Sorry

[alanporter]

Sorry if I am treading on toes, but I have been following these forums now for over a year, and I get the impression from references to high boat prices, high mooring fees, high fuel costs, excessive prices for equipment and parts, poor service, draconian rules and regulations from the European Economic Community, crowded waterways, big wash from motor boats, fast, inconsiderate personal watercraft, etc, etc, that Britain must be the most miserable place in the worl to own a boat. Forgive me if I am wrong, but this is the impression the forums give.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

 

[HansBlix]

vat you selling - prozac?

ulrika! vere are you ven i need you ....

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[BrianJ]

Alan.... move to OZ .. we have tons of beaut sailing all year round...
BrianJ

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[Guest]

Depends on how you treat the world

In fact I may moan - but I wouldn't change where I boat ..... unless it was the Carribean, Greek Islands, Seychelles, Barrier Reef, Tallinn Bay ..... just a mo - I do it there an'all !, ......

Yes we have our prats ..... but I for one am happy to boat in UK



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[MainlySteam]

Another voice from the antipodes - "You mean it isn't true!".

How would you like beer at 35p a can (330ml cans though), 14 m marina berth for GBP940/annum, insurance for 0.5% of valuation and normally no survey cost as well, 14m boat lift scrub and return for GBP50 or all of that plus antifouled for you for GBP430 (including premium quality anitfoul paint) and diesel a third of the price of the beer.

There again, I envy the thought of having more ports to visit (or take refuge in), the variety of destinations both within Great Britain and across the way on the continent (1,200 miles for us and then the Oz's are much the same), and once I get out of the harbour it is 60 miles or more to the next pub through frequently not very hospitable sea.

John


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[Talbot]

How easy is it for you to get long distance insurance cover - In UK it seems that insurance for trips more than 200nm from land is a no-no to the insurance people.

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[MainlySteam]

Last time I checked, there did not seem to be any problem at all - just more expensive (used to be around 3-4%/annum but may be more now), which is understandable given that international voyage here is a minimum of 1200 miles of open, frequently inhospitable sea, and unless to Australia salvage is a real problem if you get into trouble- also, apart from Australia the next big bits of ground are a quarter of the earth's circumference away. Thinking back, on the losses in the Tasman and South Pacific, I suspect NZ boats do not figure much in them - so maybe the statistics for NZ boats are good.

I know of one NZ yacht, currently in the Carribean/USA, who looked at getting insurance in USA but could not, they are able to renew their existing cover back here however.

Have not heard of any change recently, and I know that even the ocean racers get it here (boat 2 berths along recently returned from ocean race for which I know he was insured). Their excesses are reasonably high because the nature of racing is that things are always going to break, however, our own excess is equivalent to GBP250 and covers coastal racing (which we don't do however). I suspect the 1/2% I stated is at the best end of the rates here, but even so as a total unknown I was originally quoted 1% when our boat was launched - when they found out more about me the rate was halved. It has been that rate since the boat was launched in 1996, with no increases at all (yet?).

For international voyages we do have compulsory inspections of NZ registered yachts (the inspection costs about the equivalent of 25-30GBP) evidence of which of being done in the last 12 months (I think it is) has to be presented before customs will clear you out, but I don't think that the insurers have taken that into account when accepting international voyage risks here. The inspection is roughly similar to Cat 1 with some lesser requirements and flexibility appropriate to cruising vessels (the new Cat 1 liferaft stowage requirements, for example, are ignored as far as I know).

Maybe Brian can comment on the situation in Australia, but I don't think they have any problems getting international cover either (especially as the insurers are often the same), but I stand to be corrected on that.

John

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[Neraida]

I have been a member of a car forum for some 3 years now, and to be honest, YES! If anybody seriously read that forum and looked at it in a "blinkered" way, the company who makes the car we discuss would never sell any cars!

The way I look at it is that forums often tend to discuss the extreme opinions/circumstances, so its up to you to filter the relevent information.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.quest-net.org/jamesaustin/boat.asp> Recognise us? </A>

 

[billmacfarlane]

That's one conclusion you might reach. Another one is that the Brits quite simply like a good moan.

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[Peppermint]

Re: Don\'t be sorry

If you belive the general press/media it's the most miserable place to own/do anything at all.

But then an optimist is just someone who didn't understand the question. (And a small boat)

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[yoda]

Fact of life in the UK, we like to moan. The fact that we all still go out and run boats or go sailing shows that on ballance we must enjoy the sport so for the record I had 2 very different but good days on the water this weekend with excellent company and several beers in the middle. I enjoyed getting wet and discovering that I couldn't make the YYC at low water neaps in the dinghy but the walk from the landing stage did me good. At the end of the season the boat still works, looks good and I can afford a new Genoa (10% winter discount) ready for next Easter.

Yoda

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[andy_wilson]

No need to apologise.

And we forgive you if you are wrong.

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[Twister_Ken]

Absolutely right

No need to apologise, you are right on every count, and you didn't even mention polyestermites, radio licences, swindleries, etc.

My recommendation, invite us all chez-vous for a bit of sailing to cheer us up.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>