Cars when over-wintering.

[binch]

The following is the procedure adopted by ourselves and others.
Buy an old banger. Paint it buttercup yellow so you can recognise it in supermarche car parks. In spring sail away and leave it.
We once bought a FIAT 600, left it behind in San Remo. Thought we'd never see it again.
Friend reported it was still on quay six months later. Train from Fiumara Grande to St Remo. There was the little beauty, dusty and forlorn. I swear she smiled when i got her started with jump leads.
Only three cylinders were working. One valve rod stuck. Sharp tap with hammer. Drove down to Rome. We eventually ran that car for 3 winters including a trip to uk from Calabria.
Old cars are best. Only tools needed are adjust. spanner, pliers and hammer.

 

[BobnLesley]

But make sure you buy a continental one...

"...Old cars are best. Only tools needed are adjust. spanner, pliers and hammer."

Because if you buy British, you'll need to buy a set of A/F tools too.

 

[Swagman]

"Old cars are best. Only tools needed are adjust. spanner, pliers and hammer."

Methinks you also need some faith hidden in your toolbag, and a pinch or two of luck to call upon when needed.
JOHN

 

[ukmctc]

We buy a pair of bikes (Halfords)or a car (locally), the bikes generally cost about £120 the pair, sell them when we leave or just leave them on the harbour wall or marina gate they soon walk. The car uasually an old one, £150-£300 with 6 months tax and Mot, run till we leave, sell usually get our money back or scrap and get half back.
we have a wee Peugot 106 this year, might keep it till next, but if not will get our money back here in NI.

 

[rivonia]

We also buoght a s/h car €1000-00. However it was costing us a fortune in taxis and bus fares plus all the unpleasantness of luggage handling.We keep having to do the visa run and I have to keep seeing the Surgeon, this makes the car pay for itself

We are here since july and shall be here untill atleast may, so we shall have covered our cost's, then we shall sell it for half the the price.

Peter

 

[nimbusgb]

The following is the procedure adopted by ourselves and others.
Buy an old banger. Paint it buttercup yellow so you can recognise it in supermarche car parks. In spring sail away and leave it.
We once bought a FIAT 600, left it behind in San Remo. Thought we'd never see it again.
Friend reported it was still on quay six months later. Train from Fiumara Grande to St Remo. There was the little beauty, dusty and forlorn. I swear she smiled when i got her started with jump leads.
Only three cylinders were working. One valve rod stuck. Sharp tap with hammer. Drove down to Rome. We eventually ran that car for 3 winters including a trip to uk from Calabria.
Old cars are best. Only tools needed are adjust. spanner, pliers and hammer.

No doubt no insurance and 'some one elses problem' when it comes to disposal. Wonder what you'd say if 50 people did the same and the next quaint little Mediterranean harbour you pulled up in resembled a car scrapyard rather than an appealing little seaside village!

 

[ccscott49]

No doubt no insurance and 'some one elses problem' when it comes to disposal. Wonder what you'd say if 50 people did the same and the next quaint little Mediterranean harbour you pulled up in resembled a car scrapyard rather than an appealing little seaside village!

My thoughts exactly, especially the insurance part and how do you do it abroad, buy a local car I mean?

 

[santelmo]

cars

We bought a 20yr old volvo 740 estate (fold the back seats down and you've got a van) off ebay for £300. We then drove it to southern Italy from the north of England, loaded to the gunells, twice. After driving it around Italy all winter we left in the boat so gave it away to a local olive farmer who cut the top off and used it as a pickup on his estate. Lovely car possibly the best I've ever had. When I returned carless, to the marina from the farm my Swedish neighbour asked where the car was. I told him that it had gone to car heaven. He then looked me in the eye and said ' my friend if there is a heaven you can be sure that there will be volvos there'.

 

[gljnr1983]

No doubt no insurance and 'some one elses problem' when it comes to disposal. Wonder what you'd say if 50 people did the same and the next quaint little Mediterranean harbour you pulled up in resembled a car scrapyard rather than an appealing little seaside village!

I am sure the price of scrap metal will soon clear these harbour car parks also would they have been able to get into the uk without insurance. I hate it when doom and gloom people try to spoil a thread!I love stories like this keep them coming.

 

[ccscott49]

Not doom and gloom people, people with a little social responsibilty and sense. I suggest if you dont know a thing about what you are posting, you be quiet!

 

[BobnLesley]

You know you've got a crappy bike when...

"...just leave them on the harbour wall or marina gate they soon walk..."

A few years ago we wintered in Limehouse and had a redundant folding bike, nobody in the marina wanted it and the rules precluded it going into the marina's rubbish skip. No problem, I just rode it up to the local DLR Station and left it there and unlocked, as despite a variety of cables, locks and other security measures, bikes got stolen from there every day; so did ours, but it took three days!

 

[chinita]

Here's another tip.

Don't waste your time taking your bags of rubbish to the marina bins; just throw them over the side at night. That way, nobody will see them and you can carry on drinking on board.

 

[akyaka]

When we leave our car we always connect one of Maplins £10.99 solar panels to keep the battery topped up - do the same on the boat.

 

[rivonia]

Here's another tip.

Don't waste your time taking your bags of rubbish to the marina bins; just throw them over the side at night. That way, nobody will see them and you can carry on drinking on board.

I think that you must have warped sense of humour. Very sad!!

 

[akyaka]

... and the next quaint little Mediterranean harbour you pulled up in resembled a car scrapyard rather than an appealing little seaside village!

Ours does they are owned by the local fishermen.

 

[chinita]

I think that you must have warped sense of humour. Very sad!!

Here's another one:

Fed up replacing your old laptop?

Save loads of money by just stealing one from a neighbour's boat then feign surprise and disbelief when they tell you that theirs has been nicked.

Just dump your old laptop in the car you abandoned in the marina car park; it is nearer than the skip.

 

[Sandyman]

The following is the procedure adopted by ourselves and others.
Buy an old banger. Paint it buttercup yellow so you can recognise it in supermarche car parks. In spring sail away and leave it.
We once bought a FIAT 600, left it behind in San Remo. Thought we'd never see it again.
Friend reported it was still on quay six months later. Train from Fiumara Grande to St Remo. There was the little beauty, dusty and forlorn. I swear she smiled when i got her started with jump leads.
Only three cylinders were working. One valve rod stuck. Sharp tap with hammer. Drove down to Rome. We eventually ran that car for 3 winters including a trip to uk from Calabria.
Old cars are best. Only tools needed are adjust. spanner, pliers and hammer.

Hey Bill, wondered how long it would be before you had the enviro cops after you

Years ago I needed a run around to get from the Hardway to Collingwood & back. An RA.
Someone going to sea sold me his Mini Estate for 35 quid. It was hand painted various shades of yellow. Being a SR thought can't be seen in that. Made a comment & the seller went down town & came back with a large pot of dark blue enamel which cost him 20 quid.
So I slopped this blue paint all over it. Didn't even wash the muck off
Used her every day for 2 1/2 years. Never checked the oil or water. Never let me down.
Lent her to someone for a run ashore. He pranged the front wing in and painted ''OUCH'' on her in big white letters. Hence everyone noticed & soon came to recognise her.
When I was drafted back to sea I left her in a Collingwood car park along with the log-book & keys in the ignition. I later learned that she was in use as the communal transport to the pubs in Gosport.
Five years later I returned to Collingwood, for yet another course, and she was still in use and still had the OUCH mark on her.
Not bad for 15 quid

 

[binch]

Attitude

Living aboard and po-faced demeanous do not go together.