Long term mooring in East Med

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kingan

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Approaching retirement and looking to base a boat,about 11m, in East Med. for a few years having chartered in Ionian for last 3 years. Finding a berth that is affordable and accessible by air from UK is proving problematic. Does anyone with more local knowledge have a recommendation or contact they could suggest? Thanks to all.
 
A lot depends upon how you intend to use the boat?
I know there are permanent berths available in Levkas & Gouvia marinas, but they're not inexpensive; Kalamata marina's substantially cheaper, but it's well away from the centre of things.
Alternatively I know several people who even for short/intermittent visits store their boats ashore at one of the Preveza yards and just have the boat lifted in/out to suit their visits to the boat. I believe all the yards offer a reduced rate for additional lifts during the season and to be fair, even their standard rates are pretty reasonable and Aktio certainly are prepared to lift the boat in ready for your arrival and will even collect you from Preveza Airport.
I'm not sure I'd like to leave a boat afloat in Vlikho/Tranquil Bay over the winter, even with Gaurdinage, but I'd ceertainly consider it for shorter periods during the summer. If I was taking this option year-round, I'd probably go for Levkas or Preveza harbours.

Give us a few more details of your plans and we can probably be more specific with advice.
 
If you are looking for a marina type mooring, you will typically find a larger choice and better service in Turkey than in Greece. A very simplified summary of the eastern Med is that Greece is a great cruising area with lots of beautiful anchorages and cheap harbours, but Turkey is where most people leave their boat.

There are three main airport gateways to the south west coast: Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya. All are served by a multitude of cheap charter flight in season. Out of season there are reasonably priced (well, before the recession hit) regular flights to western Europe.

Around Bodrum, you have three very good marinas; Bodrum, Turgutreis and Yalikavak. All within easy 45 mins from the airport.

From Dalaman, you have Göcek/Fethiye with five marinas accessible 30/60 mins from the airport. Marmaris with three marinas (including the two largest on the coast) is 1.5 hours away and Orhanyie with one marina is 2 hours away.

From Antalya you have marinas in Kemer and Finike, one and two hours away respectively.
 
Thanks for very useful response. The plan is to base a boat in Greece and go out for a month or two at a time. Three of us plan to share boat and running costs. Our preference is to find a home for it on the eastern side of Greece as we have all got to know Ionians fairly well and would like to explore different islands and Turkey coast. Tried marina in Kos which seems a reasonable location but say no berths available also drawn a blank so far in Turkey but perhaps just not got to right one yet! Boat yards are a posibility but harder to track down from here hence my plea for help from those much better informed. We would like to start in May next year.
 
Sorry you draw a blank in Turkey. My latest information is that there are a lot of spaces available. This view is now two months old. The only marinas that I know are full are Bodrum Marina, Orhaniye and Marmaris Yacht Marina. Yalikavak, Netsel Marmaris and Fethye marinas had lots of spaces.

You are correct that you could look into boatyards as well. This one in Bodrum is one alternative, I have laid there myself and had good service:

Yat Lift Bodrum
 
We too are moving our boat next year to Greece longterm where it will mostly be laid up until we sell our house & move out there in 2010. We have been offered space in both Preveza yards - www.prevezamarine.gr and www.cleopatra-marina.gr prices available online & not too bad either. Nearest airport Preveza. You could try Kalamata Marina www.medmarinas.com they also offered us an annual berth alot cheaper than Lefkas too. Really depends how long you will be leaving your boat in between visits. Good luck! Oh & ps. Marmaris Yacht Marina are full until at least July 2009 and are not taking bookings.
 
We have kept our 10.8 m boat in Turkey 5 years now and spend a few weeks on her spring and autumn. Turkish marinas are getting much busier and as Lady Jessie says, some are now full winter and summer. Great cruising ground oscillating between Turkish coast and Greek islands. Turks are most friendly and trustworthy. Additional airport: Izmir - about 1 hour from Kusadasi and from Ayvelic marinas
 
Yes, amazing place - we are laid up in Marmaris Yat Marina for the first time and now fully booked as you say, despite about 2,000 berths and 2,000 hard standing
 
It is correct that Marmaris Yacht Marina is full at this time and are not taking any new reservations before June 2009. However, don't let that give up your hope for a place at this excellent marina. Firstly; they are constantly expanding so they will probably have more spaces next year. Secondly; this is a place with a lot of turnover. There are a lot of cruisers and circumnavigators coming and going the whole time so spaces are constantly opening up. This is not like the marinas on the south coast of England where boats often stay forever. I would guess that significantly more than 25% of the spaces are vacated every year.

If you are looking for a space at MYM: hang in there and try again in the new year.
 
You might try one of the two yards/marinas on Leros in the Eastern Aegean. Both Agmar marina and Evros are well priced and well situated with daily flights from athens. We have been at Evros for the last 2 years and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

The marina at Pithagorion on Samos is now up and running to excellent standards and is also Ok on pricing - about the same as Kos. It also places you in a nice position for exploring the Eastern Sporades as well as the less frequented areas of the Turkish coast.

On the Turkish side there are new marinas opening up at both Sagacik and Cesme. These are situated a short bus trip from Izmir international airport.
 
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