Boats lying fallow

[swansfoot]

As a novice sailor, I'm looking for a bilge-keeled yacht around 20ft along the south coast, UK. i have some funds, but I'm dismayed at the amount of boats I see taking up moorings that haven't had their tarps lifted for well over a couple of years, especially when I could make an offer that would be beneficial to both of the owner and myself.

I've approached several harbour masters' for details, but in the main their hands are tied legally as to giving me contact details, though they do offer to further my letter/s of enquiry to the owners.

The fact is that many of these boats have been abandoned and bed-block the moorings' waiting list, and it's really frustrating with me straining at the leash to get on the water with a budget boat with so many bobbing around falling into decrepitude.

Has anyone done a study as to the number of vessels that are on moorings that have been abandoned and their effect on mooring allocations and costs?

[Arghiro]

This is an old chestnut. Often the owners, when approached suddenly get all coy & their eyes narrow. Astronomical sums are bandied around & the vessel remains neglected.

I have read many cruising stories back to the 20's & earlier talking in exactly the same manner. I see boats on driveways brought home for a loving restoration & tidy-up, slowly deteriorating over the years. Good luck, try e-bay, at least any posted there will be genuinely for sale even if the prices are silly for a given condition, there are still some bargains to be had.

The other thing is to hang around harbours & sailing clubs letting people know you are in the market. Every man jack with a wreck to get rid of will see you as a target. Meet 'em all with a steady gaze & a fair (to you) price; not all will melt away. Autumn & winter is a better time to look.

Most of the posters on this forum are based in Scotland try asking on the YBW forum as well, as Nathan Lee has a damn fine Corribee (?) for sale that would be a wonderful first boat. Maybe Lakey needs to rationalise his fleet a bit?

[Rowana]

I think you'll find boats in various states of decreptitude in every marina in the UK. there's at least 3 or 4 in Peterhead that have never moved in the 4 or 5 years I've been there.


Your post remind me of a story someone once told me. Don't know if it was true or not, but it went something like this -

Guy like yourself sees a boat in a boatyard that obviously hasn't seen anyone near it in years. He eventually manages to get the name and phone number of the owner from the yard, phones up and gets the guy's wife -
"I see your husband has a boat in xxxx boatyard, and I was just wondering if he might be interested in selling it."
"Certainly not! He loves his boat, and goes there every weekend."

Where this chap was going every weekend is uncertain, but it most definately wasn't to his boat! ! !


There is a lovely little bilge keel yacht of the size you are looking for which is for sale in Peterhead. If you're on the south coast, you could get (sl)easy jet to Aberdeen and come for a look. The guy is selling it only because he wants something a little bigger as his family is growing up, and he wants a bit more room. I could find out mor details if you wish.

[aquaplane]

I recently saw someone asking for advice on how much to ask for a boat on his drive. Considering it was probably 40 yrs old, it had been on his drive 4 or 5 years, and he was only selling as he was selling the house, I didn't think it was worth anything, it may even cost him to get someone to take it away.

A 20 foot boat that can be sailed and maybe even trailed with a better than 50% chance of getting to it's destination can be got for £2000. There's no point taking on a shed that's going to cost £1000 (and the rest) in materials and bits and hours of labour.

[Falkirkdan]

Port Bannatyne are having a clear out of the boat yard and have quite a few boats in varing conditions for sale cheap.