Sleeping on board whilst ashore.

[salar]

Does the marina management think sleeping with someone while the boat is in the water to be less hazardous with regard to fire risk in some way and therefore acceptable ? If so I would like to know why they think that is so ?

Apparently there was a fire in a boatyard somewhere sometime and nobody knew that someone was sleeping in one of the boats in or near the fire so it was all very dodgy for a while. I don't think anyone died but when the situation was analysed they could easily have. That is unlikely to happen when a boat is in the water. The Elf & Safety folks decided the risk of sleeping aboard in a boatyard was worth a ban.

 

[LadyInBed]

Not yet. I will e-mail them.

It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission

Exactly, asking for permission is asking for refusal.

 

[LittleSister]

I have slept on boats in yards on several occasions, and don't see why not.

I noticed recently that one of our East Coast marinas has decreed that 'due to health and safety' henceforth no-one may stay aboard ashore without prior written permission, and even then only for a maximum of 2 days.

There seems no logic at all to that, so I assumed it was to deter, or get rid of,live-aboards.

 

[Momac]

................That is unlikely to happen when a boat is in the water.

Fires on boats in the water in a marina often spread to adjacent boats . The boats in the water may be closer together than those ashore.

 

[sgr143]

You might find that the terms and conditions of your contract with the marina / boatyard specify whether you are allowed - or more likely are not allowed - to sleep on board when the boat is ashore. I read my T&C carefully this year (for once!) and found that it was disallowed. A bit of a trial, as it's an hour and a half for me to get to the boat, so I need to plan a working day quite carefully and get up earlier than I'd like! On the other hand, in previous winters, on the few occasions that I did overnight on the boat, it was a bit grim. Dark very early; either get cold, or suffer the rattling fan heater; no comforting movement as one goes about the boat; a slightly perilous journey to use the loos (especially if drink has been taken to ward off the cold and to pass the long evening).

 

[NormanS]

Apparently there was a fire in a boatyard somewhere sometime and nobody knew that someone was sleeping in one of the boats in or near the fire so it was all very dodgy for a while. I don't think anyone died but when the situation was analysed they could easily have. That is unlikely to happen when a boat is in the water. The Elf & Safety folks decided the risk of sleeping aboard in a boatyard was worth a ban.

Hmm. The yard where my boat is ashore in the winter, insists quite rightly, on the use of cradles. There is no restriction on sleeping aboard. Indeed it is looked on with favour as a help for security. A few years ago a yacht went on fire during the night, apparently due to an electrical fault, and it was someone in a neighbouring boat who raised the alarm.

 

[Babylon]

Props are perfectly safe assuming done properly and braced etc. Yard still uses them when all the modern cradles are taken, but seem to use them for smaller boats tucked down the back where it is much more sheltered than out front (which is still pretty sheltered anyway).

As to fire hazards when ashore, I cannot recall any incidents reported anywhere.

As to sleeping aboard, I imagine most places don't want liveaboards for extended periods (as noted above). My own yard's T&Cs don't officially allow it now, but the manager is relaxed if its a night or two for owners who live several hours round trip away and need to crack on with maintenance.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I have slept on board in the past, and it is allowed at the yard I currently use.
However, visiting the toilet in the middle of the night involves climbing up and down ladders and getting across the yard, probably in the rain doesn't appeal. The yard also insists that all gas an petrol is removed from the boat over the winter.
The boat is 160 miles from home, so I now use an Airbnb, it's much more comfortable and is relatively cheap in the winter months.

 

[Poignard]

I have had my boat laid up in two different French yards and no objection was ever raised to my sleeping on board. I did not, of course, ask if I might but the owners' knew and didn't bother about it.

In one of them the power went off during the night so it was bloody cold.

I have also slept on board in several UK yards without anyone bothering about it.

The only place it was forbidden was in a services sailing club premises: on health & safety grounds.

Very keen on H&S are Her Majesty's armed forces.

You may be shot at, torpedoed, gassed, or blown to pieces by an enemy but you may not sleep on your yacht because you might hurt yourself!

 

[RJJ]

My contract says no living aboard. Big difference between an occasional night during a boat work weekend, Vs using it as your house and washing your pots and pans in the facilities (which is expressly forbidden). I work on the basis an occasional night is OK.

As stated, if it ain't safe to sleep on, it ain't safe to stand on.

 

[AllanG]

This clause is taken from the Premier Marinas Conditions of Boatyard Services.........but I don’t know how strictly this is enforced:-

“3.9 You must not use Your Boat for any residential purpose whilst Your Boat is ashore. Entering any boat ashore is not permitted for any reason between 10pm – 5am.”

 

[Babylon]

Just make sure you're tucked up in bed before 10pm then...