Where to leave a boat for a week or three between Penzance and Essex?

[steve yates]

Have you considered getting it sailed round by a professional crew? They will do it as fast as is safely possible, minimising the number of nights that you have to pay for moorings en route. If you are also going to have to take trains up north and back, the costs could easily balance out. We have used Halcyon Yacht Deliveries on a couple of occasions when we needed a boat moved and it was not convenient for us to do it ourselves - we have always been pleasantly surprised by the price.

Doesn't really add up at all. Looked at it earlier in the winter from milford haven, got a quote from the nice lady at halcyon, was just outwith mymeans, and my inclinations to be honest. The trains are to and from essex really, not up north. That's for going to work, a different thing.

 

[jimi]

Doesn't really add up at all. Looked at it earlier in the winter from milford haven, got a quote from the nice lady at halcyon, was just outwith mymeans, and my inclinations to be honest. The trains are to and from essex really, not up north. That's for going to work, a different thing.

It'll be fun as well, a good adventure!

 

[lw395]

TBH, once you have got to Penzance, it's relatively easy.
You need a reasonable weather window to get around the Lizard, then you can just play it by ear.
Possible stops include Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth (and district), Salcombe, Dartmouth (+ river), Brixham, Weymouth, Lymington, So'ton, Pompey Harbour, Chi harbour, Arun, Shoreham, then we're into the 'mystic east' where Solent Sailor fear to tread.

I think it's just a fact of life that parking a boat for a few weeks might be costly. But once you know from the weather where it might happen you are better placed to ask the right questions. Generally, up river, away from the tourists gets cheaper. When you know roughly how far you can get, then get on the phone and look for deals. This time of year, most harbourmasters are not rushed off their feet and will be able to point you to the cheaper options.

 

[steve yates]

That's useful, ta, hadn't thought of just prowling upriver and asking the question when I know I'm going to leave her somewhere.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Personally I would try to avoid if at all possible leaving my boat unattended for any length of time in the visitor's section of the outer marina at Ramsgate.

 

[steve yates]

Thanks, is that my only option on their week deal? Still, I can always get there in 2.5 hrs if anything nasty is forecast, in time to move her to a safer bit.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Thanks, is that my only option on their week deal? Still, I can always get there in 2.5 hrs if anything nasty is forecast, in time to move her to a safer bit.

Dover is about ten miles away from Ramsgate and is completely sheltered. I don't know if it might be cheaper as well.

 

[steve yates]

Dover is about ten miles away from Ramsgate and is completely sheltered. I don't know if it might be cheaper as well.

Yeah, I just like the pubs in ramsgate

 

[jimi]

If you get to Ramsgate you're only a day sail away from where you want to be!

 

[Daydream believer]

Thing about Dover & Ramsgate is that you can get plenty of Immigrant grub & Polish papers. I tried 1 shop & the chap explained that inspite of a rack of several different types of newspapers they did not do " English"

 

[steveeasy]

Steve, off topic. Hotel.com or Trivargo. Am I correct in thinking most or some marinas have spaces over winter. I'm sure even in the summer some locations would welcome temp stays by boats. It seams quite an expense to pay a premium rate just to leave your boat while going off.
Is this a missed opportunity to sell less obvious berths and moorings. an online site such as the above. Steve as an example would like a cheaper rate to leave his boat for several weeks. I'm sure there are many vacant moorings and business owners would welcome that much needed additional income.

Just a random crazy thought.

Steveeasy

 

[Tranona]

Steve, off topic. Hotel.com or Trivargo. Am I correct in thinking most or some marinas have spaces over winter. I'm sure even in the summer some locations would welcome temp stays by boats. It seams quite an expense to pay a premium rate just to leave your boat while going off.
Is this a missed opportunity to sell less obvious berths and moorings. an online site such as the above. Steve as an example would like a cheaper rate to leave his boat for several weeks. I'm sure there are many vacant moorings and business owners would welcome that much needed additional income.

Just a random crazy thought.

Steveeasy

There have been attempts in the past to set up this sort of service. What kills the idea is that marinas do not in general have the sophisticated booking systems that could form a basis for identifying what is available and then reserving it on behalf of a prospective customer. Equally the potential demand is so small it does not justify the investment in such a system.

 

[westhinder]

There have been attempts in the past to set up this sort of service. What kills the idea is that marinas do not in general have the sophisticated booking systems that could form a basis for identifying what is available and then reserving it on behalf of a prospective customer. Equally the potential demand is so small it does not justify the investment in such a system.

A system like this may be on the horizon. There is an app called Blue Water, which is effectively a booking and payment system for marinas and harbours. I believe it was developed in the Netherlands and covers quite a number of harbours in the Netherlands and Belgium. IIRC it is becoming available in Italy as well.
I have not tried it yet as you have to link a credit card to it and I am not overly keen on that kind of links.

 

[steve yates]

If you get to Ramsgate you're only a day sail away from where you want to be!

That's the idea!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

That's the idea!

Eastborne to Ramsgit a days sail in reasonable conditions.

 

[steve yates]

Thing about Dover & Ramsgate is that you can get plenty of Immigrant grub & Polish papers. I tried 1 shop & the chap explained that inspite of a rack of several different types of newspapers they did not do " English"

That's ok, I'd read anything as long as it wasn't that poisonous rag the daily mail.

 

[Crowblack]

Wicormarine at the top of Portsmouth harbour has mid-river pontoons at £1.50 per metre per day. Close to M27 and 10 minutes by taxi to Fareham Station.

Second vote for Wicormarine - left my 10mtr boat there for three weeks whilst meandering along the south coast - popped off home - rubber left in the rack - walked to the station - nice folk and affordable.

 

[steve yates]

Thx, wicker is a definite possibility.
And ty to those who have offered to lend moorings for an overnight, much appreciated. Obvious will depend on my actual route and weather where I end up.

 

[Seven Spades]

There are two places I would recommend and they won't spring to mind for most people.

Torquay or Ocean Village.

Both of these have great train access from London. Secondly they will usually have room. Thirdly and very importantly, if you arrive at the boat and the weather is foul there is loads to do in the way of cinemas, and restaurants. The facilities around Ocean village are brilliant now and there are museums and cinemas within walking distance as its the town.

Lymington is a pig to get to by public transport. The Hamble is pretty but you only have a few bars/restaurants, the town and cinemas are a trek. If you go any further east you might as well keep going.

 

[Simonpk]

Probably good advice, but I think he's now way past there & in the Crouch.

There are two places I would recommend and they won't spring to mind for most people.

Torquay or Ocean Village.

Both of these have great train access from London. Secondly they will usually have room. Thirdly and very importantly, if you arrive at the boat and the weather is foul there is loads to do in the way of cinemas, and restaurants. The facilities around Ocean village are brilliant now and there are museums and cinemas within walking distance as its the town.

Lymington is a pig to get to by public transport. The Hamble is pretty but you only have a few bars/restaurants, the town and cinemas are a trek. If you go any further east you might as well keep going.