Has anyone ever thought about owning there own boat storage yard?

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geardownthreegreens

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Hi guys

Me and the chap i'm working with both own trailerable boats and were talking about storage closer to the coast and said how nice it would be to have our own yard, no plans ever to build a marina, just basic storage.
Anyone ever thought about this.
We discussed about trying to find a plot on the coast from say,Hayling Island around to say St.Austell where we could store approx 50-100 boats and build a slipway.
I understand that this may seem extravagant,but what a dream if we could make this reality. Were both in construction,so could build anything required,office,slipway,tiolets etc etc.

So,we would need to find a very friendly farmer or similiar,talk money,consult the council about planning permission and then decide how to run it.
So, i'm just throwing ideas around and hope someone may have some advise on where to start i guess.
I know there are already plenty of these sites around but people still need more space to leave their boats so i think we'd fill a site. Also, any ideas on costs for say half acre of farm land and what type of view do you think councils have to storage. We thought anything that attracted more people to an area would benefit the locals and that may help trying to get planning.

This is just something we were talking about at work but any serious thoughts and ideas would be very grateful indeed.

Simon
 
I guess i should be asking to pick your brains to find out what you've found out /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I may even go alone on this venture if i could ever find anywhere suitable and run it myself on site full time.I need to change my job,just about had enough of construction now and just love boats and boating.
Any ideas?
 
There was a site at the top of Portsmouth Harbour next to Wilcor Marine. It's a field with a barn for sale, but watch the covennants. Couple of years ago another site (and warehouse for inside storeage) next to the old TVS TV Studio on the Itchen, rent about £45k pa, right next to the water.

Pete
 
Thanks for that Pete.
Yes, never thought about renting,that could be something to follow up perhaps.
I'm roughly working figures here.At 45K p.a i think you'd need to be storing around 100+ boats at 1K plus vat each p.a to try and make it worth while after all other expenses.
 
Didn't look inside the warehouse but probably 30+ with some clever parking. Given the price of dry stack nearby you would be charging £3k plus for inside, slightly less for outside.

Pete
 
[ QUOTE ]
Pete,i'm not familiar with Portsmouth Harbour or Wilco Marine. I'm looking on Google Earth, any ideas whereabouts bud.Cheers

[/ QUOTE ] Hmm spelling might not be correct, but the harbour divides into two with the west side going up to Fareham. As it starts to narrow down before the left hand bend there will be a jetty on the right bank and an exisiting marina. Go north west 100m. I will see if I can look up a lat long for you.

Edit 50 50 32 N, 001 08 51 W

Pete
 
I have it Pete. Thought that must have been it with your description.
I wonder why that Marina has bought it?

Looks good but i'm wondering if the small fields below belong to it.

Can you remember who was selling it Pete,i know i know, i'm asking rather a lot now /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You've been a great help anyway Pete and i really do appreciate this.
 
Yes its the whole plot, was used as a stables in the past. Think it was advertised in Daltons the business paper, with an agent.

Pete
 
Wow, thats a big warehouse. Its probably to big for my plans though Pete but it does give me/us something to look at and discuss.

You must be looking for a cheap storage deal /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif you have it pete lol
 
Nah, your only getting the northern end, about level with the bottom end of the train. Cheap, not on the South Coast, more of a "tax them till they squeek attitude". A dinghy is £60pm /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Want another, (not sure if this is still available), try 50 54 30 N, 001 22 27 W, but 100m of mud to the waters edge at LW.

Pete
 
I've suggested on the forum previously that we should form a co-operative and buy a site and and set up a marina or storage/launch facility.

I'd be happy to hear of any sort of proposals in Somerset Devon or Cornwall.

There are a lot of farmers who make quite good money from having c*r*v*ns stored on their land over winter.
 
I've pondered this one quite a bit and have looked into a warehouse for storing boats close to the coast.

There are loads of empty units around but they are quite expensive I found. You would need to get the pricing right but I suspect that even inland there is a good market for small trai;lerable boat storage somewhere within 5 miles of the coast. I was thinking of something like a covered car park layout with several hose off points.

I suspect getting a plot of land on the coast with permission for a slip would ber pretty pricey.?

If anyone is thinking about it in the Southampton area I might be interested.
 
I am by no means an expert on this, but I suspect the chances of getting a farmer to sell land is pretty slight, certainly in Devon and Cornwall. If there is money to be made they will be doing it themselves ( I know of two, one waterside ,who is doing it; one 10 miles from the coast, who is thinking about it).
Waterside industrial land might be more attractive. However the price for this is now much inflated. Yacht Havens have bought two sites in Plymouth and have put a huge investment into dry storage. One small yard bought for c£200,000 in the 90s was offered "in excess of 2 million", it was turned down.
An out of town site where trailer sailors can be left might be the best idea?
 
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