Where have all the mobos gone?

[rob1699]

Hi Peter

I was the Torquay boat in front of you at St Quay. We arrived a few days before you and virtually the whole of the visitors pontoon was empty. Slightly different story in St Malo where we had to raft up at one point but still nowhere near as busy as last year.

CI's very busy - lucky to get a finger berth in Jersey, and rafted up again in Guernsey, but a heck of a lot of small French sailing boats causing chaos..!

Rob

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

We've just arrived in Weymouth, together with forumite Illusion - plenty of visitor space in the marina here.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[peterandjeanette]

So the general thought is that both the COST and WEATHER have played a major part in the lack of mobo action this year.

No wonder the pull of the dark side is gathering momentum.

With the approach of retirement equating to more time to spend boating and the fact that diesel is not going to get any cheaper then SWMBO could be right when she asks "how about a yacht based in the south of France?"

How the might have fallen.

 

[TheBishop]

Where are all the mobos?

See my recent trip report re CI and St Malo. STPP rammed because its probably the cheapest diesel in the Channel and that gives you a clue. Didnt see much big mobo stuff ( we are a 50ft Trader ) until the CI's. Plenty of room in St Malo alongside the quay and not especially jammed outside the yacht club.

Would echo previous posts on fuel cost. At 1800rpm, say 10kts, I am burning 25 litres per engine per hour...so 50 litres per travelled hour. Problem is I can't boss the sea conditions at that speed so if if there is a cross or quartering sea then I have to get up to 2100 rpm minimum to stop the roll. You can hear the fivers burning at that speed!!

Weather is also a contributory factor. SWMBO has made it clear that this is the last year in Channel waters so we are off to Sant Carles next March. Cant spend my life waiting for a 25C day in the UK when every day from March to November is pretty much there as a minimum in southern Spain. Seems to me big mobos were built for flat seas and sunshine - certainly mine is with a/c, bimini, covered stern deck, swimming platform etc etc.

One other issue for me if staying in UK waters is that a powerfully rigged 50 ft sailing boat is cruising up around 10kts in any sort of decent wind. A big Beneteau second hand costs about the same as a second hand similarly sized mobo. Running costs very different.I can handle both as an ex raggie sailor and in the Channel, all things considered, a big powerful sailboat is probably the best bet if, and its a big if, you can handle one. I am put off by the fact that I have two small kids and everything on a sail boat is designed to kill kids as opposed to some things on a mobo - plus the 45 degree issue of course -but the lure of a big rigged 50 footer is very strong let me tell you.

The Bishop

Jules Verne

Plymouth

 

[duncan]

we had a weak rigged simple 51ft in Turkey 2008 and it was very acceptable to SWMBO as well as being very kid friendly most of the time. B Cyclades 50.5 roller/roller. The only time I needed any assistance at all was reversing into restaurant quays and picking up lazy lines etc - but this would be the same with a mobo. Whilst we had a very basic charter set up the scope for an owners fit out was obvious.

45 degree issue shouldn't exist on a cruising yacht - but that's another story!

we are seriously considering selling up on the boating side in the UK and possibly looking to find a yacht share in the med somewhere - Greece or Turkey probably. Life's too short for UK boating weather and we can't afford both.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Its the cost of fuel. We said this would happen but the politics of jealousy ecofreaks making the decisions pooh-poohed the idea. Coupled with a recession and cheap last minute deals its made a signficant difference.

 

[aquapower]

Its the cost of fuel. We said this would happen but the politics of jealousy ecofreaks making the decisions pooh-poohed the idea. Coupled with a recession and cheap last minute deals its made a signficant difference.

Are there any cheap last minute deals as I have heard plenty of people moaning about the lack of deals this year?

 

[Mymobo]

For us it has been varius things.

Always good weather when we have other stuff planned and work on boat took longer then expected to get her in the water this year.

Also cost of fuel has gone up since we bought the boat at Christmas.

Still we are hanging there for now.

 

[rafiki_]

The weather in the last 2 months have been a big turn off for us, plus too much travelling for work. May and June were great months, again interrupted by work.

We planned a few days on board last week, but the weather was too depressing. While our boat is an open sports cruiser, I don't think even a hard top would have lured us out last week.

Our problem with basing in the med is lack of time. We berth 1 hour from home. With the best will in the world, living 30 mins from an airport, you are probably looking at an 8 hour round trip to fly to southern Spain. I just do not have the time.

So it is frustrating UK conditions for us. Would love a sailboat, but I think I would be struggling for crew. A friend and his wife owned a 35ft sailboat, and never got the sails up. Only ever used the engine!!! Weird!!

 

[MVP]

We went from Sparkes to the Hamble on the most beautiful July day - don't think more than 4 mobos passed anywhere near us.

I think boating has turned into the new caravanning

 

[nicho]

So the general thought is that both the COST and WEATHER have played a major part in the lack of mobo action this year.

No wonder the pull of the dark side is gathering momentum.

Does the cost of fuel REALLY make much of a difference?? It is, for most marina based mobo owners a fairly small percentage of annual costs.

Lets take a boat like ours, 14.8 metres in a Hamble Marina, approx annual figures:

Berthing fees £8600
Insurance £780
Service engines £1200
Antifoul/anodes £800
Lift/block/relaunch £750
Other marina/harbour dues £1250 (30 nights @£45)

Total £12580

Fuel.

Say annual average usage of 2500 litres at an old price of 45p per litre = £1125, (can barely remember that!)

Average 90p per litre today = £2250. Therefore an increase of £1125 over a season.

So, the increase in fuel duty has added a fraction over 10% to the average annual running costs of an average 50' motorboat.

Does the panel think that would keep everyone in harbour? Personally I doubt it

 

[DAKA]

Does the cost of fuel REALLY make much of a difference?? It is, for most marina based mobo owners a fairly small percentage of annual costs.

Lets take a boat like ours, 14.8 metres in a Hamble Marina, approx annual figures:

Berthing fees £8600
Insurance £780
Service engines £1200
Antifoul/anodes £800
Lift/block/relaunch £750
Other marina/harbour dues £1250 (30 nights @£45)

Total £12580

Fuel.

Say annual average usage of 2500 litres at an old price of 45p per litre = £1125, (can barely remember that!)

Average 90p per litre today = £2250. Therefore an increase of £1125 over a season.

So, the increase in fuel duty has added a fraction over 10% to the average annual running costs of an average 50' motorboat.

Does the panel think that would keep everyone in harbour? Personally I doubt it

Agreed, good post

Also add that you covered 800 nm in the year thats £17 per mile.

sailing boat at 6 knots (some of which is in the wrong direction) would cover say 400 nm

Assuming you dont use any fuel the cost is £31 per mile

You really need to add on a bit for fuel, a lot for sail wear/tear/refurbishment and a massive great chunk of extra berthing if you want like for like accommodation.

 

[peterandjeanette]

Annual average useage 2500 litres?

I must be using my boat too much. I usually run the engines for about 100 - 120 hours per year and get through an average of 5000 - 6000 litres per year.

Thus a run to the CI is a round trip of 200 miles = approx 800 litres @ 95p per litre =£760.00. And that is only for a long weekend. Torquay and back is much the same. This last two weeks I reckon I used 1300 litres. Good job that one fill was at St P.P. @ 58p per litre, it balanced the 1.35 euro/litre in France!! Come retirement and that sort of spend becomes prohibitive. Especially as retirement will give me more time to use a boat.

Don't mention carbon footprint.

 

[nedmin]

I also agree a good and clear post,but how many people can afford to spend £12000+ on a super hobby not many I,m afraid.I think that fuel was the last straw for many people.I grumble at paying £12 a night for a marina mooring!The problem where we live is that from Grimsby there is no safe haven until Gt. Yarmouth Approx. 100miles or Bridlington approx.90 miles.On the south coast maximum is about 20miles.Its a shame but I think I have seen the best years.SWMBO not interested in sea work now so its mostly rivers and canals.There are problems there B.Waterways and EA are running the job into the ground,they are spending nothing on maintenance just repairing it when it breaks,yet they are grossly overmanned in the offices.At Newark office there used to be 5 staff,there are now 70! it was over 100!until they got rid of some.They have 2 men going round looking for faults on the system,they report back but they have nobody to do the work!So they go round again and find the same faults.There is thousands of pounds of expensive plant just tied up and never used, and the cost of moorings and licences keep going up year on year.Sad isnt it.

 

[DAKA]

Thus a run to the CI is a round trip of 200 miles = approx 800 litres @ 95p per litre =£760.00.

Dont be such a pessimist and recheck your figures

Say you have a 1000 l tank.

you need 400l to get there
set off with 1/2 tank full (500l leaves a bit spare)
fill up @ .58p instead of .92p
return with a full tank and you have 3/4 full left when you get back.

You have saved over £200

 

[mateyboy]

I would also have thought that there are not as many newcomers coming into boating as overheads show no signs of abating and selling may be a bit tougher now than previous years thus removing the option of an escape route if and when required.
From a personal point of view in the past I would have sought out what I'm after, um and arr for a bit, try knocking the price, try again, then depending what it is either get out the pictures of the Queens fizzog or sign up to whatever finance I could get. I always like to get as new or as good as I can then when it's paid for there's that lovely period of 'it's paid for, it's mine, and it's still worth something'.
It would also be an advantage as I could disguise some o/heads or reclaim vat through a couple of small businesses that I run.
So in answer to the OP; waiting anxiously to see what happens in the next few months.
Having said that, my mate's trying to talk me into a 50/50 on a 45-60 foot whatever, only thing is he wants Alicante, I want Hull, it's already in Yorkshire!

 

[colvic987]

although a raggie, i have noticed less mobo traffic up north here, one or two large mobos, seem to be more little fishing boats around.

IMHO, With household prices being up and diesel prices being high to what we have been used to, i think people are just pulling the belts in, trying to get the credit cards paid off, and some mortgage payments made whilst the percentage rates are low, so use the boat for the holiday and little else, where in the past most people would have been down every weekend. If these people have businesses, maybe there having a hard time of it, just getting the business thru the recession and have to work longer. so no time for the boat.

It will be a few years yet before we are on the up again.

 

[kcrane]

Does the cost of fuel REALLY make much of a difference?? It is, for most marina based mobo owners a fairly small percentage of annual costs.

Lets take a boat like ours, 14.8 metres in a Hamble Marina, approx annual figures:

Berthing fees £8600
Insurance £780
Service engines £1200
Antifoul/anodes £800
Lift/block/relaunch £750
Other marina/harbour dues £1250 (30 nights @£45)

Total £12580

Fuel.

Say annual average usage of 2500 litres at an old price of 45p per litre = £1125, (can barely remember that!)

Average 90p per litre today = £2250. Therefore an increase of £1125 over a season.

So, the increase in fuel duty has added a fraction over 10% to the average annual running costs of an average 50' motorboat.

Does the panel think that would keep everyone in harbour? Personally I doubt it

Our figures must be similar, other than the amount of fuel, which I reckon to be about 6,750 litres before we start a two week cruise.

Can that be right? We've done 1,200 miles at an average of 0.8mpg. We have filled up several times and each time from 25% to 50% full. The tanks hold 1,800 litres (similar I think to the S48).

Anyway our approach is to say we'll budget £x for fuel in the year. It hasn't worked, so I've up'd the budget. Problem solved, we are now back on target.

 

[nicho]

Annual average useage 2500 litres?

I must be using my boat too much. I usually run the engines for about 100 - 120 hours per year and get through an average of 5000 - 6000 litres per year.

Thus a run to the CI is a round trip of 200 miles = approx 800 litres @ 95p per litre =£760.00. And that is only for a long weekend. Torquay and back is much the same. This last two weeks I reckon I used 1300 litres. Good job that one fill was at St P.P. @ 58p per litre, it balanced the 1.35 euro/litre in France!! Come retirement and that sort of spend becomes prohibitive. Especially as retirement will give me more time to use a boat.

Don't mention carbon footprint.

I just used 2500 litres as an example - some will use more, some less. We tend (being retired, and as you anticipate, it will hurt more!) to ensure that we stay on longer trips for a good two/three weeks. We recently had three weeks in Dartmouth/Weymouth recently and used around 950 litres.

Even so, I think the principle applies - the cost of the EXTRA fuel duty for the average motorboaters who perhaps use their boat for 50 hours per annum, will still be a relatively small percentage of the total cost. I really don't think that the increased duty has stopped people from using their boats. I do however acknlowedge that there does seem to be fewer moboers around this year.

PS I won't mention the carbon footprint...........Oh bugger, I have!!

 

[nicho]

[QUOTE

Anyway our approach is to say we'll budget £x for fuel in the year. It hasn't worked, so I've up'd the budget. Problem solved, we are now back on target.[/QUOTE]

That's it Kevin, problem solved!!