Leaving boat out of water in Greece?

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All_at_Sea

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Hello

We are wintering in Valencia but want to get an idea of the cost of leaving the boat in Greece (out of the water). The boat is 12.68 M x 4.04M, sailboat. Anyone with any ideas of the cost for 6 - 9 months ashore, somewhere with reasonable access to airport etc
This would probably be from September 2010 to May 2011.
 
There is a wide choice in Greece from traditional yards to full sewrvice marinas. Popular places in the Ionian are Corfu and Preveza/Levkas and a new marina at Messolonghi at the entrance to the Gulf of Patra. All are accessible May to October direct from UK (Corfu a bit longer), but reasonable bus services to Athens all year round. To give an idea of cost I pay for an 11M just under 2000 euros a year in a traditional yard in Corfu including hauling and launching. In Preveza a 12.5M boat would be around 250 euros a month. There are 2 big yards there, Cleopatra and Preveza Marine. Big marinas on Corfu and Levkas but about 60% higher than local yards. Also smaller yards on Levkas.

Other popular places because of access are around Athens and the Peloponese - but I don't have direct experience. Rod Heikell is a good starting point. I expect others will be along soon with more suggestions.

Be aware that although it is cheaper than the Western Med, prices have risen significantly in the last couple of years - partly because of people moving east because of the cost!
 
If you are happy with the idea of being craned out, and you can survive with the engineering support which keeps local farmers happy, and boating support which keeps the local fishermen going, you can store ashore free of charge in quite a lot of municipal harbours in out of the way places. There's no security, but you won't need it if you befriend a couple of locals.

Places I'm aware of - Katakolon, Kiparissia and Pylos on the west Peloponese for starters. All well connected by bus to Patras, Kalamata and Athens.

However, a lot of people will be well outside their comfort zone playing this game. How experienced is the man with the crane? Does he use spreaders? Can I find a local welder to knock up a cradle on the spot? Can I make myself understood?

If you're very patient, and a friendly soul with plenty of time to spare, almost certainly it's yes to all of these. Almost. The crane driver will be difficult to locate, and when you do, you won't be able to pin him down to a time, or even a day. Probably a week would be allright. Then the cradle man has to rush off for his mother's funeral . . . with the props unfinished. You'll pay over the local odds for the craning and the welder though. Budget around €500. But when it works, what a sense of satisfaction. And you'll make some surprising friends - even with the language barrier. Shell out €15 a head for a meal for the team when it's all over, and they'll look after the boat for you, and turn up on time for launch day.

Then others will hear about the trick, and next year there will be a small business going to look after your boat . . . then it become a yard rented from the commmunity with a fence around it . . .
 
We have a 10.75m boat and paid 1126 Euros for lift out, 7 months storage and lift in, at Preveza Marine, Preveza in October 2008. This year we have paid 1200 Euros for the same at Evros Marina, Lakki, Leros.
Both these yards have convenient airports although at Preveza you are reliant on charters from the UK, which only start in May and finish in October.
If you do a search on this topic you will find lots of previous threads giving more details about costs and the sort of service to expect in the different yards in Greece.
 
Both Preveza Marine and Cleopatra, next door, will give you a quote by email. We're in PM but I think there is little to choose between them other than Cleo has water berths which PM don't.

...always assuming the Valencians don't chain your boat to the pontoon first! (I assume you know about the 183 day rule - if not search this forum urgently!)

Cheers
 
jimbaerselman said:
If you are happy with the idea of being craned out, and you can survive with the engineering support which keeps local farmers happy, and boating support which keeps the local fishermen going, you can store ashore free of charge in quite a lot of municipal harbours in out of the way places. There's no security, but you won't need it if you befriend a couple of locals.

Places I'm aware of - Katakolon, Kiparissia and Pylos on the west Peloponese for starters. All well connected by bus to Patras, Kalamata and Athens.

However, a lot of people will be well outside their comfort zone playing this game. How experienced is the man with the crane? Does he use spreaders? Can I find a local welder to knock up a cradle on the spot? Can I make myself understood?

If you're very patient, and a friendly soul with plenty of time to spare, almost certainly it's yes to all of these. Almost. The crane driver will be difficult to locate, and when you do, you won't be able to pin him down to a time, or even a day. Probably a week would be allright. Then the cradle man has to rush off for his mother's funeral . . . with the props unfinished. You'll pay over the local odds for the craning and the welder though. Budget around €500. But when it works, what a sense of satisfaction. And you'll make some surprising friends - even with the language barrier. Shell out €15 a head for a meal for the team when it's all over, and they'll look after the boat for you, and turn up on time for launch day.

Then others will hear about the trick, and next year there will be a small business going to look after your boat . . . then it become a yard rented from the commmunity with a fence around it . . .
Click to expand...

Thats right Jim. in our peregrinations around Greece we have often come across small places..villages etc, with potential to develop a winter lay-up facility which could provide an extra source of business..albeit small,for the local people.All it needs is someone prepared to make the initial investment and put in some hard graft. On the other hand,,there are countless half- finished "Marinas" littering the country which should have been in operation years ago,but due to the corrupt systems and practices in the EEC.,when te grant money ran out the projects were abandoned.

But ......it's Greece

Pleasing to learn that the new one in Messalongi is up and running...lets hope it gets the support it needs and perhaps the big guys (levkas,Gouvia etc. ) get the message.
 
the delight of the -rd world

the last two posts about being tolerant of greek ways sums it up.
having lived and worked for the last 40 years in third world countries the attractions of greece are obvious. always problems, always a way.,always a grunt and a fart, but it still works.(MOST TIMES). I am now stretching the envelope building boats in India.Three requirements, a sense of Humour,tenacity, and a good cash flow.and the thought that come july I will be launching in aktio. in shallah.and I will never learn to speak Malyalam
happy xmas to all our readers
 
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Steve_Chafer said:
Hello

We are wintering in Valencia but want to get an idea of the cost of leaving the boat in Greece (out of the water). The boat is 12.68 M x 4.04M, sailboat. Anyone with any ideas of the cost for 6 - 9 months ashore, somewhere with reasonable access to airport etc
This would probably be from September 2010 to May 2011.
Click to expand...

We have hauled out at Preveza Marine for the past two years http://www.prevezamarine.gr/ They used to quote rates on the website but this facility seems to have been removed. It is possible to make a cost enquiry from the site. We paid about £1300 both times (10.6 metres), payable in pounds if you wish, quite a useful facility in the present climate. Cleopatra and Aktio yards, one each side of P.M., used to charge about the same but the word is that Cleopatra are now rather more expensive. As has been said, Aktio airport is within walking distance but only caters for charter flights, May to October. Otherwise you can catch a bus to Athens, takes about 5-6 hours.

This winter we are at Kilada in the East Peloponnese. Costs are expected to be around the same. Their website is www.basimakopouloi.gr but Google warns me not to use it. Contact is bashipyard@ermionida.info Bus to Athens takes about 4 hours.
 
1bobt said:
Hi Vyv .I have only heard good reports about Kilada ,are you living aboard or just wintering the yacht?

cheers bobt
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,
No, I'm a 'boat abandoner' so not actually allowed to look at this forum, never mind post on it ;)

To some extent Kilada is reputedly a victim of its own success. We were told that five years ago there were about 20 boats wintering there, now there are about ten times that number. Cradles are the most substantial I have ever seen and the boat handling kit is excellent. The location is very good, with an attractive sheltered anchorage available while waiting to be hauled out. The town is within walking distance for immediate supplies and a bus for a short trip for better shopping.

The downside is that all this success seems to have taken them rather by surprise, plus I suspect they don't have much experience of other yards. There is no means of collecting washings from pressure washing, so they do it after the boat has been placed in its winter position. Inevitably this leads to considerable amounts of paint on the ground, fouling everything, including the topsides of other boats. Toilets and showers are of the portacabin variety, few in number. No washing machines, or even sinks where laundry may be done. No drainage around the yard, so all water gets thrown on the ground. Demand apparently outstrips supply for most repair facilities requiring skilled men. Strange and bizzarre rules, which most ignore, include no mast climbing, no running the engine, no hoisting sails, etc.

Having said all that it's the best for miles around, with no reports of sharp practices. Like you we have only heard good reports of the yard, which is why we went.
 
Cleopatra marina this winter for a 12.9m yacht is €2041 for 7 months includes hauling & launching and high pressure wash.
 
Basimakopouli yard Koiladia

"Strange and bizzarre rules, which most ignore, include no mast climbing, no running the engine, no hoisting sails, etc."

It makes sense insofar as there might be the danger of boats falling off props,but this certainly does not apply in the above yard..their cradles are Clyde-built. They probably make this condition to cover themselves if there is an accident.
Indeed when we came ashore last winter,we had to wait for an hour or so until the cradle was finished being welded... the foreman was most anxious to ensure we did not touch it until it cooled!!
spring09004.jpg

And here he is!!
 
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Preveza

I suspect many posts referring to Preveza Marina are misquoting the name. It's now quite considerably the smallest over on Aktio side opposite Preveza town.

I was quoted €1100 for 10m October-March by Aktio marine and paid €550 for 3 months June - September.

I did find a more economical alternative at €668 Oct - March at Kalamata.

As JimB has already said, there are a number of free alternatives at town ports, but little security (though security is less of a problem in Greece than in all the other Mediterranean countries).

With the Greek State being in such dire financial circumstances I suspect that costs of liveaboard there will certainly rise (how about 24% VAT), they've already slapped a 12% surcharge on PAYG top-ups.
 
Preveza marine

To clarify - our lift out and launch in October 2008 was at Preveza Marine, (not Aktio or Cleopatra). All three yards are on the south of the channel. Looking back the price we paid (1126 Euros) was at a small discount because it was our second lift out, store and launch that year. We were refused a discount as CA members - they told us that they no longer do it!

Preveza Marina is on the north side of the channel near the town.
 
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