French marinas such great value?

[zefender]

I've read lots about how much cheaper France is, compared to rip-off South Coast. But I'm not sure this is always so, at least for overnight stays.

Example, modern south coast marina for 12metre boat = about £26/night. Loos and showers free.

N/W France cost - typically £13 and then 2 euro for a shower token. So cost including 5 people taking 2 showers a day adds up to about £26 in all.

I'd also say that the standard of security in UK Marinas was far better than the french ones I visited.

Happy to be corrected

PS Yes, I know if everyone avoids a shower then its cheaper, but that's just not very nice is it?

 

[iangrant]

We all showered on the boat and paid about a third in mooring fees in St Vaast, where incidentally the showers are free.


Ian

 

[Guest]

How did you feel about pumping dirty water out into a locked environment? or did you just shower at free flow.?

not nice in my view

Pete

 

[zefender]

and cleaning the shower filter is such fun isn't it?

 

[zefender]

Re: St Vaast showers free?

I'm sure I have some shower tokens from St.Vaast on board - maybe they're from somewhere else!

 

[iangrant]

I don't think a little shower water is a problem - I did take umbridge at the other boats pumping out toilets!!!

Ian

 

[iangrant]

Re: St Vaast showers free?

They were open in the harbour office, showers and toilets in the same area on the right as you go into the building.

Ian

 

[bedouin]

Re: St Vaast showers free?

But unfortunately you need a token to get any water out!

 

[Guest]

hopefully nobody fell in!!!!!!!!

 

[Oceanranger]

It's easy to get precious over polluting marinas with shower water, but I've been in at least one shower block where the water drains straight back into the 'oggin. And surely our waste must be a drop in the ocean compared with all that fish poo out there.

 

[cynthia]

Lots of them do 'special' offers e.g. stay 5 nights then go onto half rates, or pay for two, get the third night free etc. Of course the daily rate is higher, but once you get to monthly or annual fees there is little comparison with UK marinas IMHO.

 

[zefender]

Re: longer terms stay rates agreed

You're absolutely right of course. My point was based upon the 'hidden' costs associated with poodling along the cost, and in high season. I found no charges for facilities in Spain or Portugal and whilst few UK (if any) marina washrooms could be described as pristine, most of the ones I visited in France were either filty or seriously in need of updating. I would have thought that, since the berthing rates are based on boat length, there is already a presumption about possible additional costs associated with larger crews. It seems a bit cheap to then put in a sting over the showers, especially since the literature/web-sites don't mention such a fee.

 

[kingfisher]

Golden shower ?

2 Euro for a shower ?!?
That includes the little elves that blow dry you with their wings ? The tuft of talcum powder ? The scrubbing and peeling ? The Shiatsu massage ? The expensive perfume? Other services ?

Rate in Holland+Belgium= 0.50€, basic sports club shower.

Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Golden shower ?

3 euros, in a marina in Ibiza, thats with, £200 a night for mooring the boat, plus water, plus lecky!! Try that out for size, No I didn't stay there, I may be stupid, but not that bluidy stupid!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: showers

Average price we paid in S Brittany was €1 never had to pay 2

But I agree with you on prices (12 Mtr boat)

Le Cruzet (can't spell it) entracnce to Morbihan - charged €37 plus 4 showers = €41 = £25.83

Salcombe on a mooring costs £17.50 plus £1.50 for each water taxi plus showers at the SYC £1 each total for 4 crew Total £27.50

Poole Town Key - something around £36.00

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: showers

Your boat is too big and the French bonnet rouges have decided to redistribute your excess wealth. An 8 metre boat in Crouesty costs 7 e low season, 11 mid and 18 high. Crouesty (at the mouth of the Morbihan) is just abt the most expensive and ugly marina in south Brittany. But it's convenient. An annual contract for an 8 metre boat (including free use of other marinas around Quiberon and the Vilaine) is 1771 e, just over £1000. Crouesty is very like Brighton Marina I'm sure everyone who's been there will agree. I wonder what a year in Brighton for an 8metre boat would cost?

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: showers

Also - can't resist this - isn't La Roche Bernard the best looking marina you've ever been in? A year on a mooring there, very sheltered, just off the shore is 600 euros, on the pontoon is 1000 euros for an 8 metre boat. Fresh water so no anti fouling.

 

[Robin]

But Electrics Are Free

Showers vary in cost and are generally charged for, but electricity is free. We take advantage of the free power to run the immersion heater and always shower on board, it saves a (sometimes long) walk and maybe a wait, plus we often have more water pressure on board and don't have to pack our bags to make the visit. We use on board toilet too, but we do have a holding tank. The group of 3 marinas in Quiberon Bay (Morbihan) of Le Crouesty, Port Haliguen and La Trinite have increased visitor rates by 15% this year but showers are free if you present your berth receipt. We paid about £23 for a berth in Le Crouesty for a 12.2mt yacht, substantially better than most south coast marinas and compares favourably to £16 in Yarmouth where showers are still extra if you need to use them, no electrics and a water taxi fare or 2 unless you inflate the dinghy.

As an aside, we only visit marinas when we need food, water, charging or a meal out, otherwise where possible we anchor. Showers then depend on how long the hot water lasts from the last engine run (usually 2 days for 2 of us), thereafter are taken using a solar shower. I would hate to have to sail marina to marina just for showers.

 

[Chris_Robb]

what wealth!

Crouesty is ugly and horrid, but very conveniant - unlike Brighton which is conventient for .......can't think what for.

We have been trying to get a permenant berth down in S Brittany - looks like that for an annual berth one has to get on the lists, but it seems that there are plenty of berths at the monthly rate, which is still cheaper than the UK, but not as cheap as my swinging mooring in Plymouth.

Going to miss Plymouth but SWMBO likes the idea of France - and in the long term it might get her interested in longer term cruising.

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: what wealth!

It will take a little while but you will get one. Except at Arzal whwere people put their childrens name down at birth, as for Eton. Good luck.