SYH - Meet the professionals

[eastcoastbernie]

Can't argue with you Roger. Fox's is a very friendly marina with all the benefits you mention.

But for us working folk who live 1 1/2, 2 or even 3 or 4 hour's drive away from the sea, being able to drop into the marina after the working week and being able to sail out to sea without doing the extra hour or so from Ipswich is a real bonus.

Also when the weather is sh*t or we don't have time for a proper passage we have the option of sailing down the Orwell and into the Stour OR sailing up the Orwell towards Ipswich. You only have the one-way option.

But I never said SYH was perfect. Far from it. I just thought it was only fair to point out that it has quite a lot going for it even if it can have very trying idiosyncrasities at times.

 

[Jomo]

Would agree with Bernie's assesment. I know some excellent staff at SYH, but have only recently witnessed 2 visitors being directed to park in my currently vacant berth (early lift out Roger) within 20 mins of each other. 1 was singlehanding and understandably a little upset.
Habebty's right about the drying berths, and I was once told to remove my headress whilst inside the HPYC, even though I was obviously on my way out as I was putting me 'at on
Big Nige gives top advise on rigging, and prices are reasonable (in boaty terms).
I was 'lucky' with my berthing needs, so didn't wait the full 5 years, but don't cause them much hassle and payup as required. Berthing a long keel heayweight right in the corner using the silly hoops has its moments, but once in, I'm tucked out of most of the weather.
For me, as for Bernie, the ability to step onto the boat after 155 miles down the M1 A14 is a real bonus, and I can live with not going to the HPYC.
So... all in all, I like most of the businesses based on site, the entertainment is Clickey, the harbourmasters are not provided with an efficient system for managing their berths, leaving visitor allocation a bit hit and miss. The yard staff are generally friendly and helpful. As a berth holder it is just right for us, as a visitor, I would probably find it difficult, and occasionally stressful.

PS thanks to Tradewind for his very helpful advice over the weekend.

 

[John 32i]

Can I thank everyone for their interesting comments....good and bad! After two years on a swinging mooring at Felixstowe we have tired of struggling in a tender / etc and have been dreaming of a pontoon berth.....SYH is the obvious choice but having read the above it seems that we may not even be able to get a berth due to the long waiting lists (not that we have had a reply from the email enquiry facility on their website yet!) we didnt really want to travel further than Levington.....are there any other recommended marinars...Woolverstone looks good?

 

[Koeketiene]

Woolverstone looks good?

Woolverstone also looks expensive

Apart from that, don't really fancy the tide ripping through the pontoons.

 

[John 32i]

The tide is horrific at Felixstowe Ferry....even on a nice day - up river at Ramsholt is lovely and by the time we get back to our mooring there is one hell of a pull!
Can I ask where you are Guapa?

 

[Koeketiene]

Can I ask where you are Guapa?

Apart from Woolverstone, we've been all over the Orwell.

Shotley:
- closest to the sea
- well run place
- facilities good
- at rush hour, you can find you're in for a wait to lock in/out
- it's about 10 miles - give or take - from Ipswich to the marina. This can take up to 30 mins (single carriageway - tractors and OAPs ( ).

SYH:
- not much to add - Bernie summed the place up pretty well
- we spent Summers on a swinging mooring, Winters alongside.
- berth allocation hit or miss. Gave up in the end - come October 1st we just found ourselves a suitable vacant berth and parked there. Then informed HM where we would be this winter.
- moorings very good. The river can be lumpy - sturdy dinghy essential.

Ipswich Haven:
- would recommend the place
- staff helpful - facilities good
- sheltered
- city centre within walking distance
- lock keeper quite a character (SOH)
- furthest away from the sea
- as with Shotley - you can be in for a wait to lock in/out. Though there's a longer free-flow in Ipswich than there is at Shotley.

Fox's
- currently berth there
- more or less all the advantages of Ipswich, but without the lock.

 

[TimfromMersea]

I think that SYH is a lovely place. I've only ever been as a visitor (although a friend was a 'founder berth holder' and has been there ever since) and as a visitor they have always been really helpful and really friendly.

I've never been given an occupied or difficult berth and having been there quite often, I prefer to be in certain areas of the marina and they normally accomodate me.

As for the chandlery - I was using a Leatherman tool to cut cable ties to mark the depths my anchor warp, and dropped it into the water, between the planks. After a few bad words I walked up to the chandlery, found a new one, and then as I was paying for it, I said " I hope that it doesn't go the same way as the last one" and told them how I had lost it. Immediately the man said "Don't buy another one just yet, try this" and produced a huge Sea Searcher recovery magnet on a long line, which he said that I should take away and try. I took the magnet back to the boat and within 10 minutes, up the Leatherman came from the deeps!

I went back to the chandlery, gave him the magnet and the good news, and said "what's the hire fee?" and they showed me the lifeboat box and said " you can put something in there if you like".

You don't get that in many places.........

 

[Elemental]

Woolverstone also looks expensive

Apart from that, don't really fancy the tide ripping through the pontoons.

Wooloverstone is very expensive. I kept Seaspray there for three years...
The staff are excellent, truly helpful. Buttermans restaurant does great food, bit is a clinical soul-less modern 'hall'.

The tide does run through the moorings, but I have to say it's never really presented any difficulties.

All up, I'm very much happier at Shotley...

 

[davidwf]

Woolverstone also looks expensive

Apart from that, don't really fancy the tide ripping through the pontoons.

I have been in Woolverstone over 5 years now, tide is not an issue you just have to be aware of it and make adjustments accordingly, prevailing winds tend not to be an issue although NW can make it a bit rough in the marina. The new wave break at the Ipswich end seems to have made a difference though.

As for expensive I'd agree with you on that point.

I used to be in Shotley but got fed up with the lock on weekends when visiting clubs wanted to leave at once you could wait up to an hour to lock out. But for proffesionalisim I cannot fault either Woolverstone or Shotley.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Wooloverstone is very expensive. I kept Seaspray there for three years...
The staff are excellent, truly helpful. Buttermans restaurant does great food, bit is a clinical soul-less modern 'hall'.

The tide does run through the moorings, but I have to say it's never really presented any difficulties.

All up, I'm very much happier at Shotley...

The only place I've enquired who don't do a winter rate special is Woolverstone. The Haven were quite good but waiting for a quote from Fox's for a berth for the rest of the winter. Otherwise it's over to the delightful Granary.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Can I ask if and why it has to be a marina berth? We've been on a aswinging mooring at Pin Mill (kings) for 2 years now and its been very successful as well as a heck of a lot cheaper.
Prettier, quieter, cheaper. Very little time when tide causes problems with access.

 

[sailorman]

Can I ask if and why it has to be a marina berth? We've been on a aswinging mooring at Pin Mill (kings) for 2 years now and its been very successful as well as a heck of a lot cheaper.
Prettier, quieter, cheaper. Very little time when tide causes problems with access.

how many months "In Commission" on your mooring

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Umm.. think 7 if memory serves, but a phone call will solve the question definitively. Other downside is mud and no fancy facilities. Pubs nice tho' and PMSC is great

 

[sailorman]

Umm.. think 7 if memory serves, but a phone call will solve the question definitively. Other downside is mud and no fancy facilities. Pubs nice tho' and PMSC is great

we get 12 months in commission in a marina

 

[Champagne Murphy]

http://www.kingsboatyard.co.uk/

 

[Colvic Watson]

A great combination we used before the baby came along was 7 months on a swinging mooring, then a cheap winter marina package. At the time the total came to £1050 for the year. We much preferred the swinging mooring in the summer but missed some of those days when you just pop down to the boat to fettle a job or two but don't go sailing. As we saved over £1,200 and had the benefit of a fantastic location it was a no brainer. The saving now will be much larger with a 35 footer, just waiting until baby is 2 years old to start it again.

 

[Wunja]

those hoops are **** for single handers but any tips welcome

I have these. Leave your mooring lines permanently tied to the hoops, then lay them along the pontoon on departure. They are easy to pick up with the boat hook on return (but then I've already tied off to the poles at the back of the box).