Should I move from Windsor to Harleyford?

[thejonesey]

I am thinking of moving from MDL Windsor to Harleyford next season. Reasons:
Nearer to home so I can cycle (we only have one car.)
It is a beautiful stretch and we like Henley etc
We were impressed with the facilities and service at Harleyford. (cost is about the same.)

Concerns
We like the people at Windsor who are very easy-going about dogs and kids - is this going to be the case at Harleyford? Is there much of a community?
I have cracked getting in/out of the marina but Harleyford looks tighter?
With an air height of 3.70m will Hurley lock bridge be an issue? I do fit under Cookham on normal flow.

I would welcome thoughts either on the thread or via pm although I should add that this is a good problem to have as it is a win, win with both places being pretty great!

 

[Wavey]

I would have thought if you could get under Cookham lock cut bridge then you could get under anywhere.

Know nothing really about Harleyford but agree the guys at Windsor very nice whenever we stop there.

Isn't one if the problems with Harleyford that you're very tight between two tiny locks and Harleyford is generally all biggish boats?

Edited to add: oddly enough I'm thinking about moving to Windsor for next year. Best to get out now before the rush!

 

[rosssavage]

No problems with bridge height, you'll clear easily...

Does mean your engineer will have farther to drive though.

 

[thames cruiser]

No problems with bridge height, you'll clear easily...

Does mean your engineer will have farther to drive though.

ROFL!

 

[Phill]

We were at Harleyford for three years and really enjoyed our time there. We found a lot of the boats rarely ventured out of the marina and never encountered the queues that we were expecting at Temple or Hurley locks. In fact the queues were always longer at Bray when we moored there previously.
We were quite happy keeping ourselves to ourselves, but there is an active cruising club there.
Getting in and out is easier than it looks but I did find the afternoon wind died down in the evening which gave me an excuse to stay on the river later.
As for kids and dogs, the same as any other marina.
My only critisism was that the pontoons weren't floating but being so close to two locks, the water level seemed to pretty much remain constant.
When we get our next boat, we'll definitely be back there. We think the best parts of the upper Thames are either side of Harleyford.

 

[watson1959]

No problems with bridge height, you'll clear easily...

Does mean your engineer will have farther to drive though.

......don't YOU mean: does that mean your engineer is now free to book far more deserving customers?

 

[jecuk]

In a word, no. I didn't like it there and found the place had an odd attitude. Of course that is a generalisation but lots of boats that don't move who's owners are very keen to comment on those that do.

And the marina is very tight to manoeuvre in.

 

[apollo]

We were at Harleyford for three years and really enjoyed our time there. We found a lot of the boats rarely ventured out of the marina and never encountered the queues that we were expecting at Temple or Hurley locks. In fact the queues were always longer at Bray when we moored there previously.
We were quite happy keeping ourselves to ourselves, but there is an active cruising club there.
Getting in and out is easier than it looks but I did find the afternoon wind died down in the evening which gave me an excuse to stay on the river later.
As for kids and dogs, the same as any other marina.
My only critisism was that the pontoons weren't floating but being so close to two locks, the water level seemed to pretty much remain constant.
When we get our next boat, we'll definitely be back there. We think the best parts of the upper Thames are either side of Harleyford.

Says it all really, agree on all counts.

Worth mentioning the Showboat restaurant, new Italian owners. Lovely food reasonably priced (so BoatOne will never go there) and card machine.

Other recent change is new marina manager Mark Pearce who is a really nice guy.

 

[boatone]

Worth mentioning the Showboat restaurant, new Italian owners. Lovely food reasonably priced (so BoatOne will never go there) and card machine.

The Showboat is actually an establishment we have intended to visit for some time but information on where to moor is woefully lacking.

Your personal views on my spending habits seem a tad ungracious - why, just last Thursday I entertained SWMBO to fish and chips at McDonalds fine establishment on the outskirts of Upnor including a personal seat in the car park

 

[boatone]

......don't YOU mean: does that mean your engineer is now free to book far more deserving customers?

Nope, it means that customer can expect to pay more for travelling costs so that same engineer can continue to provide exemplary service

 

[apollo]

The Showboat is actually an establishment we have intended to visit for some time but information on where to moor is woefully lacking.

I am led to believe by the proprietor of the showboat that you can moor on the bank just upstream of it. There is always a gap there.

Your personal views on my spending habits seem a tad ungracious - why, just last Thursday I entertained SWMBO to fish and chips at McDonalds fine establishment on the outskirts of Upnor including a personal seat in the car park

Very sorry

 

[TrueBlue]

The Showboat is actually an establishment we have intended to visit for some time but information on where to moor is woefully lacking.

As I have pointed out on here (OK a while ago), it is possible to moor either side of the dinghy slipway, but that very nice man - Mark Pearce (as commended by Apollo) asks that you ring the marina and ask.

That's because others have moored there for a lot longer than a reasonable lunch break would imply. Seems reasonable to me.

There were a couple of smaller boats moored alongside the Showboat yesterday - but it's quite a long way up to the deeck and no boarding ladder.

It was very busy, suggesting that the food is good.

 

[thejonesey]

Nope, it means that customer can expect to pay more for travelling costs so that same engineer can continue to provide exemplary service

Thanks Tony... Don't give Ross an excuse to put his (rather competitive) prices up!!

I can always bring the boat to you Ross!

Thanks for the comments. We were very impressed by Mark and also enjoyed a coffee at the Showboat. It looks like an overnight, exploratory trip is needed!

 

[Sulley]

There are a number of boats at Harleyford who spend six months there in the summer and then come to Windsor for six months in winter. All are members at TWYC but they moor on the island at Harleyford.

Mark at Harleyford is lovely and has helped me out before.

 

[thejonesey]

There are a number of boats at Harleyford who spend six months there in the summer and then come to Windsor for six months in winter. All are members at TWYC but they moor on the island at Harleyford.

Now that is an interesting option!

 

[My She]

There are a number of boats at Harleyford who spend six months there in the summer and then come to Windsor for six months in winter. All are members at TWYC but they moor on the island at Harleyford.

Mark at Harleyford is lovely and has helped me out before.

That could be a good idea. The beauty of Harleyford is really only best from the river moorings. We moored there for while but were always threatened by the necessity of having to come into the marina during winter's wet river conditions. I'd really recommend Bray especially for their great staff, and grounds, and their welcoming attitude to dogs.

 

[Deefor]

Having approached Harleyford to moor our little Viking 20 there from April to October 2013, we were told that if we wanted electric then we'd have to be an annual bertholder. We couldn't have one of the berths with electric as these could be more easily sold to larger boats wanting an annual berth.

I can see their point but not one I was expecting. Oh well, their loss as we'll be at T&K next year. Staff seem much friendlier and more switched on to our "budget" boating lifestyle.

 

[No Regrets]

That could be a good idea. The beauty of Harleyford is really only best from the river moorings. We moored there for while but were always threatened by the necessity of having to come into the marina during winter's wet river conditions. I'd really recommend Bray especially for their great staff, and grounds, and their welcoming attitude to dogs.

I quite agree, and having spent a year or so at T&K, which is a nice Marina with pleasant staff, but in a far less pleasant part of the world IMHO, I wouldn't even think of going back. I wouldn't rate Windsor compared to Bray either come to think of it!

However Sheila, the nice man wants to cycle from home...Game over

 

[My She]

Your personal views on my spending habits seem a tad ungracious - why, just last Thursday I entertained SWMBO to fish and chips at McDonalds fine establishment on the outskirts of Upnor including a personal seat in the car park [/QUOTE]

omg . . .

 

[No Regrets]

The 'budget' thing doesn't come into it, as both moorings are the same sort of cost are they not!?

There is far more entertainment per ££ down near Windsor though, plenty of free moorings within a couple of hours gentle cruise and fantastic free sights that other earth-bound people have to pay for!!