Demand for marina and mooring berths soars in UK

[Fr J Hackett]

I thought there was an issue that you became liable for EU VAT if the boat was in the EU beyond a certain period (18 months?). Is that not the case?

Only if you are a resident I believe.

 

[Lightwave395]

I thought there was an issue that you became liable for EU VAT if the boat was in the EU beyond a certain period (18 months?). Is that not the case?

Either sail out into International waters or return to UK for a day or two and you reset both UK and French clocks, the French seem more interested in your passport stamps than the boat

 

[Momac]

. Not sure what can be done though, just a shame that good moorings are being used as long term “storage”

A boat that was moored near me was sold recently and has been moved elsewhere. It had not moved since 2015.
Nor had its owners spent any time on board.
I expect every marina or moorings area has a number of such boats. Seems like a good deal for the people who are collecting the mooring fees.

 

[Ribtecer]

In a commercial marina then far enough, but on council moorings with limited supply I think it not unreasonable to expect a boat to be kept in a seaworthy condition. And if so I or anyone else would not know if it where used or not. But when it's a heap, it obvious.

I read somewhere on here that there is/was a motor boat in Port Solent that the neighbours call "The Eternal Flame" because it never goes out.

 

[lustyd]

The trouble is, if you force people to leave their berth due to lack of use, they will sell the boat. How people think this would lead to better berth availability I have no idea since the new owner would immediately seek a berth.

The fundamental problem is that GRP boats don't degrade over time and cannot easily be disposed of, and this is not being addressed. At some point boat builders will have to start buying up old boats just to make space for new boats, otherwise they'll go bankrupt. As ever though, humans can't see the bigger picture and ignore that we can't build ever more marinas around the coast. That said, we'll soon have so many wind farms we could just string pontoons between them, and we may as well as the sea will be too full to sail anywhere!

 

[blush2]

Might ask if those seeking a Mooring on the DART have approached the Galmpton facility ?

MDL Galmpton hasn't any moorings, the creek itself dries. The boatyard opposite may have moorings if you can dry out.

 

[Concerto]

My daughter thinks we belong in a home for the mentally disadvantaged.

Who am I to question your daughter's judgement. I suppose that anyone who just talks their boat must have a screw loose. Do you also stroke your boat? That I can understand as it shows a gentle touch is much better than just sweet words.

 

[Poignard]

Some of the marinas in my area of Brittany, and very likely elsewhere, have a scheme (IZYNAV) where the contract specifies that one's boat has to be off its berth for 2 months a year during the summer. It can either be away at sea or laid up ashore.

I am not in this scheme so I don't know the details but I assume anyone failing to comply with this term will be penalised in some way.

 

[Daydream believer]

Who am I to question your daughter's judgement. I suppose that anyone who just talks their boat must have a screw loose. Do you also stroke your boat? That I can understand as it shows a gentle touch is much better than just sweet words.

I was sitting on my boat on the hard, one winter, when a chap went on his boat next to mine & said "hello" to it. I told the wife, who thought it funny. She told the lady at the desk in the marina. She politely informed my wife, that it was far from uncommon for owners to be heard saying "hello", to their boats, when they arrived. She & my wife had a "knowing, ladies, chuckle", together
Under way I often discuss what to do next. I bet quite a few SH sailors do & would not be surprised if you do not do so as well. Even though you probably do not realise it.

 

[cpedw]

Well there's space for a couple of boats near Oban.

 

[Capt Popeye]

MDL Galmpton hasn't any moorings, the creek itself dries. The boatyard opposite may have moorings if you can dry out.

Well yes the main Boat Storage appears to me to be Dry Berths ahore , boats on Trailers etc ; BUT there is a launching facility for Boats on Trailers plus limited amount of Pontoons to which a few Boats are tied up to ; My observation is that there are a few Boats in Drying berths , maybe one has to book such a Berth and take ones turn .

 

[Supertramp]

The trouble is, if you force people to leave their berth due to lack of use, they will sell the boat. How people think this would lead to better berth availability I have no idea since the new owner would immediately seek a berth.

The fundamental problem is that GRP boats don't degrade over time and cannot easily be disposed of, and this is not being addressed. At some point boat builders will have to start buying up old boats just to make space for new boats, otherwise they'll go bankrupt. As ever though, humans can't see the bigger picture and ignore that we can't build ever more marinas around the coast. That said, we'll soon have so many wind farms we could just string pontoons between them, and we may as well as the sea will be too full to sail anywhere!

GRP boats do degrade over time (at least mine does!) but it's the end of life arrangements that are missing.

Brexit and Covid have created demand. If its long term I can see it driving more conversions of redundant docks and extensions of marinas as the economics make sense. Difficult in areas already with high demand.

I would not wish for more regulation of the marine environment. Forcing people to take their boats out would step us nearer to seaworthiness certification for boat and owner. Good in some ways but against the spirit of freedom which I for one enjoy.

More likely it will become increasingly expensive to own and berth a yacht where you want it. The same thing has happened with camping and holiday lets.

 

[Lightwave395]

Some of the marinas in my area of Brittany, and very likely elsewhere, have a scheme (IZYNAV) where the contract specifies that one's boat has to be off its berth for 2 months a year during the summer. It can either be away at sea or laid up ashore.

I am not in this scheme so I don't know the details but I assume anyone failing to comply with this term will be penalised in some way.

That's my contract, you either go sailing for 2 months or come out of the water. I've usually come out of the water July and August in the past having been sailing May and June, done any maintenance and antifouling then done my Grandad duties during the school summer holidays and gone sailing again in September. It suits us as we don't like the mad scrambling for space and overcrowding often seen in French peak summer late July and August.
I confess I have no idea on penalties without looking at the small print
We are, however, pondering on going to N coast of Spain instead this year or next instead of coming ashore

 

[Stemar]

I was sitting on my boat on the hard, one winter, when a chap went on his boat next to mine & said "hello" to it. I told the wife, who thought it funny. She told the lady at the desk in the marina. She politely informed my wife, that it was far from uncommon for owners to be heard saying "hello", to their boats, when they arrived. She & my wife had a "knowing, ladies, chuckle", together
Under way I often discuss what to do next. I bet quite a few SH sailors do & would not be surprised if you do not do so as well. Even though you probably do not realise it.

I often say something like, "Thank you, sleep tight, see you again soon" to Jazzcat as I leave her on the mooring. I don't think it amounts to enough evidence to bet me sent to the funny farm just yet.

 

[Concerto]

That's my contract, you either go sailing for 2 months or come out of the water. I've usually come out of the water July and August in the past having been sailing May and June, done any maintenance and antifouling then done my Grandad duties during the school summer holidays and gone sailing again in September. It suits us as we don't like the mad scrambling for space and overcrowding often seen in French peak summer late July and August.
I confess I have no idea on penalties without looking at the small print
We are, however, pondering on going to N coast of Spain instead this year or next instead of coming ashore

My MDL contract states every boat must leave the marina twice under its own power at least twice each year. They very rarely enforce this term, but it is there in the small print. I have to admit I broke that rule in 2022, but I was away for 4½ months sailing round Britain.

 

[Daydream believer]

I often say something like, "Thank you, sleep tight, see you again soon" to Jazzcat as I leave her on the mooring. I don't think it amounts to enough evidence to bet me sent to the funny farm just yet.

Bit like love & marriage. Has to start somewhere, somehow. Some forumites can tell you what that can lead to

 

[dslittle]

One of the benefits of retirement… Arzal a mentioned or other French Marina . I suspect the berthing savings per year might pay for a few ferry trips but how do you reach say a berth in Arzal etc?

Very easily. The annual berthing cost savings more than outweigh the (extremely nice) ferry crossings. Being retired does let us spend much longer periods on the boat which helps...

That being said, I did take advantage of a Brittany Ferries 29 hour return last year to go down to the boat for a day to do something, but even I think that is a bit extreme for a day sail (even though the journey time was less than previously getting down to the Solent for a weekend!!!)

 

[Daydream believer]

(even though the journey time was less than previously getting down to the Solent for a weekend!!!)

So you are saying that from your house to your boat in Arzal, took less time than from your house to the Solent. Interesting. Where do you live? France?

 

[Bristolfashion]

But with due respect, who are you to decide how others should use their boat? If they only want to use it, say, once a year, then surely that is up to them. It is not up to others to dictate that they should use it every weekend, or whatever.
ie a good example--Our dinghy class members often sneer at some of the cruisers that do not move. But what they do not see is a couple of owners coming down mid week & casting a rod off the boat, fishing for a while, then going home. One couple, with a Fulmar, would row out, have a cup of tea, sit & watch the world go by for an hour, then row back. They would always stop & chat to passers by on the beach & that was their afternoon. They did this many times a season for at least 5 years to my knowledge. In fact Dave Selby even joked about it in one of his PBO articles.

That's ok when there's unlimited supply, but it's a bit of a shame to fill up an otherwise attractive location with unused boats. Pull 'em out & stick 'em in a big "car park".

How about a requirement that every boat must leave its mooring for, say, 48 hrs once a year for "mooring inspection" - that'd shock those clogging up the system.

Some people just have too many toys - they haven't time to use 'em and they make it difficult for everyone else.

 

[Poignard]

That's ok when there's unlimited supply, but it's a bit of a shame to fill up an otherwise attractive location with unused boats. Pull 'em out & stick 'em in a big "car park".

How about a requirement that every boat must leave its mooring for, say, 48 hrs once a year for "mooring inspection" - that'd shock those clogging up the system.

Some people just have too many toys - they haven't time to use 'em and they make it difficult for everyone else.

I can imagine crowds of these decrepit boats leaving the marina. Their engines coughing out clouds of black smoke, dragging yards of marine growth behind them, their anxious skippers desperately trying to remember what little they ever knew of boat handling, and hoping they will make it back to their berths before they sink.