Break clauses

[Sea-Fever]

Dear all,

For those who have stayed longer than 12 months on a single berth/mooring, be it privately rented or from a commercial enterprise (marina), do you have a break clause in your contract?

For various reasons my contract starts/ends mid-winter which is apparently not an ideal time to find a new mooring/berth as many places have already filled up their yards in the Autumn.

Ideally I would leave my current berth in the spring for new climes but i do not have a break clause. I've not actually discussed this with the landlord yet but they haven't been particularly helpful/flexible over other matters so I am not hopeful.

 

[dom]

I’m guessing you’re with Premier. Can‘t you renew on a monthly basis?

 

[Sandy]

I've not actually discussed this with the landlord yet

That would be my first port of call.

 

[Boathook]

Mine runs April to end of March and there is no break clause written in that I've noticed and they don't do it by the month either. Years mooring fee up front in late March early April.

 

[Sea-Fever]

I’m guessing you’re with Premier. Can‘t you renew on a monthly basis?

No, not Premier.

 

[Sea-Fever]

That would be my first port of call.

I wanted to get a feel for the norm before doing so.

 

[Sea-Fever]

Mine runs April to end of March and there is no break clause written in that I've noticed and they don't do it by the month either. Years mooring fee up front in late March early April.

It's not massively helpful is it. I think that security of occupancy for the berth owner is acceptable for the first 12 months but thereafter? Not fair play in my book.

 

[neilf39]

In mine I can give two months notice but I will be switched to the monthly charge rate and not the annual one at that point. There is no other termination fee so the cost to me is the difference two months would cost monthly or pro-ratad from the annual contract.

 

[Stemar]

It may not work in your situation but if the marina is intransigent, you could always take a swinging mooring until you're ready to go. Just park in a marina for the last week or two to load up

 

[Sea-Fever]

It may not work in your situation but if the marina is intransigent, you could always take a swinging mooring until you're ready to go. Just park in a marina for the last week or two to load up

I'm surprised no one else has issues like this....or maybe it's just a dull subject. In fact it is a dull subject....I'll get my coat.

My next thread will be exciting, promise.

 

[Bristolfashion]

No, it's a good, real boating topic. All this brexit / COVID chat is just flannel, 'cos we can't do any real boating.

I love a good flange plate compatibility thread.

 

[Sea-Fever]

No, it's a good, real boating topic. All this brexit / COVID chat is just flannel, 'cos we can't do any real boating.

I love a good flange plate compatibility thread.

Steady, you'll get everyone excited.

 

[[3889]]

In mine I can give two months notice but I will be switched to the monthly charge rate and not the annual one at that point. There is no other termination fee so the cost to me is the difference two months would cost monthly or pro-ratad from the annual contract.

Mine also, which I think is reasonable. Not sure why the OP thinks the marina should accept foreshortened occupancy having confered (I assume) a discount for an annual contract.

 

[Tiderace]

I think it depends on your marina,/ landlord and how accomodating they will be.

My last marina was very helpful . I had paid my deposit for this year and subsequently sold my boat. They have kindly carried my deposit over to next year in case I get another boat. They didnt have to.

As suggested above, first thing to do is talk to the marina/ landlord.

 

[lustyd]

I’m guessing you’re with Premier. Can‘t you renew on a monthly basis?

That's interesting. Premier refunded me for a break between boats and insisted I shouldn't have been paying for time I didn't have a boat in the marina (I hadn't bothered telling them until I got the new boat a couple of weeks later). They also (when I discussed it with the manager) said I could pretty much leave when I wanted and they'd prorate my stay but depending on the time served in the year might retrospectively change my rate to their monthly tarriff rather than annual.
I have a lot of issues at Premier, but that's not been one of them

 

[Sea-Fever]

Mine also, which I think is reasonable. Not sure why the OP thinks the marina should accept foreshortened occupancy having confered (I assume) a discount for an annual contract.

No Squiggle, you assume wrong. It's a privately rented berth and I have no discounted rate.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Havens Group Marinas allow you to buy the remaining months of a berth from a resident who is no longer using it. Look on the noticeboard - I think you have to visit in person. I've heard also that at Lymington they're accommodating about issuing a refund, pro-rata the annual contact.

 

[Sea-Fever]

Havens Group Marinas allow you to buy the remaining months of a berth from a resident who is no longer using it. Look on the noticeboard - I think you have to visit in person. I've heard also that at Lymington they're accommodating about issuing a refund, pro-rata the annual contact.

It seems that flexibility is quite common then, in some form or another, which is something I can arm myself with in negotiations. Having said that I know darn well it is not a negotiation, there isnt a break clause and that's that....I'm simply relying on good will.

 

[KompetentKrew]

You'll be fine, just so long as you're prepared to move if your current marina are ungenerous.

Assuming I'm correctly understanding your words "leave in the spring for new climes" then I would email all the marinas in the area, explaining your plans and asking how much they would charge you for 3 or 4 months.

 

[Seven Spades]

Actually Mid-winter is a fine time to end your contract. You can get any number of winter deals, it will hardly cost anything to locate you boat until a new contract can be started in the spring.