Why is Brighton Marina so Cheap £899 yr

[Flanker]

I have been looking at moorings and found Brighton Marina, with use of all the normal facilities at £899 up to 6.5mtrs. Is there something I don't know about it. With full use of all the facilities, showers, use of other marinas free, insurance e.t.c. it looks too good to be true.

Look at link :- http://www.premiermarinas.com/

Pete

[John Kennett]

It sounds like a good price to me. The only draw back is where are you going to go when you get out of the marina? There are nothing like as many easy places to go to compared with the Solent, and that's a good hour or two away by sea.

With a bit of thought and planning there are various cruising options though. Apart from whizzing around in circles (skiing or towing inflatable, posing between the piers on the occasional fine weather weekend, other options include cruising to the bright lights of Eastbourne, Newhaven, Shoreham or Littlehampton -- although none of them have very much to offer. The more adventurous could try visiting Rye at high water, taking the River Ouse to Lewes (but there aren't any moorings), or the Arun to the Black Rabbit pub above Arundel (where mooring can be challenging too!).

Alternatively Fecamp is about 60 miles away across the channel and with all tides access to the marina is an easy destination.

John

[Keith Hart]

Apart from whizzing around in circles (skiing or towing inflatable, posing between the piers on the occasional fine weather weekend

Yes JK some people like to do that. Yesterday (Saturday) afternoon, in an attempt to get out of cutting the lawn, I took 'er indoors ( ), youngest child Natalie (22 yrs ) and dog Scarlet (Jack Russell, but not like Bill Davison at all) to Kingsbury Waterpark, which is about 20 minutes drive away.

There are lots of nice 'nature' walks and of course being a 'waterpark', lots of lakes. So after parking the car and debussing by numbers (you have to have been in the services to understand that) orft we jolly well went. Lo and behold I hear sweet music. To you and I, the sound of outboard motors screaming away.

"Ah", I say, "that sounds like motorboats on one of the lakes, let's take a look".

Of course the boss eyes me with that look (you married chaps know the look I mean). She thinks that I knew all about these boats beforehand. I know that no pleading will convince her otherwise so I keep my mouth shut.

Anyway, we arrive waterside and there they are, long sleek boats with big outboard motors, zooming around the lake. Some have bits of string behind with inflated thingys bouncing up and down in their wake with young children clinging periously on. Is this some sort of child abuse?

Well we watch for a while.

The big blue boat goes around the lake 3 times scattering a flock of geese on it's way. Then it stops. Then it goes around the lake 3 times, scattering a flock of geese on it's way. Then it stops. Then it goes around the lake 3 times, scattering a flock of geese on it's way. Then it stops.

Next the big red boat goes out. The big red boat goes around the lake 3 times scattering a flock of geese on it's way. Then it stops. The big red boat goes around the lake 3 times scattering a flock of geese on it's way. Then it stops. The big red boat goes around the lake 3 times scattering a flock of geese on it's way. Then it stops.

Then it is the big blue boat's turn again. Well you get the picture. Oh yes, and of course the lake was flat (I mean no waves Bill, I know that the lake wont be on a slope).

I wandered over to one of the 'in crowd'.

"Do they ever go around the other way?" I asked.

Sharp intake of breath. "The other way?" I felt as if I had asked a very stupid question. "No, no, no", came the reply, "The lake belongs to the council."

This last sentence was obviously all the explanation the informant thought I needed.

We watched for a while then wandered off so that Scarlett could have a c**p (picked up by in a plastic bag I might add, we are responsible owners).

I took the telephone number of the motorboat club secretary. You see that lake was very pretty, the scenery was nice. I can imagine on a sunny afternoon sitting having a picnic and a potter around the lake on little Quicksilver. I might even bring it back down again for next summer. However I have the feeling that pottering around will be restricted to three laps in the same direction. Perhaps I won't bother after all.

Now back to the point (was there one? - Yes, just listen will you). These people had big fast boats but they were apparently content with blasting round in circles whilst torturing small children.

I have a small sib with an engine one tenth the size of those on back of the big fast boats on Kingsbury. I would get fed up very quickly of going round in circles three times.

I like the excitement of going out to sea, where there are waves, currents, dolphins, rocks, scenery, unexplored coves and caves. Where you need a GPS, a VHF radio, charts. And yes, where there is a little DANGER.

I wonder if any of those watery 'merry go round' boats had ever been out to sea?

So JK yes, some people seem to be happy whizzing around and posing, but it seems that this is not for the members of this forum, whether they have big boats or small boats.

Keith (by the way I was forced into cutting the grass when we got home) Hart

[Viking]

Keith
How far away was the lake from the nearest coastline?
Britt

[Keith Hart]

Well, put it this way. Kingsbury is about 20 minutes drive from the very centre of England. So almost as far from the sea as you can get.

Keith (I coud give you a gps reference) Hart

[Flanker]

OH DEAR,

I contacted the Marina, yes it was all correct £899 for 6.5mtr, great benefits, but ONE problem, YES my boat is 6.6mtrs! Oh well 10cm (6" to my wife) should not make any difference should it, I could let a little bit of air out of the rubber edging bit, but NO that would be another £900 Sir. Well that was the end of that, No room to negotiate. Do I look for something that I could sleep in should I have a liitle too much down there one night, e.g. a hard speedy boat, or stick to the trailer lark with what I have? I do understand that the Marina is in the middle of nowhere, I agree, but what value if you slept there every night, but a bit sad I would think being a sea tramp.

Pete

[Richard B]

Do they measure your RIB? Has the RIB got "6.6" or something similar on the side? Lots of us with boats on swinging moorings (ie moored to a buoy) "underestimate" our LOA to get in under a limit (typically 6m).

Your experience is useful to others like me who are contemplating the purchase of similar sized RIBs.

BTW - marinas often limit the number of nights you are allowed to spend on board - I think it's a local authority thing, as you or the marina could become liable for residential council tax.

IRO trailers, the following link may be of use?
http://www.ribsforsale.co.uk/product.asp?RefNo=245581

Cheers,
Richard.

[Daniel]

I agree with Pepper on the 'is it writen on it' thing - i often say my boat is 5.4mtrs 'coz that gets rounded down to 5, where as 5.5 or 5.6 gets rounded up. I never measured it myself, but its called a DS 18 so i assume its 18 foot - now you can confuse marina people by quoting conversion figures and stuff.

It always amuses me to see peoples faces when the say "how long" and i say "5.4" and they look at me, and i say yes 5 point 4 metres - its only small" - and yes, before the jokes start, its only when taking to women about boats that i have to say that!

[Richard B]

- and whilst wandering around the supermarket this afternoon (funny what you think about sometimes...) it occured to me that if you leave your shiney new RIB in the water at a marina, it may soon turn into a green, slimey, barnacled and weedy hull. Have a look around at the waterline of other moored craft there (if you are allowed access) and have a look at how bad the "fouling" is, because you may need to anti-foul the hull. (Conditions vary locally). A build-up of growth will reduce your top speed, increase your fuel consumption, decrease your overall range and decrease the resale value of your RIB.

[Flanker]

I was told in no uncertain terms that on arrival your RIB is measured by them, I asked about the what if I let a bit of air out of the pointy end and stuff it in, but they said 'it must be as you are going to have it in the Marina' I guess you could always pump it up on the way out, and let the air out on the way in. That 10cm is very expensive, apparently the 'Rules are the rules, no exceptions'. What I am I getting myself into as a first timer, are all things to do with sailing so petty? Perhaps RIB makers could invent a way of tucking in 10cm, as you say it could make a big difference to what you choose to buy. My choice of putting it into Brighton Marina is certainly out of the window unless I cut the pointy ends off the back, do you really need them?

Re the sleeping on it, you should not normally stay on them all the time but they stated if you want to you can, but must tell the Marine office who will then grant permission, you must leave the Marina 3 times a year to escape the tax situation. Seems a bit daft really. Maybe someone who knows more about boats could ring the office on the link on the first thread, they are very helpful, but do not budge an inch (or 10cm). This measuring by hand business before you get a service could be a bit dangerous if other professions take it on, mind you some people could benefit.



Pete

[Keith Hart]

Now you see the advantage of a 3.4m sib that lives in my garage.

By the way:

they are very helpful, but do not budge an inch (or 10cm).

Just for info (remember length is money) an inch is 2.5cm.

Keith (no marina fees) Hart

[Alan]

Pete,

Why do you want to keep your boat in a Marina anyway? One of the great things about a RIB (leastways a reasonably sized one) is that you can hitch up the trailer behind the car and explore pastures (or rather waters) new! Is it a desire not to launch and recover each time, lack of space to store the thing or what?

Alan

[Daniel]

Think thats my fault - i suggested it as something to think about.

I would consider it if i had a slightly larger boat, which would be a problem to store on the drive, and i reckon i would go out more often if i dident have to spend time towing to the beach, launching etc. etc.

I assume you keep you'rs ashore then?

[Flanker]

I think it something to do with

Wife :- "That thing is not going at the front of our house and that is that"

Me :- " But there is space there"

Wife :- " I don't think you heard what I said"

Me :- "Yes dear" (Oh my goodness, where am I going to put it then)

Does that answer the question?

Pete

[Flanker]

Daniel,

What you have just said does come into it, free parking at the Marina, jump in and go, even fuel at 79p a litre there (+ 10% off for annual payers). If I did want to move it somewhere, to save the Marina pulling it out of the water fees (No slipway there) I would drive to the nearest slipway and take it out and off I go, anywhere. If you leave the Marina for 30 days, you get 75% of the fee for that period back.

I think I could wangle a voucher for say 30 days from the wife to park it outside the front of the house, and Yes she is bigger than me!

The free 12 nights at any of their Marinas e.g. Christchurch, Port Solant are useful, and the free I think 11am - 3pm parking at any of their Marinas at any time is great. You could drive and spend the day at Christchurch or wherever.

I think from Bromley I have a good way to go anywhere to find sea. Add the cost of transport and time towing, it all adds up. I could get the train to Brighton in Mid summer.

But with my extra 10cm (and I do know the size of an inch, but was trying to make a joke) the extra £900 is out of the question. Guess I don't know why I wrote all this then.

Pete

[Alan]

Yeah I had a similar problem with a bright yellow RIB at my last house but with the neighbours being rather put out rather than anyone else.

Your solution is to find a nearby and friendly farmer/warehouse/caravan storage place/mate with a bit of land etc and offer them a fiver a week or so to store it there. Thats what I do now! (current house having on street parking - suspect the council would object to 8m of RIB and trailer in the permit zone!)

The other option would be to dry berth at a suitable marina with a slipway - e.g. keep it on its trailer (as opposed to afloat) and launch when used. You can pay a fortune for this service in the Solent but can do it surprisingly cheaply elsewhere.

Just a thought, Alan.

[Daniel]

What i never mentioned was the weed build-up problem, and it's almost as bad as the trailer brakes problem, maybe worse!

My only experience of a fast boat in a marina is a good friends 7m RIB in ramsgate, as i have mentioned. He has nothing but problems with weed growth, within 8 weeks it made us think the engine was broken becasue we could not get the boat to plane - it turned out that we needed to get it oun onto trailer and jet-wash the hull to get rid of the stuff. This is now a routine operation, once every 4-8 weeks, and he is thinking about anti-fowling the hull - which has problems of its own.

BUT as i said, we quite often go out in his boat for 1/2 hour in the evening followed by a beer on the way home from work - jump in and go is very attractive.

[Flanker]

Alan,

Brighton gives you 8 weeks of storage out of the water included in the price (info for others)

I will look into your idea, I need somewhere that is interesting and that would make a good hub e.g. head off anywhere from there if I wanted to.

Brighton is a bit isolated, but I have to balance sitting in my car for hours to get somewhere or doing some of the travelling in the boat.

Pete

P.S. Any storage ideas from Bromley area would be appreciated

[Flanker]

I think the fouling bit has made my mind up re leaving it in the water. I guess it is just sad I am not rich enough to have them remove into covered storage each night with the complete full valet on offer.

I will concentrate on finding or buying a plot of land to hide it on near the sea.

Pete

[Keith Hart]

Just think - 5 years storage in a marina - about the same cost as a decent secondhand RIB!

Keith (I knew you were joking, so was I) Hart