Southdown Marina, Plymouth

[ANDY_W]

I'm thinking about taking a berth at Southdown Marina near Millbrook, Plymouth ( operated by the same people who run Torpoint Marina ).

I would appreciate any comments about Southdown that anyone might care to make.

Regards,

Andy

 

[robmcg]

Had the boat taken out there for the winter and due to go back in next week. Great place with great people and a bit of an 'alternative' vibe about it. Location is rural and views are great (when the tide is in). Very friendly and knowledgable boaters there who are happy to help with anything. It does dry so access is not 24hr but otherwise I really like it there. Not overly expensive either and we have had no issues having used a Torpoint mooring for the last few years.

 

[DevonMark]

I was on a swinging mooring at Torpoint Marina a few years ago and the staff are helpful and it does have a sort of alternative feel about it - you don't feel so anonymous as you do at larger places.

One point worth thinking about (if you live in Devon or to the East) is getting there. You have to either cross on the ferries or go around by road (a long way). I live just to the East of Plymouth and I used to keep the boat at Brixham. I reckon it took me nearly as long to get to Torpoint as to Brixham. If there is a problem with one of the ferries or an unexpected amount of traffic (some times in the Summer when combined with rush hour) then you can queue for quite a long time. I don't go across regularly, so somebody who commutes will be better able to inform you how often this happens.

 

[doug748]

If there is a problem with one of the ferries or an unexpected amount of traffic (some times in the Summer when combined with rush hour) then you can queue for quite a long time. I don't go across regularly, so somebody who commutes will be better able to inform you how often this happens.

As DevonMark says the ferries are generally reliable but you can get delay. For example you may just want to go back to Plymouth on a sunny Sunday afternoon and find you have over an hour to wait as everyone piles back from the Cornish side and an afternoon on the beach. This is often stragely unpredictable. Overnight there is only one ferry so the wait seems ages as it slowly plods across, paticularly if you just miss it. There is often 3 ferries at rush hour but early in the season one may be taken out of service for repair and that can cause problems. I know people who commute and never use the ferry always choosing to go the much longer, but more reliable, bridge route.
The marina at Southdown is much improved but I always think these "second tier" marinas are rather expensive for what you get - but that is a personal decision. If you spend a lot of time away cruising I don't think there is system to compensate you - I understand your berth is just let and you pick up the full tab.

 

[ANDY_W]

Many thanks for your replies, all of them useful in building up a picture.

The prime attraction is that, having just bought a boat which is 9 feet longer than my present one, the mooring fees will be half of those at Mayflower, which is where I've been for the last 20 years.

A full service marina is very nice but a 50% saving goes a long way to compensating for a
lower level of service!

Another factor is that I am virtually retired and am more able to pick the times to go to and from the boat, rather than being tied to deadlines, although I hadn't realised that the ferries might be such a source of delay.

Ah well, everything in life is a compromise!

Regards,

Andy

 

[clyst]

Many thanks for your replies, all of them useful in building up a picture.

The prime attraction is that, having just bought a boat which is 9 feet longer than my present one, the mooring fees will be half of those at Mayflower, which is where I've been for the last 20 years.

A full service marina is very nice but a 50% saving goes a long way to compensating for a
lower level of service!

Another factor is that I am virtually retired and am more able to pick the times to go to and from the boat, rather than being tied to deadlines, although I hadn't realised that the ferries might be such a source of delay.

Ah well, everything in life is a compromise!

Regards,

Andy

My advice is to stick with Mayflower and cough up the extra cos when the tide is out Southdown is a s**t hole and your boat will get covered in mud . Been there on a visit ......YUK !! Before you committ yourself I'd take a visit at low water . Sorry to all those who use Southdown but thats my opinion of it .

 

[Scillypete]

Visited there a couple of times, quite a while back now so may not be relevant, and although it was a very useful place it was indeed filthy. The fact that in the distant past it was a coaling quay means there was still a lot of coal dust about and it got everywhere. As I said it was a while ago (10 years) since my last visit so it may have been cleaned up a bit by now but I doubt it.

 

[robmcg]

As I said it was a while ago (10 years) since my last visit so it may have been cleaned up a bit by now but I doubt it.

Not so now. I haven't noticed any issues over this last winter. Southdown does dry but some parts of the marina are dredged to 2m so it is possible to stay afloat I believe, although access still won't be 24hr. Swings and roundabouts with regard to what you get for the price but I would imagine it is a lot more sheltered than Mayflower is. Love watching the boats rocking and a rolling on the pontoons there and sniffing the smell of epoxy and seeing the glass fibre dust blowing around from where they are fitting out some of the Princess motor yachts ......quality!!!

 

[Boreades]

Wot, no websites?

www.southdownmarina.co.uk
or
www.southdownmarina.com
?

 

[Charmian]

Southdown marina

Hi, I've lived at Southdown for about 5 yrs now and love it. We gave up our house and moved onto out boat full time. I was worried at first, but, on the first day here made friends before we had moored. People were waiting on the pontoons to help us in. As my husband is off site a lot with work, I worried about things going wrong with the boat, Again, shouldn't have. A bit of a girlie yell for help and someone will always turn up in seconds.
We have great socials around the BBQ and there is such a thing called pontoon dancing for the brave or drunk lol...
Great place to be ...

 

[jakeroyd]

I'm in Mayflower and generally love it.
We are out on K pontoon , where , yes , it gets rolly at times.
However we have been looking closely at costs.
Mayflower have not put up prices for next year which for the customer is a sensible move which relflects the current economic climate.
One thing that does get to me is that if you want to spend winter on the hard you pay extra whilst still paying for your normal berth.
I accept they have a business to run and a profit to be made.
Pontoon maintenance costs at Mayflower must be pretty high.
For next year we have decided to pay for 6 months at Mayflower and then spend winter out on the hard at Cloads.
Although you pay more per metre at Mayflower for 6m than 12m this till works out cheaper.
I reckon/hope to save about £700 next year doing it this way.

Just a thought.

I have a mate at Southdown , he would agree with the comments made here about time to get there etc. He often gets out at HW and anchors overnight in Cawsands bay if an early start is needed and the tides is at the wrong time. He would also echo the comments about the mildly bohemian feel of Southdown.