St Kats - full or MT?

[mjf]

I was by the Tower yesterday and some time to kill so thought I would look at the marina and see what was in there.

To my utter surprise is was only 50% full. Loads and loads of empty pontoon space.


Is this usual or was everyone out? Seemed to me that there are a couple of big barge types in there and several sports/Flybridge types permanent moorings and a couple of raggy visitors. But to see this facility where it is with so much space was a bit of a disappointment.

Wonder if Cleasea harbour is the same?

 

[gjgm]

there was alot of work going on in one of the basins recently, so it might be if those pontoons are now availbale again, it hasnt yet filled up. Its usually pretty full-but there do always seem spaces.

 

[Nat]

No, for some reason its always like that. Its amazing really a prestige position right in the heart of London with very pleasant surroundings.
I get down there quite often & there is always plenty of room.
regards ..Nat

 

[maybh1]

We had two wonderfull winter seasons at St Kats September through to April. Fantastic access to so many wonderfull places, theatres, restaurants, musems, easy and cheap parking etc etc. (and the moorings costs were reasonable) It was like having a flat right in the middle of London and we loved it - and so did all our friends but after 9/11 and then 7/7 I became uneasy about leaving my biggest asset (after the house) so close to something that I believe may be a prime target (Tower Bridge) for terrorists especially as the insurance would not pay our for any damage to the boat caused through a terrorist attack.

Maybe this is the reason St Kats looks empty. I have been told by several people that I am mad to give in to the threat of terrorism and that by doing this the terrorists have won but I don't see them queuing up to put their boats into St Kats!!!

 

[mjf]

Agree. Its been a long time since i was actually inside the marina.

Judging by the availablity of berths it waould make a great location for a short holiday break and certainly cheaper than a city flat. There were a couple of guys going just that in a Phantom and older Sunseeker.

 

[bradtarga34]

They will be closing shortly for 2-4 weeks while they do some repairs on the inner lock gates. I believe a lot of boats have already moved to other marina's nearby in anticipation of this. Why they don't do these repairs in the winter months though is beyond me...

 

[maybh1]

When we applied moor there for 6 months they requested a photograph of our boat along with the application to make sure that it was not an old wreck

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Expensive, poor security. hard to get into compared to Limehouse. Coupled with fantastic location, walkable* decent watering holes and things to do.

*including the limitations of 5 year olds.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Not surprised. We've visited St Kats quite a few times by boat and it's a fabulous setting close to the many wonderful sights and attractions of London but as a place to keep your boat permanently, no thanks. Where do you go from there? Er, praps, Dartford or Southend for the weekend? How many times before going thru the Barrier or Tower Bridge gets a tad boring? Not many, I guess. So, a great place to visit but not a great place to keep your boat

 

[mjf]

Yes, Mike but in June the place is seems empty. i would have thought the estury based guys as well as the non tidal chaps would have the place heaving for the summer.

Surprised too at the small number of livaboards as the location is wonderful if you work in the city.

Those really are my points.

 

[Nat]

Well Andrew I think its a great spot for a liveaboard, as for expensive, when you consider in London a room in a shared house bordering on a doss house will cost you £100 plus per week. This is a prime position I think its for nothing. You wont get a studio flat in the immediate area for less than 300K+. Parking a car for a week in the NCP will cost you more than a berth would. The security you say is bad, but everytime I go there I see plenty of uniformed security guys about & all the pontoons are gated so I dont see the problem. The only problem to me would be constantly being stared at by the tourists which IMHO would make Limehouse a more private venue. Nat.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

>>>
plenty of uniformed security guys about & all the pontoons are gated so I dont see the problem
>>>
Have the repaired all the bent bits of the gates that allow access wihtout the formality of having a key? Always been a noteable feature. I have made use of the "facility" in front of one of the security types before now so they obviously don't mind. I must admit I didn't know they allowed liveaboard. On that basis, if I wanted/needed to live in London it would be another matter.

 

[kingfisher]

I know of one friend who was sent to the City for a 6 months' tour. He used the housing subsidy he got from the company as a downpayment on a Beneteau Oceanis 40, put in St Kaths for the whole period and lived in it. He flew home in the weekend anyway, so no problems with the ironing of shirts etc.

And motivating 'company' to come in for a coffee after dinner was much easier than for the guys who rented an appartement halfway across town.

 

[Nat]

Last time I was down ( 1 month ago) there it looked pretty secure to me so I reckon they must have fixed them. As for liveaboard I believe they dont bother you if you dont make a pest of yourself, similar story in many places. Last time I spoke to them (2 years ago)they said I could only stay for 9 months of the year but this could be got round. I regularly use the Tradewinds restaurant formally the Yacht Club & get some good info about the place
When I finally sell up & go to Spain Im thinking of keeping a boat there as a London Base.

 

[mjf]

I should bloody well coco!

Good man

 

[Bilgediver]

In the 80s and 90s quite a few Oilies sailed their boats to the Thames from Aberdeen down the M6 and then motor sailed the few miles to St Katts where they moved in for contract duration. I think it was about £14.day then so compared to the Tower Hotel at £90 everyone was happy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I have stayed there on various boats at different times and found it fine and not particualarly expensive with services close by at pontoon level.

I was also amazed at how little it cost to snuggle up in Chelsea Dock amongst the big bathtubs !!!!

 

[DogsBody]

Re: St Kats Security

I was there a couple of weeks ago in the West basin. Didn't notice any security problems, all the gates seemed to work properly - didn't notice any of the "bent bits" you mention and there always seemed to be a security guard or two on patrol (no idea how effect they'd be but must be a deterrent).

Ron was even trying to control the usual mad rush that occurs when the lock gates open, he's even got himself a VHF now!

Darren.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Re: St Kats Security

Looks like ther's been some smartening up of late, sounds a much better place to visit now. As SWMBO and I want to go to the Globe later this summer I may well use St Kats as a berth, instead of daytripping. Like what you say about the VHF and mad rush!

 

[goochie]

Yep, swmbo and I have talked about this. We live in Croydon at mo, but when kids have gone would like to move nearer South Coast, but would miss easy access to town for theatre and the like, which we visit a lot. Easy answer seems to be to go over to Holland, buy a decentish displacement boat for around 50-60k (or less), bring it back to Thames, stick it in St. Kats and use it as London base. Also handy for trips up Thames in the Summer. As has been said, heaps cheaper than a flat anywhere near there.

 

[Nat]

Definatly is a good option. Upmarket location. Everything inc supermarket within walking distance. For local transport I think a fold up motorbike/scooter would be ideal. I have one in Spain folds up & fits into a holdall type bag, perfect for short trips & stows away neatly.....Nat