Winter in Weymouth v East Cowes

Star-Lord

Star-Lord

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Just had some quotes in for winter contracts. France’s winter starts Sept 1st to April 1st. UK winter is 2 months shorter starting in November!! Weymouth and East Cowes have quoted me a deal almost identical in total price for Oct-March (6 months). Have berthed on the harbour wall at Weymouth and enjoy the town. Never been to East Cowes - but spent many enjoyable times on the opposite side. The big advantage of Weymouth seem to be a Spoons nearby.
 
Depends on what sort of life you want to lead - or are you just parking the boat? East Cowes is very exposed alongside the river. Nothing mush for entertainment that side of the river and of course expensive ferry ride to North Island. Weymouth (I was there yesterday) is sheltered, bit restricted access through the bridge, but close to lots of shops and pubs/eateries plus railway station.
 
Theres no spoons in East Cowes. Thank God. East Cowes marina is pleasant enough, the place isn’t a total desert, there are shops and pubs. Waitrose even, if thats your thing. West Cowes is a ferry ride for a quid. And a walk. Weymouth, I guess it’s kind of all there. Clearly it’s a bigger town, more of everything really. Personally I don’t like Weymouth and love Cowes. Fortunately not everyone thinks the same, or one or the other would be very crowded.
 
Chiara’s slave said:
Theres no spoons in East Cowes. Thank God. East Cowes marina is pleasant enough, the place isn’t a total desert, there are shops and pubs. Waitrose even, if thats your thing. West Cowes is a ferry ride for a quid. And a walk. Weymouth, I guess it’s kind of all there. Clearly it’s a bigger town, more of everything really. Personally I don’t like Weymouth and love Cowes. Fortunately not everyone thinks the same, or one or the other would be very crowded.
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I love Cowes but Shepherd's is dredging in Nov so a very well priced winter berth there is not feasible this year. Love paying under £3 a pint for a decent IPA in Spoons! Never been in one before I went to Port Solent. Now I’m a convert.
 
Boathook said:
I feel that there is more to do in Weymouth and a direct train to London if required. Are you "living" on the boat or just the odd visit ?
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I have to visit my mum in Oxford regularly so it’s like 50/50 - would have preferred to keep the boat in Cherbourg (€1,700 for 7 months Sept - April). And yes the train to Bournemouth and then Oxford is very handy.
 
Can’t believe the crazy marina prices in UK compared to the rest of Europe - especially in winter. And when did UK winter contracts start in November!! The ferry from Cherbourg to Portsmouth is about £25 for a foot passenger. Lots of marina on the French north coast at 1/3rd of the cost. Pop over to Guernsey to reset the VAT clock every 18 months. Even in the Med winter prices are cheap. They do 10 moth contacts so you can anchor for two months and that cuts the annual fee by half (in Sardinia for example).
 
I know both fairly well as a visitor but also being from the South Island. While we leave our boat in the water over Winter at Haslar Gosport I think I might be a tad more worried if at east cowes. There is also the issue of the regular chain ferry breakdowns for a whole variety of excuses and while the red funnel runs in a friendly fashion not entire secure. Go for Weymouth if you cannot pay out for Haslar in Gosport.
 
Or go half tide if you want to enquire about less unaffordable rates?
I’m thinking Sparkes and Thornham both within Chichester harbour for a start
If you’ve already narrowed your choice down to the two you stated I apologise. Tucked up in the Weymouth inner for me, and live with the ring road traffic.
 
Lucky Duck said:
Sparkes is MDL, a company not usually associated with affordability.

Judging by video posted here in the past it’s also quite exposed in a proper gale from the SW
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Sure. There’s Hayling Yacht Co a bit further up too though I’ve never used them. Mud glorious mud
 
Star-Lord said:
Can’t believe the crazy marina prices in UK compared to the rest of Europe - especially in winter. And when did UK winter contracts start in November!! The ferry from Cherbourg to Portsmouth is about £25 for a foot passenger. Lots of marina on the French north coast at 1/3rd of the cost. Pop over to Guernsey to reset the VAT clock every 18 months. Even in the Med winter prices are cheap. They do 10 moth contacts so you can anchor for two months and that cuts the annual fee by half (in Sardinia for example).
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Supply and demand. You have to remember that many of the marinas in Europe are in economically deprived areas and there are plenty of places where there is the combination of both water and land that can support marinas. In the UK particularly in the south there is a distinct shortage of both and immense competition from other uses. Less so the further north you go where many old industrial and dock areas have been turned into marinas, but again deprived areas with little alternative use plus in many cases very limited cruising areas.
 
colhel said:
Weymouth marina and East Cowes marina are both Boatfolk. We were at East Cowes for about 5 years but wintered in Weymouth for no extra charge. Weymouth Harbour master doesn have berths in the inner harbour (where we are now). Personally, I'd prefer Weymouth for winter.
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"Doesn" should be "does" (but only on a 6 month or monthly minimum contract, I think)
 
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