residential mooring status

[angelabalkwill]

Thanks to all those who responded to my earlier query re livieaboard with teenager. One more question, about berths: the marina provides 'annual berths'. Some people have lived there for years but obviously with a child I'm responsible for I need to feel that the mooring is secure. No response yet to that from owners or marina and have to decide by weekend.

Anyone any experience/info/advice? Thanks again! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[nimbusgb]

A close friend of mine has just taken up livaboard residence in Brighton marina. He has a 9 year old son. There is a small but active 'kids network' in the marina and the youngster has made a lot of friends both young and old. The liveaboard community seems to be quite welcoming, even the mobos and go-slows seem to talk to each other. People tend to check each others lines etc if ther's a threat of inclement weather ( its a two way street, as much about protecting your boat as looking after others I guess ). With a walk on mooring in a modern marina you should be safe from all but the most severe weather.

As has been mentioned in other threads, the youngster is thriving and now has a 'back garden' of a couple of hundred acres. His dad also seems to have changed gear and destressed.

We had a laugh on the weekend when we noticed that the locals were making sure that their youngsters were wearing lifejackets when riding their bikes on the pontoons. I am used to ensuring mine are wearing a helmet.

 

[angelabalkwill]

Thanks for that encouraging post. As a complete newcomer to boating I am quite daunted by the prospect of all the new skills/routines I would need to master, but the attractions certainly include the community feel and the open expanse of land which our cat would certainly appreciate! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AndrewB]

[ QUOTE ]
Some people have lived there for years but obviously with a child I'm responsible for I need to feel that the mooring is secure.

[/ QUOTE ] Do you mean security of tenure? You are unlikely to get this, as only a few marinas offer 'residential' berths, generally those up rivers and canals rather than near the sea; and even these are now difficult to obtain. Nearly all marinas offer a maximum one year contract, which includes a 'no houseboat' clause.

That having been said, in practice many marinas do tolerate long-term liveaboards provided they keep their boat seaworthy and insured, and do not make demands for facilities of a type that would not be expected from 'normal' berth-holders. One plus, you don't have to pay council tax.

If you care to do a search, a lot more has been posted here on this subject, including the case of former forumite Noah and his family who were evicted from Penarth Marina after seven years, when their boat became uninsurable. But that is the only recent example I know of.