Friday 2 May 2014

How to Choose a Mooring IV

We've decided our important preferences (see this blog entry), compiled our spreadsheet (see this blog entry), and now have collected as much information as we need (see this blog entry) to make a decision on where to go next.

At last we were in a position to make a decision. We had gathered application forms and left contact details but not signed anything. We had general advice about whether there was likely to be space for us in the time frame we wanted and we could weigh the information and reach a decision. We also had a collection of photographs to remind us which marina was which, as it's so easy to confuse them later.

In our case there were at least two marinas that matched our needs and it was difficult to decide between them. It came down to small preferences but it was very useful to return to our original ranked list. It can be tempting to make a decision on the spur of the moment, persuaded by a sunny day, a friendly neighbour or a trivial incident, when these are unimportant in the longer term.

Where did we choose and why?

Why not help us to decide?

Our short list was:

Welford
Canal Wharf, Welford, Northamptonshire, NN66JQ Tel:01858575995
No website
64 miles, 1hr 20 mins from base by car
£1,480.00 pa
Leicester arm - 17 miles and 8 locks from Norton junction, and Crick tunnel (1528 yds); better value, good scope for day and short trips and would take a day to get to Grand Union.



Gayton Marina
Near jnc. of Grand Union & Northampton arm and north of Blisworth tunnel (3076 yds). Telephone: 01604 858 685
64 miles, 1hr 22 mins from base by car
£1,925.00 pa
No showers but most other facilities incl chandlery, pump out, crane, polytunnel covers; established environment, hire fleet (so staff on duty) mooring available for 45ft, elec available for casual use;



Weltonfield Narrowboats
Near Norton Jcn. (Leicester Arm and mainline) 01327 842282
71 miles, 1hr 32 mins from base by car
£2,005.00
Off A5, very pleasant, workshop, no chandlery except a few oddments in the office; grassy mooring available for extra charge, or pontoon pumpout and fuel. Quiet. Even quieter second marina 5 minutes up river - no facilities there; £2137 for premium grassy) berth. A bit hemmed in by lock flights for day trips




Crick Marina
West Haddon Road, Crick, Northamptonshire NN67SQ Tel:01788824034
crickmarina.com
69miles, 1hr 32 mins from base by car
£1,782.00
Leicester section - 5 miles & 7 locks from Norton junction, and Crick tunnel (1528 yds) good scope for day and short trips and close to Grand Union.


Where did we choose and why? What do YOU think we should have chosen?
Later, we'll tell you where we opted for, and our reasons for choosing our new moorings.

... more later. We'll tell you how we get on. Indeed we'll tell you how we get there. It's a long haul from Oundle on The Nene to our new home on - or near - The Grand Union

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