Where to moor?

[nickfabbri]

Can anyone suggest a good permanent site for mooring? We are currently on a creek on the East coast but are becoming increasingly frustrated with the tidal access ( 1hr each side of high tide). We would consider east coast or south coast . We want a pontoon mooring within a ninety minute drive of london, but also require a picturesque area with good sailing.
We had a look at Hamble but they wanted 6.5k a year.
I know its asking a lot but worth asking the question.
Thanks

 

[Slow_boat]

Brightlingsea. Ring the harbournmaster, he's very, very helpful. The pontoons are on the piles in the creek and there is a water taxi.

 

[AliM]

East coast is probably half the cost of the south coast, and you have a lovely uncrowded rivers to sail in.

On the Crouch, Burnham Yacht Harbour has all-tide access. Bridgemarsh is accessible HW+/- 3/4hrs depending on draft. West Wick/Fambridge probably about the same. Nice sailing if you like muddy creeks, seals, birds and quiet.

On the Blackwater - probably similar for Bradwell, and worse the further in you go, but there's more area to sail and more boats sailing it. Brightlingsea has already been suggested.

Walton backwaters - wonderful sailing area. Titchmarsh accessible at most states of tide, depending on draft. Maybe beyond your driving time limit.

Orwell/Stour: Shotley/Suffolk Yacht Harbour/Woolverstone all tide, but Shotley has a lock and SYH has a long waiting list. Again, super sailing areas. I think the Ipswich marinas are also OK for access. Ipswich and SYC are quicker by road than the others.

Consider the Medway, too.

When I did this exercise I googled for East Coast marinas, fed each one into the RAC site to get the length of the car-journey, and then wrote to each within my range asking about access, costs etc. Then we visited all the candidates. The closest were on the Thames, which neither of us fancied. We ended up on the Crouch with some limits on access, which have never been much of an issue.

I'm sure I've missed a few.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Also factor in extra driving distance against time to open water...... we drive an extra 15mins to Shotley, but save 1.5hrs of time to get to open sea....

I love Burnham-on-Crouch, but its a long long way to the sea.... same for the Ipswich marinas, and slightly less, but still the case for Woolverstone and Foxes.... SYH, Shotley, Bradwell, Brightlingsea and Titchmarsh all good for quick access to open water....

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Consider the Medway, too

[/ QUOTE ] Gillingham marina has a tidal area as well as the posh locked basin. I know a couple of people with boats there but no idea how much it costs. Not what i would personally call picturesque though.

It might help if you told us wht sort of boat and its size (you have no info in your profile). North London or south?

 

[nickfabbri]

we have a 32' yacht which draws 4'8'' as a shoal draught. we live in south london.

 

[simonfraser]

east mersea - pyfleet via oysterage. phone number on the web.
24/7 access, no crowds, secure parking, lots of room to swing and pick up.
no, fresh water, electic, jet skies, jobbo's etc. !
no water taxi, you can row can't you ?!

 

[pmyatt]

In 1997, when we wanted a change from Ocean Village in Southampton, we moved to Dover. At first people thought we were mad but when we explained that France was closer to Dover than Poole is to Southampton, and that you can't fill the boat up at ₤1 per bottle (1997 prices) in Poole, they came to appreciate our decision. We managed 12 weekend trips to Calais/Boulogne in our first season in Dover - that's quite a lot of wine. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Aeolus]

Newhaven marina - one of the lowest cost marinas on the South Coast (but also rather primitive facilities), all tide (except on for berths at springs) and all weather access, 60 miles to France, 50 miles to Solent, Eastbourne, Brighton and Shoreham for short day sails, Seven Sisters and Beachy Head...