Local VHF Radio Channels

Normal safety and calling channel - Channel 16

Coastguard - Channel 67

Marinas (usually) - Channel 80

Port Operations QHM Portsmouth - Channel 12

*** Important : Large vessels always monitor Channel 12 when navigating into or out of the Solent. If you need to contact a large vessel urgently (for example to avoid a collision), call on Channel 12 , you will have a better chance of reaching them than using the more usual Channel 16 ***

Fuel

Southsea Marina, operated by Premier, sells diesel and petrol from the pontoon, at cost price to berth holders and at a reasonable price to visitors. Premier sells diesel fuels containing Soltron™, which is an advanced enzyme fuel technology developed to work in marine fuel oil to neutralise bacterial growth from contaminants such as ‘Diesel Bug’. If you use the diesel sold at Southsea Marina you should not add biocides or non-biocide additives to your fuel to treat it, or to prepare your fuel system for winter lay-up as it can interfere with the functioning of the Soltron™ already in the fuel.

Southsea Marina Webcam Facing Langstone Harbour

This now operational - click here to open a new window.

Also you can check out the live weather observations from Southsea Marina by clicking on the image below (opens a new window)

Water Temperatures

Water temperatures go from a low of 5 degrees Centigrade in Winter to a high of nearly 20 degrees in Summer. The temperature profile lags behind the air temperature, as water stays warmer for longer which is why the water feels warm well into November and summer species stay on. Here is a chart based in readings taken at midday on the first day of each month in 2010, from the data archives available from the Chichester Bar Weather Station

Boaty Bits and Pieces

Engineering, Rigging and Chandlery

1 Degree West Marine is based in Southsea Marina (under the Henderson Sails sign) run by Scott Doble. He installs, services and repairs most inboards and outdrives, provides electrical, rigging and boat maintenance services and can supply any chandlery from the trade catalogue at good prices. Highly recommended.  Telephone 02392 838 335 or 07764 346 301

Marine electrical components - huge range and very reasonably priced:

Furneaux Riddall - they seem to prefer dealing over the web but do have a shop that is open weekdays only, at Alchorme Place, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO3 5PA (Airport Road area)

Boat covers and canopies made to measure:

Bond Sails and Henderson Covers are based in Southsea Marina. Check out the pictures of boat covers on his web site. You can phone Anthony at the the sail loft on 07776 233007. He can do anything and very reasonably (when he is not out kite surfing!)

Marine fittings, fasteners - everything you could need:

Baseline - browse their web site, and if you want to collect in person they are at Baseline Marine Products Ltd
10 Apple Industrial Estate, Segensworth West, Fareham PO15 5SX

Boat Insurance - not necessarily local but these all provide competitive quotes for small power boats  used for fishing:

Mercia Marine

Craftinsure - on-line only

Porthcawl Insurance

Premier Calm for bertholders at Premier Marinas

AIS Shipping Information

AIS transponders are fitted to all commercial vessels over 300 feet, and many smaller ones too. This map takes a live feed from AIS data showing you actual vessels in our fishing area. You can click on vessels to see more information, and pan and zoom the map.

Boat Jumbles 2011

Sunday 18 September 2011. West Sussex Boat Jumble. Selsey Road, CHICHESTER, Sussex,PO20 1NP

Sunday 2 October 2011. Solent Boat Jumble. The Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, SOUTHAMPTON, Hampshire, SO31 5GA

Sunday 6 November 2011. East Hampshire Boat Jumble. Havant Leisure Centre, Civic Centre Way, HAVANT, Hampshire PO9 2AY (indoors)

Download full details on all Boatjumbleassocatiation events here

SSFC

The regional fisheries authority is the Southern Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority. There web site is www.southern-ifca.gov.uk You can download a useful wheelhouse card here. A summary of the minimum sizes for commonly caught local species is as follows:

Only two lobsters can be retained per day. Minimum carapace length is 3.4 in and you must return any berried females, or those that have a notch cut in the tail. These are the breeding females. You can keep edible crabs with a shell wider than 5.5 in

Langstone

Langstone Harbour Office operates in VHF Ch 12. The two LHB boats are John Easterling and Delilah. Phone 02392 463419. 10 Knot Speed Limit Applies in Langstone Harbour. Langstone Harbour Board has an informative web site . Note fishing restrictions and close seasons, they apply to anglers too.

Tidal variations on Portsmouth

Safety: The Coastguard Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme CG66

If you were at sea and got into difficulty, is there anyone ashore who knows what to do if you fail to return at your estimated time? Would a friend or relative know who to contact? Would they have sufficient detail about your vessel and your likely whereabouts to be able to assist the Coastguard to locate you? HM Coastguard's CG66 Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme has been set up to hold this information to help coordinate search and rescue if something happens to you at sea. The scheme is free and is for the benefit of the owners and skippers of all types of leisure vessels and small craft. You can register online, or download the form and post it.

Click here to find the registration and download page

Links

Useful local links are as follows:

UK Met Office Weather Forecasts

Tide Tables from UKHO limited to seven days ahead unless you are a subscriber

Live Webcam from Hayling Island  (busted camera is mended for the moment...)

Live Weather from Chichester Harbour Bar 

Live Weather from Bramble Bank

Portsmouth Harbour : contains details of vessel movements, safety notices and tide tables. You can register to be emailed with local Navigation warnings, which can be very useful.

Overfalls Project : Details of the study on marine life in the Overfalls area, a popular bass and ray mark

Other Links:

RNLI

HM Coastguard

RYA Boating news courses and advice

Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee

Global Fish Information Base

Boats for Sale:

www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk

www.findafishingboat.com

Boat Jumbles

Boat Launch Sites