Exactly how many boats

[Seashoreman]

are ever afloat in/on the coast of mainline Britain? I ask this because a tired and ancient boatbuilder asked me how many pianos I think there are in Britain. (that's my work, to pay for this/his pleasure). Has anybody compulated the approximation of the advertised marinas, harbours, lochs and estuaries that we have. Must be blimmin millions I reckon.

 

[clyst]

How long is a bit of string ? how far down in size are you going ? Are you including rowing boats ,praam dinghies,inflatables and even canoes ?

 

[jerrytug]

are ever afloat in/on the coast of mainline Britain? I ask this because a tired and ancient boatbuilder asked me how many pianos I think there are in Britain. (that's my work, to pay for this/his pleasure). Has anybody compulated the approximation of the advertised marinas, harbours, lochs and estuaries that we have. Must be blimmin millions I reckon.

Perhaps there are SSR and Part 1 numbers available, which would at least give the vast majority of cruising yachts.
When you get down to inflatable alligators and so on, probably nearly every household must have something..
I have sometimes been asked this question, and I would like to know as well!

 

[JumbleDuck]

Perhaps there are SSR and Part 1 numbers available, which would at least give the vast majority of cruising yachts.

I'm not sure about that. Unless you go to the Congtinong, there is no real point in having an SSR number. I'd be very surprised if more than a tiny fraction of boats in Scotland had them, for example.

 

[LittleSister]

The simple truth is that nobody knows. But then again, what could one usefully do with the number if it could be established with any degree of certainty?

I seem to remember reading that there were 23,000 moorings/berths in the Solent, but even in that heavily managed area I doubt anyone knows exactly, and berths doesn't equate directly to number of boats.

 

[Twister_Ken]

BMIF has some numbers but at this time of night I can't be bothered looking for them.

 

[chewi]

"Exactly" is a demanding word, and "Basically" is an insulting summary.


I saw a progamme on Quest TV about a narrow boat restoration.
It was the episode where they installed the engine.

"Exactly" what are these bits of steelwork for?
"Basically", they're to support the engine.
"So shall we drop it in there then?"
"Yes."



Then showing "how to fit drawers" they left out all the details except fitting the handles!


drivel.

 

[alahol2]

From the BMF...

•There are an estimated 600,000 boats over 2.5m kept in the UK - owned personally and commercially

•There are approximately 1.16 million boats/craft owned by UK households, including canoes/kayaks, rowing boats and windsurf boards, kept in the UK or abroad

 

[Seajet]

I've seen the figure of 10,000 boats in Chichester Harbour mentioned, including yachts, dinghies, mobo's, sailboards etc.

Seems a suspiciously round figure though !

 

[pmagowan]

I've seen the figure of 10,000 boats in Chichester Harbour mentioned, including yachts, dinghies, mobo's, sailboards etc.

Seems a suspiciously round figure though !

Yes it is actually 10142 or 3 if you count a semi submerged one.

 

[Sandy]

are ever afloat in/on the coast of mainline Britain? I ask this because a tired and ancient boatbuilder asked me how many pianos I think there are in Britain. (that's my work, to pay for this/his pleasure). Has anybody compulated the approximation of the advertised marinas, harbours, lochs and estuaries that we have. Must be blimmin millions I reckon.

Have you written to your MP? He could ask for a Minister for Boats and start a whole raft of Civil Servants counting them. That should solve the unemployment problem.

 

[cliff]

I'm not sure about that. Unless you go to the Congtinong, there is no real point in having an SSR number. I'd be very surprised if more than a tiny fraction of boats in Scotland had them, for example.

Well I must be in the tiny fraction as I have one.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Well I must be in the tiny fraction as I have one.

Why? Not being contentious, just wondering. Do you take your boat to furrin parts? My boat's Part I registered, which I maintained when I bought her for no particularly good reason.

 

[theoldsalt]

Why? Not being contentious, just wondering. Do you take your boat to furrin parts? My boat's Part I registered, which I maintained when I bought her for no particularly good reason.

Oh, go on. I'm sure you had a good reason for buying her.

 

[Greenheart]

I've seen the figure of 10,000 boats in Chichester Harbour mentioned, including yachts, dinghies, mobo's, sailboards etc.

12,000 according to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYXSaTuLf7U

 

[Seajet]

Dan,

thanks for that; a good bit of old footage even if it does follow standard Conservancy thinking that the harbour only exists between Dell Quay & the entrance !

 

[Greenheart]

I was surprised how much of that old footage is monopolised by Bosham Quay!

I wonder if Dylan will go (or ever has been) up that far with his camera.

 

[Seashoreman]

From the BMF...

•There are an estimated 600,000 boats over 2.5m kept in the UK - owned personally and commercially

•There are approximately 1.16 million boats/craft owned by UK households, including canoes/kayaks, rowing boats and windsurf boards, kept in the UK or abroad

alohol2 I award you the prize of the most sensible answer. I put your reply to Mr Grumpy and he started working it out (in his 74 year old brain) and has used many long words to agree with this ( not exact) approximation. Also he knew what BMF was as soon as I said B.... Thought it was worth a punt and got a result, cheers.