Liveaboard in Brighton

[Boatgirl]

Hi, I know there was some talk of this a while ago but I was wondering if anyone had any recent news on whether liveaboards are allowed at Brighton Marina or knew of any places near Brighton where liveaboard moorings are allowed? It looks like some people are probably living there on boats but I don't know if they're legit or not! also, does anyone know of a cheap legitimate mooring option for a seagoing boat...? Thanks

 

[V1701]

Hi, I know there was some talk of this a while ago but I was wondering if anyone had any recent news on whether liveaboards are allowed at Brighton Marina or knew of any places near Brighton where liveaboard moorings are allowed? It looks like some people are probably living there on boats but I don't know if they're legit or not! also, does anyone know of a cheap legitimate mooring option for a seagoing boat...? Thanks

Welcome to the forums!

Yes they are definitely allowed, you can use the marina as your address and have post delivered there. You don't pay any extra on top of normal marina fees and there's a discount if you pay 12 months up front. Water's free, diesel and electricity at cost. You get 42 free visitor nights to use at other Premier marinas. If you go to the Premier web site you can calculate how much your fees will be based on size of boat. For me just short of £3k for 30 footer for 12 months...

I'm moving permanently onto my boat there in about a week from now! It's all official, marina knows, insurance knows, etc. Feel free to PM if I can help answer any more questions and good luck...

 

[phanakapan]

Another welcome from me... oh and if you find the fabled cheap mooring let me know too!!

In a week or so either my daughter or I will be living aboard in Brighton too. Look us up!

 

[Paul_G]

djbreeze

I don't know what is going on. but this years rules from Premier prohibit liveaboards. Previously the "official" route was a 20% premium.

I fully understand that there are a number of liveaboards in the various Premier locations but they have changed the "official" stance this year. I have checked their website and looked at Chichester, Port Solent and Brighton so it's across the board, but obviously they are prepared to enter into different arrangements when it suits.

 

[highandry]

I don't know what is going on. but this years rules from Premier prohibit liveaboards. Previously the "official" route was a 20% premium.

I fully understand that there are a number of liveaboards in the various Premier locations but they have changed the "official" stance this year. I have checked their website and looked at Chichester, Port Solent and Brighton so it's across the board, but obviously they are prepared to enter into different arrangements when it suits.

As an ex long term resident of Brighton Marina..I think you will find it is very much down to the discretion of the individual marina Managers. When I first moved there I was asked to apply in writing and provide a photograph of my boat. Having returned from a voyage I found the system had changed. As long as the boat is seaworthy..ie: capable of actually going to sea, which mine obviously was having just come back from the Caribbean, then no problem. 12 months in advance, 10% discount, welcome.

Anyone turning up in a converted landing craft painted with flower murals tends to be refused permission. They do like the boats to be capable of going to sea and occasionally actually being taken to sea. Some of the "interesting looking" boats in there I think you will find have been there since Noah's ark berthed there, and the long term plan appeared to be not to encourage the replacement of those boats and owners when they finally left/departed/snuffed it. Having said all that, I sailed in June 2009, so the whole shooting match has probably changed...again...

 

[V1701]

I don't know what is going on. but this years rules from Premier prohibit liveaboards. Previously the "official" route was a 20% premium.

I fully understand that there are a number of liveaboards in the various Premier locations but they have changed the "official" stance this year. I have checked their website and looked at Chichester, Port Solent and Brighton so it's across the board, but obviously they are prepared to enter into different arrangements when it suits.

Hi Paul,

I arranged all mine in a phone call on 31/12 (to save a bit on VAT increase!) and can't imagine had that call taken place a day later I'd have been refused. I gave them the details of my boat and asked if they'd like a photo which they said wasn't necessary and I think I also mentioned that I might go off for a few months and come back, by which they could have inferred the boat was seaworthy and not a flower-powered landing craft...

If you want to berth there as a liveaboard I'd suggest just call them and have a natter, I was a bit worried what they were going to say actually having read a few threads on here about it, but all was fine. As highanddry says it looks like manager discretion is in place and the official policy allows them to refuse if they want to for whatever reason. They gave me a choice of berths at the Eastern end, away from the noise of the bars, restaurants, etc. and I think where most of the liveaboards are. I've spoken to a few of the staff now and all have been fine (as they should be), email is less personal and takes a bit longer and they'd probably be more inclined to quote the official policy.

If I can help in any way just ask I'd be happy to...

 

[Roaring Girl]

It's while ago now but we lived aboard in Brighton 2003-04 with no problems at all (except for their strictures on sailing a dinghy in the marina, which they even tried, and failed, to apply to Mike Richie!)

They actually like people to be on the farther reaches of the eastern pontoon because it enhances security. We rescued three separate boats which were either parting their lines, or in one case where the finger was breaking off the pontoon!

It's a huge area to watch over on dark nights, so even though the individual security is good - not really stranger visitors - an extra eye on the boats is a good thing.

 

[V1701]

It's while ago now but we lived aboard in Brighton 2003-04 with no problems at all (except for their strictures on sailing a dinghy in the marina, which they even tried, and failed, to apply to Mike Richie!)

They actually like people to be on the farther reaches of the eastern pontoon because it enhances security. We rescued three separate boats which were either parting their lines, or in one case where the finger was breaking off the pontoon!

It's a huge area to watch over on dark nights, so even though the individual security is good - not really stranger visitors - an extra eye on the boats is a good thing.

Exactly, and there must be other marinas who's official policy is no liveaboarders but who turn a blind eye for same reasons. You'd just have to be subtle about it...

 

[Paul_G]

As an ex long term resident of Brighton Marina..I think you will find it is very much down to the discretion of the individual marina Managers. When I first moved there I was asked to apply in writing and provide a photograph of my boat. Having returned from a voyage I found the system had changed. As long as the boat is seaworthy..ie: capable of actually going to sea, which mine obviously was having just come back from the Caribbean, then no problem. 12 months in advance, 10% discount, welcome.

Anyone turning up in a converted landing craft painted with flower murals tends to be refused permission. They do like the boats to be capable of going to sea and occasionally actually being taken to sea. Some of the "interesting looking" boats in there I think you will find have been there since Noah's ark berthed there, and the long term plan appeared to be not to encourage the replacement of those boats and owners when they finally left/departed/snuffed it. Having said all that, I sailed in June 2009, so the whole shooting match has probably changed...again...

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Im sure the marinas want mobile boats and dont want the rotting converted MTB slowly sinking in the corner.

I'm based in Chichester (not liveaboard) but I want the option should circumstances change, so I was surprised when I noted the change in (formal) policy.

They allow a number of days sleepover according to the documents, so it would be interesting to discuss extending the 40 days they quote, and how would it pan out with the days away within the normal cruising pattern across the year.

Paul

 

[highandry]

Paul. When I was in a certain marina which will remain nameless...a big, rotting. ex MOD vessel starts to sink gracefully at it's mooring one bright sunny day. Local firebrigade!! arrive, blue lights flashing and put a portable emergency pump aboard. Temporary repair made to disintegrated seacock. Owner totters back from pub..."get ya boat outta our marina" he is told by traumatised Marina Manager.. Owner goes to local council..."I am being evicted..I am now homeless...re-house me"
Town Council with 3 million potential "I wanna live by the seaside" homeless on list,.... panic!!
Council tell marina..."Can't do that" requires legal notice..court action..etc: etc:
Marina now up a gum tree..and forever after marina chain play hard to get with potential "Liveaboards." ( MTB attempts to sink again a couple of months later but is rescued by man with 8x4 marine ply sheet, large hammer and nails..although they were galvanised. )

If however, potential liveaboard presents himself, washed, polite, in floating boat.with sufficient local currency... Rules can be altered....

 

[Paul_G]

Paul. When I was in a certain marina which will remain nameless...a big, rotting. ex MOD vessel starts to sink gracefully at it's mooring one bright sunny day. Local firebrigade!! arrive, blue lights flashing and put a portable emergency pump aboard. Temporary repair made to disintegrated seacock. Owner totters back from pub..."get ya boat outta our marina" he is told by traumatised Marina Manager.. Owner goes to local council..."I am being evicted..I am now homeless...re-house me"
Town Council with 3 million potential "I wanna live by the seaside" homeless on list,.... panic!!
Council tell marina..."Can't do that" requires legal notice..court action..etc: etc:
Marina now up a gum tree..and forever after marina chain play hard to get with potential "Liveaboards." ( MTB attempts to sink again a couple of months later but is rescued by man with 8x4 marine ply sheet, large hammer and nails..although they were galvanised. )

If however, potential liveaboard presents himself, washed, polite, in floating boat.with sufficient local currency... Rules can be altered....

that story has just made my day

Paul

 

[V1701]

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Im sure the marinas want mobile boats and dont want the rotting converted MTB slowly sinking in the corner.

I'm based in Chichester (not liveaboard) but I want the option should circumstances change, so I was surprised when I noted the change in (formal) policy.

They allow a number of days sleepover according to the documents, so it would be interesting to discuss extending the 40 days they quote, and how would it pan out with the days away within the normal cruising pattern across the year.

Paul

I really wouldn't worry too much about it, I'm sure they'll be fine with it. You're a known quantity and as long as you're subtle, i.e. not having bikes and drying washing everywhere, etc., I'd be amazed if anyone had any issues. Probably best to keep them in the loop though...

 

[raggy]

The rules are there to protect the marina against people taking the piss..
Most will bend them just try not to go drying your washing on the boom and keep the boat in a reasonable state of repair.

 

[Pete7]

Wonder what the truth behind this one was:

http://www.mvpicton.co.uk/what_ has_happened.htm

Pete

 

[highandry]

Difficult one that Pete. I was 'homeless' many years ago with a young pregnant wife, so I hope my views are not in the "Chuck 'em out mentality" bracket.
I suspect those probably quite expensive houses in the photo may have something to do with it, but in the man's later explanation there are a couple of his comments which ring warning bells, well to me anyway.
The marina company allowed his boat to ground..resulting in his daughter being thrown out of her bunk. Where was he? If my boat looked like 'grounding' I'd be on deck doing something about it, and my kids wouldn't be in bed still if there was danger threatening.
Right to assembly? what's all that about? parties aboard? late night hoolies perhaps? Don't know,I don't have all the facts.
If he moved in when it was "a building site" I'm surprised he didn't realise that once yacht owners with £100 000 plus boats and the new "Marina Village" (bet that's what it's called) dwellers wouldn't want a houseboat with what, 5-7 people on board either laying alongside or under their windows. Especially enacting "their right to free assembly"

Good luck to him, I really hope he finds somewhere to live as he wishes, I rather suspect Penarth Marina may have closed it's doors to many potential liveaboards though.

Looking at the date of that incident I should have said, "He found somewhere to live"
I suspect somewhere there is a long tale of unpaid mooring fees, possibly towing/lifting charges to move the houseboat to a different area of the marina and finally a court and bailiff operation for the marina to try to get some of their money back.
Hope he found somewhere for his kids sake.

 

[nathanlee]

Wonder what the truth behind this one was:

http://www.mvpicton.co.uk/what_ has_happened.htm

Pete

I'm with highanddry on this one. Sounds dodgy. There's also a rather big difference between a boat capable of propelling itself, and a floating platform.