Since taking over Watchet Marina last year, we have been working hard to rehabilitate the marina and restore essential infrastructure.

Key achievements so far include;

  • Reinstatement of essential services, such as gas and heating
  • Completion of a full health and safety audit
  • Installation of a new fuel tank and licencing in place to sell fuel to boaters
  • Full-scale dredging of the marina basin
  • Extensive clean-up of the hard standing area
  • Enlargement of the berth holder’s car park
  • Construction of a new pedestrian walkway
  • Numerous infrastructure repairs throughout the marina
  • Excavation and reactivation of the marina gate (more on this below).

Marina Gate

The marina gate, which had been buried in silt and inoperable for several years, has now been uncovered and made operational. Since its reactivation, we’ve been working closely with external experts to assess the maintenance and upgrades required to ensure long-term reliability.

With the guidance of James Burnell from P&D Marine Services and our in-house team, we now have a comprehensive action plan for the restoration and future-proofing of the gate.

A key component of this plan is the replacement of the pillar crane adjacent to the gate – critical for the placement of ‘stop logs’ within the gateway. This placement of ‘stop logs’ allows scheduled maintenance on the marina gate and hydraulic system. These bespoke parts require careful planning and precise installation. Until the crane is fully operational, we won’t be able to retain water in the marina around the clock.

We’re also upgrading the hydraulic and electrical systems that control the gate. These improvements will not only enhance reliability but also provide crucial backup options in the event of system failures.

With significant investment from our stakeholders, we aim to complete all necessary works well ahead of April 2026, the start of next season. In the meantime, we are still able to welcome deep-draft visiting vessels around the gate works – please contact us directly to discuss visit dates and requirements.

Dredging Progress

The majority of the marina is now at the target depth or deeper when the marina gate is closed. A few remaining areas will be fully dredged once the gate works are complete in order to support our current deeper draft vessels.

Beginning in July, we will move to a routine maintenance dredging schedule to manage incoming silt and maintain required depths. Our dredger, Innovation, will be based at Watchet Marina and will return regularly between external dredging projects.

Hard Standing Area

Following an initial major clean-up, we’ve begun enhancing the hard standing area to maximise its use. Already, six customer vessels have been successfully lifted out for pre-season maintenance—something that wasn’t possible before.

Berth Holder’s Car Park

In the coming month, we’ll be installing new fencing and a fob-access barrier around the berth holders’ car park to improve security and access control.

Pontoon Electrical and Water Refit

Now we are coming to the end of the major dredging works, work on the full electrical and water supply refit of the pontoons will begin.

Looking Ahead

These upgrades represent a significant financial commitment by our investors and underscore our dedication to transforming Watchet Marina into a first-class boating destination. We’re proud of the progress made so far and excited about what’s still to come.

For questions, berth bookings, or visiting arrangements—especially for deeper-draft vessels—please get in touch with our team.

What Our Berth Holders Have to Say

With our continued hard work at Watchet Marina, we are always delighted when we hear from our customers that they are happy with our progress;

Can I send you all a massive thankyou, for making Watchet Marina what it is today.  I acknowledge there is more to do, and I know things are happening constantly.  The feeling within the Marina, the mood of your employees here at Watchet, and my own hopes and dreams for our “once proud Marina” is better now than at any point during the last 20 years.  As a berth holder, and for Watchet as a small town nestling around the Marina environs, Western Marinas have given us all hope of a better, brighter, more prosperous future.  Life without hope is a miserable thing!

Thanks again and best wishes,

Watchet Marina Berth Holder

 

Thank you to Liz Elmont for the beautiful photos of our marina.