Soul less marinas

[Naughty Cal]

We moor in quite a large marina, 400 odd berths if you count the moorings belonging to the houses across the pond. As such the marina has developed several seperate communities amongst itself. We all help each other out and the social side of our marina life is quite healthy. Even in the midst of the coldest winter months we still have weekend gatherings on one boat or another. We have fantastic facilities and security and never feel worried about the boat whilst we are back home during the week. There is only one designated liveaboard mooring in the marina however there are several people who do liveaboard and the marina turn a blind eye.

 

I do have to agree with Fuzzyduck though, that the chandlers leaves a lot to be desired It is run by a seperate company to the moorings but the staff dont know anything about the goods they sell and often just stare at you with a blank look. We have given in using them and instead have a run to Newark Marina if we need a few bits. That said this doesnt detract from the marina and the excellent service is offered in general.

[kiki]

I think our Marina at New Mills has exactly the right mix, about 35 boats, with aprox. half being liveaboards - facilities are rubbish but the friendly crowd make the difference. Summer is all about Barbecues, chatting with a cuppa in your robe in the mornings, and winter- well thats what large gazebo's and umbrellas are for. Its lovely and sociable and the nieghbours are always there to lend a hand to each other. Parking, water, electricity at the going rate, no laundery facilities but a public laundry just around the corner makes up for it, and best of all, 2 mins walk from the station and 45 mins into Manchester.

I am really going to miss it.

[Athy]

Another option for you would be Fox's at March. I have dealt with them often and they run a good marina (our current boat was launched and had her fit-out completed there).

Only trouble with the Middle Levels is, you have to go through several miles of long straight boring bits in between the pretty and/ or interesting bits.

[jonny]

Is this normal or expensive?

 

Martin

This sounds expensive to me, Iknow these posh marinas must get a return for their investment, but if your boat is only a leisure boat the priority should be to keep the costs as low as possible

 

yes security is important but you can get secure moorings without spending a fortune.

 

I'm always on the look-out for better moorings and at the price your paying one year would be my maximum stay

[deletedaccount]

"coal painted white" made me chuckle

[Flyboy]

Strange, I didn't see the need to check your profile as it says "Bascote Basin" on the side of your boat!

 

I think it says Glascote actually.

[Athy]

"coal painted white" made me chuckle

It used to be done sometimes on the railways: for the Royal Train in Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee year of 1897, for example. I have a photo somewhere in an old railway book of a loco whose tender is piled with white coal. As i assume that most paint in those days contained lead, the train must have done wonders for the air quality of the towns through which it passed.

[Pentargon]

For me this is a very interesting thread as I am buying my boat 'with mooring' not a million miles from Braunston. (The survey is tomorrow and I'm shittin bricks today so go easy on me ok?) I'd guess if the prices there are a tad up-market at Braunston, it's a combination of their being close to the centre of some universe and providing extensive facilities. Daan Sarf there are huge differences in rents and huge differences in how they compute them.

 

On the subject of rent prices, I think mine will be £90+V20%=£108 pmpa (£1200pa) though negotiations are not yet concluded. It would make an interesting contribution esp. to newbies to know what terms are elsewhere and how they are computed. Figuring the rent has been the biggest minefield for me. EG. 86p pfpw(longterm) or 109p pfpw (temp). I've been quoted £2100 on the Lee and £2000 on the Stort and £1000 nr. Daventry for the same spec. boat.

 

On the subject of "services", turning off water to pontoons from Dec. thru Feb. makes great sense as frost damage is hugely expensive on an overground network a long way from the sea where freezing temperatures are guaranteed every winter. I don't think I would want to be in a marina where this did not happen as I would consider it airhead management and would wonder what other kinds of tomfoolery/stupidity they were at.

 

On-site facilities such a shops, chandelries, pumpouts, meachanics, welders, site security are all variables I can take or leave.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Pentargon

[churchward]

I find the best marinas are the ones with a mix of leisure, and residential.

 

Leisure for the peace and quiet (The owners will bugger off) and Resi to give it some atmosphere.

 

The marina I'm morred at is about 25% Resi 75% Leisure, and I think it could benefit from a few more resi moorings, it's nice to be able to nip down to the marina, and chat with fellow boaters even in January when most of the leisure owners are tucked up for the winter.

 

Which reminds me, I must nip down and move my Seagull that's still hanging on the back fence.

 

I also think the lower price bracket makes for more interesting marinas, after standing for nearly 1/2 an hour at the chandlery counter, whilst being studiously ignored by the brokers at Burton Waters, I'm a bit jaded by the high end ones.

 

I tend to agree on the mix of residential and leisure in a marina. It does help the general vibe I think also it is a distinct advantage to have other eyes around watching out for what is going on so the residential people enhance security on the whole.

 

The downside though if you are a leisure boater is that in my experience a marina catering for residential by having loo, shower blocks laundry facilities etc. are more expensive to stay at because everyone is paying for those facilities. A more basic marina with just water and electric to the boat but little else has fewer overheads and so can be cheaper.

 

I quite like the Marina we are in at the moment. We go there frequently and it is a friendly place although fewer folk about in the winter.

[nicknorman]

Strange, I didn't see the need to check your profile as it says "Bascote Basin" on the side of your boat!

Glascote even! Which is where it was born, as opposed to where it is currently living! (just 30 mins away down the cut though)

 

 

On the subject of "services", turning off water to pontoons from Dec. thru Feb. makes great sense as frost damage is hugely expensive on an overground network a long way from the sea where freezing temperatures are guaranteed every winter. I don't think I would want to be in a marina where this did not happen as I would consider it airhead management and would wonder what other kinds of tomfoolery/stupidity they were at.

 

Well personally I would prefer either pipework protected from frost (trace heating, or pipes well insulated) or at least an intelligent policy so that it gets turned off when the temperatures fall, but not for instance over Christmas when it was around 14 degrees C! So far this winter there has barely been any sub-zero temperature, just a touch of ground frost that would not freeze a pipe that had even basic lagging. It sounds like the Marina is taking the easy option to protect their assetts and avoid having to think, at the expense of the moorers.

 

Our Marina is just as far from the sea but the water has remained on throughout, so far. I know which policy I would prefer!

Edited January 9, 2012 by nicknorman

[mayalld]

I think our Marina at New Mills has exactly the right mix, about 35 boats, with aprox. half being liveaboards - facilities are rubbish but the friendly crowd make the difference. Summer is all about Barbecues, chatting with a cuppa in your robe in the mornings, and winter- well thats what large gazebo's and umbrellas are for. Its lovely and sociable and the nieghbours are always there to lend a hand to each other. Parking, water, electricity at the going rate, no laundery facilities but a public laundry just around the corner makes up for it, and best of all, 2 mins walk from the station and 45 mins into Manchester.

I am really going to miss it.

 

To expand on what Kiki says....

 

Yes, I think the mix is about right, as is the mix of shiny and not-shiny.

 

Part of what makes it tick is that having the right mix of liveaboard, and weekend boaters means that socialising happens organically, because the resident community are always there, interacting, which makes interacting with other boaters the natural thing to do.

 

It also means that we don't need organised activities. Socialising just happens, according to who is there.

 

Not sure how well the social scene will survive the departure of Kiki, and DH, and barbecue though!

[ditchcrawler]

Martin if you are looking for possibly the best marina in your easy reach I would suggest Bill Fen at Ramsey. It's beautiful there we simply loved it. It is the one sad thing I have about selling my NB was loosing that mooring as they don't take wide beam.

 

Also there are no river fees on the middle levels.

 

Getting a mooring there is a rare thing and it's best going to visit Lyn in person and having a chat.

 

If you want more info PM me.

I tried that and still didn't get a mooring there. Perhaps that's why I didn't get one.

 

Martin

This sounds expensive to me, Iknow these posh marinas must get a return for their investment, but if your boat is only a leisure boat the priority should be to keep the costs as low as possible

 

yes security is important but you can get secure moorings without spending a fortune.

 

I'm always on the look-out for better moorings and at the price your paying one year would be my maximum stay

One thing to bear in mind is that up until a couple of years ago moorings in Braunston were like hens teeth and this has only eased with the moorings being opened around the area.

 

 

On the subject of "services", turning off water to pontoons from Dec. thru Feb. makes great sense as frost damage is hugely expensive on an overground network a long way from the sea where freezing temperatures are guaranteed every winter. I don't think I would want to be in a marina where this did not happen as I would consider it airhead management and would wonder what other kinds of tomfoolery/stupidity they were at.

 

 

If you are onboard and the water tank is empty, like last week its 14deg and the wind is doing 60mph you may think differently when the only way to fill your tank is to go the length of the marina after backing out of your mooring.

[Tiggers]

I will admit that I was never a fan of marinas, always being a CC or having linear moorings. I have been working in a marina since mid October, and it is just brilliant. Its 200 berths, and has a smattering of liveaboards, and it really does have such a nice atmosphere.

 

I will agree that it is what you make of it, but fortunately I am yet to meet a moorer who I haven't got on with. A fair few of them will come and sit in the reception during the day and help while away the hours in the quiet times over a cuppa. I think it helps that they have a big hog roast every year for the moorers which helps everyone meet their neighbours. I think there are quite a few late night card games that go on too, waiting for my invite!

 

As for paying for things such as showers etc, I suppose in places like Braunston, they can afford to do this as they are always going to be full. We charge for washing tokens, that's it.

[i love my narrowboat]

Correct. I'll be looking for somewhere else next year a bit closer to home. Possibly on River Nene.

 

I am at Billing Northampton (River Nene )and LOVE IT.. the community spirit is great here and we all get on fine,two price bands under 40ft and over 40ft so feel it is very fair. lots of facilites in the park and in with your mooring fee you get free swimming at the complex and entry to all the events that go on through the year. we were at Ventnor Farm nr Calcutt until August however as no liveaboards allowed we had to move. We do not regret it and wished we had come here from first owning the boat....

[Starcoaster]

That's interesting, I am interested in Billings and have emailed twice for more info but no one has responded to me.

[matty40s]

That's interesting, I am interested in Billings and have emailed twice for more info but no one has responded to me.

 

This may be their "official shutdown", the 4 weeks a year that they close the site....cleverly avoided by boat owners who manage to take their boats out of the marina a MASSIVE 4 weeks a year at any time!!!!.

[Starcoaster]

Lol I just emailed them again now but my prior enquiries were last year.

[Emerald]

This was my experience of fellow moorers too -

 

I once was helping an elderly gentleman unload his car at Mercia

 

 

Might be the same guy?

[Taslim]

It used to be done sometimes on the railways: for the Royal Train in Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee year of 1897, for example. I have a photo somewhere in an old railway book of a loco whose tender is piled with white coal. As i assume that most paint in those days contained lead, the train must have done wonders for the air quality of the towns through which it passed.

 

Remainig off subject. Probably not paint on Queen Vicks coal but a "White Wash Job" ? Some of ones' naughty comrades were volunteered to tidy up before The Top Brass turned up to conduct an inspection. Scrub the barrack & clean the coal. Those stoves would go well in a bigger boat.

 

Edit to add. My reason for following this thread is that i may need to look for moorings soon & as a newby don't know what the going rates are for moorings in different on different parts of the system. Gloucester/ Worcester is my local water.

Edited January 11, 2012 by TASLIM

[i love my narrowboat]

That's interesting, I am interested in Billings and have emailed twice for more info but no one has responded to me.

 

Hi, Colin is away for the month (no one deals with anything office wise while he is away), back Feb 7th, however you can go into the visitors centre for more info..cheers Sue

 

This may be their "official shutdown", the 4 weeks a year that they close the site....cleverly avoided by boat owners who manage to take their boats out of the marina a MASSIVE 4 weeks a year at any time!!!!.

 

 

Yes you are correct, the park is closed for 4 weeks, we do not have to go out as we only came here Sept 1st and others as you say have already done their 4 weeks out.

[Guest]

Hi, Colin is away for the month (no one deals with anything office wise while he is away), back Feb 7th, however you can go into the visitors centre for more info..cheers Sue

 

Yes you are correct, the park is closed for 4 weeks, we do not have to go out as we only came here Sept 1st and others as you say have already done their 4 weeks out.

 

'Out of office' is a useful facility.... that way potential customers get a response and know when they will be got back in touch with..

[Starcoaster]

Hi, Colin is away for the month (no one deals with anything office wise while he is away), back Feb 7th, however you can go into the visitors centre for more info..cheers Sue

 

 

Ah ok... Thanks for letting me know, Sue.

 

I will hope for a reply when they get back I guess, but as my prior enquiries were made in November and December, so maybe not!

I wouldn't make the trip up there and hope someone can help me without first clarifying some details remotely, so I don't think I'll be popping up to the visitors centre, particularly if the guy who deals with the marina office isn't there anyway.

 

(If they don't respond to webform enquiries, maybe they should remove the web form...)

[Guest]

(If they don't respond to webform enquiries, maybe they should remove the web form...)

 

Indeed - but sadly quite common these days - I thought there was a double dip recession going on but given the responsiveness of a lot of UK businesses (including small ones) these days I must be wrong.

[Guest wanted]

'Out of office' is a useful facility.... that way potential customers get a response and know when they will be got back in touch with..

 

Thank you for contacting me. Wanted is currently away on leave, traveling through time and will be returning last week.