Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
At least in the marinas you should get your own berth rather than mass rafting on a visitors’ pontoon
Solent marinas for a week or so in the summer
- Thread starter potentillaCO32
- Start date
At least in the marinas you should get your own berth rather than mass rafting on a visitors’ pontoon
wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
Places like Cowes, Yarmouth and Lymington Town Quay will raft.
I usually draw one of those clock faces with "We plan to depart at : 0500" and stick it in our window to deter newcomers ;-)
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
I generally provide an invitation to talk about Jesus…
Paying £55 pounds for a 10.4m boat to be rafted up to three deep at Lymington town quay no longer appeals
Paying £55 pounds for a 10.4m boat to be rafted up to three deep at Lymington town quay no longer appeals
Malish
Well-Known Member
wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
Nice site but I couldn't find any pages that were less than 10-15 years out of date. A bit like visiting the Wayback Machine.
SaltyC
Well-Known Member
Solent to a northerner is extortionate, the West Country last summer was over priced.
Then we wonder why boat ownership is declining!
Sailing singlehanded is cheaper in hotels.
Then we wonder why boat ownership is declining!
Sailing singlehanded is cheaper in hotels.
ashtead
Well-Known Member
One of the advantages of booking at say Bembridge or Yarmouth is you have a finger berth to yourself so no rafting and hence no disturbances across the decks or risk of damage to your outboard,lifebuoy, lifelines,side gate or indeed decks. At shepherds in cowes booking doesn’t remove risks of berthing alongside with others but you perhaps gain more protection from ferry wash of the red funnel . At east cowes marina you can get wedged in on visitor pontoon but not usually an issue. Clearly at lymington the yacht haven or berthon with fingers fine but the town key provides fingers but also opportunities for close interaction with your fellow boaters and of course sharing with rallies celebrating in the cockpit . Generally Ocen village in Solon is peaceful as is Chichester marina (but just be aware of potential delays in exiting via small lock)
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
That’s a good one, but we used to find that hanging a few babygro suits from the guard wires was most effective. 1st grandchild is on the way, so we’ll have a new source soon.
potentillaCO32
Well-Known Member
And a recording of a dog barking
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
Though when we had a mooring at The Folly, some visitors had an even more effective deterrent. Lacking on board facilities, they simply pissed against the hulls on nearby moored boats. Until Mrs C went nuclear that is.
flaming
Well-Known Member
I really don't understand the desire not to be rafted in places like Yarmouth etc. For me it's part of the appeal of cruising, that you get the opportunity to have a chin wag with like minded people of an evening.
wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
It’s a lottery. You may well get very amenable people, or they might have a bee in their bonnet. Jesus, or maybe other palestinians could make for awkward conversation.
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
Lymington (Go right up to town quay) very reasonable and a great location, Yarmouth, don't book a finger berth it's a waste of money just go on the rafting pontoon, Bucklers hard and then go to the Beaulieu Motor Museum, Cowes, you can go up the river to the Folly, that is nice and very reasonable other than that Island Harbour is lovely but you have to get the tide right to get through the lock. Marinas are going to cost around £60 a night. The Folly and town quay are much cheaper. You can average out the cost by anchoring in Newtown and Totland bay or Osborn Bay. I would not bother with Gosport, but GunWhaf Quay is quite good for visiting the Victory and HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose Museum. If you want to go east you can go to Bembridge, again watch the tide or Chichester Harbour and you can anchor there free.
wonkywinch
Well-Known Member
Good tips, but one correction. Chichester HM charges for anchoring, £10/11.
Harbour Dues and Charges:1 April 2026 - 31 March 2027 - Chichester Harbour Conservancy
winch2
Well-Known Member
Ah the days when u just grabbed a bouy and hoped you could get thru the night without the hull getting a tap and someone shouting..."you down there" your on my mooring, get orf"! haha
Malish
Well-Known Member
flaming
Well-Known Member
I think my ratio of "would you like a glass of this wine?" (many) to "Let me tell you why Brexit was amazing" (one) experiences in the last few years indicates that it's a risk worth taking!
The rate that my kids seem to be able to pull crabs out of harbours and onto the back of the boat always seems to start conversations!
potentillaCO32
Well-Known Member
I think rafting is fine as long as there is good communication about early departure
flaming
Well-Known Member
That's why you always pick the ones who are at least a bottle deep into their wine cellar...