want to be giving a mooring to anyone who is going to be so aggressive and rude anyway. It is hardly the way that the East Coast works, and certainly not in this place. I also note that the OP doesn't seem to have a problem with marina or other mooring waiting lists, so is it just that he wants a cheap mooring at Ramsholt, rather than pay the price elsewhere?

 

[Capt Popeye]

If I remember correctly, I understood that The Ferry Boat Yard also had some moorings at Ramsholt, whether loan, hire or buy I do not know.
But, might be worth a try contacting them, that's of course if sailorman's advice comes to nought.

 

[pks1702]

As a long time user of Ramsholt moorings, I have always been glad that there has been space for visitors, which also helps the Ramsholt Arms out with a bit of turnover/profit. I personally think that the bygone politeness and manners of the Harbour Master is something of a delight, and I certainly don't wish to see the status quo change. It is anachronistic in today's world, but other moorings are available elsewhere.
As LK says, those moorings are serviced by their owners, for which you may or may not have to pay. If you are a friendly and polite sort of chap, you would find that those same moorings have been lent out for significant periods of time.

I am not sure I would want to be giving a mooring to anyone who is going to be so aggressive and rude anyway. It is hardly the way that the East Coast works, and certainly not in this place. I also note that the OP doesn't seem to have a problem with marina or other mooring waiting lists, so is it just that he wants a cheap mooring at Ramsholt, rather than pay the price elsewhere?

Well said +1

 

[Chalk]

Surely the mountain analogy is wide of the mark. Mountains are not man-made.
My wife and I spent the night on a mooring there a few weeks ago. It cost us £5 in the RNLI box. I can hardly park my car for that. George, whom I had never met before, was an absolute delight.
The Ramsholt Arms had good food, my only very minor grumble being that the whole area is given over to dining with no bar-space left. Not a problem though and I'd do the same if trying to make a living out of the place.
I have previously been offered a free night mooring from a holder. Unsolicited and unexpected.

 

[CliveG]

As a Ramsholt Mooring holder I must take issue with East Coast Yawl referring to our Harbour Master, George, as a Jobs worth.
He is there most days and looks after our interests very well including bailing out dinghys left on moorings when there has been a lot of rain.
He only gets a small honorarium for the work he does although most mooring holders know how to say “Thank You”

He does not make the rules on who gets the moorings or any rules on when they have to be given up.
These are made by The Ramsholt Fairway Committee that is made up of some of the mooring holders.
The fee we pay to the committee for our mooring only covers the use of the mooring slot.
We pay a contractor to supply and maintain the mooring equipment ourselves.

George asks visitors for a donation to the RNLI for the use of one of our moorings.
This goes straight into an RNLI Collecting box
We are all happy that he does that.

If the mooring owner has let George know that he has let a friend use the mooring I am sure that he would not be asking anyone to leave a mooring, unless he is aware that they are due back or that the visiting boat is too big for that mooring.

There have been a lot of empty moorings this year until a few weeks ago as quite a lot of boats seem to have been very late getting on the water this year.

 

[Capt Popeye]

This thread does though, underline the disparity between local mooring agents and the local businesses, especially since the dreaded Harbour moorings act came into being.

It would seem to me that local businesses and locals themselves should have had built into the system a provision for temporary mooring facilities, in the case of local stores and pubs a facility for visiting yacht folk to moor up whilst visiting the facilities.

Down here in south hams district there does seem to be an effort by the local council to safeguard some housing and mooring's for the local folk. And well received it is to.

Re the sometime attitude of a Ramsholt minder, commented upon on here; well I have heard of a rather aggressive attitude from such a described individual many moons ago, from a dinghy sailor attempting to launch his dinghy at Ramsholt. Perhaps tis not the same fella now, but it did strike me as unnecessary and OTT.

Ah well, Ramsholt is not what it used so to be these days

 

[Matelot Joe]

As a Ramsholt Mooring holder I must take issue with East Coast Yawl referring to our Harbour Master, George, as a Jobs worth.
He is there most days and looks after our interests very well including bailing out dinghys left on moorings when there has been a lot of rain.
He only gets a small honorarium for the work he does although most mooring holders know how to say “Thank You”

He does not make the rules on who gets the moorings or any rules on when they have to be given up.
These are made by The Ramsholt Fairway Committee that is made up of some of the mooring holders.
The fee we pay to the committee for our mooring only covers the use of the mooring slot.
We pay a contractor to supply and maintain the mooring equipment ourselves.

George asks visitors for a donation to the RNLI for the use of one of our moorings.
This goes straight into an RNLI Collecting box
We are all happy that he does that.

If the mooring owner has let George know that he has let a friend use the mooring I am sure that he would not be asking anyone to leave a mooring, unless he is aware that they are due back or that the visiting boat is too big for that mooring.

There have been a lot of empty moorings this year until a few weeks ago as quite a lot of boats seem to have been very late getting on the water this year.

+ 1 - Thank you Clive for putting things politely into perspective, for the good of all mooring holders at Ramsholt.