Woolverstone Marina.... Reviews please?

photodog

photodog

Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
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8 Apr 2007
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Thinking about a change for next year... Woolverstone is appealing...

Looks like good facilities, Bit more expensive than were we are...
Any opinions or reviews would be appreciated!

Thanks!
 
Positives;

The marina staff seem a helpful bunch
It is set in some very nice parkland with the RHYC next door
As part of the package you get free nights at other MDL marinas and fuel 'at cost'

Negatives;

The tide can run hard through the pontoons
Is exposed to North Westerly winds
The price!
 
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photodog said:
A bit too cryptic to risk calling without prior knowledge I think...

Plus it's got one too many numbers!
Click to expand...


01473 694 680
its JJs office ;)

also part of the transmanche group, we had 14 night 1/2 price whilst away this summer. that beats the mdl deal in our area.
haul at any time on the summer rates
superb personal service from the marineros who are also mostly boat owners
 
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Woolverstone is our favourite......all the staff are helpful and the location great also good showers / bar /restaurant /etc - would definately be our choice if we ever vacate our swinging mooring!
 
I had a few years in Woolverstone in the late 80s. The current through the marina can make manoeuvring rather tricky at times, especially if short- or single-handed. Mooring lines seem to take quite a beating too. Not my favourite place, a more protected marina would be preferable.
 
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Spent my first few seasons as boat owner.

The staff are very helpful. As a new owner I was not completely savvy about some of the practicalities of boat ownership and the yard staff sorted things out for me.

It's very expensive. You do get fuel at (their) cost and 50% off yard services, however, as a sailing boat and not availing myself of much lift's etc it doesn't offset the difference.

When I was based there, the shower facilities were a bit tired.

The Buttermans bar is a bit soul-less (more like a posh canteen). You do have RHYC next door and Pin Mill a walkable distance away tho.

The tide that runs through the marina is no problem. Indeed it works for you as often as against. It's just a matter of understanding the water flow and planning accordingly.

It's quite a long way up the river (at least compared with Shotley/Levington) we found the 60-75 min trip each way to get to the sea a bit repetitive.

All up, I won't be in a hurry to go back as I just think there are nicer, more reasonably priced marinas locally. When I left, I wrote about my reasons for leaving, citing the latest cost rise as the decider - no deal was offered to stay. YMMV of course...
 
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I have been at Woolverstone over 5 years, I nearly always single hand my oceanis 31, tides not an issue you just need to be aware of them when entering and as a previous poster said they can help rather than hinder.

Since the wave break was installed on the upriver pontoon I reckon the current has reduced anyway. As for north westerlies I stay in all winter and have never suffered any damage, plus in winter they move boats inshore if they are on the outside berths.

Yes they are more expensive than the other marinas but the customer service is superb, showers a bit tired now but suspect they are due for an upgrade shortly.

It's also an rya active marina and organises cruises and free training.

Used to be in Shotley which I also liked but I did not like the queuing for the lock hence my move upriver.
 
davidwf said:
Used to be in Shotley which I also liked but I did not like the queuing for the lock hence my move upriver.
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Putting this in perspective... The lock wait was a concern for me before I went to Shotley. In the last two seasons I have only waited for 2 lock cycles (around 15 mins) on one occasion. Every other time I've been in the next available lock.
 
davidwf said:
Used to be in Shotley which I also liked but I did not like the queuing for the lock hence my move upriver.
Click to expand...

Sea_Spray said:
Putting this in perspective... The lock wait was a concern for me before I went to Shotley. In the last two seasons I have only waited for 2 lock cycles (around 15 mins) on one occasion. Every other time I've been in the next available lock.
Click to expand...

I find this very strange - whenever someone complains around here about having to wait to lock in/out at Shotley there's almost immediately afterwards a post by a Shotley berth holder claiming he has hardly ever kept waiting, if at all.

Is there a magic password? :confused:

In the past, we've kept two boats a Shotley. And apart from wintertime, we've always had to wait to lock in/out. Way back in the day when we still enjoyed real Summers the average waiting time was 30 mins (though sometimes - depending on the state of tide, it could be up to an hour).
Add to that the 20-30 mins to get to the A12 from Shotley I worked out that I'd rather spend the extra hour sailing up the river than hang around to lock in and driving down the winding, single-lane road to civilisation stuck behind a tractor.
 
OR4751 said:
I find this very strange - whenever someone complains around here about having to wait to lock in/out at Shotley there's almost immediately afterwards a post by a Shotley berth holder claiming he has hardly ever kept waiting, if at all.

Is there a magic password? :confused:

In the past, we've kept two boats a Shotley. And apart from wintertime, we've always had to wait to lock in/out. Way back in the day when we still enjoyed real Summers the average waiting time was 30 mins (though sometimes - depending on the state of tide, it could be up to an hour).
Add to that the 20-30 mins to get to the A12 from Shotley I worked out that I'd rather spend the extra hour sailing up the river than hang around to lock in and driving down the winding, single-lane road to civilisation stuck behind a tractor.
Click to expand...

You must have stayed at a different Shotley to us :confused:

We were there for three seasons, until Jan this year. We've moved to Wisbech, which is 10 minutes from home for a season or two while we take a bit of a break and change boats.

When we moved there, we were expecting some waiting for the the lock and were actually advised by staff that sometimes we might have to wait 30 mins or even an hour in extreme cases. In reality, we were in the lock straight away most times. Sometimes we had to wait until the next lock. On a few very rare occasions we had to wait 2 or 3 locks.

Your picture of the drive to Shotley is also rather odd. Why do you quote the journey from the A12, unless you have found a new marina on the A12 ? Shotley is about 8 miles from Foxes and 5 miles from Wolverstone, neither should take 30 minutes. But, if you're "driving down the winding, single-lane road", you're taking a different route to us, we always used the B1456 :D Which although winding, is two lanes, same road used to get to Wolverstone, Pin Mill etc. Wolverstone to Shotley by road = 10-15 mins, Wolverstone to Felixstowe by river = 1 hour.
 
OR4751 said:
I find this very strange - whenever someone complains around here about having to wait to lock in/out at Shotley there's almost immediately afterwards a post by a Shotley berth holder claiming he has hardly ever kept waiting, if at all.

Is there a magic password? :confused:

In the past, we've kept two boats a Shotley. And apart from wintertime, we've always had to wait to lock in/out. Way back in the day when we still enjoyed real Summers the average waiting time was 30 mins (though sometimes - depending on the state of tide, it could be up to an hour).
Add to that the 20-30 mins to get to the A12 from Shotley I worked out that I'd rather spend the extra hour sailing up the river than hang around to lock in and driving down the winding, single-lane road to civilisation stuck behind a tractor.
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I wonder if the sit. has changed then (maybe it's the weather). I'm at the end of my second season - and, hand on heart, the position for me is as I describe. When I first moved to Shotley (from Woolverstone) I found the drive to be an additional 10-15 mins. For me, it's a very much better location.
 
PaulGooch said:
You must have stayed at a different Shotley to us :confused:
Click to expand...

Must have :rolleyes:

PaulGooch said:
When we moved there, we were expecting some waiting for the the lock and were actually advised by staff that sometimes we might have to wait 30 mins or even an hour in extreme cases. In reality, we were in the lock straight away most times. Sometimes we had to wait until the next lock. On a few very rare occasions we had to wait 2 or 3 locks.
Click to expand...

The situation as described by the marine staff has been our experience.
Maybe you stayed at a different Shotley. :p
Occasionaly, when there was room in the lock 'for maybe another small one' the lock keeper called that boat and squeezed in the lucky bugger ahead of turn.
Needless to say, we have never experienced this.

PaulGooch said:
Your picture of the drive to Shotley is also rather odd. Why do you quote the journey from the A12, unless you have found a new marina on the A12 ? Shotley is about 8 miles from Foxes and 5 miles from Wolverstone, neither should take 30 minutes. But, if you're "driving down the winding, single-lane road", you're taking a different route to us, we always used the B1456 :D Which although winding, is two lanes, same road used to get to Wolverstone, Pin Mill etc. Wolverstone to Shotley by road = 10-15 mins, Wolverstone to Felixstowe by river = 1 hour.
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- I used the A12 as reference, because that's the road we drive down to get home. From Fox's to the A12, it's less than 5 minutes.
- The B1456 might a dual lane road to you, but unless you've found a way to drive in two directions at once it's a single lane road to me. And overtaking on that road is not for the fainthearted.
 
The biggest problem with the Shotley lock is the painfully slow speed at which most boats go up and down the entrance channel. It's frustrating to be waiting for the lock when you can see boats dawdling along the channel, barely making steerage way. The situation would be improved if the lock-keepers always asked these inconsiderate skippers to make their "best speed" in the channel.
 
My time at shotley was before John took over so perhaps he has improved things. But in my experience getting out was the issue ecespcialy when there was a club in, all wanting to leave at the same time on a Sunday morning to catch the tide back south.

I am more than happy with Woolverstone and don't find the run up the river to be an issue.

Perhaps when I fully retire I may go back to shotley because all my sailing can be done in the week.

In any case this thread has drifted because the original poster wanted Info about Woolverstone and we all seem to be engaged In a debate about Shotley perhaps a new thread on Shotley is needed.
 
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OR4751 said:
The B1456 might a dual lane road to you, but unless you've found a way to drive in two directions at once it's a single lane road to me. And overtaking on that road is not for the fainthearted.
Click to expand...

Coming from the darkest depths of Fenland, the B1456 is like a motorway to us, the road we live on is barely wide enough for one car, never mind overtaking :D:D
 
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