What are you looking for in a harbour?

Athene V30

Athene V30

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If you visit a more traditional harbour such as Brightlingsea or West Mersea what sort of facilities are you looking for? Clearly you are not going to get a full blown marina as in my view this would destroy the place. What do you expect to get, what would you like to get? I suppose the other side is, what are you prepared to pay for it!

I have noticed that Dutch & Danish harbours tend to have recycling facilities whereas in UK we tend to go for waste disposal - what do you want to see?

Interested in your comments.
 
Fresh water, fuel, waste disposal AND recycling (esp. stuff like oil and batteries), holding tank pump-out...

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

Good pubs, a good chippie, a chandlery, a few restaurants, some shops for general provisions (please stay open late) plus a bit of history and a generally interesting atmosphere for the family.

Don't usually like it if it's just snottie-yottie oriented, and likewise working-ports-only are not always the friendliest places to be, but those that strike a balance between the two are great.
 
Broadly what Saguday said.

The 'things-to-do' element is quite important for us.... we enjoy the 'visiting' as much as the 'getting there'.

Favourites include good museums, interesting buildings, nice architecture, nice walks and interesting working harbours
 
Wot he said and a water taxi is nice if not a walk-ashore place. Decent loos and showers.

The thing I loved about Holland was the town quay, often a working port too, right in the middle of an interesting town with excellent facilities.

On the east coast - Maldon would be good if there was some more water there. Woodbridge is great and although it is a marina it is not rows and rows of AWBs. Southwold is brilliant (especially as I now have a holding tank :)). I've never managed Wells but that probably comes close.
 
a clean route to alight from a dinghy at all states of tide - it need only be a hard or a shingle/sandy beach although a floating pontoon is nice. Oh, and security / ambiance which convinces me that the dingly will still be where I left it when I return.
 
As I also go somewhere to spend the night, I look for a sheltered berth away from noise and swell - unlike Fowey, which for those who don't know it is down bottom left.
Lots of room for dinghies as well as access mentioned above.
Policing of craft contravening rules about speeding and noise. Most places have severe notices but do nothing about it.
A yacht club where I can get a drink and maybe a meal without paying London hotel prices.
A friendly welcome - actually almost everywhere the case, except Salcombe, location as Fowey.
A nearby Information office. Not for me, but SWMBO loves picking up armfuls of brochures and it keeps her out of mischief.
 
Hmmm good question..

In no particular order:

Reasonable Price. Not necessarily dirt cheap but a price you don't grumble about
Visitor friendly with a friendly helpful face (yes it's simple but makes a big difference for me)
Down to earth pub and somewhere to get a nice bit of honest food
Moorings that are fairly secure and not too noisy. Maybe a nice view too. ahhhh
Simple access from boat to shore. Either somewhere to park my tender or decent water taxi
Handy chandlery and fuel availability
Waste disposal of some kind
A few friendly folk around to talk to so I don't have to drink on my own.

Pretty much Brightlingsea, other than perhaps a touch less mud and 100 less flats. :)
 
Fire99 said:
Pretty much Brightlingsea, other than perhaps a touch less mud and 100 less flats. :)
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I think the flats look cool at night from the pontoon, all lit up and twinkling on the water, very photogenic.

Not a fashionable opinion I admit, but I'd like to do some night photo's next time we visit, especially with fireworks like we saw the other week.
 
Berths that are wide enough
Finger pontoons that are long enough
Finger pontoons that dont shake and wobble alarmingly
A Harbour Master that knows where to allocate you.
Harbour staff who recognise they are part of a leisure industry.
Charges that are commensurate and competitive with the (working) services offered.
Not much else really.
 
Saguday said:
Not a fashionable opinion I admit, but I'd like to do some night photo's next time we visit, especially with fireworks like we saw the other week.
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I'll admit, on a very dark night they look ok...ish I won't get started on what they're like the rest of the time.
 
chinita said:
Responsible, friendly Harbour Staff who have an understanding and empathy with boats.

Just like Brightlingsea really.
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Yes, excellent point and couldn't agree more. Brightlingsea harbour staff are superb and a real pleasure to deal with. So many places don't understand how significant a friendly helpful demeanour is and what a lasting impression it can make on a visitor - and the converse is also true! I can vouch that a bacon butty and cup of tea are much appreciated by said staff on cold Sunday mornings and well they deserve it :)

Although outside the scope of this cruising area we well remember the harbour master of Gloucester, Massachusetts, who came out when we picked up the mooring he directed us to and gave us a ton of helpful information and guides to the town. Top notch and we stayed there for many days as a result. Ditto on Tangier Island in the Chesapeake.

Any other harbour masters stand out on the East Coast? Let's give them some recognition.
 
Harbour

1. Friendly welcome
2. Boulangerie within 5 mins
3. Friendly welcome
4. Clear helpful comms on entering - where they want you - what side to fender up etc.
5. Friendly welcome
6. Access to shops for provisions etc.
7. Friendly... you get the picture
 
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