Port Edgar
At a Glance
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Contacts
Marina Office 01313 313330, VHF 80
Port Edgar's existence owes much to the Royal Navy; there was a pier here in the mid 19th Century which was much used by the RN but during WWI the Navy purchased the area around the pier and established a shore base here. Prior to that the pier had been used to land the wounded from the battle of Jutland in 1916 to be taken to the nearby military hospital at Butlaw and by 1917 the Navy had opened HMS Columbine as a torpedo destroyer base. Port Edgar was closed as a Naval base in 1938 and promptly re-commissioned as HMS Lochinvar. There was some reshuffling during the war as various roles were fulfilled and once that war was finished it became HMS Lochinvar again and was the base for the RN's Minesweeping fleet and the sea trials base for HMS Vernon (the Navy's main TAS school in Portsmouth) and remained as such until the mid seventies.
At that stage the harbour and all its buildings were handed over as an asset to Edinburgh Council.
The fact that today (2015) all the buildings look like naval dockyard buildings (the toilet and shower block is still exactly the same building as was built during the War) is evidence that the Council invested very little money into the asset they were given and in fact it's usefulness declined over the years as it silted up badly.
That has all changed. The marina was taken over by a consortium and there were plans in place for a complete refurbishment of the existing buildings and infrastructure of the marina. Extensive and expensive dredging was carried out so that the berths are accessible at all states of the tide. The area between the shoreline and the pontoons is still silted up but the dredging around those pontoons allows for deep draft vessels to get in and out of there at all states of the tide This is clear to see in the aerial photograph we have shown in our gallery)
You will notice both from the chart and our gallery that there is a wave barrier constructed of a chain of road tyres across the entrance to the marina; this was laid to try to reduce the wash from passing cargo ships and is lit with flashing yellow lights at night.
The marina already has the best set of facilities for yachts in the Forth and can match any English Channel marinas in this respect and in time the surroundings will be improved to match those facilities.
Port Edgar
Approach
The final approach to the marina is uncomplicated but to get to it you will have to.....
.... run the gauntlet of the existing Forth bridges. Coming from the West you'll be running down on the ebb and will have to pass the new bridge and that will mean a fairly long ferry glide into the marina across the tide (which increases in strength the closer you get to the bridges). You need to take this into account as you run down on the southerly tower, leave it fairly close to starboard, and turn in early because if you wait too long you'll be carried east and have to struggle back against the ebb.
If coming from the East on the flood the same is true but, having negotiated the Rail bridge and road bridge you will have become aware of the strength of the current much earlier in your approach as you pass Inch Garvie and have adjusted your course for the marina accordingly. A point to note here is that the restrictions between the Hound Point Oil terminal and the shore apply only to vessels over 50 tons so you can pass inside that if you wish but most yachts seem to prefer to stay to the North of it.
As a result of dredging it is now possible to enter on either side of the wave barrier in a 2 metre draft boat, just don't go too close to the barrier as the seabed rises towards it.
Update 2018 We are getting reports that depths in the entry to the West of the wave barrier are a lot less than 2 metres and that local yachts are sometimes resorting to inducing a list on their boats to get in.
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Waypoint
Charts
Rules & Regs
Hazards
Tides
Berthing
Now, you will be persuaded that the hammerheads at the ends of the three main pontoons are those reserved for visitors....
... and that is, in fact, the case. They are by far the easiest to make for once you are past the wave barrier, but have a caution, these berths are most prone to disturbance from passing cargo vessels and are, into the bargain, miles from the marina office and the rest of the facilities. If you are of moderate draft ask the marina if you can berth further into the marina; this will have the advantage of less far to run for your morning visit to the heads and will be much more sheltered from the swell. You can access a marina plan HERE
There are dire warnings in some pilot books as regards to the swell experienced on the hammerheads due to passing cargo vessels but this was not evident when we were there in 2014.; this may have been because at that time the pilots were taking cargo vessels past the bridge works at slow speed. It should still be kept in mind if leaving a boat here for any length of time as stories of clashing cross-trees and frayed warps abound in sea lor tales on this coast.
They are charging (2022) £3.50 per metre per night with a sizeable reduction for a week's stay. and that include water and shore power
The marina website can be found at this link https://www.portedgar.co.uk/
Marinas and Mooring
Facilities
All the facilities associated with a modern marina are available and included in the overnight charge.
Shore power and water, free of charge for two weeks, are provided on all the pontoons. Toilets and showers (complimentary) are in the shower block at the root of the pier (opposite the marina office) but you should be aware that these can be busy if a bus load of school children is in for sailing lessons. Both Gaz and Gas refills are available at the chandlery. The marina has diesel but not petrol; that is sold at the garage "at the top of the hill" (by the time you have walked the pontoons and the marina that is a good half an hour away but at least it is downhill on the way back)
The chandlery is well stocked and there also electronic workshops and engine workshops.
The marina has facilities for lifting boats in and out (travel hoist) and also can un-step masts (if you intend transiting the Forth/Clyde Canal it may be worthwhile to ascertain what is available at Grangemouth before leaving here as, although the crane in the Canal sealock is free, it may or may not be serviceable )
There is a Co-Op just over half a mile away in South Queensferry for restocking the galley.
Chandlers
Buccaneer Marine Electronics
Buccaneer House, 4 Union Road, Macduff, Aberdeenshire.
What to Do
There is now a bar/restaurant/cafe on the site which is open from 9am until midnight for snacks or full meals.
There are also several pubs and restaurants in South Queensferry but for a quick snack there is a small café within the Port Edgar Yacht Club building.
For local eateries see
Restaurants & Places to Eat in South Queensferry - Tripadvisor
There is a bus stop on the North side of the shore road (outside the Police Station) in South Queensferry which has buses (the Number 43 route ) which run to Edinburgh. Their advertised last bus from Central Edinburgh is at 22.29.
Alternatively there is a railway station (Dalmeny) just south of the Forth Rail Bridge which is a fair hike away and you would probably be wise to take a taxi to it, or even take a taxi all the way through to Edinburgh itself. Of course, once in Edinburgh there is any amount to be seen and done.
As far as Edinburgh is concerned you will find more in the way of food and drink in the streets parallel to and behind Princes Street (Rose Street and George Street) that is, of course, if you have time having "done" the Castle, the Palace and all the Museums!!