Greece - Harbours and Marinas.

tinkicker0

tinkicker0

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Just gathering intel on my dream. I understand that mooring in Greek harbours is usually free for overnighting.

So, I AM going to win the lottery tonight and AM going to have a boat in Greece (40 odd foot FL or Princess flybridge) and need to know the rules.

Can you moor the boat in the local harbour for any length of time without charge, have to pay a mooring fee or have to find a marina for long stays?

I must say, I have rather taken to Gaios on Paxos or possibly Vathy on Ithaca, both top spots in my book.
 
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Your are right - up to a point

We've often not bothered the harbourmasters office and got away without paying dues for staying one, two or three days, and it's rarely an issue. We've also had officials walk by with a smile and not bother us for fees even when we've stayed for a week or more.

But we've equally been given a telling off for not 'reporting in' to the harbourmasters office immediately we were tied up.

Reality is one can get away with it but even if you pay up, the procedures may be time consuming, but the charges are usually minimal. In our case (46 foot) anything twix 10 and 15 euros.

Cheers
JOHN
 
They are supposed to charge in every harbour in Greece but rarely do so especially in the smaller harbours, this year they have been getting more strict and we have heard that from next year they will charging in all harbours. Mind you in reality it will always be the case that only a few boats will get charged, now they tend to charge an entrance fee into a harbour then a small daily rate. For our 11 metre yacht we can pay anything from 3 euros a day to 10 euros a day.
 
As Swagman says, it depends. Our experience of Gaios was that a girl on a moped was around for payment before we had finished tying the warps, although I understand she is no longer there. I avoid Vathi town quay at any time as the wind blows hard onto the quay and far too many anchor dragging incidents take place. However, we have never paid there and were turned away at the port office by a lady official when we tried to give her money.

There is a formula for payment that is applicable anywhere. It should come out at about 80% of your boat length in metres, converted to Euros. Some places are now charging far more than this on the basis that they are a 'marina', i.e. they have water and electricity at berths. Thus the overnight charge at Ay Eufimia is now close to double your length, which deters many from visiting. Whereas in many other places the port police don't bother, or there aren't any.

Anyway, with your impending lottery win a few euros for overnight won't bother you.
 
You are right about the low cost of mooring. Although as already said, in ports where there is a Port Police Office you should pay and show your cruising log. However this rule is enforced with varying rigour. In some small ports there is no official representation and no charge. Inevitably the popular places such as you mention are the ones where charges are more likely.

Very few people use boats of the type you are thinking about for liveaboards, probably because the lifestyle does not appeal to typical MOBO owners (Generalisation, I know) and there is less infrastructure to support that type of boat. Rather perversely, given the lack of wind in the Ionian, sailing boats are preferred by both private and charter users.
 
Tranona said:
You are right about the low cost of mooring. Although as already said, in ports where there is a Port Police Office you should pay and show your cruising log. However this rule is enforced with varying rigour. In some small ports there is no official representation and no charge. Inevitably the popular places such as you mention are the ones where charges are more likely.

Very few people use boats of the type you are thinking about for liveaboards, probably because the lifestyle does not appeal to typical MOBO owners (Generalisation, I know) and there is less infrastructure to support that type of boat. Rather perversely, given the lack of wind in the Ionian, sailing boats are preferred by both private and charter users.
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Thanks all.

Tranona, the only problem I can see with sailboats in Greece is that I can't for the life of me see how you get below decks.

5004276088_ab1244bf3c_z.jpg


Do you think the owner has a vinegar and brown paper fetish as a panacea for all ails including osmosis?
 
was in Gaios several times this year and last and have never been approached for payment.
Vathi is another ball game however. The town quay is OK as far as I know ( if a bit dodgy as mentioned above) but we made the mistake of tying up at the quay by the ferry this september which they are now calling a marina and it was i think from memory 35 euros a night for our 11 metres. More in Jul/August. Bit of a shock to the sytem in these parts and maybe a view of things to come.
 
blueglass said:
was in Gaios several times this year and last and have never been approached for payment.
Vathi is another ball game however. The town quay is OK as far as I know ( if a bit dodgy as mentioned above) but we made the mistake of tying up at the quay by the ferry this september which they are now calling a marina and it was i think from memory 35 euros a night for our 11 metres. More in Jul/August. Bit of a shock to the sytem in these parts and maybe a view of things to come.
Click to expand...

just read previous post again and I should say I was talking about Vathi (sp?) on Meganisi not Ithaca.
 
tinkicker0 said:
Thanks all.

Tranona, the only problem I can see with sailboats in Greece is that I can't for the life of me see how you get below decks.

5004276088_ab1244bf3c_z.jpg


Do you think the owner has a vinegar and brown paper fetish as a panacea for all ails including osmosis?
Click to expand...

No, its wood and he has seen what happens to exposed (?) wooden boats from the sun and rain in Corfu! Bit extreme but you can no longer get a permanent paint boy for a sovreign a week!
All plastic white AWB with tinted windows is what you need. I know a good Jeanneau 43DS for sale in Corfu (not mine).
 
Tranona said:
Very few people use boats of the type you are thinking about for liveaboards, probably because the lifestyle does not appeal to typical MOBO owners (Generalisation, I know) and there is less infrastructure to support that type of boat. Rather perversely, given the lack of wind in the Ionian, sailing boats are preferred by both private and charter users.
Click to expand...

Tranona is correct that mobos are seriously outnumbered by sailing boats here (as most places actually)
but there is no problem whatever with infrastructure for mobos . We are on an Atlantic 38 and only summer livaeaboards (april- cctober and back to UK for the winter) but have no problems relating to mobo status. By support I imagine Tranona is referring to engineers, lifting facilities etc?? if so no issues.
 
So how would one go on if you wanted to keep the boat in the harbour year round? Just pay the daily mooring fee? Get friendly with the port official and welcome him aboard to get pissed regularly while negotiating a discount or just keep on the move?

My musings keep throwing these questions up, lift outs, maintenance, anodes, antifoul, chock ashore over winter. All to be hopefully discussed in the fullness of time.

I have no choice but to have a vicarious dream life based on your experiences, at least until my numbers come up tonight. :D
 
blueglass said:
Tranona is correct that mobos are seriously outnumbered by sailing boats here (as most places actually)
but there is no problem whatever with infrastructure for mobos . We are on an Atlantic 38 and only summer livaeaboards (april- cctober and back to UK for the winter) but have no problems relating to mobo status. By support I imagine Tranona is referring to engineers, lifting facilities etc?? if so no issues.
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Only in part about the technical aspect, but I was more trying to reflect what I perceive as the lifestyle adopted by people who keep their large MOBOs in the Western Med and trying to relate that to conditions in the bit we know - the Ionian.

You and I know that the shoreside facilities are very different from those in Southern Spain and the Balearics, for example, never mind the limited access from Northern Europe. Of course that may change as boats and people migrate east to avoid the high cost where they are now.
 
tinkicker0 said:
Just gathering intel on my dream. I understand that mooring in Greek harbours is usually free for overnighting.

So, I AM going to win the lottery tonight and AM going to have a boat in Greece (40 odd foot FL or Princess flybridge) and need to know the rules.

Can you moor the boat in the local harbour for any length of time without charge, have to pay a mooring fee or have to find a marina for long stays?

I must say, I have rather taken to Gaios on Paxos or possibly Vathy on Ithaca, both top spots in my book.
Click to expand...
When I first arrived in Greece, mooring at ports was almost always "free".

Since April of this year the position has changed - Port Police have always had the right to charge boats for using their port and they are now insisting on payment, to the extent that they send a member round to remind people to report and pay.
By just avoiding reporting, one can still get away without paying in such places as Pilos, Monemvassia, Trizonia, Korinthos, Kipissaria, Katakolo.
In the past, Greek welcome and police indolence, resulted in no demand for port dues. Recent economic events have probably driven the change.

Generally, if you swing to your own anchor there are no dues.

Not much, for a 10m vessel €6.60 for the 1st and €6.00 for subsequent days.
 
tinkicker0 said:
So how would one go on if you wanted to keep the boat in the harbour year round? Just pay the daily mooring fee? Get friendly with the port official and welcome him aboard to get pissed regularly while negotiating a discount or just keep on the move?

My musings keep throwing these questions up, lift outs, maintenance, anodes, antifoul, chock ashore over winter. All to be hopefully discussed in the fullness of time.

I have no choice but to have a vicarious dream life based on your experiences, at least until my numbers come up tonight. :D
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It varies - most harbours charge a reduced rate for long term mooring, when there is a separate harbour authority.
Where the Port Police collect dues, I'm afraid they'll probably (for lack of precedent) try to charge you the daily rate.
In Rethymion, one of the only municipally owned marinas I know of in Greece - the charge for mooring is a flat-rate €1.50/day for 1 day, a week, a month or a year. Water, however, costs you €5.00/day and electricity €3.00/day.
It is impossible, IMHO, unless speaking from a dearth of experience to generalise about Greek port charges - one of the delights of this country is its diversity, and that extends to how the rules are applied by who is applying them and where it is.

For example I'm paying nothing, with free electricity and water on my current transit berth - permanent berthing is interdicted. But that won't last. A rash of little local boats will move in within the next couple of years, accepting without question the benefice of the EC Regional Fund as by right.
 
tinkicker0 said:
So how would one go on if you wanted to keep the boat in the harbour year round? Just pay the daily mooring fee? Get friendly with the port official and welcome him aboard to get pissed regularly while negotiating a discount or just keep on the move?

My musings keep throwing these questions up, lift outs, maintenance, anodes, antifoul, chock ashore over winter. All to be hopefully discussed in the fullness of time.

I have no choice but to have a vicarious dream life based on your experiences, at least until my numbers come up tonight. :D
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If i was overwintering here - and I would investigate the wijnter weather conditions before you get too starry eyed on that one - I would spend most of my time at anchor, into harbours when weather poor or supplies required, and once a year you will need briefly to go into one of the proper marinas for lift outs, onshore maintenace etc.
 
charles_reed said:
When I first arrived in Greece, mooring at ports was almost always "free".

Since April of this year the position has changed - Port Police have always had the right to charge boats for using their port and they are now insisting on payment, to the extent that they send a member round to remind people to report and pay.
By just avoiding reporting, one can still get away without paying in such places as Pilos, Monemvassia, Trizonia, Korinthos, Kipissaria, Katakolo.
In the past, Greek welcome and police indolence, resulted in no demand for port dues. Recent economic events have probably driven the change.

Generally, if you swing to your own anchor there are no dues.

Not much, for a 10m vessel €6.60 for the 1st and €6.00 for subsequent days.
Click to expand...

You can add to to your "non paying list" -- Sivota, Nidri,Vassiliki, Vathi Ithaca, Kalamos,Kastos,Paleros, Sami, Astokos,Messolonghi Quay,Nikiana,Vliho,Preveza,Parga,Palairos,Levkas Quay, Frikes,Kioni,Port Spilia and I`m sure there are others I must have missed out.
Enjoy whilst it` is still free.
 
In Platarias just now and expecting the lady to turn up and ask for her 3€ per night fee (plus 3€ for water and 3€ for electricity if used). However, she hasn't turned up yet and its getting a bit late.
There are about 10 or so boat permanently moored here with some being used as liveaboards. According to one skipper, his berth costs him 500€ €a year to the local council and that includes his water and electricity but he doesn't stay year round, going back to UK in the winter. Also, if he leaves his berth at any time, there's no guarantee that it won't be taken over by someone in the interim and he'll have to wait for them to go before he can get back on to it - a significant problem as he's laid his own mooring lines.
When thinking about the size and type of boat, don't forget that the threat of taxes on MOBOs over 10m and sailing boats over 15m.
 
I think that the OP was talking about Vathi Ithaki

blueglass said:
was in Gaios several times this year and last and have never been approached for payment.
Vathi is another ball game however. The town quay is OK as far as I know ( if a bit dodgy as mentioned above) but we made the mistake of tying up at the quay by the ferry this september which they are now calling a marina and it was i think from memory 35 euros a night for our 11 metres. More in Jul/August. Bit of a shock to the sytem in these parts and maybe a view of things to come.
Click to expand...


whereas your recollections appear to be of Vathi Meganissi, which is a different place altogether...

INNIT????

Chas
 
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