BoatingBeginner
Well-Known Member
Are marinas in the UK normally happy to allow living on board while the boat's on the hard?
It's not ideal, I know, but needs must...
Thanks.
It's not ideal, I know, but needs must...
Thanks.
Living aboard ashore - what are UK marinas' attitudes?
- Thread starter BoatingBeginner
- Start date
Conachair
Guest
Most don't like it. There are a few around though, where abouts?
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
We stayed on our boat in a marina for a month when we were preparing the boat to go ocean sailing. We were told to do nothing to attract attention such as putting washing out to dry. The reason was if the Council find you are living on a boat they will charge Council tax
V1701
Well-Known Member
The official policy of most marinas is no living aboard, I assume that means whether on the hard or in the water. Most marinas have at least a few liveaboards. As above, be reasonable, quiet, subtle, etc. Get a Porta Potti...
BoatingBeginner
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your thoughts, guys. This marina does officially allow liveaboards (with special permission and on payment of a supplement, and as long as they're not 'houseboats') but it's the being ashore element that may cause issues. I know some people do it the Med while wintering ashore, but then they seem more relaxed about living aboard anyway...
V1701
Well-Known Member
They'll probably be reasonable then I'd guess - a friendly chat & tell 'em you've got a Porta Potti & you'll do security rounds of the yard before you go to bed...
Failing that can you borrow/rent a cabin off another liveaboard for the duration? When I was "between boats" I lived on another boat that was for sale for a month or so in return for making a web site to help sell the boat, is there anything like that that you could do in return for the use of a cabin?
BoatingBeginner
Well-Known Member
They'll probably be reasonable then I'd guess - a friendly chat & tell 'em you've got a Porta Potti & you'll do security rounds of the yard before you go to bed...
Failing that can you borrow/rent a cabin off another liveaboard for the duration? When I was "between boats" I lived on another boat that was for sale for a month or so in return for making a web site to help sell the boat, is there anything like that that you could do in return for the use of a cabin?
Now there's a thought - thanks. The boat's been ashore a couple of years while I've been living with a girlfriend but that's about to come to an end. So I don't yet know any of the liveaboards.
I would have thought they'd welcome an extra pair of eyes and ears in the yard - which by chance has it's own loo block.
Conachair
Guest
After living aboard for a few years now, some in UK with a month here and there on the hard I tend to keep a very low profile. Asking around to find the lay of the land but never explicitly talking to the marina what I'm doing. Everyone knows, but keeping quiet about it has worked well for me so far. Have spent plenty of time in marinas where the rule book says no to liveaboards. Finding one on the grapevine which would be OK on the hard was not so easy but they are there.
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
That's what they say but the council can't charge you tax on a liveaboard mooring.
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
Davy_S
Well-Known Member
As a matter of simple curiosity, lets say that you visit uk marinas, ok in my case I visited Conway, IOM, Whitehaven, Fleetwood etc, Lets say that I stay in each marina for two weeks, we crash out on the yacht, whats the problem if money was no object then surely you could live life like this if you wanted to, we never had a problem and you certainly would have no problem doing this at the Greek end of the world. On my river mooring years ago, yacht club, no problems although it was frowned upon if you did this on the hardstanding. Wots the opinion here?
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
prv
Well-Known Member
I think it's more complicated than that. Fairly sure there are circumstances where they can, but also others where they cannot. I think whether the marina management had the right to move you to a different berth was significant.
There are a number of liveaboards in my marina, who aren't particularly subtle about it. None ashore though - I don't think they want to spend the extra cash to be lifted out
Pete
V1701
Well-Known Member
I think it's more complicated than that. Fairly sure there are circumstances where they can, but also others where they cannot. I think whether the marina management had the right to move you to a different berth was significant.
There are a number of liveaboards in my marina, who aren't particularly subtle about it. None ashore though - I don't think they want to spend the extra cash to be lifted out
Pete
Briefly, as it's been covered already more than once, in order to be liable for council tax you need to have exclusive access to a residential mooring with planning permission. Renting a marina berth is not the same, the small print usually states that the marina has the right to move you and/or you do not have exclusive access to a particular berth. It also helps if your boat is capable of going somewhere, you don't have post delivered to the boat & there's a few other criteria that can be considered as well...
There now usually follows an outcry from non-liveaboards that we should pay council tax like everyone else, we reply that the marina pays business rates and our berthing fees contribute to that, they say that's not the same & we still should pay as we use council services like everyone else, we say would you pay if you weren't liable, and so it goes...
DavidRachel
New Member
Thanks
Thank you for sharing !
Thank you for sharing !
CharlesSwallow
Well-Known Member
Not so. Gouvia Marina Corfu enforced a ban in their "Berthing Terms" last year after the Vlikho incident due to "Fire Regs" as they put it. Previously we had done it for years. I spent a couple of weeks onboard though this spring. Only problem was them pulling out the shorepower lead at 1800 each night.
Chas
Talbot
Well-Known Member
Brighton Council have an aggressive approach to claiming Council Tax, and this is justifiable due to the number of boats in the marina that rent out cabins etc. However, the Berth Holders Association has pioneered the correct approach for proper sailors who move their boats to other marinas occassionally, and avoids Council Tax.
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
>That's what they say but the council can't charge you tax on a liveaboard mooring.
A mooring is not the same as a marina where there are shoreside facilities, hence the Council tax.
A mooring is not the same as a marina where there are shoreside facilities, hence the Council tax.
paulineb
Well-Known Member
Colin Scott's lived aboard Englander in Gouvia Marina for three years with no problems. He's not the only one.
Last edited:
lenseman
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If you are living aboard, do it quietly. Liveaboard can become more of a problem when lifted out but a few thoughts spring to mind. As you have already be told, a Porta-Potti is a must.
If challenged, have a reasonable excuse as to why, "miles from your house to travel every day just to do a few repair jobs" could be a reasonable starter for ten?
Chain your ladder to your boat and do it on "the discrete side" and out of site of general view. Trying to get off a yacht on the hard when there is no ladder is quite tricky.
If need be, keep cabin lights which are visible outside to a minimum or black out some or all of your windows with bin liners.
Makes sure the supporting props are sound and are cross-braced one with the others. I have seen some boat yards who do not do a thorough job and I would not trust their skill. Proper cradles are best if they have them but they would cost more to use whilst lifted out.
Last year, Premier Gosport had a yacht out and the main keel was resting on a small portion of railway sleeper. The grain was running fore and aft and the weight of the yacht was splitting the timber in two. I pointed this out to the owner (or the guy working on the yacht) and he didn't seem concerned even though the hull props were pushing into and deforming the F/G hull!
If the timber had split right through, the boat would have dropped about 8 inches, enough to do serious damage to the hull before it ever fell over.
