Southwold - latest news.

Javelin

Javelin

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Southwold
www.southwoldboatyard.co.uk
A quick note to say that you can now get Red AND White Diesel from the new fuel station on the new harbour wall.

So any of our friends from across the pond can now fill up without staining their tanks.
I think the prices today were 93p for red and 1.40 for white, though obviously this will change.

It also means that we won't have to keep our bowser running at HMS which frankly is a godsend.

The new floating pontoons are there but we're just waiting for a couple of pile guides to be finished and a walkway to be installed.
 
Certainly not this year, it'll remain as is for the foreseeable future.
There's quite a lot of pontoon rebuilding to be done up and down the river since the flood so there's a limit on what can be achieved anyway.
The local council really don't get what the harbour is about and live entirely in the short term with respect to the yachting market.
It's a constant battle to get any funding and talk about facilities for visiting yachts just goes right over their heads.
I know that the HM has had to fight like hell to get what he's got.

In some ways its good as the place remains rustic and remains attractive for that reason, especially to marina dwellers.
If a developer got his hands on it then they would possibly rip the sole out of the place.
So perhaps baby steps is the best way forward.
 
Javelin said:
The local council really don't get what the harbour is about and live entirely in the short term with respect to the yachting market.
It's a constant battle to get any funding and talk about facilities for visiting yachts just goes right over their heads.
I know that the HM has had to fight like hell to get what he's got.
Click to expand...

Well he certainly seems to have fought to good effect! Half decent toilet / shower facilities being the big improvement from my p.o.v. - I can up with put shoddy facilities myself but the Dear Lady Wife, whilst no delicate flower, does have her limits!

Javelin said:
In some ways its good as the place remains rustic and remains attractive for that reason, especially to marina dwellers.
If a developer got his hands on it then they would possibly rip the sole out of the place.
So perhaps baby steps is the best way forward.
Click to expand...

Damn right. There's a fine line to be drawn between providing an acceptable standard of facilities, for visitors and locals alike, and spoiling the place by modernising it. Handy though pontoons are, I'd hate to see the staging go altogether for example as it's one of the few places where things are still the way they were in times past (and OK so I'm a bit of a romantic historical dreamer but I don't care!)

We'll be passing by in three weeks or so heading Northwards and whilst I've no firm plans to pay a visit in May I wouldn't rule it out - last time we headed for points North we ended up stuck in Southwold for four days (and there's few places better to be stuck in for my money)
 
We enjoyed our visit to Southwold last summer. Its nice that the place is kept unspolit.

The upgrades sound in keeping with the character of the place whilst providing better facilities for visiting boaters.

I have to admit though that a night out was frighteningly expensive!!
 
CX54WEK said:
We enjoyed our visit to Southwold last summer. Its nice that the place is kept unspolit.

The upgrades sound in keeping with the character of the place whilst providing better facilities for visiting boaters.

I have to admit though that a night out was frighteningly expensive!!
Click to expand...

We had friends "to lunch" @ the Hbr in 4 x F & C made my eyes water too
 
A current update on the new Southwold pontoons. We arrived yesterday from Lowestoft and berthed on the pontoon, very civilised compared withe staging. No ladders, fender boards or long lines needed. However there some drawbacks. The pontoon is just downstream of 3 large fishing boats with large noisy engines. One of them when it comes in keeps its engines running for a good half hour or more while they are overhauling the nets. This presently going on for the second time today!!!
Madam has just gone for a walk as she said the noise "was getting on her tits"
Also you do feel a it out of it here, can't watch the goings on at the pub, children crabbing etc. you are however spared the anxiety of being wiped out by a mishandled arrival or departure.
The new loos and showers are still not ready although will be soon they look quite swish.
We are are alone here apart from a survey vessel which also keeps a diesel genny going for ages to run the computers after getting in.
Southwold is still our favourite place though.

Further update it wasn't 30 mins this time but 1 hr 20 mins!!!
 
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I see you've put down roots Leighb
Pass you boat twice a day for the last three days on my way to the yard.

Sorry about Klynes boat - he does tend to run his engines a lot but that's one of the issues in a working harbour.
We did take the Avril Rose out the other day and he tends to run his engine for his deck wash as well.

It's been pretty quiet this past week but the weeks before were heaving with lots of Dutch boats.

The survey boat was due to be at Southwold for a month so I guess he's got a couple more weeks and then he'll be off.

If you wander down towards the yard, I'll be the one scraping the antifoul and dead epoxy off the bottom of Somersault between the slip and the big white tent.
 
Hi Javelin
We do understand that this is working harbour, but I thought I should mention that there is a downside to the new pontoon.
We have made friends with the current (relief) skipper of the survey boat and he comes for tea and biscuits every day when he finishes his day!!
We hope to move on to the Deben on Monday weather permitting.
 
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