Anyone keep a boat in South of France? How can I find a berth?

[Sonnenschein]

Hello all. New member here. No boat as yet, but seriously thinking about it. I’m holding back at the moment because I’d want to berth the boat in the south of France, where I’ve heard it’s difficult to find a place. (It has to be S of France because we already have a holiday home there, and we visit often. The house came before the sailing.) I’d want to find a berth before seriously looking for something to buy.

There was a thread a while back in which one contributor mentioned s/he kept a boat on the dry in Port St Louis. That sounds like one possible option. How does that work in practice? Also, does anyone else keep a boat in the region (east of the Rhône, west of St Tropez), and how did you go about finding a berth?

Any ideas would be most welcome. I think that calling in personally at the marinas would be my best bet, but where to start?

Boat specs: vague at the moment, thinking of max length 9.99m, Cat A. Something along the lines of a Bav 30.

Thanks in advance.

 

[KeelsonGraham]

South of France is a big place! If you want to be down in the Rousillon, try St Cyprien. Argeles is full. As with most things in France, it’s almost always better to deal face to face, making your very best attempts with the language.

 

[westernman]

Best turn up with your boat. Ask to stay a week, renew for a month, then for three months, then six months. Then eventually you will get an annual berth.
You will find long waiting lists almost everywhere - but when you are there, there are ways of staying for good.

If you have not yet bought a boat and you are looking at a common AWB, then another way to get a berth is to buy a boat which is on an annual contract.

Make sure that it is part of the sale contract that you get to stay in the berth.
Theoretically marinas are not supposed to do this, but AFAIK they all do.

 

[Bobc]

You might find that if you buy a boat on a mooring, you may be able to keep the mooring. Always worth asking.

 

[Frogmogman]

You might find that if you buy a boat on a mooring, you may be able to keep the mooring. Always worth asking.

In most marinas in France, unless the mooring is a lease (ammodiation) rather than a rental, this is not possible. Not unreasonable really, as almost all have waiting lists.

Your best bet, if you don’t already have a boat is to buy a new one through a dealer, conditional on them finding you a marina berth. Many of them have arrangements with local marinas. In my case, this took the form of the dealer selling me a 4 year lease on a berth that they own, whilst my name is down on the marina’s 4 year waiting list. To be clear, this was in North Brittany rather than the South of France.

If you were interested in a 1972 Swan 43, I know of one for sale in port Grimaud that has it’s own berth available on ammodiation……

 

[westernman]

In most marinas in France, unless the mooring is a lease (ammodiation) rather than a rental, this is not possible. Not unreasonable really, as almost all have waiting lists.

Your best bet, if you don’t already have a boat is to buy a new one through a dealer, conditional on them finding you a marina berth. Many of them have arrangements with local marinas. In my case, this took the form of the dealer selling me a 4 year lease on a berth that they own, whilst my name is down on the marina’s 4 year waiting list. To be clear, this was in North Brittany rather than the South of France.

If you were interested in a 1972 Swan 43, I know of one for sale in port Grimaud that has it’s own berth available on ammodiation……

Most brokers have boats they can sell with a yearly rental berth. Even for second hand boats.

A yearly rental berth is the cheapest berth possible. Once which is a lease/ammodiation works out more expensive when you take into account the yearly maintenance charges.

 

[Sonnenschein]

Thank you for the ideas. It sounds a good approach to buy a boat with a berth - I’ve seen a few advertised. It would be important to ensure it was a permanent berth, and not just available until the end of the season or however long the seller had already paid for.
Swan 43 probably a bit more than I‘d care to take on right now - but thank you for the tip.
I will also ask personally at a few marinas.

 

[westernman]

Thank you for the ideas. It sounds a good approach to buy a boat with a berth - I’ve seen a few advertised. It would be important to ensure it was a permanent berth, and not just available until the end of the season or however long the seller had already paid for.
Swan 43 probably a bit more than I‘d care to take on right now - but thank you for the tip.
I will also ask personally at a few marinas.

Short of buying a berth (which is basically a long term lease for the period until the ammodiation runs out), a yearly rental berth is as close as you can get to a permanent berth.
There is no such thing as a permanent berth in France (and buying a berth only makes it permanent until the lease period is over, and some expire in only 1 or 2 years).

The best way to ensure that a yearly rental berth carries over to you is to:-
1) Get it written into the purchase contract and on the compromis de vente
2) Pay the next year rental in full immediately

However, doing what I said in #3 is not as bad as it sounds.
Sure it will cost more (you don't get the cheaper rate), but not as much as buying a berth and paying the yearly charges. (Or renting a berth in Spain on a yearly contract).