overwintering in norway

[grobigben]

Hello,

I am a french sailor (sorry for my bad english!); at present sailing and wintering in Scotland.
I have planned to go to Norway next year ( summer 2018); and I'm looking for a place where I can let the boat for the winter 2018-2019. And let her unattended in a safe place.
I have planned to sail on the west coast: and to winter somewhere beetween Bergen and Stavanger or maybe more south.
My boat is 9 meters long, weight about 4 tons. And I can lift the keel and dry the boat or stock her for he winter very easily (don't need cradlle)

A few questions:

- In the last years, In Ireland and Scotland, I have wintered ashore. But norvegian winter is quite cold: and maybe a little bit warner in the water?
If wintering ashore, is-it necessary to dismast?
Perhaps it is better to winter afloat (providing there is somebody not to far to have a look on the boat) .

- There seems to be a lot of small marinas in Norway.
But is it easy to find a berth for the winter (afloat or ashore). Is-it necessary to book a longtime before?
Norvegian cruising guide gives 2 or 3 addresses on the south-west coast. If somebody knows a good wintering soution (with webste or email adress), that would help me.

Benoit

 

[BabaYaga]

I can not answer your questions, but would like to suggest that you also post your inquiry to this Norwegian boating forum:
http://baatplassen.no/i/forum/1-båtforumet/
Someone there should be able to advise.

 

[grobigben]

Good idea, thanks. Well, my norvegian is not totally fluent. But I think english will be OK:encouragement:

 

[sarabande]

Send a PM (private message ) to Spannerman. It is his geographical area., and he is very clued up on the local knowledge.

 

[armchairsailor]

Good idea, thanks. Well, my norvegian is not totally fluent. But I think english will be OK:encouragement:

Don't worry. Norwegians speak very good English.

 

[dovekie]

Hi,
We spent 5 years in Norway, ie living in the UK but with boat in Norway. Each year we just asked around at local marinas and yacht clubs. Hardanger Fjord, Bodo and Lofoten. It's very well set up for boats and very good English spoken. It may have changed but I think you will have to notify the Norwegian tax authorities.
Fantastic sailing.

 

[grobigben]

Thanks to everybody fo your answers,

Anyway there seems to be quite a lot of small harbours and marinas.
@ dovekie: did you winter afloat? With extra precautions against frost? (is it much colder than the west coast of Scotland, for exemple).
I will see with local authorities; but don't forget that France and Norway are n the Schengen agreement.

 

[knuterikt]

Thanks to everybody fo your answers,

Anyway there seems to be quite a lot of small harbours and marinas.
@ dovekie: did you winter afloat? With extra precautions against frost? (is it much colder than the west coast of Scotland, for exemple).
I will see with local authorities; but don't forget that France and Norway are n the Schengen agreement.

Schengen is about people not boats..
Read this information http://www.toll.no/en/goods/boat/storing-a-foreign-recreational-boat/
If you don't follow the rules you can get a bill for 25% VAT ++

If the boat is stored afloat or on the hard you should take precautions against frost.

• Empty water tanks and heater
• Drain pumps (fresh water and bilge pumps)
• Make sure that the fresh water cooling circuit contains enough anti freeze
• Fill the salt water circuit with anti freeze (that's what sea water filters are made for

I think you will find that the options will be different depending on the place you a going to store the boat, some places you have both options.
It's not unusual with harbors where the boats are bubbled to keep the ice off the boats away.
This is where I keep my boat - close to Oslo

 

[macd]

Schengen is about people not boats.

Quite so.
What the OP will be doing is the Norwegian equivalent of the 'Temporary Importation' arrangement which applies to non-EU boats spending time in the EU. It's not onerous, but absolutely must be followed. Do heed knuterikt's link.

 

[dovekie]

We wintered afloat in the Hardanger Fjord and ashore further north. Wise to drain the engine (of seawater and coolant). Wine and beer in bottles froze. Whisky did not.

 

[knuterikt]

We wintered afloat in the Hardanger Fjord and ashore further north. Wise to drain the engine (of seawater and coolant). Wine and beer in bottles froze. Whisky did not.

You don't drain coolant, you make sure your coolant wont freeze.

 

[grobigben]

We wintered afloat in the Hardanger Fjord and ashore further north. Wise to drain the engine (of seawater and coolant). Wine and beer in bottles froze. Whisky did not.

No problem: we can empty our bottles of wine before winter.
But I won't use Laphroaig or Lagavulin as an antifreeze for the engine!:disgust:

 

[longjohnsilver]

Scubaman on the mobo forum is based in Norway, maybe send him a PM.

 

[TrondS]

It is critical that you follow the rules about temporary import (of your vessel) by the customs, (www.toll.no) or you can risk paying 25% VAT for your boat. (Happened to a Swedish yacht some years ago).
Some info available on www.noonsite.com

Winter temperatures on the west coast of Norway is not so bad, due to the gulf stream. In the Bergen - Stavanger area, anything between about +8C and -5C is normal, give or take a few degrees. Water temperatures normally a couple degrees above freezing, except for in some fjords where some ice may be expected. Some snow can be expected, but mostly rain. It varies from day to day. The south coast, and of course further north, has much more snow and cold weather.

There are several marinas in both Bergen and Stavanger areas you could ask for a slip.

 

[AndreasO]

Hello,

I am a french sailor (sorry for my bad english!); at present sailing and wintering in Scotland.
I have planned to go to Norway next year ( summer 2018); and I'm looking for a place where I can let the boat for the winter 2018-2019. And let her unattended in a safe place.
I have planned to sail on the west coast: and to winter somewhere beetween Bergen and Stavanger or maybe more south.
My boat is 9 meters long, weight about 4 tons. And I can lift the keel and dry the boat or stock her for he winter very easily (don't need cradlle)

A few questions:

- In the last years, In Ireland and Scotland, I have wintered ashore. But norvegian winter is quite cold: and maybe a little bit warner in the water?
If wintering ashore, is-it necessary to dismast?
Perhaps it is better to winter afloat (providing there is somebody not to far to have a look on the boat) .

- There seems to be a lot of small marinas in Norway.
But is it easy to find a berth for the winter (afloat or ashore). Is-it necessary to book a longtime before?
Norvegian cruising guide gives 2 or 3 addresses on the south-west coast. If somebody knows a good wintering soution (with webste or email adress), that would help me.

Benoit

Hello Benoit, can you recommend a place to store a sailing boat on the hard close to Bergen? Thank you Andreas