Overwater

Thanks for all the suggestions - it's been really helpful. I just want to potter around the marina (gives me an excuse to get outside!) and want to go for the most environmentally friendly option (apart from rowing!) so that's why I'm quite keen on the electric option. Will have a look at the makes suggested.

Hi, I would like an electric outboard for my little wooden dinghy so I can travel short distances around the marina - any advice on which one to get? The dinghy is about 8' long - I don't need speed, just something that will do the job well.

Try the Audlem Boat Company at Overwater - they can show you a couple of paint jobs that have just been finished and they have a brilliant sign writer who also does castles and roses workshops. Janet

Congratulations! Have you thought about doing a one day helmsman course? Quite a few people offer them nowadays and it would give you the confidence and starter knowledge you need to move the boat. There are many places which do it - on our marina (Overwater Marina, near Audlem, Cheshire) Cheshire Cat Training offer it - have a look at http://www.cheshirecattraining.co.uk/ Janet

Come and have a look at Overwater - we're on the Four Counties Ring and you can walk to the village of Audlem from the marina. We're open 7 days a week from 9.30am to 5pm (coffee shop closed on a Wednesday) if you'd like to look around. Janet

I think the issue of farm subsidies is a little off topic here, and to a degree out of date as we now have a single payment scheme for anyone who owns land (not just farmers) which compensates land owners for the range of environmental management they must adhere to. I have to say we would welcome the end of any form of subsidy if we were paid a little more for our milk (we calculated this would be the equivalent of half a pence per litre) as it would make life a lot less complicated and regulated. Like religion and politics it is a subject you could argue about for hours! If you would like to visit the farm to discuss it over a cup of tea we do offer educational visits which are part of our countryside stewardship scheme (now called HLS) and you are welcome to see the amount of work which goes into producing our milk (my husband averages 70 hours a week). Getting back to the marina I appreciate the need for affordable moorings. We have visited many marinas around the country and seen many different levels of facilities. It is very useful to get feedback on the type of things you all want to have in a marina and those which would make no difference. On this subject - how many of you currently moor in a marina?

Hi, my husband, father-in-law and I are the family who just got planning permission to build a marina near to Audlem, Cheshire and I note with interest many of the points raised in this discussion thread. I am very concerned to hear one person stating that "the developers have lied" - please could you let me know what this is about as I am happy to discuss ANY aspect of our application. Just to clarify - on the advice of the local planning office we used a marina development company to produce our planning application. The next step for us is to invite companies like GJP and Land and Water to provide tenders to construct the marina. We feel that the site that we have is ideal and are aiming to provide a quiet, peaceful environment for people to moor their boats. Our plan is to build with soft edges where possible as this fits in with the surrounding environment. We employ 3 people plus family members on our farm and this project is a means of diversifying our business to ensure it's future viability. The site is approx 1 mile form the centre of Audlem and I have already been approached and given support by a number of businesses in Audlem. If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Janet Maughan

Wouldn't that be kind of impossible in a marina situation, or are you saying that people prefer more space between them and the next boat (or do you just not like marinas?)

Hi, I'm new to this site and news to canals - we have a farm and are thinking about building a marina on some of our land - what kinds of facilities do you all look for in a marina? thanks