Boat / Berth: Chicken / Egg

[cardinal_mark]

As I've mentioned on a previous post, I have just started the search for a yacht. Got a lot of spec's and seen a few but none so far that have really hit the button. Ever the optimist though I decided it might be worth finding somewhere to keep the eventual pride and joy but here seem to have hit something of a brick wall.

Because of our location and the demands of school, work etc we are pretty much restricted to the Solent if a boat is to see much use. My initial 'toe in the water' search over the weekend for a (c 10 / 11m) berth suggested that, in the area we need, I could easily end up boarding the intended pride and joy via a ladder every weekend, throwing buckets of water over self and crew to replicate the true experience and enjoying a spectaculer view of the marina car park!

Should I find the berth first or press on looking for the yacht and hope for the best?

Occasionally I notice ads for boats with the option of a berth but these seem few and far between and presumably when not mentioned the berth will be retained by the vendor. If I go on the marina waiting lists then can't find a boat and turn down any offers that come up will I simply be cast to the bottom of the list again? Or am I over reacting? Is there is more fluidity in the situation than at first evident or as the season approaches?

The outcome of a boat and no berth would probabaly put me in therapy as would a berth and no boat so any advice / experiences on the best course of action here would be much appreciated!

Mark

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[jimi]

If you get a boat I'd be extremely surprised if you can't find a berth. It may not be your first choice and/or you may have to move berths a couple of time until you get a pernament one, but I'd definitely get a boat first. IMHO you won't be taken seriously by a marina until you are an owner or a near owner.

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[tcm]

I agree with jimi's post. But also, things are a bit different if you buy from a broker, which i suppose you might? You can get the broker to locate a berth - no berth, no sale seems to get things sorted...

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[ChrisE]

I agree with both jimi and tcm and would add that, if push comes to shove there are always deep water swinging moorings going a-begging in Portsmouth harbour and probably others as well.

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[ShipsWoofy]

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best course of action here would be much appreciated!

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Get a mooring!

Next........

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>All New website</A>

 

[Gunfleet]

<<deep water swinging moorings going a-begging in Portsmouth harbour >> Really? What's the matter with everyone?

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[oldharry]

Boat first. Most larger mooring agencies will 'fit you in' if you turn up mooring warp in hand, and ask nicely. Once in, they are unlikely to turn you out again unless you are a late payer.

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[Talbot]

Go to Hardway Marine, they are sure to have spare swinging moorings. If you must have a Marina berth this will cost probably as much as 4x the swinging berth! but is much more convenient.
For a marina berth, would probably find something at Royal Clarence in Gosport.

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[cardinal_mark]

Thanks guys - Looks like its not so gloomy a picture as I thought. You've put a spring back in my stride!

Mark




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[fastjedi]

I've been playing a similar game ...Whist there are many disadvantages of buying a boat this end of the season ... there are two big advanges

1. Better time of the year to negotiate on selling price

2. Placing a boat in a marina at this time of the year significantly improves your chances of a berth next year

Whist this issue wound me off the clock ... Buy a boat and take the risk. It will be O.K!!

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[ParaHandy]

agree with jimi, tcm, chris, talbot, woofy ... and loads others virtual halfpence worth .. !

tho' Port Clarence have no 10-11m berths left for Apr 05 (but a bit "fluid" they said and might change if some don't renew ..) and portsmuff deep water moorings are like hen's teeth at the mo' - you might be just a little late for an Apr 05 mooring

were (are still?) some marina berths at gosport and haslar which have loads of creature comforts (eg electricity & water) for any maintenance new boat might require .. ?

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[capt_courageous]

All you need to buy a good boat is money - there are lots of boats for sale. The way things are at the moment good berths in the Solent area are a lot harder to come by. Most areas are full with a capital F. For boats its a buyers market but for moorings its a sellers. Thats why marina charges are what they are. Go for a mooring assuming you will get a boat. A temporary mooring will cost arms and legs and dangly bits as well.

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[cardinal_mark]

Thanks for all your thoughts.

I like TCM's idea of leaning on the broker for help but if there's still nothing to be had then perhaps I should look a little broader in the first instance. Does anybody know if the situation is any better in say Chichester, Brighton or Eastbourne (or maybe Poole) as these are still accessible from where we are (esp Chi) and might actually prove a refreshing change for a while.

Or maybe I should just start work on convincing the family that a dinghy ride to a deep or even, in the short term, drying mooring wouldn't be that bad afterall!

Mark

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[tcm]

Just a minute! With several thousand berths in the solent, lots of people die, get sick of boating and go bust every year. There's always movement, somewhere.

The leaning on the broker definitely works. I spoke with princess etc people who said that over the last 15 years evry year every says ooh no berths, then a bloke says he'll buy if they can find a berth, and they always do.

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[bedouin]

There is no real problem with berths in the Solent, although you may not get your preferred location immediately.

At the very least you should be able to find swinging moorings in Portsmouth, Langstone or Chichester Harbours. Also piles in Portsmouth and some marina berths (due to opening of Royal Clarence and people moving there from other marinas)

Last time I enquired Chichester Marina had spaces too.

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[cardinal_mark]

Well, would you ever!

I have just this minute taken a call from a large broker who, without prompting, told me they are regularly given lists of available berths in their respective marinas and by his suggestion there are is lot more availability than filters down to mere mortals like me.

He mentioned three prime Solent marinas who have contacted them saying they have berths available - one of whom I had called but only to hear a sucking of teeth and the mention of a 200 year waiting list!

Half of me smells a rat (what a disaster for prices if we knew actually how many berths were really are available) whilst the other half feels much more confident about playing whatever 'system' there is.

Mark

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