St Kats - and London marinas - Not exactly customer focussed.

[Danbury]

It's all a shame when you think about the amount of dockage that London used to have ! I have old maps that show very little land from Southwark all the way out to the barrier ! I have walked past a few closed in docks surrounded my flats... with not a sausage floating inside them !

 

[Sulley]

We had a club cruise organised for St Kats over Easter and have had exactly the same issue as the OP.

 

[phatcat1]

Hi Sulley, have you managed to get in elsewhere?

 

[Richard Shead]

Bear in mind st kats, Southdock and to a lesser degree Limehouse have easy access to Thames clippers so anywhere from embankment to the dome on the river is easy.

Indeed but they dont go up Exhibition Road....(Science Museum)!

 

[chinita]

I did a recce on Gallion's Point last year.

It was rather like the set of 'The Long Good Friday'.

Dire.

 

[michael_w]

Be aware both the Science Museum and the Maritime Museum are dumbed down travesties of their former selves. Suggest the Royal Observatory and the V&A instead.

 

[Sulley]

Hi Sulley, have you managed to get in elsewhere?

We are going to West India Dock instead.

 

[phatcat1]

Is that the one listed as Poplar Dock?

Not sure yachts can get in there as I don't think there is a lifting bridge - nothing showing or mentioned!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Been to Greenwich MM a couple of times lately - must admit found it hugely disappointing compared to previously memories of the place. It's gone all primary school educational/lowest common denominator/museum as an experience namby-pamby.

The SciMus maritime bit (tucked away towards the top of the building) is pretty much as it ever was, and is a haven of peace and quiet compared to the jambouree that goes on in other parts of the noble institution. Don't think anything much has changed for decades - it still seems to be pre-containerships.

BTW the Cutty Sark has been reopened for a couple of years, and is also dumbed right down and is now an 'experience'.

 

[timmygobang]

No one has mentioned Gravesend, 25 min train journey into Kings Cross from memory. I'm not saying it's an ideal prospect but its an option nonetheless.

I've spoken to the South African in Limehouse, must have got him on a bad day.......

 

[Sulley]

Is that the one listed as Poplar Dock?

Not sure yachts can get in there as I don't think there is a lifting bridge - nothing showing or mentioned!

This is what came from our organiser.......

we have made arrangements to visit West India Dock instead of St Kats. For those who haven’t been before, West India Dock is a “must tick” London destination, about 30-45 minutes downstream from St Kats, close to Canary Wharf. The moorings have electricity and water and the mooring fees are a flat £35/night/boat regardless of length plus £5 for electricity which is far cheaper than St Kats. The area has many restaurants, cinemas, Canary Wharf shopping and a host of other attractions.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_India_Docks, www.marinas.com/view/lock/635_West_India_Docks_Lock

Not entirely sure how you contact them, this could be a starting point http://www.westindiaquaycentre.co.uk/visitor-info/contact-us-54

 

[Twister_Ken]

It's all a shame when you think about the amount of dockage that London used to have ! I have old maps that show very little land from Southwark all the way out to the barrier ! I have walked past a few closed in docks surrounded my flats... with not a sausage floating inside them !

As someone who was fleetingly involved with the London Docklands Development Corporation back in the early 80s, the sad fact is that empty docks (empty apart from the bodies left there by the Krays and their ilk, and the rusting chassis of abandoned motor vehicles) had no tangible value compared with executive apartments, retail and leisure facilities and office blocks. Thus, some docks were filled in and others were reduced to 'water features'. However, quite a lot of barely used deep water docks remain, sufficient for many marinas if you could find someone to build and run them, and enough boat owners who don't mind being moored in a commercial city centre. The Victoria Dock (hard by the Excel Exhibition Centre) could probably absorb a 500 boat marina with room to spare.

 

[sailorman]

As someone who was fleetingly involved with the London Docklands Development Corporation back in the early 80s, the sad fact is that empty docks (empty apart from the bodies left there by the Krays and their ilk, and the rusting chassis of abandoned motor vehicles) had no tangible value compared with executive apartments, retail and leisure facilities and office blocks. Thus, some docks were filled in and others were reduced to 'water features'. However, quite a lot of barely used deep water docks remain, sufficient for many marinas if you could find someone to build and run them, and enough boat owners who don't mind being moored in a commercial city centre. The Victoria Dock (hard by the Excel Exhibition Centre) could probably absorb a 500 boat marina with room to spare.

Limehouse could have many more berths if better organised / arranged

 

[Richard Shead]

Limehouse could have many more berths if better organised / arranged

And of course has has the Cruising Association.

 

[Leighb]

This is what came from our organiser.......

we have made arrangements to visit West India Dock instead of St Kats. For those who haven’t been before, West India Dock is a “must tick” London destination, about 30-45 minutes downstream from St Kats, close to Canary Wharf. The moorings have electricity and water and the mooring fees are a flat £35/night/boat regardless of length plus £5 for electricity which is far cheaper than St Kats. The area has many restaurants, cinemas, Canary Wharf shopping and a host of other attractions.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_India_Docks, www.marinas.com/view/lock/635_West_India_Docks_Lock
Not entirely sure how you contact them, this could be a starting point http://www.westindiaquaycentre.co.uk/visitor-info/contact-us-54

I have looked up West India Dock in the East Coast Pilot and the CA Almanac, it does not feature at all in the latter, in ECP it specifically says they will only accommodate FLEETS of 6 or more boats, so sadly not at all suitable for single boats. Otherwise it sounded a good alternative to St Kat's.

 

[Sulley]

I have looked up West India Dock in the East Coast Pilot and the CA Almanac, it does not feature at all in the latter, in ECP it specifically says they will only accommodate FLEETS of 6 or more boats, so sadly not at all suitable for single boats. Otherwise it sounded a good alternative to St Kat's.

Ah, sorry about that I was not aware. We definitely have more than 6 boats going as it's a club cruise.

 

[xyachtdave]

Is that the one listed as Poplar Dock?

Not sure yachts can get in there as I don't think there is a lifting bridge - nothing showing or mentioned!

Ahem, I did mention this place in. post #14 as an option for club cruises!

The bridge swings out of the way so yachts are no problem. Think we are going back on one of the May bank holidays this year with MYC.

Hope you get in somewhere, shocking it is so much hassle to visit London by water!

 

[baldyash]

I went to Imperial Wharf a couple of years ago. Can be a bit lumpy during the day but quietens at night & theresa pub & restaurants nearby

 

[Danbury]

It's a shame they don't pop some lock gates on St Saviours Dock... that would be dead handy for a night or two... not that big, but if it was organised properly...

 

[Richard Shead]

I went to Imperial Wharf a couple of years ago. Can be a bit lumpy during the day but quietens at night & theresa pub & restaurants nearby

Those big stick things don't do so well when navigating bridges though ...