Worst rip-off on the South Coast

[Becky]

Having finally got Cornish Maid launched in the last week of July, we reached Haslar Marina safely. Our registration documents weren't quite so lucky, the Post Office lost them on their way to the MCA for our Part 1 re-registration. So we could only cruise in UK waters.
Expensive.
But, from Portsmouth to Falmouth, one place stands out as the biggest rip-off of all. Brixham, an MDL marina, where we had to pay £20 to just tie up on the visitor's pontoon. No electricity, no water, just a couple of bollards. I always feel that MDL are costly, and no doubt John Eades will reply to the contrary, but that was seriously expensive.
By this stage of our shake-down cruise, it was very obvious that our batteries were well on the way to terminal shut-down, and desperately needed charging. (We rushed on to Plymouth and bought new ones).
Some places were excellent, Sutton Harbour in Plymouth, where the staff couldn't have been more helpful. Or the visitor's marina in Falmouth. They were nice, too. (Met Tom Cunliffe in Sutton Harbour, what a dishy man!! Charming too).
Anyway, what rip-offs have the rest of you endured this summer?
Regards Becky



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[Evadne]

You probably wouldn't think it too expensive, but I rate the marina at Buckler's hard head and shoulders above all others. They have a minimum charge of 38' LOA, despite having pontoons barely 2/3rds the length of my 29' boat.

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[pragmatist]

Mmmn - you've opened a big can of worms here. Should we nominate "worst" and "worst value".

Ours are -

Worst - avoid like the plague - Ramsgate - only place left fish pontoon - no services, stank to high heaven - cost £20 per night. Long smelly walk to the town. The only service they offered was collecting the money.

Worst value - Salterns in Poole - we could only stay 3 hrs and had to be there - cost some 7 years ago £35.


<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

 

[CaptainCava]

If you think Brixham is a rip-off, try the marina half way up the Dart on the left hand side (I've forgotten what it's called).

Ah........and Mr. Cunliffe. Did you escape er....unsullied? Is there such a word?

I expect you'll appear in an article some time in the future and be described as a delightful fisherman's daughter carrying gifts of fresh salmon, or a beautiful sailors wife charging her batteries despite the wicked marina operator, or..........sorry Tom, but you do go on a bit (about women that is) in some of your stories.

Don't encourage him Becky!

And good luck with your trip.

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[pessimist]

Gotta be Salterns - dirty, unfriendly and v.expensive. That was a year or two ago tho'. If they've improved I apologise.

<hr width=100% size=1>A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts

 

[pessimist]

That'll be Dart Marina. Dartmouth is home port and I've heard bad things about them. They do, however have a prole class version on the other side of the river.

<hr width=100% size=1>A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts

 

[pessimist]

Oh yes I'd forgotten about Ramsgate. I seem to recall they tried to dun us after leaving for a nights bert we'd already paid for. AVOID

<hr width=100% size=1>A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts

 

[CaptainCava]

That was brave. Isn't Salterns 99% stinkies?
They can afford it of course!

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[Guest]

Wasahamnen in Stockholm, charged about 20 Euro for a night's berth. This was the most expensive we found this summer, and the facilities were not good - not even a sauna. At least it's bang in the middle of the city.

By contrast, NGYC in the centre of Helsinki charged 14 Euros, had free sauna, electricity, free use of washig machines, free washing powder, free internet access and a free taxi boat service into the centre.

Well they ARE sort of on the South Coast, aren't they? ))

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[Miles]

We aranged a berth (Dart Marina) there despite an ETA for after they went home and had to leave early the next day to catch the tide for Protland Bill. When I rang to pay the bill they denied we had been there and quoted the bill from summer 2003 as having been paid so insisted we had nothing to pay.

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[Violetta]

Well, now.....

There was the oyster farmer that owns the creek bed where our mooring lies. As we usually do, we offered to increase the annual ground rent of £80, which has been the same these last 10 years or so. Same reply as always...."no need....£80 is quite enough, thank you".

And the owner of the yard at Hollowshore where we lay alongside a fine big Faversham smack for a couple of nights. He didn't have an answer when we asked how much we owed. Eventually he said "are you going to the pub?" "Yes" "Well, maybe you could leave something behind the bar for the lads......." (Total spent on berthing fees so far this summer - £12)

Oh, and there was the marina owner I went to see on behalf of a small charity for disabled people. They wanted somewhere to keep a motor boat to help get their customers out on the water. I was shown a most suitable berth and Mr. Marina Owner was into the spirit of the thing...."We'll need a ramp here...a rail there...." Seemed to good to be true. Heart in mouth I asked "how much...?" Well, now....let's see...how about.......£50 p.a.?????

The local boatbuilder did a bit of work for me on a nice clinker old dinghy as well. One day I was buying something at the local marina chandlery and noticed a "foreign" signature on the account. Looked a little closer.....Yup - boatbuilder. He needed some paint, couldn't get hold of me, didn't want to delay the work, so bought it on our account. He knew it was OK, they knew it was OK, I knew it was OK......

Mind you, we did occasionally have to use a friend's mooring this year because ours was occupied by a stunning ECOD (we couldn't bear to go alongside and risk damaging the beautiful paintwork) If the owner leaves his return a smidgeon late he can't always get back up the creek to his own, so ours is his backstop - standing invitation. Lovely thing, the ECOD.

It's a jungle out there and no mistake.......


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[Gunfleet]

You should have been in Guernsey, where Herm Seaway not only took an order for 2 new batts over the phone but brought them down to my boat on a pontoon 15 mins later. and they weren't overpriced!

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[john_morris_uk]

To change the subject back to the dark side of money grabbing - I will offer (and not for the first time on this forum) Salcombe. Not only do they charge you marina prices for lying to a mooring, but they are out after your money even before you tie up. I get annoyed by the harbour launch that comes to collect even before you get your lines secured. Braye Harbour, Alderney used to be like it as well...

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[Robin]

Dartmouth Fuel Barge

We were charged 48p/lt end of July and somehow we were charged for about 4 gallons more than we could have used, possibly an error resetting the pump. The harbour chappie said they get a lot of complaints (wow what a surprise!) and the same bandit operates the Salcombe fuel barge too.

As someone else has mentioned, Dartmouth marinas sure know how to charge too, but the harbour moorings by contrast are fairly reasonable.



<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: In praise of Salcombe

Having phoned Salcombe H.M. office before leaving Dartmouth, to enquire about the availability of visitor's moorings / anchorages (our visit coinciding with the end of Salcombe regatta), I can only say that the service I received was excellent. The lady that handled my enquiry took our boat name and eta, and assured us that the launch would have a visitors buoy available on our arrival. A quick call to the launch on vhf, as we entered the harbour, proved her to be true to her word. We were directed straight to a vacant buoy and not bothered for fees until the tea mugs were empty.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: Dartmouth Fuel Barge

Hi Robin. We too tanked up in Dartmouth, and were similarly astounded by the cost, the £10 note that I proffered was viewed with such contempt that it was immediately apparent a much larger note would be required. On returning to the Solent I was quite relieved to see the price of fuel had not suffered a dramatic increase, as I feared for my credit cards ability to pay for enough road diesel to get the car home.

Steve.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Had a couple of nights in Darthaven marina, very friendly and helpful staff, and <£20 for 10m berth (inc electricity)

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[rwoofer]

Re: Dartmouth Fuel Barge

I fuelled up in dartmouth only 2 weeks ago and it was 35p a litre (for 170 litres). I did see that the pump had 48p a litre on it, but the attendant said that was for v. small amounts.



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[Sybarite]

I had to pay € 21 for a night (including water & electricity) at Port Tudy on the Ile de Groix. Oh, I forgot, my own marina reimburses me for it. I also stayed a night at La Trinité sur Mer. I don't know how much it was - there was nothing to pay because I was from Locmiquélic....

Sorry folks... couldn't resist.

John.



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[TheBoatman]

Oi do you mind I was born in Ramsgate, great place, friendly natives, big harbour, good pontoon berths providing you arrive early enough to get one or else they put you on the fishermans berths and charge you more for the atmosphere. If there's a blow coming you can go "inside" at no extra cost, decent toilet block, decent breakfast at the top of Kent Steps, duck or steak dinner in Anns Pantry, what more do you want<s>.

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