The best and worst pontoon award goes to .....

[Nostrodamus]

This year we have come across some wonderful pontoons in France.

Often they are far too short, have metal bars on the end and are shaped like a “V” .

The worse one was in Vannes because as I jumped off the wood shattered and I went halfway though, like a duck with my legs in the water and my body above.

The waiting pontoon for the bridge there was worse. Totally covered in bird ****, the phone to contact the bridge was missing, the cleats were wobbly and it was put in the shallowest part of the river where it dries out.

What is the worst or best pontoon you have come across?

 

[chinita]

My worst was Brighton where I had a pontoon half the length of the boat and the boat was only 25ft. When I asked to move they said no.

A month later they phoned and TOLD me to move to another pontoon by the weekend (totally unrelated to my comments). When I said that I couldn't as I was 800 miles away they said they would move it and charge me.

I 'spoke' to the Manager. They moved it and did not charge me.

 

[Lucky Duck]

St Vaast

I remember comming alongside a visitor's berth at St Vaast a couple of years back, the finger pontoon was devoid of cleats and couldn't accomodate more than one person at any one time without sinking.

It was so short that it barely made it to the mast let alone the spring cleat. Some of the other visitors pontoons which were nearer the HM office looked new and were in good order so maybe things are better these days.

 

[Dockhead]

I remember comming alongside a visitor's berth at St Vaast a couple of years back, the finger pontoon was devoid of cleats and couldn't accomodate more than one person at any one time without sinking.

It was so short that it barely made it to the mast let alone the spring cleat. Some of the other visitors pontoons which were nearer the HM office looked new and were in good order so maybe things are better these days.

Sorry, but all French pontoon fingers are devoid of cleats and will sink under your weight if your New Year's diet was less than entirely successful. French pontoon fingers have a metal loop at the end, and that's all you get. A flimsy cleat or two can be found on the main pontoon. They seem to all be designed by the same designer and supplied by the same supplier.

It's better to anchor out in France and use the tender

 

[TSB240]

Vannes +1

You must have been there just before us saw quite a few new board patches.

Waiting pontoon sinking under weight of guano and had to lift keel to gain access.

Very fragile main pontoons. One started to break when I was lifting two 30 litre water carriers.

Finger pontoon just about got to our shrouds and we are only on a 24 footer.

Vannes is still a must visit venue...Medieval Architecture,Beautiful public gardens, Sunshine, Jazz, good food, Irish bar, and a sunday market made our holiday.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Well back in Sept St Vaast pontoons DID have cleats, but still a loop at the outward end, but once you are used to that its not such an issue. What did let me award St Vaast as having the worst pontoons this summer was that they had been used by seagulls as a toilet, I'm not talking here of a couple of dollops, but pontoons cover in a foul mess.

It is enough to put me off visiting the place again.

 

[Nostrodamus]

The worst thing about St Vaast is the fuel pontoon. For some reason they allow boats to moor so far along it you cannot get on the pontoon to get fuel.
Beautiful little town and wonderful fresh seafood strait off the fishing boats on th Quay side.

 

[Dockhead]

St. Vaast has a vast anchorage sheltered from any wind without any E in it. With excellent holding. Why go in at all, and be at the mercy of the locks? Use your tender, men. And St. Vaast is really nice!

 

[rickym]

Anchoring is free!

 

[Sans Bateau]

St. Vaast has a vast anchorage sheltered from any wind without any E in it. With excellent holding. Why go in at all, and be at the mercy of the locks? Use your tender, men. And St. Vaast is really nice!

That a good point, but where do you land the dinghy at LW?

 

[Poignard]

Well back in Sept St Vaast pontoons DID have cleats, but still a loop at the outward end, but once you are used to that its not such an issue. What did let me award St Vaast as having the worst pontoons this summer was that they had been used by seagulls as a toilet, I'm not talking here of a couple of dollops, but pontoons cover in a foul mess.

It is enough to put me off visiting the place again.

What annoyed me there last May was the number of resident boats occupying visitor berths. A thing that often happens in France but it was particularly bad at St Vaast (also at Courselles)

 

[Scillypete]

I like this one best of all, its a bit wonky and only has one cleat but its still easy to tie onto, but the best bits are . . . . its free and right outside a hypermarket

Chateaulin

 

[Poignard]

That a good point, but where do you land the dinghy at LW?

There is a slipway on your left as you approach the lock, belonging to a shipbuilder. I can't seee why they would object to you landing there as long as you shifted your dinghy out of the way. Or you could use the Tatihou ferry slip if the ferry is not there.

I anchored off St Vaast to await the lock but it was very rolly even though the wind was not strong. I had to put a snubber on the anchor chain because of the snatching.

 

[ChrisE]

St. Vaast has a vast anchorage sheltered from any wind without any E in it. With excellent holding. Why go in at all, and be at the mercy of the locks? Use your tender, men. And St. Vaast is really nice!

Ahem, try delivering 20 cases of Monsieur Gosselin's finest via a dinghy.....

 

[Poignard]

Ahem, try delivering 20 cases of Monsieur Gosselin's finest via a dinghy.....

What a let-down, I always assumed that M. Gosselin would have an immaculate steam launch manned by a uniformed crew!

 

[phanakapan]

Puerto de Naos Arrecife Lanzarote- the only pontoon I've ever been on that was more rickety than the staircase in the Mousetrap game. And so rusty it popped your dinghy every time you tied up.

 

[Sans Bateau]

There is a slipway on your left as you approach the lock, belonging to a shipbuilder. I can't seee why they would object to you landing there as long as you shifted your dinghy out of the way. Or you could use the Tatihou ferry slip if the ferry is not there.

I anchored off St Vaast to await the lock but it was very rolly even though the wind was not strong. I had to put a snubber on the anchor chain because of the snatching.

Mmmm, you sure they are not dry at LW? (when I say dry, I really mean very muddy)

 

[davidej]

I got in a muddle trying to get into a berth in Tichmarsh marina (Walton Backwaters) in a gale and blinding rain.

A kind bystander ran down a pontoon to take a warp but unfortunately tripped/ slipped. It was one of those cheesegrater type ecpanded steel surfaces and in my mind's eye I can still see the blood running down from his knee.

Ouch!

 

[Poignard]

Mmmm, you sure they are not dry at LW? (when I say dry, I really mean very muddy)

No, sorry. I can't be sure of that. Whenever I have anchored off St Vaast it has only been to wait for the lock to open, I have never landed in a dinghy.

I suppose another posibility in calm weather is to tie up on the seaward side of the long breakwater, if there are ladders.

 

[flaming]

I got in a muddle trying to get into a berth in Tichmarsh marina (Walton Backwaters) in a gale and blinding rain.

A kind bystander ran down a pontoon to take a warp but unfortunately tripped/ slipped. It was one of those cheesegrater type ecpanded steel surfaces and in my mind's eye I can still see the blood running down from his knee.

Ouch!

My Dad used to keep his boat in Titchmarsh. Those pontoons are lethal. Loads of grip if you're pushing your foot in one direction suddenly changes to none at all if you then need to push your foot at 90 degrees. When it's raining you simply cannot jump off the boat if there isn't a boat across the pontoon, as you stand no chance of stopping due to the way the pattern is aligned.