Anyone dry berthing?

[Quigs]

Im in a bit of a dilemma. I only purchased by boat back in October after securing a place at my local marina for the winter. It is an independent marina and they assured me (not guaranteed me!) that if I was to set up a contract to take me until the end of December, I would be allocated a slot for the following season. Anyway, I popped in to the marina office yesterday to ask about my renewal and I was told they would not be able to tell me if a berth was available until the end of December /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif This could mean I take the vessel out in December to find I have nowhere to stick it after. I find the most frustrating part is that a berth was available with the boat but my local marina was far more convenient.

So, a couple of questions. We have a dry berthing facility in Plymouth run by Yacht Haven. Construction is due to take place to accomodate an indoor racking system next March and at the moment if I signed up, I would be guaranteed an indoor slot. Everthing tells me this is a good idea for my size boat (Searay 260), i.e. less maintenance in terms of anode changing, anti-foul, canvas wear etc however the only down side is I can't go down and just sit on it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Therefore if any forumites use this facility I would be grateful for some feedback and also what do you do about winterising as the boat is out of the water and left on a cradle. Thank you in anticipation.

 

[BrendanS]

It's a great system, and I would recommend it.

The dry rack facilities vary, but usually they will have water pontoons where you can load and unload the boat at beginning and end of trip.

They will also usually have ground level racks that you or an engineer can use to work on the boat for winterising etc. You'll need to ask Yacht Haven exactly what facilities they will offer, and if they charge for additional lifts and use of maintenance racks etc.

 

[Quigs]

Ive got all the details on the charges, all seems reasonable. They have the pontoon all in place where they leave the boat for you to collect. They just need 2 hours notice. Ground level racks is all they are providing at the moment until the shed facility is finished however the ground level racks will still be available for maintenance purposes when required.

Seems like Im talking myself into it!

 

[BrendanS]

Indoor dry racks in UK are quite rare. Even more appealing

 

[thefatlady]

I dry berthed a 26 footer and a 34 footer for a few years and can thoroughly recommend it. Admittedly, I had a very unusual (and no longer available) facility, in that the boat was indoors in a huge hangar with a gantry crane covering the whole building, but they were handling boats up to 43ft. I also had unlimited lifting.

The advantages are as you say, plus the lack of antifouling results in a marked performance improvement, and your outdrives stay pristine.

If it is indoors:
No weathering - less cleaning and polishing.
Hoods not needed unless you fancy putting them up - leave tonneau on.
Maintenance may be easier at any time.
Winterising? What winterising?

For me, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. Sitting on the boat in a marina can be pleasant at times, but I want to use a boat.

It was nice to be able to phone an hour before and find the boat waiting by an easily acessible pontoon. It was nice to be able to go off for the day, or for a week or two, and come back to have the boat lifted, pressure washed and put back in its dry slot, no matter what the weather.

Go for it.

 

[andrewa]

I am at Southampton Dry Stack inside, its the way to go as others have said. Immediate advantages that spring to mind:

1. No anti foul
2. Flush the engine after each use
3. Easy to clean and polish
4. Boat stays looking nice
5. Anodes last alot longer, great for Bravo III owners

Downside I suppose is that you dont get that Marina spirit if thats what you want and where I am can only take up to 10m.

I know in the US its the prefered method of berthing for sub 12m power boats.

 

[pau1gray]

We use Yacht Haven Quay in Plymouth and they are first class people - always helpful and friendly.

Although the site looks like a bit of a building site at the minute don't let this put you off.

I have kept my little fletcher there this year and now have the sealine there too. We have never had any problems with them whatsoever (no I don't work for them )

The 2 hour rule has only ever been imposed on us once when we had a very low spring tide and they couldn't launch for a little while but apart from that most of the time 1/2 an hour seems to suffice just now.

All in all I would not put anyone off this idea in Plymouth

 

[duncan]

firstly I would endorse all the other contributions!

however I have the option but have refused to swap my pontoon for dry berthing

looking at my reasons should enable you to decide easily for yourself..........

1. Not 24hr access - restricted to launching from 0800h. Holding pontoon for returns but gets hugely busy (nightmare) as everyone comes back after 1800h on a sunny summer day!
24hr launch and recovery would solve this.

2. not that happy with the way this yard handles boats. combination of facilities and other factors - clearly this isn't necessarily a factor elsewhere.

3. I have a mobile home within walking distance of pontoon. poping down to sit on the boat is reality. Launching it, firing it up and poping off to anchor up for an hour doesn't proportionaly work for me.

4. Nowhere else locally to tie up for a while in the summer.

5. I can get the car within 20yds of the boat on my pontoon - 300yds on the holding pontoon.

6. I can get the boat lifted pretty much when I want for maintenance etc

If I had the sort of facility available elsewhere I would definitely swap as (1) a BIII drive chews up anodes (2) overall wear and tear so much lower (3) indoor storage...... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif - next you will be saying shorepower's available to the boat in the racking too! I don't even have that on the pontoon. (4) security.

 

[BrendanS]

24 hour access is not an issue with most dry rack facilities. Call them with your plans, and they will put it in the water and leave it ready for you when you arrive out of hours. Arrive back out of hours and leave it on pontoon for them to recover etc.

 

[tritonofnor]

Ok I have a vested interest here as Yacht Haven Quay is my place of work... and it's where I live aboard my old motor yacht. Yes, it does look like a building site at the minute, because it is! Two hours is the maximum notice we'll need, as Paul has said we can usually get the boat in much quicker. The building will be ongoing for another year, (big plans) but will make us the largest undercover dry berthing facility in the country. There are real benefits for the resale value of the boat, and for your peace of mind in periods of bad weather. And we don't bite - come down and take an extended look at how we work - we'll gladly show you around, and give you a cuppa while you're looking!

 

[Quigs]

Thanks for all your replies. I knew it is the right thing to do with a boat of my size, I just needed a little feedback and convincing. I will go down this morning and do the necessary and will also have great pleasure in handing in my notice at the marina and requesting a refund. Thanks again.

 

[breezer5012]

Cuppa Ian? Mine's a white none next time I'm down. Like Paul has already said, I can highly recommend yacht haven quay - building site or not! (Does that guarantee me a biscuit too?) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif