dilly
Well-Known Member
Hi would you recommend Croatia or not I am looking at a yacht that's for sale there and was thinking of keep in it there for 6 months or more but been told it's very expensive !
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keeping your boat in the med
- Thread starter dilly
- Start date
RichardS
N/A
It's not expensive unless you spend all your time in marinas.
Have you thought about an managed ownership deal through one of the charter companies in Croatia? You need to know when you intend to retire and then you "buy" the brand new boat at half-price 6 years before you are due to retire. You then get to use the boat for free for several weeks each year and, at the end of the 6 years, they hand you the keys to the boat.
This worked perfectly for us.
Richard
RupertW
Well-Known Member
Massively recommend Croatia and disagree with the poster who said that chartering is a good alternative if you are still working full time. Chartering is great, but when you want to make a boat your own, it just won't do. Owning a boat anywhere is time consuming or expensive or both and makes little logical sense but works better (in my view) with a week at a time somewhere great, than lots of grey, wet weekends and a 2 week cruise.
Unless we are bringing down a new sail or whatever then it's hand luggage down to a boat which already has all the clothes, sun stuff, drink, herbs etc. etc. which belong to us and suit us for living. And all the winches, switches etc. are familiar day or night, as is the boat's behaviour. So an hour after landing (after the first cruise of the year) we are untying and on our way to the first turquoise anchorage for the night.
(Until something breaks of course)
Unless we are bringing down a new sail or whatever then it's hand luggage down to a boat which already has all the clothes, sun stuff, drink, herbs etc. etc. which belong to us and suit us for living. And all the winches, switches etc. are familiar day or night, as is the boat's behaviour. So an hour after landing (after the first cruise of the year) we are untying and on our way to the first turquoise anchorage for the night.
(Until something breaks of course)
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
We know a few couples who keep a boat in the Caribbean and spend six months a year there. It tends to be cheaper than the Med but more expensive flights but better sailing because of the trade winds.
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
(Mostly) FTE in the UK, boat in Greece, Preveza. Cost of 'mooring' ( on the hard so no worries about sinking ) vs the cost of the trip there a couple of times a year makes it about the same cost as keeping the boat here. The best year I spent 8 weeks aboard ( changed jobs in the summer! 
) and the worst just 10 days
Pros
The weather is all but guaranteed.
It's a great place to sail ( Ionian )
Reasonable pricing on food and facilities
Cons
Chandlery is pricier, sometimes eye wateringly so!
Getting or doing work on the boat eats into holiday time or is reliant on somewhat variable local labour. Last minute fixes, unsupervised contractors etc.
You can't just 'pop down to the boat' to get away from SWMBO, the kids, the phone, the office or to measure up a berth or cushion or spend an hour 'tinkering'
Preveza flight access makes it a 'holiday only' type trip. The last trip of the season you can write off 2 or 3 days to haul, winterize and secure the boat.
I am considering keeping the boat in Gouvia in the water for the summer months and wintering in Preveza. I was in Gouvia before and it's just about practical to spend a 4 or 5 day long weekend ( not holiday ones as the cost escalates ) on the boat that way.
If you have a boat here I'd charter in the Med a couple of times first. It just relieves you of all the hassle of full ownership. Shared ownership is another option of course. It gets the boat utilisation up and mitigates some of the cons.
Would I do it again. Possibly no, but there are other factors involved. If you are the 'full ownership' type of person then the considerations above are probably most relevant. At the time it was absolutely the right thing for me. I have loved the past 8 or 9 years in the Ionian.
) and the worst just 10 daysPros
The weather is all but guaranteed.
It's a great place to sail ( Ionian )
Reasonable pricing on food and facilities
Cons
Chandlery is pricier, sometimes eye wateringly so!
Getting or doing work on the boat eats into holiday time or is reliant on somewhat variable local labour. Last minute fixes, unsupervised contractors etc.
You can't just 'pop down to the boat' to get away from SWMBO, the kids, the phone, the office or to measure up a berth or cushion or spend an hour 'tinkering'
Preveza flight access makes it a 'holiday only' type trip. The last trip of the season you can write off 2 or 3 days to haul, winterize and secure the boat.
I am considering keeping the boat in Gouvia in the water for the summer months and wintering in Preveza. I was in Gouvia before and it's just about practical to spend a 4 or 5 day long weekend ( not holiday ones as the cost escalates ) on the boat that way.
If you have a boat here I'd charter in the Med a couple of times first. It just relieves you of all the hassle of full ownership. Shared ownership is another option of course. It gets the boat utilisation up and mitigates some of the cons.
Would I do it again. Possibly no, but there are other factors involved. If you are the 'full ownership' type of person then the considerations above are probably most relevant. At the time it was absolutely the right thing for me. I have loved the past 8 or 9 years in the Ionian.
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srah1953
Well-Known Member
Hi All
I was thinking of keeping a boat in Spain but it was indicated to me in one marina anyway that because I am not legally resident in Spain, they would have to charge a per diem rate and wouldn't/couldn't give me an annual rate. I'm hoping this doesn't apply everywhere.
Cheers
I was thinking of keeping a boat in Spain but it was indicated to me in one marina anyway that because I am not legally resident in Spain, they would have to charge a per diem rate and wouldn't/couldn't give me an annual rate. I'm hoping this doesn't apply everywhere.
Cheers
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
Sound like BS to me! Certainly not the case elsewhere!
macd
Well-Known Member
+1
I imagine thousands of non-residents have enjoyed extended stay rates in Spain. I've never heard of that compulsory per diem nonsense from anyone (and if it had existed, you can bet someone would have belly-ached on here). Apart from anything else, I daresay it would contravene EU law.
I imagine thousands of non-residents have enjoyed extended stay rates in Spain. I've never heard of that compulsory per diem nonsense from anyone (and if it had existed, you can bet someone would have belly-ached on here). Apart from anything else, I daresay it would contravene EU law.
colind3782
Well-Known Member
Total carp. I've had my boat in the same marina at Empuriabrava for years and they're quite happy with the annual fee. The residency thing has never come up and I doubt it ever would.
srah1953
Well-Known Member
OK. Just for info the marina was Garrucha.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
Several friends use Spanish marinas long term and the only problem is they personally, not the boat, have to be seen to spend less than 6 months in country. Annual rates certainly available in Andalucia.
Mrnotming
Well-Known Member
+1, Nice marina staff at Empuriabrava do not raise any issues at all.Would still be there, great restaurants etc, Rosas town nearby,but for the incessant passage of other boats past my pen style mooring near the big tower.Motorboats can get more sheltered moorings by passing under the bridges.There are a few yacht moorings in Port Grec another area, but they seemed like hens teeth when I was there. but it was pre- meltdown days.
Sticky Stuff
Well-Known Member
I had mine in Greece for many years.
I booked flights early each year, 2 weeks in April/May then another 2 weeks in Sept/Oct .. These are the best months by far.
Really warm if not hot, far less crowded in all the anchorages.
2000/25000 pounds per year all in for storage on the hard and for both lift in/outs.
Without question 4 weeks of use is far more than I ever manage to get here in the UK and pay 6000/7000 pounds for the priviledge.
Dont even need to antifoul each year for that amount of use.
No brainer ---- Med Med Med
I'm changing back
I booked flights early each year, 2 weeks in April/May then another 2 weeks in Sept/Oct .. These are the best months by far.
Really warm if not hot, far less crowded in all the anchorages.
2000/25000 pounds per year all in for storage on the hard and for both lift in/outs.
Without question 4 weeks of use is far more than I ever manage to get here in the UK and pay 6000/7000 pounds for the priviledge.
Dont even need to antifoul each year for that amount of use.
No brainer ---- Med Med Med
I'm changing back