Uk Marinas

[Laysula]

I understand this completely. I have no interest in notifying my Marina when we are away so they can re-let my berth (which I’ve paid for for the whole summer) for their additional income when I can’t have a slice of it.

Selfish people like you are the reason for this thread.

 

[Momac]

I only ever phone to book the day before and sometimes the morning before an afternoon or evening arrival. Phone calls in office hours always necessary. I guess we could just turn up but it seems polite and sensible to call ahead. I did once book by email as it was a Sunday and the harbour master office was closed other that an hour or two in the morning. Marinas we visit keep our details which avoids form filling . I have never had to pay up front . But this is not the South coast.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Selfish people like you are the reason for this thread.

It’s not selfish. I disagree with his need for a share of any rental income, if it was my business, I would not share additional revenue. However, I want access to my berth 24/7. The marina contract does state they can move me for any reason, so they have that option open to them. I rarely tell the marina of my intentions, it’s none of their business how I manage my leisure. The marina does host large regattas and they email berth holders asking if you will be away. I do let them know when they ask.

If I owned a marina, I would have an App for berths and make it mandatory for berth holders to advise when the berth was free and then use that for pay up front visitor bookings to maximise revenue, assuming demand.

It sounds to me that there is a need for more visitor berths. Price high in season for visitors, price low out of season for mooring buoy boats that want winter marina security i.e. try and maximise occupancy of the short lease pontoons.

 

[Momac]

It's always good to remember an empty berth in a marina does not necessarily mean that berth is available.
The boat usually occupying the space may be due to return at short notice.

 

[Concerto]

A couple of years ago I visited a marina having booked a berth the day before. When I arrived at about 6pm, I tried contacting them by VHF but no response. So I tried phoning them, no reply. The only option was to pull in to an empty berth. A few minutes later a boat came in and found me in their berth. As the other finger was empty I moved across so they could park their boat. I told them the problem, so the skipper walked me to the office which we found was locked and empty. So I stayed in the berth. The following morning I went to the office and as I was staying for several days, they said I had to move berths. At the desk was an envelope with my boat name on it with all the marina details. When I mentioned there was no one there the previous evening, the answer I found strange. The marina staff only work until 5.30 and then at 7pm the night security guy starts. So at the busiest time for arrivals there is never anyone there. I should mention this is a council run marina.

 

[[70521]]

Come to think of it the only marina I've visited that insisted that you pre-booked was Amble.

I called them at 3pm and spoke reception, then had to hang about waiting for the tide. On entering there was a super wee information pack in a box on the pontoon.

Beside the box was a berth holder sat on a chair on the pontoon with a rather large glass of wine while her husband cooked supper. A rather surreal image.

I was rather impressed with Amble.

 

[Momac]

A couple of years ago I visited a marina having booked a berth the day before. When I arrived at about 6pm, I tried contacting them by VHF but no response. So I tried phoning them, no reply. The only option was to pull in to an empty berth. A few minutes later a boat came in and found me in their berth. As the other finger was empty I moved across so they could park their boat. I told them the problem, so the skipper walked me to the office which we found was locked and empty. So I stayed in the berth. The following morning I went to the office and as I was staying for several days, they said I had to move berths. At the desk was an envelope with my boat name on it with all the marina details. When I mentioned there was no one there the previous evening, the answer I found strange. The marina staff only work until 5.30 and then at 7pm the night security guy starts. So at the busiest time for arrivals there is never anyone there. I should mention this is a council run marina.

It seems to me quite normal for marina and harbour offices to be open normal office hours . I call them in advance (in their office hours) and they tell me where to moor.
One marina office I know is closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
A harbour office where we visit is only open 9am to 10am on weekends but there are staff on duty on the tides June to August and a vhf listening watch at other times . The entry /exit is restricted by tide.