Berthon Lymington Marina is located in Lymington which is on the south coast of England and immediately within the Western Solent. It is large scale marina set into the harbour town that is itself a major sailing centre.

The well protected harbour provides complete protection. Safe access is provided in all reasonable conditions, night or day, and the marina is accessible at any stage of the tide for most vessels.

The marina can get busy at peak times and it advisable to make arrangements in advance.

Keyfacts for Berthon Lymington Marina

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 45.404' N, 001° 31.786' W

This is the head of 'E' pontoon the most seaward pontoon of the marina opposite the ferry terminal.

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Berthon Lymington Marina is located on the southern flank of the small historic market and harbour town of Lymington. The town is situated inside The Solent about three miles northeast of Hurst Point and in the Lymington River which flows into the north side of The Solent through a saltmarsh. The marina is situated on the west bank of the river about half a mile within the entrance. It is the second marina, located about 500 metres upriver from the entrance to Lymington Yacht Haven, on the port hand side and opposite the Wightlink car ferry terminal.

Berthon Lymington Marina offers 280 deep water berths for yachts up to 45m (150ft) L.O.A. and holds up to 70 visitor berths. The marina can get busy and it is advisable to contact them to make berthing arrangements in advance: VHF Ch. 80 call sign [Berthon Lymington Marina] or P: +44 1590 673312.




Lymington is accessible to most leisure vessels at all stages of the tide but it is not an excessively deep harbour. The construction a causeway in the eighteenth century has reduced the rivers scouring effect and led to shallowing. The constant toing and froing of the ferries helps keep the lower channel’s minimums to 2.4 metres chart datum, up to the entrance at Lymington Yacht Haven, and 2.2 meters chart datum, up to ferry berth and Lymington Marina.


The Solent and Isle of Wight coastal description and the river directions provided in the Lymington entry, provide approach details.



Berth as directed by the Berthon Lymington Marina office.

Why visit here?

Berthon Boatyard has been trading continuously since 1877 and the marina, opened in 1968, was one of the first yacht marinas to be built in the UK. The marina received its name from Rev. Edward Lyon Berthon, 1813 -1899, who was an English inventor and clergyman.


From boyhood Berthon was keenly interested in mechanical science. In 1834/35, at the age of 22, he made experiments in the propulsion of boats by a screw propeller. He was convinced that this form of propulsion was greatly superior to the paddle wheel which was in use at the time. But his model, a two-bladed propeller, was dismissed by the Admiralty as “a pretty toy which never would, and never could, propel a ship”. Discouraged by the knock back the young Berthon did not complete the patent. The idea was then left for Francis Smith to create a more successful version in 1838 that would change shipping forever. But that would not be the last of Berthon’s inventions.


In 1841 Berthon worked on a log known as "Berthon's log", which was eventually tested on the Southampton to Jersey steamboats. But again the British Admiralty gave him no encouragement and it remained uncompleted. He then started to design some instruments to indicate the trim and rolling of boats at sea. In the midst of this an important letter arrived that would lead him down a different pathway. He received the letter in 1850 which was five years after he was ordained and, after holding a curacy at Lymington, he was then given a living at Fareham. The letter was from the Reverend Clark who was a survivor of the paddle steamer SS Orion that was wrecked off Portpatrick with a loss of 50 lives. Reverend Clark wrote “can you not think of a way in which boats, enough for all on board, be stowed on a passenger steamer without inconvenience?”.


This request led to Berthon's development of the ‘Berthon Collapsible Lifeboat’. ‘Berthon Boats’, as they came to be known were wooden framed boats with double linings of canvas sectioned in two watertight envelopes. These envelopes assist in buoyancy and provided a measure of protection should the outer canvas be accidentally torn. When the prototype boat was demonstrated to Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, the Princess Royal and the Prince of Wales, the latter commented that a cannonball would go through it easily. Berthon enquired by return ‘what a cannonball would not go through’ and the Queen was reported to have been greatly amused.


The Prince Consort commended it to the Royal Navy, but the Admiralty complained there was nowhere to mount a gun. Nonetheless, the Royal Navy accepted a perfected design in 1873 and in less than a year Berthon had received orders from the Admiralty for boat to the value £15,000. In 1877, in addition to ministering to his parish, Berthon had started his company in Romsey building the folding lifeboats and "other floating machines". The Berthon Boat Company moved to Lymington in 1918 and it remains to this day a boat yard with a workforce of 100 skilled craftsmen specialising in the refit and repair of yachts. The yard is so sought after that its first rate service keeps the marina itself very busy.




Berthon Lymington Marina is one of the best run and most prestigious marinas in the UK. Visitors can expect a very high standard and an enjoyable stay in Berthon Lymington Marina. Details of the marina’s surrounds are covered in the Lymington entry.

What facilities are available?

The pontoons provide power and water. All domestic requirements, ice, Wi-Fi, launderette and highly acclaimed washrooms, can be found within the marina area. Diesel and unleaded petrol, including engine oils, 2-stroke oil and diesel additive, are available at the fuel bay at the head of pontoon Pier ‘C’, the second pontoon in from seaward. Gas cylinders are available at the Marina Reception and the town chandlers. The marina provides general waste disposal, and full recycling facilities. Arrangements can be made for the disposal of waste oil.

The marina has a large scale fully serviced boatyard that includes two hoists, 75 tonne boat hoist and a 20 tonne static crane. Berthon Boat Company has the facilities and wide range of specialist services, delivered by a highly skilled work force in excess of 100 + personnel, that can deal with any conceivable repair, maintenance item or refit a vessel could require. There is a choice of three large well stocked chandlers in the town area.

Excellent provisioning can be had from the Waitrose, Tesco and M&S on Lymington’s high street. Several banks will also be found close by with ATMs. The high street has hosted a market every Saturday since its first charter in the 13th Century. The market offers a variety of stalls that include fresh fruit and veg, fresh bread, meat, clothing and miscellaneous gifts. The town has a host of coffee shops, public houses and restaurants on the high street many of which offer free Wi-Fi. Lymington Town Sailing Club welcomes visiting yachtsmen to the Solent Room, with its extensive views over the western Solent. Royal Lymington Yacht Club welcomes visitors, using sail or power, from RYA-recognised clubs.

There is a regular half hourly train service from Lymington Pier and Town station to Brockenhurst. Brockenhurst is a mainline station that serves the South Coast with fast trains to London Waterloo Station. Southampton and Bournemouth International Airports are approximately 40 minutes away by road.

A very useful hourly summer Beach Bus runs from the Lymington Saltwater Baths, stopping at popular attractions such as Lepe Country Park, Exbury Gardens, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, to terminate at the Hythe Ferry. National Express operate coaches from Woking train station to Heathrow Airport, London - normally a half hourly service. There are a variety of tour bus services operating around the Lymington area.

Any security concerns?

The Marina is manned 24 Hours. Access to the marina and its facilities are controlled by access code. CCTV cameras are located throughout the marina, including car parks and shoreside.

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur S/Y Whistler. Photography Michael Harpur.

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