Potential Newbie Questionss

[M_Russell]

Having done a bit of casual sailing some years ago, I am considering taking YRA approved competent crew and day skipper training with the aim of buying my own boat. However before I get myself hooked on the sport I'm trying to do a bit of research into the annual costs involved in boat ownership.

As I live on the Berks/Hants border the natural location for me to keep a boat would be in the Solent area where, from what I gather, mooring fee's are rather high.

My question is - if say I bought a 25 to 30 ft boat how much would I expect to pay annually for moorings? Would it be much cheaper to get a trailer sailer and park this up at the marina? Are swinging berths much cheaper and if so are they even available in this area?

I'd be grateful for any advice on the above questions, or indeed anything else a potential boat owner should know before commiting himself to a lifetime of impoverishment!!

Mark

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[tony_brighton]

A bit of research on the web for marinas would take care of the mooring cost. Haslar for example is at £345/mtr/annum and isn't the most expensive. Most marinas have a waiting list - its very long if you want the Hamble. There are much cheaper options available - a swinging mooring in Portsmouth or Chichester Harbours for example would be in the £hundreds.

Other than that, typical costs would be:

Insurance - allow a couple of hundred depending on boat, type of sailing etc.
Radio licence fee - annual annoyance value
Maintenance costs - depends on age of boat.

A trailer sailer can be much cheaper - but only if you drive it to the marina each time. Some places offer a dry sailing arrangement which might be worth looking at.

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[iangrant]

The cheapest and probably the most safe fun to be had in the first place woulf be a bilge keeler on a drying mooring in Chichester Harbour, Emsworth, Thornham, Hayling Island. Thornham has a little yard next to the mud marina, moorings there can be sub 100 pounds for a 22 footer. The down side is waiting for the tide!!

It is possible to sail in almost anyweather in Chi Or Portsmouth harbours (Portsmouth had big grey ships with guns and ferries, Chichester has racing dingys and Blue ensigns, which have right of way over everything)

I starter in Thornham 12 footr and moved to Dolphin Quay, Emsworth 22 footer, then 26 footer, drying pontoon. Then Tarquins, Emsworth Marina with a sill, then to Northney.

Other costs - Pegasus 800 - nice nick 11,000 pounds, mooring in DQ about 6 to 700 quid, maintenance, next to nought, in the order of a car service cost, PA.

Good luck - do it then worry about the cost. Watch the sun goes down in a peaceful creek, and give us a wave..

Ian

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[anabel]

Marina (pontoon) berth fees on south coast very expensive. Swinging mooring less expensive, and trailer/sailer less expensive again. Convenience costs money. Someone once said owning a boat is like standing in a shower while tearing up five pound notes! I agree but I still think it is worth it. Good luck with your decision

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[Guest]

A Hole in Water.....

....lined with mahogany, down which one pours money! (Can't remember who this definition is attributed to.)

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[chriscallender]

Budget quite a lot extra in the first year, there will be plenty of basic safety equipment which is essential (life jackets, flares, first aid kit, fire extinguishers, and loads more, do some searches) and this will be unlikely to come with the boat or any kit that does it will likely be of a dubious nature. Just when you think the thing is going to bankrupt you completely you will discover that you have at least all the basics and then you can enjoy the sailing.

I was in exactly your shoes about 4 years ago, I bought a trailer sailer which I kept for 3 then moved up to something a bit bigger and more comfortable last year. With hindsight I would have gone for a small bilge keeler instead, I know trailer sailers have their fans but I ended up keeping mine on a mooring anyway - launching, recovering and rigging was a real chore (and needed more muscle power than me and my wife could provide). I ended up paying storage on the trailer (no space to keep it at home) and also on maintaining the trailer when in reality I made very little use of the boat in trailer sailer mode.

If you do go for a trailer sailer then it needs to be simple, small and light with a short mast and simple rigging to make it easier to launch, mine was 22 feet and thats too big in my opinion.

4 years ago Northney marina on Hayling Island charged about £800 a year for storage on the trailer, so you can see that a drying mooring would be cheaper, a trailer sailer will only really make some sense if you can store for free at home, or if you really do think you will visit lots of different cruising grounds by road.

However, looking back my first boat was still a cheap boat to own, I learnt loads that no amount of courses would ever teach me and got my money back on the boat when I sold. So no regrets about it, it was one of the best things I ever did, good luck and go for it!

Chris

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[tcm]

all posts below are good advice. But note that there are lots of boats in solent that you can charter of exactly the size you are considering, competition fairly hot, so you will need to use your own boat a fair bit to get value out of it.

If family prefers sunnier holidays rather than UK adventure, charter might be an option to start. Or at least, a good way to find if you can stand it, and to find out if a 30footer is a bit too small - lots are for sale cos this is exactly the size that people sell quickly - either because they are rtoo small (shold have bought bigger, and they love it) or because they bought and they don't like it at all. As a non-owner, you are in the most luxurious of positions.

If you do buy a boat, try buying in or near the marina where you would like to be - and tell the broker that you'll buy IF he can sort out a mooring - they can always find a space, it seems.

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[derekgillard]

I bought a 29 ft Fin Yacht 20 months ago, I keep it on a swinging mooring in Portsmouth Harbour 5 min in a dinghy from a yard it cost £1,100 for the summer and £700 for the winter including lift out and scrub, winter is in Port Solent ,

Total costs this year £3,200 all in.

My only concern is I try to plan a fund for major work but always spend the money on other things so when the big job comes along it maybe a shock.

I afford it by being one of three in a synidcate that way I get regular crew, support with the winter work and it costs me only a third of the total price Just over £1,000 and free crew for the running of a yacht seams to me to be good value..

Good luck!

Del buoy



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[perlonious]

hihi.....i was in a similar situation last year .....i kept on doing the facts n figs again and again .....then a teacher fnd of mind said if u don t do it now then u never will.
you can make it as expensive or as cheap as you want....i bought a hunter 245 bilge....managed to get a semi tidal mooring on the hamble for 1000 pa.....
you have to be aware of the tides...but usually i can get off 2 hours either side of h/water. i also live in bucks and it usually take about 1 hr 15 mins to the hamble from work at mid day ......don t try it rush hour time.....

good luck

but don t take too long to decide as the season approaches things will get very full

just one bit of advice.....if the marina is owned by m.d.l. WALK AWAY QUICKLY
unless you fancy a second mortgage!

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[bigmart]

You can make it as cheap as you want. Up until Christmas I was keeping a 26ft Bilge keeler in Langstone for £200 a year on a drying mooring (access 3 hours either side of HW). That price included Club Membership Fees & Harbour dues.

Some will tell you that it makes economic sense to charter but there is nothing like the pride of ownership & it doesn't matter what you own. Just get out there & enjoy it.

As to places to visit it depends on your requirements. If you dry out in Bembridge its very cheap. Ryde is great if youve got kids to entertain. My wife likes Cowes because you walk straight into the town. Newtown is beautiful if a little crowded. Newport is worth the trip. Beaulieu is bloody expensive for pretty poor facilities. Then for the adventurous how about Ashlett Creek. If you fancy the Hamble the harbourmasters jetty at Warsash is reasonable & close to the pub. Poole is not far away & offers some quiet & some very busy places to visit. My family loves the trip up to Wareham (reminiscent of the Norfolk Broads) & you can dry out against the harbour wall for 2 nights for free.

To keep your kids entertained aquire a few Paravanes from your local fishing tackle shop. You can tow 2 or 3 behind the boat & you are pretty well guaranteed to catch Mackerel. If your very lucky you may even entice the odd Bass to your table.

You'll have a great time. Go for it.

Martin

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[M_Russell]

I'd just like to thank everyone who has offered their advice so far. A common thread running through all replies is the infectious enthusiasm you all have for the sport. You've certainly all given me food for thought - hmm...I think I may be trapesing around a few more marinas soon!

Mark.

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[paulrossall]

I spent years weighing up the costs, then I got made redundant and was 49 so one day I just decided to go for it. I have a bilge keeler built in 1971 which was a good decision as it looks slightly old and I don't have to pretend it is only 5 years old. It is the best decision I have ever made (bar the wife & kids). I did have a 17ft trailor sailor but agree with previous post it is a ball ache to launch & recover and would strongly recomend a bilge keeler. Don't take any notice of the purists who will tell you it wont sail very well etc. Just find something that will accomodate your sailing party, buy something well built ie. strong and go for it. I am as happy as Larry the moment I am on my boat and I find doing any work is a pleasure. Being on my boat messing about is what I think Heaven must be like to those that beleive in it. Good luck.
PS find a boat and ask us for our opinion if it will help. We all had to start somewhere.

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