What's the story here?

Berthon Lymington Marina is situated on the southern edge of the historic market town of Lymington and Lymington Harbour, which lies immediately within The Solent's famed sailing waters. The town is located approximately three miles northeast of Hurst Point, alongside the Lymington River, which flows southward through salt marshes before reaching The Solent. The marina occupies a prime position on the west bank of the river, about 1½ miles from the entrance to the approach channel. It is the second marina encountered when proceeding upriver, located roughly 600 metres beyond the entrance to Lymington Yacht Haven, on the port (left) side, directly opposite the Wightlink car ferry terminal.




Berthon Lymington Marina has 300 deep water berths for yachts of up to 45 metres (150 feet) in length overall (L.O.A.), with approximately 70 berths designated for visiting yachts. Access to the pontoons is via the Solent's most generously spaced fairways, facilitating easy manoeuvring. Given its popularity and peak periods, it is advisable to contact the marina in advance to arrange berthing. Berthon Lymington Marina can be reached at: Ch 80. [Berthon Lymington Marina], +44 1590 673312, marina@berthon.co.uk.

Overnight Visitor rates [2025] are per foot of length over all (LOA):

• • 25' - 32' £1.78 inc VAT


• • 33' - 40' £1.80 inc VAT


• • 41' - 44' £1.85 inc VAT


• • 45' - 49' £1.87 inc VAT


• • 50' - 59' £1.90 inc VAT

All berths include electricity at 16 amps. Further details on their rate page .

Lymington is accessible to most leisure vessels at all tide stages, although it is not an exceptionally deep harbour. The construction of a causeway in the eighteenth century reduced the river's scouring effect, resulting in shallowing. The continuous movement of the ferries helps maintain the lower channel's minimum depth at 2.4 metres chart datum, up to the entrance at Lymington Yacht Haven, and 2.2 metres chart datum, up to the ferry berth and Lymington Marina.

How to get in?

The Western Approaches to the Solent provides local navigational guidance. Approaches to the river are available in the Lymington Harbour entry.

Berthon Lymington Marina is located on the west bank, to port, 600 metres above the entrance, beyond the trots of fore and aft moorings and opposite the Wightlink car ferry terminal. The five pontoons extending from the shore are lettered 'A' to 'E', starting with 'E' and descending upriver.




Berth as directed by the Berthon Lymington Marina office.

Why visit here?

Berthon Lymington Marina received its name from Rev. Edward Lyon Berthon, 1813 -1899, 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 propulsion was 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 "Berthon's log", which was eventually tested on the Southampton to Jersey steamboats. However, the British Admiralty did not offer him any encouragement, and it remained uncompleted. He then began to design instruments to indicate the trim and rolling of boats at sea. Amid this, an important letter arrived that would lead him down a different pathway. He received the letter in 1850, five years after he was ordained, and after holding a curacy at Lymington, he was granted a living at Fareham. The letter was from the Reverend Clark, a survivor of the paddle steamer SS Orion. Orion struck a submerged rock and sank off Portpatrick Lighthouse, Scotland, on 18 June 1850, while en route from Liverpool to Glasgow, resulting in the loss of 41 of the 200 passengers on board. Reverend Clark described the incident in his 1851 book 'The wreck of the Orion, a Tribute of Gratitude' and he asked Berthon "can you not think of a way in which boats, enough for all on board, be stowed on a passenger steamer without inconvenience?" . Berthon was intrigued and turned his attention to lifeboat design.




This request led to his development of the 'Berthon Collapsible Lifeboat'. 'Berthon Boats', as they came to be known, were wooden-framed boats with double linings of canvas sectioned into two watertight envelopes. These envelopes assist in buoyancy and provide 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 in return, 'what a cannonball would not go through', and the Queen was reportedly greatly amused.




Despite initial scepticism, the Prince Consort commended it to the Royal Navy, but the Admiralty complained that 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 the boat to the value of £15,000. In 1877, in addition to ministering to his parish, Berthon began his company in Romsey, building the folding lifeboats and "other floating machines". After he died in 1899, his son Edward ran the business.




The Berthon Boatyard in Lymington was established in 1877, and in 1918, the Berthon Boat Company moved here. The marina, opened in 1968, was one of the first yacht marinas built in the UK. To this day, it remains a boat yard with a workforce of 100 skilled craftsmen specialising in yacht refit and repair. The yard is so sought after that its first-rate service keeps the marina itself very busy.

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