River Mersey - Year round insurance

[Ocean Star]

Hi folks,

I'm wondering if anyone knows of any insurers that will insure year round on a swinging mooring on the River Mersey (Birkenhead / Tranmere to be more specific). The mooring is laid by us, the boat is a Lochin 33 for private use only. The quotes I have been given have a restriction on the boat being marina berthed or on the hard between 1/11 and 1/03 - neither of which I really want to do.

Any advice would be appreciated,
Cheers,
Lee

 

[RobWales]

Lee try Steve here...

Porthcawl Insurance, have insured with him for years, even if he can't offer he'll know where if anywhere 01656 784866..

Rob.

 

[Ocean Star]

Sorry Rob, I should probably add a list of the ones I've tried:

Porthcawl - couldn't find anyone
GJW - restrictions 1/11 - 1/03, very reasonable quote though.
Euromarine - restrictions between 1/11 - 1/03
Craftinsure - they took the quote, and my mooring area isn't listed on their exclusions (although others near me are) but their smallprint says something similar to 'not insured when left unattended on mooring in exposed waters' (I've emailed them to elaborate on this though)

 

[bigwow]

You could always join this club, and haul out in their secure yard between those dates

http://www.liverpoolsailingclub.org/

 

[Ocean Star]

Thanks Bigwow - my problem is that I don't want to be out of the water. I've got a local yard I could use if it comes to that.

 

[Searush]

Anchor in shallow water & tell 'em its a "mud berth".

 

[bigwow]

Anchor in shallow water & tell 'em its a "mud berth".

Perhaps the river Alt then if a mud berth is easier to insure

 

[Searush]

Perhaps the river Alt then if a mud berth is easier to insure

I was teasing, but that is probably a sound idea! Very few boats are left moored on the Mersey over winter & that is not a coincidence.

 

[savageseadog]

Don't even think about staying there on a mooring year round. If the vandals/arsonists/thieves don't get you then a storm will. It gets very rough on those Tranmere moorings, the currents are extreme and I doubt any insurer will cover you. The River Alt might be OK but I've no direct knowledge. You could go up to Fiddlers Ferry but you'd have to be lifted and go in the yard.

 

[RobWales]

Lee,

Did you sort it in the end,.....Or has this issue put the brakes on the purchase?

Rob.

 

[blueglass]

Strange response form insurers. It was a while back but we were insured with GJW for years on a swinging mooring in Conwy year round, without restrictions.
Must be a liverpool thing

 

[Searush]

Strange response form insurers. It was a while back but we were insured with GJW for years on a swinging mooring in Conwy year round, without restrictions.
Must be a liverpool thing

Conway, despite the strong currents, is well protected by the sand bar from the West Shore, it also has a lot of people around for most of the year & quite a few boats over winter on moorings (as I did for several years). The Mersey has no such protection from NW'ly gales over a strong ebb & there are times each year when the Ferry boats simply cannot operate. I wouldn't leave my boat on a Mersey mooring over winter.

In my view it is NOT "a strange response from the insurers", but rather a logical commercial response to the conditions and past claim record of the River. But I only lived there for 30 years.

 

[blueglass]

Conway, despite the strong currents, is well protected by the sand bar from the West Shore, it also has a lot of people around for most of the year & quite a few boats over winter on moorings (as I did for several years). The Mersey has no such protection from NW'ly gales over a strong ebb & there are times each year when the Ferry boats simply cannot operate. I wouldn't leave my boat on a Mersey mooring over winter.

Fair point