We get asked lots of questions at our Preston Marina reception desk. Here are some of the more popular ones.
Yes.
Well behaved dogs are welcome in our Coffee Shop. We have fresh water on hand and a selection of treats so your dog won’t feel left out.
It’s a lovely mud-free walk around the dock (about 1 mile) and we’re on the Guild Wheel too so there’s plenty of places for a good sniff and taking care of business – just remember to bag it AND bin it.
No – sorry.
We have a speed limit in the dock basin of 4mph to prevent disturbance from backwash.
Yes.
Life Jacket
A life jacket is designed to support your head out of the water, even if you’re unconscious. To do this it needs a relatively large amount of buoyancy and this is supplied either by air or foam. Life jackets are there for when you really need them but otherwise try to stay out of the way, so for adults, that usually means a collar-like item that will inflate manually (by mouth) or automatically (when immersed in water).
Lifejackets for children may be foam vests with a foam collar. They don’t need inflating but are more bulky than inflatable types. All lifejackets will have a strap which runs between the legs to stop them riding up and it’s essential that this strap is used.
Buoyancy Aid
Bouyancy aids are used when you expect to end up in the water and when a lifejacket would be too bulky. They are ideal for watersports like kayaking, water-skiing and dinghy sailing.
They are NOT LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT and are not to be used as a cheaper or smaller alternative to a lifejacket.
A buoyancy aid is, as the name suggests, an aid to buoyancy. It won’t keep you supported in the way a lifejacket will but can help keep you on the surface and allow you to rest.
Yes
There are many ways to enjoy boating. Sail or power, cruising or racing, or just something to float around in and enjoy a spot of fishing. And you’d use a different type of boat for each activity.
Don’t just rush out and buy any old boat just because it’s there and you can afford it!
Ask around. Find out what the locals use for the activity you fancy – a sailing boat that’s ideal for the Mediterranean may be useless in Morecambe Bay. Look online for clubs.
However much they vary, boats share many common features..
- They tend to drift away if you don’t tie them up properly
- They love to fill up with water, from underneath or above if poorly looked after
- They go where they want to go – until you learn how to control their wandering ways
- They break, just at the wrong time unless cared for
- They will bang your head, burn your eyebrows off and fill your wellies full of water… just for fun.
If you’d like to learn how to avoid the pitfalls, and get the most fun from your boating it pays to learn how to work with your floating partner. A knowledgeable and experienced crew on a well maintained boat has the world as their playground.
Ask about our RYA training courses today!
See our “Getting Started” page or click here for advice before buying a large petrol powered cruiser.
Yes
Just at the far end of the building.
No
There are no slipways in the Ribble. Launching of private boats is difficult and without the correct equipment and knowledge, could be dangerous. Suitable boats can be launched by crane at our boatyard and can access the river via the lock gates.