Shotley / Suffolk Yacht Harbour - Pros & Cons

[dolabriform]

We are debating the same, Shotley or SYH.
So far Shotley is winning because of the following:

Loads of space for the kids to run around
Beach
Shipwreck does ice cream and slush puppies
Food at the shipwreck is perfect for lunch for the kids
The shipwreck serves Beer and doesn't have a membership fee
The shipwreck has long opening hours and does decent coffee.
We haven't had to wait too long to lock in and out when we've visited.
All the staff seem very friendly and accomodating.

 

[Elemental]

We are debating the same, Shotley or SYH.So far Shotley is winning because of the following:...All the staff seem very friendly and accomodating.

I'll second that. I'm at Shotley and without exception, I've found all the staff there exceptionally helpful. Sometimes way beyond what may be required (I've had the chandlery opened at stupid o'clock when I've needed a bit and they didn't have one to hand in their 'box of bits')

 

[jimi]

Short walk from SYH last night, one of the reasons I berth there ;-)

 

[Sniper]

One of our favourite walks as well. I must also put in a plug for the helpfulness of staff at SYH - my experience has always been good whether for berthing, laying up or chandlery. Last week my oil feed pipe burst just after I left the berth and the young guys in the workboat were alongside me in minutes to help me out very cheerfully.

 

[tillergirl]

And Gary, your decision is...…?

 

[sailorman]

Short walk from SYH last night, one of the reasons I berth there ;-)

Had you have been at Wrabness you would have seen it for longer

 

[photodog]

Had you have been at Wrabness you would have seen it for longer

We saw you ghosting up river around 1130 today from our walk.... and I said to the missus, I bet roger was at wrabness last night...

 

[sailorman]

We saw you ghosting up river around 1130 today from our walk.... and I said to the missus, I bet roger was at wrabness last night...

1 tack all the way down to Harwich

 

[Hadenough]

1 tack all the way down to Harwich

Wow!

 

[photodog]

1 tack all the way down to Harwich

Those damn pipes have killed the stour this season.... plus that Scottish guy on the radio telling everyone to “sail more to the east...”.

 

[Jokani]

Those damn pipes have killed the stour this season.”

What are those pipes? I anchored the other the other side of them once, but couldn't determine their purpose.

 

[Jokani]

And Gary, your decision is...…?

I completed applications for both marinas, thinking that I may as well register an interest whilst I research further.

Miriam at Shotley called me within a few days, and couldn't have been more helpful and spent sometime answering my questions. There were some berths available, which made me keen to tie up a berth allocation, so I visited the marina on Saturday to meet Miriam and have a look around. I watched the lock operation for a while, met some of the other staff, looked at the available berths and talked to some of the berth holders at the same time, and Shotley just feels right for me.

I have not had a response from SYH as yet. There are clearly pros and cons to both marinas, there are good things said about SYH in the comments, but in general terms I find companies that cannot respond to sales enquiries are often likley to fall down in other areas of customer service. It is hard to find any negative comments regarding Shotley customer service.

After talking and meeting meeting with Miriam, viewing the marina facilities and berths, as well as speaking to some current berth holders on Saturday, Shotley just feels right, and and they gave me the impression that they are keen to look after me.

The Yacht Club seems active, keen for new members, and Simon (I think) gave me an application form to fill in, to be completed and returned shortly.

So Shotley it is!

 

[sailorman]

Wow!

Sorry didnt actually tack just stbd tack all the way
Pure skill init ;-)
Oh me smilies dont work

 

[pks1702]

So Shotley it is!

Miriam epitomises the helpfulness of the staff and your experience is typical of the 'can do' attitude. The lock masters are all very very good as you will find. We are at the lock end on C Pontoon so if we are not out have a good view of how many boats are waiting, unless there is an incoming club all arriving together or it is 1700 on summers day there are virtually no delays., even then we have rarely waited more than a lock. Welcome to Shotley

 

[PaulRainbow]

Miriam epitomises the helpfulness of the staff and your experience is typical of the 'can do' attitude. The lock masters are all very very good as you will find. We are at the lock end on C Pontoon so if we are not out have a good view of how many boats are waiting, unless there is an incoming club all arriving together or it is 1700 on summers day there are virtually no delays., even then we have rarely waited more than a lock. Welcome to Shotley

I'd agree with all of that, the staff are first class.

I'd also echo the "welcome to Shotley" :encouragement:

 

[Chalk]

Shotley versus SYH is a tricky one. I bought our first boat via SYH and was unimpressed with how that was handled. That's nothing to do with the marina though, but it chalked up a negative for me. Then I had some stuff stolen from my car. Again, nowt to do with the marina, really. Then it took aeons to launch the boat and I got the impression from some of the berth older that because it was a small boat and I didn't look like I had lots of money that they weren't interested in me and the waiting list might take a couple of years to whittle down (this last from the marina staff).
The chandlery is much better than Shotley but as a berth holder told me, 'If you have to drive past Junction 56 you might as well go to Fox's, which I now do and is probably why Shotley' s chandlery is minimalist.
In the end my wife and I chose Shotley due to the near intangibles of Customer Service. SYH didn't seem to want me.
Trying to address the negative personnel balance, there was / is a chap called Bob who had been there since he'd turned up as a student, I believe. He was excellent, friendly and switched on. The Light Ship too was good.
When reviewing Shotley, the single thing that stood out was the staff attitude. They were all kind, helpful eager to please etc etc.. All the things that nervous new sailor's want. That was why we chose Shotley.
Yes - it ain't perfect (toilet windows, Shipwreck etc (lock really is OK)) but I couldn't think of any other marina from the Deben to the Blackwater I'd rather be.
Now - if I forward this, do you reckon I'll get discount next year? ?

 

[Cantata]

What are those pipes? I anchored the other the other side of them once, but couldn't determine their purpose.

From lower down the page....http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-re-moving-the-pipeline-from-Stour-to-Bawdsey

 

[Jokani]

From lower down the page....http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-re-moving-the-pipeline-from-Stour-to-Bawdsey

Thanks for the link, I wouldn't have guessed that.

 

[dolabriform]

Sorry to revive and old thread, but after deliberating we've just taken up a berth at Shotley and hope to move the boat round in the next few weeks.

As said above, Miriam and the staff are the epitome of helpfulness and customer service.

 

[pks1702]

As a fellow berthholder I wish you a warm welcome :encouragement: