Solent Dry Stacks - Easy access from North West London

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finchtimr

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Hello everyone

We're looking to buy our first boat within the next 12 months (thanks Aquaholics!).

We live in North West London and love the Solent area, which seems better suited to motorboating and more locations to explore, as opposed to the closer and cheaper Essex waters I grew up sailing in.

Does anyone have any ashore storage or dry stack options they can recommend in the Solent, ideally options which are the most convenient from NW London, so either A3 or M3 routes.

Equally, be great to hear from any boaters who regularly do that drive and can share experience on which roads to avoid and marinas to aim for.

I'm weighing up cheaper through to more fully serviced dry stack options. So all options are considered.

Best,
Chris
 
I have been at Southanpton Drystack for a number of years. A very efficient organisation staffed by a friendly and helpful crew. I travel from halfway down the M3 and can get to the yard in about 45 minutes. Highly recommended.
 
I would hate dry stack. How does one climb aboard & sit up there in a rack of boats??? :rolleyes: One of the things I like about my marina is driving to it going aboard & having a chat to the boat. polish or re arrange some bits. Discussing various things about life. Drinking a cup of coffee, Down a couple of biscuits & go home after a chat with a few people in nearby boats. No need to ring first. Just go when I want. Sometimes I do not even know I am going when I leave home. I just change course en route.
 
alancollins said:
I have been at Southanpton Drystack for a number of years. A very efficient organisation staffed by a friendly and helpful crew. I travel from halfway down the M3 and can get to the yard in about 45 minutes. Highly recommended.
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Thank you, will take a look. Any rough idea on costs per meter?

philipdawsonladds said:
Universal on the Hamble worth checking out
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Added to the list; thanks!


Daydream believer said:
I would hate dry stack. How does one climb aboard & sit up there in a rack of boats??? :rolleyes: One of the things I like about my marina is driving to it going aboard & having a chat to the boat. polish or re arrange some bits. Discussing various things about life. Drinking a cup of coffee, Down a couple of biscuits & go home after a chat with a few people in nearby boats. No need to ring first. Just go when I want. Sometimes I do not even know I am going when I leave home. I just change course en route.
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Haha! That is the downside, though on balance we'd prefer to stack it.

Aardee said:
How about Trafalgar Dry Stack opposite Port Solent - Really easy access from the bottom of the A3
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Thansk. Yes, I like these guys - was my goto option initially
 
Aardee said:
How about Trafalgar Dry Stack opposite Port Solent - Really easy access from the bottom of the A3
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I was just about to suggest that one. Although, on a separate note, how they ever got permission to build that big ugly thing right next to Portchester Castle is beyond me.
 
alancollins said:
I have been at Southanpton Drystack for a number of years. A very efficient organisation staffed by a friendly and helpful crew. I travel from halfway down the M3 and can get to the yard in about 45 minutes. Highly recommended.
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Totally agree SDS is very friendly, was only there for a short time before boat sold , Only down side I found that the boat got very dusty despite having an all over cover on.
 
Hamble point, one of the easiest by car from NW london 1 hour 40 minutes, m25, m3, m27 and easiest by boat, straight into the solent and the delights of the IOW.
 
Ours is in KB Drystack, Old Portsmouth. Outdoor but not as dusty as the Southampton one as it's quite industrial round there from memory. Also straight out onto the Solent, very fast access to Cowes, Bembridge or Priory Bay. We can do it in 1 hour door to door on a good day from SW London, as we are right by the A3 junction at Tolworth.
 
alancollins said:
I have been at Southanpton Drystack for a number of years. A very efficient organisation staffed by a friendly and helpful crew. I travel from halfway down the M3 and can get to the yard in about 45 minutes. Highly recommended.
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+1 for Southampton Dry Stack. Been there for several years with different boats. Superb service, and always willing to go the extra mile or to help solve problems. They really know what they are doing and also offer the option of inside storage.
 
Aardee said:
Or, it gives the motors a chance to warm up before hitting open water. It only takes 30 minutes max from Port Solent lock to The Solent.
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Quite like the gentle journey, helps the organisation with fenders etc.

That said, fuel costs a lot more! Port Solent would easily be an additional £20-£30 on fuel per day.
 
simonfraser said:
have you considered park and ride ?
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Do you think National Express would like the idea of fitting a ball hitch to the back of their buses, having a 20 ft Drascombe hooked up, then presented with a free bus pass by some old duffer with a peaked hat & red trousers expecting to be taken to the local dock from the out of town car park
Good idea though.
 
Ian h said:
Just seems to far to get to the Solent from there ,
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How about Gosport Marina Dry Stack which is a lot nearer open water. I often drive down from the M27 and pass it midweek mornings and weekend mornings and whilst it's a 30/40mph stretch I rarely get held up. The traffic seems busier in the opposite direction i.e. going north in the morning and south in the afternoon.
Summer weekends the M3 south is best avoided. I don't know what the A3's like. As the best compromise (which they all are) between road journey and distance from the Solent I think Gosport is well worth considering.
 
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