Wintering a boat in Sweden

[brainstorm]

Does anybody have any experience of wintering a boat somewhere near Gothenburg and can they recommend any particular yards? We appreciate that boats really need to be lifted out and completely drained down. Any advice very welcome.

 

[richardsn9]

It is certainly very possible, and my boat spent three winters in Denmark/Sweden but, as you have mentioned, you need to take extreme care over winterisation. If you can get undercover that is great, otherwise you really need to cocoon her in a plastic wrap, and have somebody check it regularly for snow and ice problems.

Your best bet is to join the Cruising Association Baltic section, who maintain a list of recommended laying up locations. Unless you have strong reasons to be in Gothenburg, perhaps consider the Danish side, as that can quicker and easier to get to if you take a car over at some point?

 

[brainstorm]

Thanks Richard very helpful. The boat is a Halberg Rassy 94 Kutter so she should be built for cold weather! We are in Kristiansand Norway at the moment and we're planning on sailing back to Inverness but weather not good for next week and time short as usual. We have also discovered the risk of getting stung with a huge tax bill if we winter the boat here. Have you got somewhere in Denmark that you can suggest as commuting may be simpler.

 

[Daedelus]

Why not winter at HR yard? As far as I recall they keep boats under cover, same island messrs Malo definitely had undercover arrangements and might condescend to take on an HR.

 

[knuterikt]

How long have you been I Norway?
Have you seen this http://www.toll.no/en/goods/boat/storing-a-foreign-recreational-boat/

 

[pandroid]

Many CA boats are at Augustenborg in Denmark, or Fehmarn in Germany. Both yards specialise in laying up foreign boats, and both can accommodate outside or inside. There are a few yards in Orust if you don't want to go that far south.
As stated above, the CA Baltic layup guide is the best bible for places.
Inside spaces get booked up so don't delay if you want one of these.

 

[dunedin]

As a recently joined Cruising Association member I would concur with the advice to join the CA as they have great info on this topic.
Pandroid makes great suggestions of possible places in Denmark and Germany. Nearer Gothenburg the Orust and Tjorn area has quite a few options. As well as HR at Ellos, there is Orust Yacht Services at Henan, Vindo Marine very nearby and Tjorn Yachtservice at Almosund (though not sure if the last has indoor storage).
PS closer to where you are Sandoy Batdekk at Tvedestrand might be worth a try.

 

[brainstorm]

Thanks very much all for your comments to date. We are weighing up the forecasts looking for a good one to encourage us to make a dash for Inverness. Otherwise Sweden and Denmark are looking very tempting!

 

[Champagne Murphy]

We have also discovered the risk of getting stung with a huge tax bill if we winter the boat here.

This tax bill of which you speak; care to expand? Ive never been but the Baltic interests me

 

[pandroid]

Wintering a boat in Norway can be complicated/expensive because of customs rules, with Norway not being in the EU.
Doesn't apply anywhere else in the Baltic. (Assuming you are VAT paid)
(Technically Norway is not in the Baltic either, but that's a different thing)

 

[knuterikt]

This tax bill of which you speak; care to expand? Ive never been but the Baltic interests me

you can find information here (in English) http://www.toll.no/en/goods/boat/storing-a-foreign-recreational-boat/

 

[brainstorm]

Thanks very much Knuterikt. My skipper is worried about the risk of facing a tax bill, so we are now thinking of laying up the boat somewhere near Gothenburg, maybe Wahlborgs which sounds convenient for the city, or one of the yards on Orust which look very attractive, although travelling to and fro the UK more complicated.