I have a 28 ft boat which is about to be shipped back from the Caribbean, arriving Felixstowe.
There are a few little jobs that really should be done before it goes in the water, so it will need to be transported to a boatyard first.
Most are things I can do myself, although there may be a couple of things I would prefer to get done professionally, so somewhere where pretty much everything can be done or arranged locally would be ideal.
I'm based in London, so I need somewhere reasonably easy to get to from there.
I'm familiar with the S. coast from say Ramsgate & along, but I don't really know what the options might be between Felixstowe & there.
Any local info on boatyards along that stretch would be very much appreciated.
There are a few boat yards in the medway area such as Hoo marina, where there is a yacht repair service on site. Also there is a boat yard in Upnor, Near Rochester Kent.
You don't say what kind of repairs - but assuming it's a glass boat, the first place coming back from Felixstowe is Levington Marina, on the north bank of the Orwell then Fox's at Ipswich and Woolvestone Marina (an MDL marina) on the south bank (not sucre what there is in the way of repairs at Woolverstone, then Shotley at the Orwell/Stour confluence. Walton Back Waters has facilities at Titchmarsh Marina, then here at West Mersea, Peter Clarke's boatyard and West Mersea Marine are very competent. There are facilities at Maldon in Downs Road Boatyard on the River Blackwater also at Bradwell Marina at the head of the Blackwater.
I can't speak for the Crouch.
Presumably you are looking for a compromise between hauling the boat a distance and reducing your journey out from London. Of these Levington is going to be the closest to Felixstowe docks (a long stone's throw) but the longest drive for you. Fox's is pretty close to the A12 (just before Ipswich) and have a good reputation. I have found Shotley very pleasant to deal with but it is a bit of a trundle down the peninsula. They do do good summer deals though.
West Mersea is similarly 20 minutes away from the A12 but that much closer to London.
I will leave others to add comments about service - I only have experience of the two West Mersea yards and Shotley - all of whom I would recommend (in a general sense, not knowing what you need doing)
I'd go with Tillergirls comments, with the addition of Titchmarsh @ Walton, who are probably more cost effective than Foxes/Levington/Shotley. Driving time from London will be about 5-10 mins less. but not so convenient as Fox's (Dual Carriageway almost to the door.) HTH Tony W.
Depends what you want doing professionally, but you can try Felixstowe Ferry Boatyard - even closer than Levington! They are quite OK about DIY also. Tel 01394 282173 - speak to Andrew Moore, who runs the yard.
<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... :-) [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
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dickh
I'd rather be sailing... :-) [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
We have found Ipswich haven yard to be excellent - extremely good hoisting faciltitie, electricity, water etc. There quite a lot of different businesses around here, which gives you choice etc - which is not true in the boatyards I know of between Brighton & Dover. (Had a helluva job getting a good rigger in Dover, tho we did in the end.) This latter comment applies all along the Orwell as, eg Rig Magic from Levington will come to do work on boats in Ipswich.
From Ipswich station it's about 20 minutes walk to Ipswich Haven or 5 minutes on a bike.
Neptune don't have much storage ashore. Debbages do have storage ashore but fewer facilties of the leccie, water, toilet kind.
Recommendation - I\'ve been a customer for 19 years
Robertsons, Woodbridge.
12.8 miles from Felixstowe Dock (where I work, 1-2 days a week)
Known as a serious wooden boat yard but they also work on glass - do "one off" versions of Oysters, etc. Very high quality and stick to their estimates, which tends to work out cheaper in the long run.
My vote's for Mariner's Farm Boatyard, Lower Rainham, down the road from Gillingham, Kent. Extremely helpful, really felt like we were taken care of there. *sniff* Why did we ever leave..? *snuffle*
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I can vouch for Downs Road Boatyard in Maldon, stored my Stella there from October to April this year. Wealth of experience, road transport, craneage, a hat full of contacts in all trades. Cheap, professional and approachable, can't praise them enough. From a personal perspective the best yard I have ever dealt with.
boatyards E. coast / SE england
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