Norway

[BabaYaga]

My question is: where in Norway would it be best to lay up for winter? The "Southern Half" would probably be better... but which town/harbour?

I think that must be down to what your cruising plans are.
If my understanding of the rules is correct, they give the possibility of spending two summer seasons with winter layup in-between without having to pay import duty.
So the best place to lay up should be somewhere close to where you are at the end of the first season.
Or is your intention to pick a spot and only do more local sailing?

 

[TiggerToo]

Thanks to everyone, for these valuable bits of information. I am not in a hurry. But the bottom line seems: it can be done!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

There's nothing like going abroad to realise how ramped up the prices are here. If its that much less in an expensive country like Norway there really has to be a problem with UK prices. It not just a supply and demand issue in a few places like Lymington its all the marinas. Inland is even worse.

But you need to take out a mortgage to buy a beer and a pizza! Living costs in Norway are very high.

 

[Adios]

But you need to take out a mortgage to buy a beer and a pizza! Living costs in Norway are very high.

I know, and its across the board Cost Of Living Comparison Between Norway And United Kingdom

Thats why its all the more weird if mooring costs are reasonable. Or evidence that ours is stupidly high.

 

[Minchsailor]

Thats why its all the more weird if mooring costs are reasonable. Or evidence that ours is stupidly high.

Yes. A couple of years ago a bog standard pizza with a smallish glass of wine ~£25 upwards. North of Bergen it was difficult to spend more than £15 or so for a night on a pontoon berth with electricity, laundry and immaculate showers.

 

[Adios]

Yes. A couple of years ago a bog standard pizza with a smallish glass of wine ~£25 upwards. North of Bergen it was difficult to spend more than £15 or so for a night on a pontoon berth with electricity, laundry and immaculate showers.

is it the length of coastline vs population size? Short sailing season so lack of boat owners?

 

[Gary Fox]

is it the length of coastline vs population size? Short sailing season so lack of boat owners?

Yes to the above, not so much leisure yachting, also boats are used much more for daily transport, because of the indented coastline the nearest jobs or schools may be a mile away across a fijord, but a 50 mile drive.
The pic, for example, shows a 70-yr old, wooden, ro-ro icebreaking ferry, 'Øisang', which takes people to work and kids to school, operating all year round out of Risør. Maintained to rigorous public transport standards. She was built in the old shed in my previous photo.

 

[Koeketiene]

There's nothing like going abroad to realise how ramped up the prices are here. If its that much less in an expensive country like Norway there really has to be a problem with UK prices. It not just a supply and demand issue in a few places like Lymington its all the marinas. Inland is even worse.

When we moved the boat from the East Coast (not exactly the UKs most attractive cruising ground) to Brittany, mooring costs when down from +4K to -1K.

 

[NorthRising]

It worked for the Tirpitz.

You sure about that?

 

[LittleSister]

the East Coast (not exactly the UKs most attractive cruising ground)

 

[ridgy]

When we moved the boat from the East Coast (not exactly the UKs most attractive cruising ground) to Brittany, mooring costs when down from +4K to -1K.

Is that a like for like move e.g. marina to marina or something else e.g. marina to river mooring?

 

[Koeketiene]

Is that a like for like move e.g. marina to marina or something else e.g. marina to river mooring?

It's a mix.
In the UK I spent Nov-Mar in a pontoon berth and Apr-Oct on a swinging mooring.
In Brittany the boat is on a swinging mooring all year.

On a waiting list for a pontoon berth - this will set me back €1.6K p/a.

 

[Gary Fox]

Is that a like for like move e.g. marina to marina or something else e.g. marina to river mooring?

I spent a winter in Lorient. Town centre pontoon, very convenient for everything. Living aboard, with free leccy all winter, and no problem to have a bench on the pontoon for woodwork. Super friendly neighbours on other yachts, and interesting French commando training across the river provided a free airshow. Clean heads including a free sauna.
Boat hoist and cheap hard standing.
Yes it was about 1/4 the price of a W.Country marina.
S.Brittany is the closest you can get guaranteed mild weather all winter, for painting etc.