Boating on Lake Como

[chris1001]

Anybody got any advice on boating on Lake Como in Italy. Visited in May this year and hired a dory for the day - best days boating I have had in years. Would love to know if it there are any marinas on the lake where british boaters could use as a base. Surprised that MBY have not reported on this stunning location, particularly with the cheap flights available from the U.K.

 

[BarryH]

Been there done that.......stunning. If your taking your own boat make sure you have all the paperwork. They can be officious little so and so's. On the whole tho the locals are very friendly and welcoming and ready to help anyone. There are places on the lake but you need to find them. More up the northern end rather than the southern bits. Como itself used to have a small marina with a slip.

There was also one in Bellaggio that had moorings etc. Not exactly a marina more a bunch of bouys near the town. Stunning place and I'd love to go back one day.

 

[MapisM]

Como lake does not have many "real" marinas, meant as places with boating services, surveillance, etc.
On the other hand, almost any village on the lake has its own historical small harbour.
There are plenty of them, but all small(ish) and completely unattended.
A berth in these harbours, which are public and administered by local authorities, is normally very cheap but also hard to get.
The few marinas are instead nice, but rather expensive. Just as an example, this is the one of the best, imho.
I was surprised to read in the other post about possible problems in bringing your boat.
There are plenty of foreign boats - mostly German actually, but I guess it shouldn't be harder for a UK boat.
Besides, in case you'd appreciate occasional rushes of adrenalin, there are still some crazy builders around Como lake who can sell you a 70+ knots bullet. 20-22' is the typical size, nice also for waterski, but they make also much bigger toys.
Send me a pm for any more details you might want - my weekend home is in Como lake, I spent quite some time on (and in!) those waters in the last 15 years or so.

 

[timlane]

Hi,
I'm interested to know more! We're going to be in Lecco for a week in late August next summer (2015) and I plan to take our 6.2m rib with us. If you have any advice as to where we can moor it or even any info on slipways that would be really helpful. The rib is fully insured and my wife and I have our powerboat level 2 certificates and radio certificates so I hope we're legal!

 

[mjfboating]

Hi, We have a new 60 x 10 foot steel boat (floating London flat) and are interested in mooring on Como for 6 - 12 months. Can you help with any info on possible long term mooring spots...we are happy to pay for moorings of course just don't know where to start and you've been there a long while I see.
best regards
michael

 

[talltim]

Lake Garda has a number of boat hirers with a selection of different sized vessels depending on whether you hold an ICC or not.

Most powerboat hirers are at the southern end of the lake and prices do vary.

We used Gardaboat and had a very enjoyable 4 hours

 

[MapisM]

Hi, We have a new 60 x 10 foot steel boat (floating London flat) and are interested in mooring on Como for 6 - 12 months. Can you help with any info on possible long term mooring spots...we are happy to pay for moorings of course just don't know where to start and you've been there a long while I see.

Sorry for having seen your question only now.
I suppose you probably found out more in the meantime, but TBH I couldn't have helped a lot anyway, other than to confirm that there are indeed pleasure boat docks right in front of the very center of Como.
A beautiful location, perfect for living aboard, but I'm afraid it's likely to be pretty expensive for a 60 footer, which is way above the average lake boat size.
I never had an opportunity/need to ask, though.
Happy to give them a call, if you are still interested and you didn't already find out in the meantime.
Oh, and gimme a shout if/when you'll be around!

PS: ops, I mixed up the date of your post with the previous one that timiane posted in Oct last year!
Anyway, in reply to him: yes, legal you definitely are - for anything else, if still of interest, just ask or pm.

 

[mjfboating]

Sorry for having seen your question only now.
I suppose you probably found out more in the meantime, but TBH I couldn't have helped a lot anyway, other than to confirm that there are indeed pleasure boat docks right in front of the very center of Como.
A beautiful location, perfect for living aboard, but I'm afraid it's likely to be pretty expensive for a 60 footer, which is way above the average lake boat size.
I never had an opportunity/need to ask, though.
Happy to give them a call, if you are still interested and you didn't already find out in the meantime.
Oh, and gimme a shout if/when you'll be around!

PS: ops, I mixed up the date of your post with the previous one that timiane posted in Oct last year!
Anyway, in reply to him: yes, legal you definitely are - for anything else, if still of interest, just ask or pm.

 

[mjfboating]

Hi again, Thanks for the reply. That would be great if you had a contact there to speak with re availability, price etc.

 

[MapisM]

Hi there. Oh, and welcome to the madhouse, by the way.

I just spoke with both these places:
www.csuspa.it
www.yachtclubcomo.it
Not that the websites could be any use for you, but for the records, just in case anyone else might be interested.
They are, respectively, the company managing all the Como public moorings and the private Como Yacht Club.

The first told me that the moorings allocation, which is done through applications (whose criterias I'm not bothering you with, because it's irrelevant by now), is now completed for the period 2015-2017.
The next assignment will be before the end of 2017, for the 2018-2020 timeframe.
It's pretty obvious that these mooring allocations are much more oriented to satisfy the local/permanent demand (of which there's plenty), rather than the touristic one.
Not meant as an excuse, particularly considering that the place aims at being touristic, but that's the way it is, I'm afraid.

The second told me that their floating docks are not big/strong enough to accomodate a 60 footer.
But this guy also told me that, even if the public moorings are somewhat larger, he wouldn't be happy to leave an heavy 60' steel boat anywhere around Como, and suggested that the only suitable places for a boat of that size/weight are either in Colico (northern tip of the lake) or in Menaggio (half way along the W coast of the lake).
I know well both these places, but aside from being pretty expensive, they are at 90 and 45 minutes driving distance from Como, respectively.
Not very convenient, if your idea was to live in Como for a while.

Btw, coming to think of it, you surely should afford also some quite substantial costs to move a 60' to Como.
Imho, renting an apartment would be a better choice, also because I suppose that you wouldn't actually use a 60x10 steel boat for cruising, and you would be better off renting a small boat anyway, whenever you'd fancy a ride on the lake...