Fewer mobos?

I mentioned this earlier in the year, Easter I think? We saw a noticeable absence of Mobos, have done since on other occasions.
 
I notice that the raft of completed boats at Princess are fewer but much bigger these days. Hearing their staff call port control about sea trials the other day, it was a 55 and a 65, not 25s & 35s as it often used to be.

The recession is hitting the middle income groups a lot harder than the seriously wealthy.
 
It seems to me there are fewer boats full stop. Empty marina spaces certainly and I not once been turned away from an overnight this year, whereas I have before.
Don't know about the going slower thing, mobos may do that but it is false economy in a planing boat.
Mine uses about 2 litres per nautical mile up to about 7.5 knots, and 3 litres above 20 knots up to about 25 knots. There is a no go area between 7.5 and 20 knots that uses much more fuel per mile, so slowing down a bit can be costly.
In a semi displacement boat I beleive the fuel burn is more proportional to speed.
 
The distinct amount of chop in recent weeks (in the solent), will certainly effect this.
A) less likely to leave the river.
B) have to go slower in chop to reduce family moaning and said fuel cost... 5 knots slower at cruising fuel consuption or just bring it down to displacment speeds at a normal load on the engine (lower fuel cost).



Just a thought that's not to do with the Daily Mail, um I mean "credit crunch". :-)
 
I was under the impression that MOBO's prefer flat water, I don't know what it was like down there but up here it was a bit windy. Well, it was windy enough for a reef or two, do you think they may have stayed at home, except the diehards of course?

There again I could be wrong, I often am.
 
I also think that there are fewer MOBOs around the Dorset coast. They have become so rare that the other day I waved at one just so he didn't feel lonely!
 
St Peter Port, Guernsey first weekend in August and looking a little empty, so not just mobos feeling the pinch. A few Mobos came in but they tended to be the really big 45+ Squadron / trader types, probably not affected by the CC.

StPP.jpg


Pete
 
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Is that empty? Mind you, the last time I was in St Peter Port was 1976, and that was for Scout Camp.

Is it normal to be rafted up 2 or more deep on a pontoon you can't walk ashore from?

Can you fit more boats in the harbour if you put some poxy pontoons in the middle you have to use a dingy to go for a pint from?

Do they have the cheek to charge for these moorings?

VVVV Edit, To be fair, I know there would be a charge for the moorings, I didn't realise they were waiting moorings though, they look established, especially when folks raft up.
 
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These are the waiting pontoons for coming in and out of the marina, which has access over a tidal cill and restricted to about 2 and a half hours either side of high water (depending on your draft, phase of moon and the like). Can get crowded at times.

I think you can stay on here without going into the marina, but yes, you will get charged!
 
Dipper said:
the other day I waved at one just so he didn't feel lonely!
Click to expand...

he must have been confused I bet he shot to the stern to check for trailing warps:)

Anyway, school summer holidays at bucklers hard, the tri soon left after this pic. Hardly packed.

DSCF5140.JPG


School summer holidays at Newtown creek, all the moorings gone but no problem to find swinging room, only a few boats anchored.

DSCF5098.JPG
 
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They grey sky sums it all up.

Pete7 said:
St Peter Port, Guernsey first weekend in August and looking a little empty, so not just mobos feeling the pinch. A few Mobos came in but they tended to be the really big 45+ Squadron / trader types, probably not affected by the CC.

StPP.jpg


Pete
Click to expand...
 
aquaplane said:
Do they have the cheek to charge for these moorings?
Click to expand...

£27.00/night for 13m when I was there last week. A bit pricey when the raft is 3/4 deep and you can't get the tender through the gap that's left between one pontoon and the next. Still - the fuel was cheap(er).
 
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