Summer visitor berthing for extended south west trip

[Scubaboy79]

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to take my boat to the south west for most of July. On a ring round of all the marinas in Dartmouth, Plymouth, Falmouth - not one can offer me a visitor berth in advance and there is much sucking of teeth when I tell them our LOA (16.5m). It seems that all of the marinas are at capacity with annual berth-holders, and so availability can only be confirmed on the day because it is, of course, dependant on berth-holders vacating their berths and - critically - telling the marina of the same.

How do people do this when they go away on a summer cruise? Is it essentially a case of playing it night to night in the hope that there will inevitably be a berth somewhere? Or are the days of extended cruising over for the time being.....

Wisdom/advice much appreciated. I know there are various plans afoot to have some kind of app to make this easier, but I suspect the underlying issue will persist.

 

[colhel]

Hard to predict but when took a trip down last June we always found space but we're 10m. I guess you'll be okay if you're not too fussy where you stay within a harbour, ie be prepared to dinghy ashore, you should be okay. Bear in mind that like you, other boaters are transient and move on leaving a berth/mooring behind them.

 

[ashtead]

We also ventured west last year when clearly the berthing market was distorted due to covid shur down. You seem to be aiming further west than us but we also found no advance booking once past Portland. So off we went early round the bill close inshore and rang Brixham who had a berth in July due to the resident departing ( we had in mind a division to Torquay or trundling on to a buoy in Dartmouth ) We discovered on arrival that the owner was away for the week so we booked in for the slot planning to do day sails. After a couple of days exploring Brixham and nearby beaches by dinghy we decided on day sail to Dartmouth. Looking for a lunch stop seemed bleak but as we were about to depart a chance call to the kings wear marina found us a lovely berth,helpful staff on the pontoon and not perhaps as much cost as expected. Ferry over to the fleshpots of Dartmouth (Dartmouth yc) and back on the working ferry (are you listening FB6?) for the night. Next day back to Brixham. Now clearly not ideal but a plan. Maybe if going to plym or Falmouth I guess even greater choice of marina and buoys . We are only 12.8m though and I guess at 16.5 you might be limited to hammerheads unless at say berthon in Lym say. The other option in Dartmouth at your length might be mid river berths between buoys - they looked more suitable for bigger boats than us as we saw a moody 54 picking one up - I think in summary booking berths in advance doesn’t seem to be practice in the Wild West.

 

[Boathook]

Being a 9m sailing boat and averaging 5 knots or a bit less, I don't pre-book when heading west as plans change rapidly. For me it is rare not to get a berth, though I do mainly anchor. I suspect that this summer the west country will be busy again unless the summer weather is rubbish. There has been talk of the app on scuttlebutt I think, but the app still requires the marina to say whether there is space, and this relies upon owners notifying marina about being away.
Best bet is to be organised for anchoring and dinghy ashore, and then you may or possibly will, find berths.

 

[Scubaboy79]

Thanks everyone. It’s comforting that most people’s experience seems to be that we’ll probably get in somewhere on the day….I’ll just have to learn to be more flexible!

We’re happy to be on buoys as well as marinas so I’m thinking if we base ourselves around Dartmouth then between there, Salcombe and Plymouth we should get in somewhere….

 

[Switch]

I was down in the West county on my boat (12.8m) last year. Got as far as Falmouth. No chance to pre-book any berths as others have stated. You turn up on the day and take your chances. I just made sure I planned a suitable anchorage or mid river pontoon in case I couldn’t get in to a marina. That way at least you have a back up plan.

 

[Seastoke]

The key to this is peeps telling their Marina how long they are away for . Maybe we could have a thread to start a pledge to do the same.

 

[Boathook]

The key to this is peeps telling their Marina how long they are away for . Maybe we could have a thread to start a pledge to do the same.

That would possbily work if berthholders got a share of what the marina gets for letting their berth to a visitor.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I would be surprised if you don't find a berth in Plymouth or Falmouth and there are places to anchor in both as well as the greater area around both ports. Fowey has one buoy that will take you and if you could specify a day or period I think you are likely to be able to reserve it and there are the pontoons in the river that could take you subject to availability but they get busy at weekends.

 

[I’m no expert]

That would possbily work if berthholders got a share of what the marina gets for letting their berth to a visitor.

My sentiments exactly, it’s like renting a hotel room for a year and then finding out someone is sleeping in your room when you are not there.
I have never told a marina when I’m away and don’t feel guilty about it.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

My sentiments exactly, it’s like renting a hotel room for a year and then finding out someone is sleeping in your room when you are not there.
I have never told a marina when I’m away and don’t feel guilty about it.

It works like that for some marinas or it used to.

 

[Seastoke]

Yes but if there are berths not being used , and visiting craft have know where to stay , you are being selfish b@@@@@ turds. Peeps end up rafting everywhere .

 

[escapology]

We're based at Noss on Dart and they I'm sure would be able to accommodate you, as with all marinas they all seem reluctant to take bookings as so many people book and then don't turn up....... plans change, weather etc... Dartmouth, Salcombe and Fowey Harbour authorities all have decent visitor capacity, We've never had a problem.

 

[Martxer]

Yes but if there are berths not being used , and visiting craft have know where to stay , you are being selfish b@@@@@ turds. Peeps end up rafting everywhere .

If you have paid too dollar for a parking space for 12 months why should a marina benefit more by letting it out while your away?
surely as said if you get a share of the visitor fee then everyone wins , I would be more inclined to let a marina know I was away if I was to get something in return for them letting out my parking space.

 

[Seastoke]

If you have paid too dollar for a parking space for 12 months why should a marina benefit more by letting it out while your away?
surely as said if you get a share of the visitor fee then everyone wins , I would be more inclined to let a marina know I was away if I was to get something in return for them letting out my parking space.

So do you visit other marinas .

 

[Greg2]

My sentiments exactly, it’s like renting a hotel room for a year and then finding out someone is sleeping in your room when you are not there.
I have never told a marina when I’m away and don’t feel guilty about it.

I understand your point but I take a contrary view - a key element of boating is being able to make use of available berths in other marinas and if everyone adopted your approach then worst case is that none of us could go anywhere.

Our marina is a popular place for visitors so when we go out I tend to let the harbourmaster know how long we will be away for. Our berth isn’t a bed - no sheets to be soiled but like minded folk will be able to pay a visit and it will be available for is no question when we return.
.

 

[Martxer]

So do you visit other marinas .

hoping to this season ,if there was some incentive for berth holder then surely it’s going to make more berths available .The berth has been paid for for 12 months so it’s extra income for the marina why should they not give the berth holder an incentive to make it available

 

[ashtead]

I think the trick might be to see if you can agree a month out discount with your marina if it doesn’t reward on a visitor credit basis for nights when you are away. We tend to try to remember to say when departing for more than one night away where we have pre booked at end destination certainly.

 

[andy59]

Never really had a problem getting a berth when going west, but always have a fall back plan of picking up a buoy or anchoring. Yachthaven marinas give us half the visitors fees when we are away so we try to let them know we are.

 

[Scubaboy79]

We're based at Noss on Dart and they I'm sure would be able to accommodate you, as with all marinas they all seem reluctant to take bookings as so many people book and then don't turn up....... plans change, weather etc... Dartmouth, Salcombe and Fowey Harbour authorities all have decent visitor capacity, We've never had a problem.

Yes, Noss on Dart have said they won't make a reservation for me in advance due to the installation of a fuel berth, but to try before we arrive and they'll do their best...