Poole, Southampton or Portsmouth mooring/storage

[Ianfs]

Thank you so much everyone for all your contributions. Every one of them is a worthwhile consideration.

I absolutely get Marks thoughts and James has come in with some similar idea's to me. Shibbs thanks for the offer of Pompey Harbour, that may happen, I'll PM you.

Not sure where you're coming from, but if it involves the A34/M3 then that part of Southampton is very quick to get to by road.

everything I just said irrelevant!
Oh well... won't be the last time!

Not so Anna, not irrelevant at all, I adore your deductive reasoning and some of my journey could well be on the M3 via the M25, which is often the quickest route to Southampton for me. Plus I didn't know that Southampton Dry Stack was under cover....Note to self....must do more research!

Ian, we were in Chichester Marina two weeks ago looking at the Sealine 25 and the Sunny 32, it was delightful. We have a friend with a boat there, what has put us off was his comments about the locking. When we were there it was on free flow and boats were moving easily. I have to say we haven't written it off.

I'm still edging towards Southampton and as Colin and James have said with MDL you can move around.

Chris, the attraction of Trafalgar is the under cover and I believe its fairly new, the MD seems like he's trying hard to make it work so I think one would get good attention and customer service. Most reports suggest its about 20mins to the mouth, which was similar to our journey down the Hamble past the Jolly Sailor when we kept our boat at Eastlands and we loved the casual jaunt down to Southampton Water.

Lymington....hmmmm who suggested that

I used to be really indecisive, but now I'm not sure!!

As there are really only 2 main Marina/Dry Stack conglomerates who offer multi mooring I think it might come down to which area they have the most places.

The boat I really like is in Poole, might go this weekend.

Any more idea's gratefully received, I don't want to be tossing a coin on this one.

[Centaur]

I went for Poole as it is where I grew up and have friends and family there. Southampton might save half an hour on my journey but Portsmouth probably nothing at all.

It's a bit of a trek to the Solent and it's usually into the weather on the way back, so take that into consideration too. Poole is lovely, though, with lots to do both on and off the water.

I'm at Cobbs Quay, so have to factor in the bridges but can be out to sea in half an hour or so. It is a great marina with smart facilities and is well protected from wind and waves - it's often so calm that you wouldn't know that you were on a boat and never noisy even in stormy weather.

The bridges lift (mostly) every hour, so not too much bother. I can almost always get under the Twin Sails but need Poole Bridge open when the tide reads >1.5m - I need about 2.7m air draft or slightly less with the covers down. I have had my nav-light/radar frame adjusted so that it folds down though, or I would need the bridges lifted all the time - something else to possibly consider in your boat choice! (Thanks to DPB101 for his advice on that last year).

Good luck with your search!