Mad Plan - Overwinter in London

R

roblpm

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Hi

Just bought a boat (Parker 275 - 8.5m) which is currently on the hard at Port Edgar in Edinburgh. Will go in the water in April for a summer's midweek racing and weekends with the kids.

Meanwhile wife is not interested, all she wants is a pad in London so she can visit her friends and family (we are native Londoners).

So how about this for a plan:

a) Sail to London first week of September
b) Park boat in London
c) Use for weekends and a couple of weeks at Christmas
d) Sail back end of March

So I have looked at various marinas in London.
St Katherines Dock would be epic but is too expensive (though a week there would be fun!).
Gallions Point looks very cheap (for any bad reason) but the location isn't great.
South Dock looks the best compromise. We used to live in Bermondsey so know the area pretty well.

So what are the flaws in my great plan!!

Is it safe to leave the boat for weeks on end in the winter in London?
Am I mad?
Do I need to book now for winter 14/15??

Cheers

Rob
 
no problems with your plan at all. i live in burnham on crouch and a friend who lives here commutes during the summer when he sails the boat and lives on it in the limehouse marina during the winter. mind you he does have a large boat with hoding tanks etc. limehouse is secure and has several liveaboards.
 
It's a fine plan. We've been doing just that for the last 8 years, summer based in Dunkirk, France, and winter in London. We used to be in St Kats but it got too pricey so now were in Limehouse. Although it doesn't have the glamour of St Kats it has its own distinct charm, some good local pubs - and it's very well run.
You'll probably need to fit a holding tank as you are not allowed to discharge black water. This was not a problem for us as we cruise in Holland and it's been a requirement for the last 4 or so years. Ours is small and can be lifted out easily. Also you'll meed to pas the Boat Safety Scheme test. Nothing too onerous in that - mostly common sense stuff.
You do need to book about 3 or 4 months beforehand
 
BSS can cost you a fortune to pass, the regs are ridiculous. but hey if money is no problem then BW is the way.
It can cost you as much as £2000 to get the boat passed a BSS, the cert is only £180 including survey. its the work involved after the survey to get it passed and the BSS surveyors, good ones are hard to find.
 
dylanwinter said:
it is a brilliant plan

go for it

London can be a wonderful place to spend a weekend or a holiday

and the Thames offers some great sailing

someone ought to make a film about it

D
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Agree, I am always amazed how little the river is used today compared to what it used to be like in pictures from days gone by.
Totally o/t but I have always fancied putting the rubber duck in the car and driving to Italy and launching it on the canals and rowing around Venice. None of those exorbitant gondola charges.
 
ukmctc said:
BSS can cost you a fortune to pass, the regs are ridiculous. but hey if money is no problem then BW is the way.
It can cost you as much as £2000 to get the boat passed a BSS, the cert is only £180 including survey. its the work involved after the survey to get it passed and the BSS surveyors, good ones are hard to find.
Click to expand...

I asked about getting approval for the slug - all the fuel lines would have to be replaced with more modern EC stamped versions, the gas ring would not pass muster and the bog would have to be sealed up or removed

in the end I used a series of temporary licences - obviously will not work for you.
 
O
roblpm said:
Hi

Just bought a boat (Parker 275 - 8.5m) which is currently on the hard at Port Edgar in Edinburgh. Will go in the water in April for a summer's midweek racing and weekends with the kids.

Meanwhile wife is not interested, all she wants is a pad in London so she can visit her friends and family (we are native Londoners).

So how about this for a plan:

a) Sail to London first week of September
b) Park boat in London
c) Use for weekends and a couple of weeks at Christmas
d) Sail back end of March

So I have looked at various marinas in London.
St Katherines Dock would be epic but is too expensive (though a week there would be fun!).
Gallions Point looks very cheap (for any bad reason) but the location isn't great.
South Dock looks the best compromise. We used to live in Bermondsey so know the area pretty well.

So what are the flaws in my great plan!!

Is it safe to leave the boat for weeks on end in the winter in London?
Am I mad?
Do I need to book now for winter 14/15??

Cheers

Rob
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I stand to be corrected, but I have heard Limehouse will be only available to liverboards only. That b....ers me up as it is my choice for berthing in London.
 
sunquest said:
O
I stand to be corrected, but I have heard Limehouse will be only available to liverboards only. That b....ers me up as it is my choice for berthing in London.
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That is what is says on the bw website for poplar and Limehouse. Looks like south dock or gallions point for me unless i win the lottery and can afford st k dock
 
roblpm said:
That is what is says on the bw website for poplar and Limehouse. Looks like south dock or gallions point for me unless i win the lottery and can afford st k dock
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Here is still saying that they welcome visitors - http://www.bwml.co.uk/marinas/limehouse_marina/facilities#1

We are always happy to welcome visitors. Please contact us if you are interested in a reserving a visitor berth in the marina. During busy times (e.g. Bank Holidays, London Marathon, school holidays) the marina fills to capacity, so to avoid disappointment please book as far in advance as possible
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There is was thread on here saying some of the visitors' berths are to be used for residents, but not that no visitors were allowed?
 
I replied to a similar thread a few weeks ago with:

I took a trip down to Gallions Point a few weeks ago. It's about 25 minutes train ride from Bank on the DLR line to Gallions point, and then a good 15 minute walk to the marina down a road that's very industrial. Also you have planes taking off directly above you from City Airport. I had a quote for a 30ft boat and it was something like £165 a month plus electricity.

Another option is Gravesend, which is about a 25 minute train journey into kings cross if I recall, that might be an option, you're further out but at least you're closer to the sea :)
 
Suggest you call Limehouse and ask. I was passing by a few days ago and there are empty pontoons.

It's very convenient for the DLR, and the Cruising Association HQ is right by, so good for a pie and pint without the clamour of the local pubs or the elevated prices of the local restaurants.
 
Modulation said:
South Dock weren't accepting over-wintering stays when I checked in January.
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Was that liveaboard or just the boat? I've only ever been allowed a month there onboard but kept the boat there for longer.
Having been in all 3 onboard Limehouse would get my vote, cheaper than st kats and next to the day. Nice staff as well. They used to do 6 month over winter deals with temp resident status, great to have an address for eBay bits etc. Do they still do that?
 
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