Is your boat charged by length on deck, or overhangs?

Greenheart

Greenheart

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Sorry, not a new question. I'm just visualising rigs that might be possible on standard-rigged sloops...but does an overhanging boom-end/bowsprit increase berthing fees?

Nice to imagine that marina-owners are broad-minded about it, but I doubt it.

How about davits and pulpits?

Presumably cost, as well as convenience, is the reasoning for occasionally-seen folding bowsprits.
 
All the marinas that I've used have measured the overall length e.g. pulpit to pushpit. Davits or bowsprits will be added to the length when calculating fees.
 
Thought so. I wonder about swinging moorings? If a 30ft sloop is converted to a 38ft cutter-ketch, will most HMs overlook her technically being in a bigger size-grouping now?
 
There is no universal method although for permanent berths in UK it is usually measured length including overhangs. Alternatives are berth size, area (l*b) and registered length. Visitors usually by berth size or declared length, often using registered length as lot of work to individually measure each boat.

So overhangs cost and ways of reducing such as retractable bowsprits and swivelling davits are useful.
 
dancrane said:
Thought so. I wonder about swinging moorings? If a 30ft sloop is converted to a 38ft cutter-ketch, will most HMs overlook her technically being in a bigger size-grouping now?
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Size on swinging moorings is usually determined by displacement and distance between moorings. So usually set in fairly tight size bands.
 
Tranona said:
Size on swinging moorings is usually determined by displacement and distance between moorings. So usually set in fairly tight size bands.
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Understood, thank you; but if the bowsprit only sticks out as far ahead of the bow as the mooring buoy sits below it, isn't a bowsprit well within the space effectively occupied?

Not trying to be difficult, just wondering whether berthing-masters are permissive of pretty and inefficient rigs on hulls of a known length, or pedantic about LOA.
 
When we first arranged a berth for Kindred Spirit, my dad reported and paid for length on deck because he was ignorant of the whole issue. With all the gear out she's about ten feet longer, so it's hardly surprising that the yard were unhappy! We agreed to pull the bowsprit in (made manoeuvring easier anyway) and paid a token amount more (not the official rate per foot) to leave the bumkin and mizzen boom in position. The stern rigging was capable of being stowed within the hull length if required by a particularly pernickety visiting marina.

Pete
 
At Largs Yacht Haven I would have been charged LOA from anchor tip to self steering vane gear, I think Kip Marina does this as well. Both are Clyde based Marinas.
 
I've never really understood the logic of this because, within reason, you usually take up a space whether the boat measures 30 ft or 32 ft. Parking wardens don't charge less for Fiat 500s than they do for Range rovers do they?
Boat parks obviously have to have larger berths for 40 footers than they do for 20 footers but they usually charge for a range of sizes.
 
My boat is 38 feet over-deck but sparred length is 42'.
I did manage to get a deal in a marina which charged for 40' avoiding a hefty surcharge for >40' boats.
What annoys is paying for the full 42' for a visitor pontoon to find the finger is barely long enough to reach half-way down the length of the boat.
 
DanTribe said:
I've never really understood the logic of this because, within reason, you usually take up a space whether the boat measures 30 ft or 32 ft. Parking wardens don't charge less for Fiat 500s than they do for Range rovers do they?
Boat parks obviously have to have larger berths for 40 footers than they do for 20 footers but they usually charge for a range of sizes.
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I sort of agree, unless you have a bowsprit halfway over a pontoon, or you overhang in to the fairway behind you, a space is pretty much a space, within 5 or 6 feet?

However revenue is revenue, and it's our pockets that get raided, so most places charge as much as they can get away with.... :ambivalence:
 
We stowed the anchor in the locker before they got the tape out - and took down the ensign - the pole sticks out at least six inches behind the transom!
 
pagoda said:
I sort of agree, unless you have a bowsprit halfway over a pontoon, or you overhang in to the fairway behind you, a space is pretty much a space, within 5 or 6 feet?

However revenue is revenue, and it's our pockets that get raided, so most places charge as much as they can get away with.... :ambivalence:
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They could not win really - if they went for a flat rate, the owners of the small boats would be complaining that they are being charged as much as the owners of the massive gin palaces!
 
DanTribe said:
I've never really understood the logic of this because, within reason, you usually take up a space whether the boat measures 30 ft or 32 ft.
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I agree, in most cases, but it does make sense at our yard because many of us berth alongside the pontoons rather than bow or stern-to leaning against a finger. You really could fit two 20-footers in the space of a 40-footer, or put a 30-footer in the space, shuffle the next few boats along a bit, and fit another on the end.

Pete
 
Thanks for the replies. It wasn't a big deal, just fuel for my imagination - I'll remember to ensure that any elaborate and unnecessary rig-changes include retractable bowsprits. :)
 
dancrane said:
Thanks for the replies. It wasn't a big deal, just fuel for my imagination - I'll remember to ensure that any elaborate and unnecessary rig-changes include retractable bowsprits. :)
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Definitely - that could save you a lot of money!
 
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