Chumporn Paknam, a major east coast fishing port, is not a tourist destination, although some of the offshore islands offer good snorkelling and diving. There are several fishing boat repair yards where haul-outs can be arranged for a reasonable price.
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Good hardware shops are available and, on the main highway going towards Bangkok, you can find the only company in the country that has a dynamic balancer for propellers.
Most of the islands have day anchorages on the lee side in 10-15 metres in either season. The caves and cavities on these small islands are home to thousands of the swallows which make those highly prized nests that are collected for birds’ nest soup.
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79 miles from Ao Nathon, Samui
The best approach is from the southeast, inshore of Koh Samet. Anchor in 4-5 metres on a muddy bottom, clear of the traffic at the harbour entrance.
Unless you’re going to the yard, mooring inside this busy port is inadvisable.
The lighthouse on Koh Mattaphon has several red sectors marking the entrance, but it’s always advisable to follow a local boat in the channel in dayligsamht.
The harbour has all the amenities you’d expect of a local fishing port, but better provisioning is found at the main town, which is 20 kilometres from the harbour.
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North of Chumporn there are a few small fishing ports, but there was nothing of much interest to cruising yachts until the opening of the new Racer Marina (see below).
[read more] The marina is just 20 kilometres south of the famous resort town of Hua Hin, where the main railway between Bangkok and Singapore runs parallel to the coast; there is a royal palace and some excellent resorts.
It is a favourite weekend destination from Bangkok and, while there are no real anchoring possibilities other than off the open beach in the right conditions at Hua Hin itself, this new marina does offer an alternative.
127 miles from Chumporn Pak Nam
This recently upgraded marina, 10 miles south of Hua Hin, is in the Pran river. It’s the only such facility on the west coast of the Gulf. Nearing completion, it has berthing for 120 yachts and space for 200 yachts on the hardstand, including covered storage for smaller boats.
It has travel lifts of 25, 35 and 65 tons capacity and a slipway for up to 200 ton vessels with full service facilities.
There’s a café ashore and further outlets are planned.
Approach is via the river entering between the two training walls and navigating the river for approximately one and half miles. The marina is on the northern bank of the river.
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