How do you find a mooring...?

oughtoc

oughtoc

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Hi,

First post, so apologies for bad form etc.

Finally been given the go ahead to stop talking about boats & go and get on the water. Found a boat that fits the bill. Starting to get excited, until I tried to find somewhere to put it. Ideal situation would be on the Dart as it's somewhere I know & understand, safe in all weathers all year. Family would be happy as we stay in the area whenever possible.

Long story short, no berths, marinas all have waiting lists. Salcombe is for locals only. Scared of the Solent as it sounds like a major boaterway& has shallow bits & big tides & things.

If I can't find a berth I can't see how to own a boat. Over to the experts - any ideas?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi,

First post, so apologies for bad form etc.

Finally been given the go ahead to stop talking about boats & go and get on the water. Found a boat that fits the bill. Starting to get excited, until I tried to find somewhere to put it. Ideal situation would be on the Dart as it's somewhere I know & understand, safe in all weathers all year. Family would be happy as we stay in the area whenever possible.

Long story short, no berths, marinas all have waiting lists. Salcombe is for locals only. Scared of the Solent as it sounds like a major boaterway& has shallow bits & big tides & things.

If I can't find a berth I can't see how to own a boat. Over to the experts - any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Tried the clubs ? OK most clubs are swinging moorings etc. - but worth the try ...

Also a lot of Marinas have berths that no-one wants ... bad placement ... back of the beyond etc. taking one on and putting name on list to move to better can give you that start ... ?? Often means a "drink and chat" with Bosun / Moorings manager of the marina ..
 
Welcome to the forum.

Don't be scared of the Solent, there is no need. It's a bit crowded yes, but an interesting and safe area to start to start your life afloat.

Are you looking for a swinging mooring or marina berth, and how much dosh are you willing to part with?
 
There are lots of berths available, but not necessarly at your first choice. I think you need to have a specific location in mind and then ask for suggestions and I am sure someone will give you an idea. How big is your proposed boat? If you have not bought one yet, it is sometimes possible to take ovewr the berth when you buy the boat. So you could try that route. Sometimes a broker can help if you are trying to buy a boat in the home marina of the broker you can often buy contigent on them getting you a berth.

Good luck.
 
Hi,

Given your location, why not base your boat in "Gods Own Country" Wales?

Fantastic scenery, good facilities, light traffic, decent destinations in range and only about 2 hours from where you live.

.....oh, and still reasonably good availability of berths.
 
Don't give up on the Dart. We berth our boat on there, on the harbour authority pontoons. You may find that you do better by going down to the harbour office and grovelling rather than just 'phoning. Everybody says there is a waiting list but it often seems to be a bit "flexible".

The size of boat also makes a difference. I would be surprised if the HA couldn't fit you in somewhere so long as you are prepare to accept trot or swinging or pontoon. Once you are a "resident" it becomes much easier to switch types.

Good luck.

BTW welcome to the madhouse.

Cheers,

Colin
 
Ok, boat I have my eye on is 33ft, 6ft fin keel yawl. I'll take any berth I can find, swinging / trot / marina - just can't be drying due to keel type. Already considering marina so have mentally chalked up about 2 grand a year for mooring costs.
 
I was in a similiar position and was told that it would take years to rise to the tops of the waiting lists, however, maybe becuase of my short length (snigger) and ability to take the ground, I was offered three moorings including the one I really wanted... sadly I had paid a deposit elsewhere before the one I really wanted came up but it tuned out nice in the end when my brother moved into a house just down the road from the boatyard where I will shortly be ending up.

So in summary, get on the lists and see what comes up. It mighrt be a bit late, I contacted everyone in October, but at this time of year, boatyards and marinas may well be finding that old clients are not coming back.
 
I agree with most that you could look at areas nearer to home which would be cheaper than the Dart or the Solent. We commute 3 hours to the boat (Glos to Falmouth) and its a pain, albeit a fabulous place to sail once we are there.

We got our first swinging mooring after one season by making lots of phone calls and trying as many avenues as possible, even looking at dry mooring at Fowey (boat kept ashore, you give 24 hrs notice to get it craned in, so many crane-ins per year as part of package).

We put our name down on as many waiting lists as possible, and got our current mooring after a couple of years.

Keep making the calls, something always turns up!

And welcome to the clan!
 
I second what others have said about asking around in person - it really is MUCH more effective than phoning, and when you are there say you already have the boat, not "....thinking of buying". Be prepared to write a cheque straight away for a seasons' mooring fees - harbourmasters and boatyards/marinas with moorings always have someone who hasn't paid up, or who always has to be chased to get to pay. You may well get their mooring!

Royal Dorset YC have moorings in Portland available - they were actually advertising them recently, as was Universal Marine at Hamble. The really popular areas are either ultra-expensive or have very long waiting lists, though even in these places (Salcombe etc) you can often still find a private mooring by diligent enquiry, and paying a bit more than the going rate.
 
Are you sure you want to travel Cheshire to Salcombe to go sailing. Its a recipe for not using the boat very much if you're not careful.

If you are prepared for that much travel, its just as quick to get to Plymouth!

Notwithstanding all this, N Wales or Scotland?

Try the clubs - there ARE moorings available. Sometimes 'asking to borrow' a mooring temporarily gets you a few months grace to find a more permament one. My club will allow our moorings to be sub-let for up to a year or two while people go off long term cruising, and I think other clubs often have the same policy. We were on such a mooring for several years until we got our own permament one.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Are you sure you want to travel Cheshire to Salcombe to go sailing. Its a recipe for not using the boat very much if you're not careful.

[/ QUOTE ]

You will probably want to vist you boat every three weeks throught the year, just to check it even if you are not actually going sailing , so bare that in mind.
 
If you want to be in the West Country rather than the very busy Solent why don't you look on the River Tamar - lots of clubs in Plymouth, St Budeaux or Saltash. We bought a boat there last year - and sailed it back to Essex. It is an easy day sail to Salcombe or Dartmouth or back west to Falmouth amd the Tamar is very pleasant too.
 
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