Moorings and Berths

J

Jools_of_Top_Cat

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Reading the current thread on bow thrusters and the over use of to get alongside your pontoon berths got me thinking.

Why is it so rare to see a MOBO on a mooring are you;

a) So in need of shore power you can't be without a supply
b) Scared of using tenders
c) Never even considered if a mooring would be appropriate for you
d) Everyone else has a pontoon so we thought we should do the same
e) There are no moorings available (unlikely)
f) Just Enjoy the convenience of stepping aboard by contorting around our bathing platform.
g) Stupidly rich and think £6000 is ok as opposed to £600 for a mooring
h) Don't actually go out much so marina is more of a holiday chalet than a place to store boat.

This is not knocking MOBO's nor really your decisions. But it is a serious question and I really would value your answers to your choice. I do think it very strange that MOBO owners disregard moorings.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>
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My main reason is electric through the winter. Mobo's tend to have more luxury, cushions etc to keep dry. Also I dont relish driving the 310 miles to the boat in order to blow up and launch the dighy in the pouring rain to get to the boat. I feel that I'e done enough!! Then theres the security for all the time I'm not there. Other than that I ofter use moorings when on board.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn
 
a) So in need of shore power you can't be without a supply
Not really.

b) Scared of using tenders
No, but loading up with stuff plus SWMBO plus a 3 month old into a small tender would be interesting. Also, wash down and lack of access to hose etc. would make keeping clean a lot harder. AWB's turn into AYB's without regular cleaning.

c) Never even considered if a mooring would be appropriate for you
Maybe if boat were a lot older.

d) Everyone else has a pontoon so we thought we should do the same
Doesn't deserve response.

e) There are no moorings available (unlikely)
Very likely in Chi hbr.

f) Just Enjoy the convenience of stepping aboard by contorting around our bathing platform.
See (b)

g) Stupidly rich and think £6000 is ok as opposed to £600 for a mooring
I wish.

h) Don't actually go out much so marina is more of a holiday chalet than a place to store boat
150 hours last season.

dv.

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If you go to somewhere like the River Hamble, you will actually see quite a few boats on pile moorings and the like

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni
 
"F" for me

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>
 
I think the fact of the matter is that Motor Boats simply cost more to buy and run, thus the mooring fee becomes a lesser percentage of the commitment. If you had to pay double your annual budget to be on a pontoon you'd be much less likely than if its just 25% of what you're going to spend anyway.

I notice that in the Solent i see quite new motor boats mostly - i don't think i've stayed overnight anywhere where i wasn't amongst the smallest and oldest motor boats. This is simply because if you're going to pay 4k a year for a mooring - you can probably afford more than 20k for a boat.

Never mind, once diesel goes up in price we'll be sorted.... :-)




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Hi Jules,

At present I use both forms of 'storage'.

I keep the old Fairey, which needs lots of attention, on an inexpensive pontoon mooring, restricted by tide to half tide on springs but 2hours either side of low on neaps. I have electricity, essential during the winter, and water to hand. But one of the most important things is that there is security, in the shape of liveaboards very close.By golly it IS convenient.

My half Princess is on a Hamble trot. That is ok during the summer up to a point. It is possible to use the boat at any state of tide, which is nice.. The drawbacks are: inconvenience of carrying and inflating a dinghy, and the half a mile trip to get to the boat.A real pain when you transfer bedding, tools and anything bulky. No kids but I share HLBs reservations. No power, so you either have to [plan to take a generator down should you require power tools, or do the job some other time. You cant drop off for an hours work without the fag of messing about with the dinghy. Friends cant just drop in on you when passing, if you happen to be working on board. Also being in an old boatyard there is always a willing pair of hands to give you a lift with anything humpy. Tonight, for example, a pal was working in the yard and at 8pm without prior warning there was help to hand. That is less likely on a trot, although one could be lucky with any neighbours.

Availability of a trot IS a problem. Hamble is, I think, about 9 years wait. It may be easy to get a mud berth miles up Chichester Harbour, I honestly dont know, I was offered one some years ago but it was in the middle of nowhere. Having used both facilities I prefer the pontoon, even with the restriction on tide.

I fear with the rate of development in the South, all the old boatyards will dissapear , then more of us will either be facing £4000 a year fees or give this lovely pastime up.



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Comfort and convenience, If i had wanted to be uncomfortable, inconvenienced, and rough it a little i would have bought a rag and stick thing anyway. The other practical reason i suspect is that yachts have big keels that negate the effects of the wind when on a swinging mooring, mobos will not only be at the mercy of tides and currents but will also be blown all over the place. leading to disturbed nights on board, not counting the wear and tear of all that movement on mooring equipment. What about the size issue, in Plymouth you only see small boats on moorings, the council owned ones are ristricted in size to cater for small sailing boats, These small moorings cost about £600 a year anyway, April to October, you still have to pay dry storage and cranage over the winter. Our marina berth costs £2400 a year including electricity, security, the comfort of little movement at night and the comeraderie of fellow boaters, although having hlb as a nieghbour may go someway to countenance that. ON SECOND THOUGHTS, any one want to swop a marina berth for a mooring?

<hr width=100% size=1>"Open Another Bottle"
 
I am Chichester marina again because I have had to have lots of work done.
I find it hard to afford the due,s but I have applied three years running for a mooring in chi . harbour and although I live 5 mins away and a (LOCAL) I CANNOT GET ONE.
I apply every year, you have to re apply every year on the first of Oct. Dont know why except the HM is a bit of a control freak , Maj. Gen . SOMEBODY. RM
Obviously he has no idea I was a Chief Petty Officer M.A. .Commando RN or obviusly he would give me a mooring above and beyond the guys with posh boats from London Or would he??????
I have always thought anyone who carries their rank over from the the forces where never anyone important in the first place. I admit I have an Issue here

<hr width=100% size=1>KISMET HARDY
 
Round here the vast majority of swinging moorings are yachties(which all disappear ashore in winter).The vast majoooority of stinkies are on drying/half tide/all tide piled finger berth type boatyard or club moorings.
Two of the marinas are 50-50 stinkies and raggies but last marina Medway Bridge is 99% stinky.
Getting to and from boat with dinghy is fine in summer but not in winter,but as many raggies stash their beloved on the hard no winter problems.Grief in getting me the wife and a weeks supply of bedding grub and booze off afloat one cold blustery evening made my move from bouy to fingerberth dead certain.
Stinkies tend to boat with the missus and that journey from shore to boat may be fun for you and me but.......................

<hr width=100% size=1>Nastro Azzurro.Hoegaarden.Chang.Tiger.
 
I'm on a swinging mooring because I'm a tight git and find it hard enough to run the boat as it is. If however I should ever be returned to the land of the stupendously remunerated, a country I was pleased to inhabit for about 12 years, then I would choose a marina for ease of use and access. Though it must be said I would never cruise to one unless there was nowhere else to be, I like anchoring, mooring, or traditional quay berths.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com
 
I did a half and half deal with Moodys on a Hamble trot, with the benefit of a permanent tender berth included, (no blowing up the inflatable), car parking, showers, bar etc. It was rather a good arrangement but this year they were full up. I said, "Let me know when there's a gap", and I was advised of the availability two weeks after I'd paid for the summer at Hamworthy!

I'm looking for an affordable winter alongside berth if anyone has some good ideas for me.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com
 
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