davidwf
Well-Known Member
And there we have the inconsistency of SYH, there actually isn't a waiting list because they cannot be bothered to administer it, its all down to who you know or dropping in just as one becomes available.
Which East coast marina?
- Thread starter dune16
- Start date
And there we have the inconsistency of SYH, there actually isn't a waiting list because they cannot be bothered to administer it, its all down to who you know or dropping in just as one becomes available.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
haha, that was good when I re-read what I'd written! It was a bit like a Messenger conversation with my daughter gone horribly wrong
, so in the vernacular..."soz wrg chat"
Malish
Well-Known Member
Certainly not "who I knew" can't comment on dropping in but a colleague had a similar experience a couple of years before. More likely that it is easier to fit in a smaller boat in today's terms as opposed to the 36' plus which seems to be the modern norm. Plus less boats around?
Otter
Well-Known Member
There was a code phrase to jump the SYH waiting list, used I was told so that the various 3rd party businesses on site could get their customers a berth. I suspect the 2008 crash has meant all the marinas have vacancies; two years ago Fox's gave me 20% off as a new customer, when I asked the other Orwell marinas including the much beloved Shotley they all had vacancies. Mile for mile the Orwell has more berths than almost anywhere in the U.K. including the Solent: two in town, one before Foxs, then Foxs then three more, one of which is proper big. That's seven marinas (albeit two are small) in seven miles.
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
There is another way: apply for a mooring (there are ALWAYS vacant moorings), then ask for a berth alongside in winter.
Once you're in, they'll find room for you alongside come March/April.
Javelin
Well-Known Member
I've been rejected twice at the SYH.
Once four years ago and I remember my wife saying to me in the car on the way home "I don't think she'd have told us even if there was space"
ABP and Neptune marina in Ipswich were both far more receptive and we had a berth at Neptune for a couple of seasons.
Trouble is it's dammed noisy at night and takes an age to get to the sea.
Wolverstone was too expensive for us and after talking to Neptune and ABP we didn't bother asking Foxes.
Shotley we decided was too long a drive.
last year I was considering moving the boat down to the Orwell to do some racing so inquired again.
Asked what boat I had, I said a 3/4 tonner and the look I got was one of distaste.
I hurriedly pointed out she was 34' and now set up as a cruiser/racer but was still told bluntly that they had no room now or for the foreseeable future.
I wasn't even invited to join a waiting list.
The supercilious attitude I received really rankled me at the time.
Once four years ago and I remember my wife saying to me in the car on the way home "I don't think she'd have told us even if there was space"
ABP and Neptune marina in Ipswich were both far more receptive and we had a berth at Neptune for a couple of seasons.
Trouble is it's dammed noisy at night and takes an age to get to the sea.
Wolverstone was too expensive for us and after talking to Neptune and ABP we didn't bother asking Foxes.
Shotley we decided was too long a drive.
last year I was considering moving the boat down to the Orwell to do some racing so inquired again.
Asked what boat I had, I said a 3/4 tonner and the look I got was one of distaste.
I hurriedly pointed out she was 34' and now set up as a cruiser/racer but was still told bluntly that they had no room now or for the foreseeable future.
I wasn't even invited to join a waiting list.
The supercilious attitude I received really rankled me at the time.
dune16
Well-Known Member
What's security like at SYH? They don't really mention it on the website. I assume there is some sort of access control to stop the unscrupulous getting onto the pontoons, cctv etc?
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
There wasn't when I was last there, 18 months ago.
maby
Well-Known Member
In my experience, few marinas have any meaningful security measures to limit access to the pontoons. At Ocean Village, we have servo operated gates that are opened using a smartcard - but the land side of the gate is separated from the pontoon with horizontal bars about three feet apart - even with my bad back, I can duck under and have done so many times when I've forgotten my entry card.
Leighb
Well-Known Member
Ipswich Haven has a reasonable degree of security, needing a code to open a gate, I do not know the site well enough to be aware of ways to circumvent this, but perhaps the local lowlifes might?
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
You can walk onto the pontoons at SHY and Shotley. Both are, however, a bit out of the way and the approach roads are dead ends at the marinas. Shotley has CCTV, not sure about SYH. Shotley is manned 24/7 and the lock keepers do periodically wander around through the night.
Boz
Well-Known Member
I believe there public right of way through Shotley - the Stour / Orwell river path or something like that, but unlike Fambridge, it is manned 24 hours with CCTV as well. But it does have the benefit of a lock between the Marina and the sea.
Recent thefts from Fambridge came from Seaward, and no Marina can have effective security from seaward unless there is a lock....
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Yes, as far as i know that's across the top of the lock and along the bank between the marina and the Orwell.
dune16
Well-Known Member
Very interesting, I had assumed (incorrectly) that security would be a bit higher than that, after all these are quite large assets sat there unattended for long periods of time (for some). I work in the datacentre business so am used to not being able to walk anywhere on a site without having a card, maybe I'm just overly cautious and marinas aren't a common target. Does anyone use a boat alarm of any sort?
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Various boat alarms, but you're more likely to lose the tender engine or your fishing rods.
Chalk
Well-Known Member
My two-pence...
We're at Shotley and are not brainwashed.
Ipswich (anywhere), too far up river; Neptune and Haven are too lock restricted and there are too many emergency vehicle sirens
Foxes: Great but noisy from the Orwell Bridge
Woolverstone: Expensive and too much wash from passing boats
SYH: Bought our previous boat from there via a broker. The only thing I liked about the place was the light ship. As per an above poster, I found the attitude of many of the staff to be supercilious. I had a theft from my car in broad daylight whilst anti-fouling.
Shotley: Only once found the lock to be a problem when we had to wait for two which took abut 35 minutes. Usually it is a max of 10 minutes wait, possibly 15. On the way in we use the time for the log, sail-cover etc., on way out we just listen on Ch.80 whilst making ready so as we know if we can nip into a lock, or can wait a little longer. The channel is fine. No point looking at the Twizzle or into the Deben or Or if it is too much of a worry, even at low low water. Toilets and facilities are OK but limited in number. Shipwreck not up to too much - the whole building is an eyesore. The staff: Superb. Security is excellent.
Bradwell: Our second choice. Channel is a minor restriction. Facilities are good, but the marina restaurant leaves a lot to be desired.
Titchmarsh: Restricted access. Too long a walk to civilisation.
Brightlingsea: Like it a lot - really good feel about the place.
Burnham: No chance.
A few missed off I know.
If it was not for the 'Hamble of the East Coast' attitude at SYH I would consider there again but I don't think I am the sort of customer they desire. We'll be at Shotley until it's no longer the best option for us.
We're at Shotley and are not brainwashed.
Ipswich (anywhere), too far up river; Neptune and Haven are too lock restricted and there are too many emergency vehicle sirens
Foxes: Great but noisy from the Orwell Bridge
Woolverstone: Expensive and too much wash from passing boats
SYH: Bought our previous boat from there via a broker. The only thing I liked about the place was the light ship. As per an above poster, I found the attitude of many of the staff to be supercilious. I had a theft from my car in broad daylight whilst anti-fouling.
Shotley: Only once found the lock to be a problem when we had to wait for two which took abut 35 minutes. Usually it is a max of 10 minutes wait, possibly 15. On the way in we use the time for the log, sail-cover etc., on way out we just listen on Ch.80 whilst making ready so as we know if we can nip into a lock, or can wait a little longer. The channel is fine. No point looking at the Twizzle or into the Deben or Or if it is too much of a worry, even at low low water. Toilets and facilities are OK but limited in number. Shipwreck not up to too much - the whole building is an eyesore. The staff: Superb. Security is excellent.
Bradwell: Our second choice. Channel is a minor restriction. Facilities are good, but the marina restaurant leaves a lot to be desired.
Titchmarsh: Restricted access. Too long a walk to civilisation.
Brightlingsea: Like it a lot - really good feel about the place.
Burnham: No chance.
A few missed off I know.
If it was not for the 'Hamble of the East Coast' attitude at SYH I would consider there again but I don't think I am the sort of customer they desire. We'll be at Shotley until it's no longer the best option for us.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
A new one on me & you forgot to mention, what a great asset the FMYC is with good food every day of the week & live music last Saturday too
Otter
Well-Known Member
Every time a thread comes up about East Coast marinas 90% of the respondents are from Shotley, and all saying how great it is. I used to think there was no basis for this, I couldn't understand why given it's obvious issues, it was much more loved than anywhere else on the EC, despite it being on balance no better or worse than most other marinas.
Now I thnink I've cracked it, it's not mass hallucinations or something in the tap water. It's because everyone there has time for a quick post about its beauty and wonder........
.......whilst they're waiting for the lock
And to all the Shotleyites please, this is only a bit of teasing
Now I thnink I've cracked it, it's not mass hallucinations or something in the tap water. It's because everyone there has time for a quick post about its beauty and wonder........
.......whilst they're waiting for the lock
And to all the Shotleyites please, this is only a bit of teasing
Concerto
Well-Known Member
A few weeks ago I was in Ipswich Haven and the security is not as good as it could be as 4 young men (believed to be East European) hopped over the fence at night to walk the pontoons. They were tacckled by another visitor who had to retreat to his boat, but they were definitely up to no good. There is no security staff there overnight, just CCV cameras. The incident was reported in the morning and the CCV footage was passed to the Police. The following night they did not return, but many owners were ready and waiting to tackle them en mass.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
Now I thnink I've cracked it, it's not mass hallucinations or something in the tap water. It's because everyone there has time for a quick post about its beauty and wonder........
.......whilst they're waiting for the lock
And to all the Shotleyites please, this is only a bit of teasing
Close, but the reason we have time to post is that we're not slogging up and down the Orwell, or waiting for a tidal window at some back of beyond harbour