Which Marina?

Ramage

Ramage

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We are currently considering moving from our existing moorings and going to one of MDL's marinas.

The question is which one to choose?
(Penton Hook ,Windsor or Bray)

Any wise words/tales of horror/snooty people etc?

SWMBO thinks Penton is a bit big and bleak on a wet day (as it was the only time we visited by boat.
 
We were moored at Bray and loved it. Only moved to change our weekend cruising grounds.
Lock queues could be quite long, with Bray, Windsor and RYB marina's in the same reach. To avoid those we changed the hours we left and returned but that often meant operating locks ourselves. Still, It worked off the food and drink!
 
both Windsor and Bray are between Boveney and Bray locks, both of which are small & can be very busy (and slow) on a busy summer day. Penton is very popular, good facilities, and gives you some nice days out, Penton Hook lock is large, and quite fast so Runnymede is just up the river a ways, and you have a nice afternoon ride to Hampton Court and back.
Maybe start at penton and gradually change your cruising gound by moving upstream after a couple of years .
 
We are currently (for the past 2 years) moored on the Bell Weir to Old Windsor reach. We have experienced the problems at Bray & Boveney locks at busy times. Out of hours operation at Bray was never a problem for us... my son thought it was good aerobic exercise! He will be miffed to find it has been upgraded! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I am seriously thinking of Penton Hook, but SWMBO might want Bray......
 
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I am seriously thinking of Penton Hook, but SWMBO might want Bray......

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I like Penton Hook but I am biased. Every time I have called in there the club treated me royally making me most welcome. Having said that Windsor Yacht Club too are always very welcoming.
 
Bearing in mind it takes a fraction of the time by car than by boat, why not be really daring and try further afield.
Thames and Kennett marina is a well run marina and well placed for places up and down stream, with rather more in the way of scenery.
Not wishing to deprive Mike Gates of a potential berth holder!
 
We bought "Carli" from the brokers at Thames and Kennet.
As you say it is a nice marina, but the distance would reduce the number of times I could sneak off to the boat!

Where we are at the moment I can leave Terminal 4 at the end of an early shift and be on the boat in about 20 minutes. The same would be true of Penton, and I do not think Windsor or Bray would take much longer.

No one has had a bad word to say for the marina so far which is encouraging... we are aware "Carli" is an "entry level" boat (it is only our second boat), but maybe someday we will move up in size.
 
Bray is great. Good facilities, good security, nice little shop and bistro. Mike and his team run a great ship there! I am leaving to sell my boat on the coast but I will be back.

PS. It was the only Marina except for Harleyford which SWMBO is happy with!

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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No one has had a bad word to say for the marina so far which is encouraging...

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Although MDL is the biggest Marina Operator in the UK it does have an advantage over the others. Mike Gates takes an interest in Thames goings on. He's at most events ranging from major rallies to dinner/dances, he follows the Forums closely and maintains one on one contact with berth holders. Because of this his ear is closer to the ground and he can implement subtle improvement tweaks to the marinas under his control. This is why berthers have such a high regard for him. Of course they are in business to make a profit but within those parameters they are very aware of what boaters need.
Hey! I sound like the sales director of MDL. Just for the record I have no interest in MDL.
 
Thanks Byron!

Just back from visiting Bray marina. SWMBO very impressed.
Also found out my son's Assistant Scout Leader is manager at Penton Hook!

None the less SWMBO's choice is Bray, so we are now all signed up and berth allocated. Hope the Thames slows down by the end of the month though, or Carli will take forever to get there!

Thanks to all you forumites for your input. Hopefully we will get up to Byron's neck of the woods this year!
 
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Byron, I didn't know you were looking for a job
Ian

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Too old now to take on the stresses of Marina Management. Anyway if I was going back to maritime I would take a Harbour Masters job with some obscure commercial port that only sees a couple of ships a week which only arrive in daylight hours and require no Pilot.
 
"Too old now to take on the stresses of Marina Management. Anyway if I was going back to maritime I would take a Harbour Masters job with some obscure commercial port that only sees a couple of ships a week which only arrive in daylight hours and require no Pilot."
Think that DOVER would be right up your street then.Will get you an application form. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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I'm sure I remember Carli from about 10 years ago.
Was it berthed at Bray then?

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I think she probably was. I bought her last May. The previous owner had her less than a year, but the one before him owned her for quite a long time.
 
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