Which marina in Poole?

terryw

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We will probably be making our first extended journey over the holiday weekend. Plans at the moment are Saturday Southampton to Poole, Sunday Poole to Torquay, Monday and Tuesday return via same route.
Question is "Which is the best marina to stay at in Poole, and why".
We realise that this is no more than a short hop for most people, but we are new to this Coastal lark, and want to keep within safe limits to begin with.
 
Dolphin Haven probably the best bet. It's right on the quay where it all happens. Call Dolphin Haven on Ch80. Gets full up quickly at weekends.

Quite pricey I believe, not sure exactly though.

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
 
Hi Terry, I used the new one just along from the town quay, cost £30 mind, I use it only because right next to the town pubs, restaurants etc.
If you have never been to Poole before, stay well within the bouyed channels as it can get very shallow, also watch the bouyage on the approach in, there is a submerged breakwater.
I might be going to Poole myself that W/E, if you want company.
 
Dont want to upset plans. But why not save pool for shunting trips and go straight to Torquay. Saving a day and not much difference in miles. Then you can visit Brixham and Dartmouth. Which are just round the corner. Hang on a minute. No go to Weymouth. Stopping at Lulworth Cove for Lunch. then Brixham or Dartmouth. There much nicer IMHO.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn
 
Re: Agreed

Yes, good idea, and not just cos not so nice in poole as weymouth. Get as far west as quick as poss is normal rule, as prevailing sw winds will take you back but stop a trip outbound.

One excellent idea is to move the boat round to lymington the night before u set off, rather than ponce about out of so'ton to needles which take an hour or more? Nice early start bumble out of lym early morning (so you you may have to pay another time, ahem) and bosh get to torquay for lunch. Gives poole or weymouth as bottling out options, before lyme bay. stay 4+ miles out all the way, imho, unless northerly/nw in which case try and hide closer in. Don't go into lulworth if windy from the south unless you can beach the thing and the anchor holding is crap so don't leave the boat anyway.
 
Re: Agreed

Yes. Poole to Torquay is a long way and miles out to sea so boring and a bit much for newbie or oldie. So need to Go to Weymouth, which is a very nice place. Ready for crossing Lyme bay. Which is a bit of a drag.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn
 
Re: Agreed

Ooh no. Weymouth is very scenic, but also likely to be very full, and no way to book a berth there. Soton to Poole will take a couple of hours or three, so spend Saturday poncing around off Studland (good nudie beach, so bring binos), and go to Dolphin in Poole Sat PM. Sun AM, run for Weymouth (about another 2-3 hours, depending on how you cane it, where you stop etc.) Lunch in Lulworth, weather permitting. Weymouth for fuel, or overnight, if not too full, but bank on having to press on to Torquay Sunday afternoon. Watch out for overfalls (clearly marked on the charts) in the middle of Lyme Bay, Portland Bill, St Albans and Anvil Pt. The books say stay well away, and they mean it.

Weather permitting, might tag along for some of the above.
 
Re: Ah But.

Going to arrive Weymouth soon ish, Cos not rag boat. So just tag on to end of raft. Do they send peeps away?? Not happend to me. Anyway just slosh roung to Portland. Never been in, just passed by. Anyway Dartmouth, Brixham and bay far to much fun to miss out on if going that way. And all only an hour or so apart even taking the scenic route. Which of course you must. So no blaming out to sea with nothing to see only sea. Anyway which ever way, just get there quick, then more time to bum around.

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn
 
Re: Rip off Poole!

Don't bother with Dolphin Haven. They charged me £10 for an hours stay, even tho they advertise £4.50 short stay rates. Better of going up the quay a bit. OK so you cant step off onto a pontoon but the atmosphere is much better IMHO, of course.

Places to eat in poole are many and varied, but if you want an Italian theres a little place on the high st, very nice, or if fish /seafood is the order of the day try Corkers.

Best give Poole town a miss and carry on up the river to Wareham. Moor right outside the pub or try the Old Granery and use their mooring for nowt if you have a meal in there. Damn fine food too.

Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
 
Bewareham!

Bit of a bugger getting up river if non-local, tho, innit?
 
I know Dolphin Haven is pricey, but wow!

The channel is well marked, should present no problem. The submerged breakwater is known as the Training Bank, and again is well marked with posts, and of course on charts. Watch out for high speed cat. ferries on approach Swash channel, they come in at 40 knots until within 3/4 mile of harbour entrance at the Haven. There is a small boat channel to the south of the main channel, keeps you well away from shipping. Marked with red posts, so stay between these posts and red buoys..

The suggestion of skipping Poole and heading straight for Weymouth is a nice idea, but I note Terry needs petrol. Plenty of places in Poole for petrol, Salterns or fuel barge near Aunt Betty buoy, but you have to pay 90p to £1 per litre. No petrol in Weymouth, unless you fancy carrying cans to petrol station.

The trip up to Wareham is great, but it's a long slow haul, and tricky if you don't know the channel. I've run aground at least once.

I'll almost certainly be around Poole over holuday weekend, keep a look out for you.


Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
 
Re: Bewareham!

No not really, channels marked all the way to the river. If the local trip boats can get up there most other boats can. As long as it not attempted at low water all should be ok. Even the shallow bends are now marked with stakes to keep you in the main! channel.

Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
 
I'm off down there the bank holiday, The channel to wareham isn't that bad. Its bouyed all the way upto the river. Tha main channels from Poole town nearly all have at least 2 mtrs of water apart from LWS and even the channel mrked by the stakes at the river entrance has enuff water for the Poole trip boats at neaps.

Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
 
Re: Bewareham!

The bit I've found tricky is where the channel splits, and the Frome goes south, it's not very well marked. First time I went up there I went straight on. You come to a halt pretty quickly

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
 
Well that's three to look out for. Easily identied by forum burgee (compliments to Haydn), of course. Mind you, the world and his dinghy will be out that weekend if the weather is any good.

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'
 
Re: Bewareham!

I know where you mean, pulled a few boats of that bit. The first 2 stakes are now lit. So the channel marked by the stakes is easier to find at night. Just do the stake hoping bit from there on. Makes life interesting doing it in the dark.

Where you off to the bank holiday. France is out its gonna be to rough, that and the newly rebiult engine. If you get up to Wareham I'll be in either the Quay or the Horse and Groom

Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
 
Bank Holiday and Good weather....Na! it'll never happen. So another three forum users invade my paradise. Sounds like a beer is on the cards.

Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
 
Re: Mutiny on cyber-cruise to SW

Right, I've locked GW and H in the bog and am pleased to report that we'll target Torquay on the first day. And not the second day. Cos the likelihood is that the wind will be agin us on the way down, and with us on the way back, see? So, Torquay it is. And if we all recover from inevitable long drinking session in Torquay on the saturday nite, then maybe we'll go to Brixham on the second nite. Then it'll be jolly nice for wandering back to Weymouth on the monday nite and all very sorted indeed. Oops, I hear noises from below....
 
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