Winter boating thread - Somewhere warm!

[cptsideways]

It has just occurred to me that rather than putting the boat away into a barn over winter, it might be possible to store it it elsewhere over the winter. Eg somewhere warm & sunny in Europe...

Being a ski fan & often working abroad means I'm frequently in Euroland & somwhere along the south of France/Italian borders might not be a bad place to park the boat, with a view to staying onboard for a few days at a time.

Isola 2000 is only a few hours from the sea & the Sierra Navada range in spain is handily nearby too.



Suggestions welcome if anyone has any experience or boat yards, moorings etc

[Trimix]

I've looked at some in the south of France and Corsica - the Corsican ones are mostly shut in winter, the ones in the South of France less so.

But you need to be careful as to what services they do provide in what they see as the 'closed' season.

Also a lot of the other tourist stuff will be shut - restaurants, hotels etc.

You may need to fly there and look first hand to check.

[Phil]

The obvious place in theory is in and around Nice

1.plenty of cheap flights from the UK
2.ski bus to Isola and other ski resorts
3.Nice is an all year living city (although a few restaurants will close)
4.plenty of Marinas with easy train or bus travelling (St Laurant du Var, Nice Villefranche, Beaulieu to name just a close few)
5 extended season (but see below)

Downside
1.you need to be there with your boat to do a deal.Idle chatter and e mails don't seem to wash
2.Weather; in the sun it is great and you can sit outside in a Tshirt and shorts.BUT nights and early morning can be cold so probably not viable to stay on a boat without accomodation and insulation.Also weather less predictable over the last 5/6 years. Heavy rain possible
3.lack of storage space because of the geography

[cptsideways]

Originally Posted by Phil

The obvious place in theory is in and around Nice

1.plenty of cheap flights from the UK
2.ski bus to Isola and other ski resorts
3.Nice is an all year living city (although a few restaurants will close)
4.plenty of Marinas with easy train or bus travelling (St Laurant du Var, Nice Villefranche, Beaulieu to name just a close few)
5 extended season (but see below)

Downside
1.you need to be there with your boat to do a deal.Idle chatter and e mails don't seem to wash
2.Weather; in the sun it is great and you can sit outside in a Tshirt and shorts.BUT nights and early morning can be cold so probably not viable to stay on a boat without accommodation and insulation.Also weather less predictable over the last 5/6 years. Heavy rain possible
3.lack of storage space because of the geography

Thanks for this, yes this is the area I was looking around, sounds like you have some experience? I'll be working down that way soon, so will have a good look into it.

I think the biggest issue will be finding somewhere with storage space as the boat is trailered & the need for launching facilities. It could be marina'd but would prefer not.

The other option is finding a campsite with storage facilities, my brother has a motorhome which he'd considering leaving down there for the winter so it may be an option to combine the two.

[indaba1991]

Originally Posted by cptsideways

Thanks for this, yes this is the area I was looking around, sounds like you have some experience? I'll be working down that way soon, so will have a good look into it.

I think the biggest issue will be finding somewhere with storage space as the boat is trailered & the need for launching facilities. It could be marina'd but would prefer not.

The other option is finding a campsite with storage facilities, my brother has a motorhome which he'd considering leaving down there for the winter so it may be an option to combine the two.

Greetings from Big Indaba in Port Vauban in Antibes - I arrived here yesterday in a serious storm- but temp is 22 with sun and by Thursday it will be 25+.

Winters here are very good - cold is only December -February. The town and market are open all year with special Christmas events. There are several slipways and storage areas in the huge marina complex.

Plus side:
My berth from 11th Oct - 1st April is 1500 euros plus tax /53ft boat.
Security here is superb
Weather Protection is superb
The food / wine superb
Flight to Gatwick is about 48 euros (in advance online)
You can buy 10 forward flights for about £297.
Skiing is less than 2hrs
Taxi to Nice airport is 20 - 30 mins 65 euros.

Minus side
Why did I not do this before?
Er - that's it.

[indaba1991]

Originally Posted by indaba1991

Greetings from Big Indaba in Port Vauban in Antibes - I arrived here yesterday in a serious storm- but temp is 22 with sun and by Thursday it will be 25+.............

Minus side
Why did I not do this before?
Er - that's it.

Leaving Majorca two days ago - not a cloud in sight - 26 degrees. The French Med Coast is closer to the N weather fronts - but there are always good spells of weather throughout the winter. I am seriously looking into bringing the Protector here as well.

[Portholme]

I'm not sure I'm enjoying this thread! It's hideous here, just took a couple of ours out trail riding and I'm drenched!

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Portholme

I'm not sure I'm enjoying this thread! It's hideous here

Click on the report button

[Portholme]

Don't get that Kerny. Sorry mate!

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Portholme

Don't get that Kerny. Sorry mate!

Sorry Portholme my warped sense of humor...... check out the RIBnet credibility thread.

[RMS]

Originally Posted by cptsideways

It has just occurred to me that rather than putting the boat away into a barn over winter, it might be possible to store it it elsewhere over the winter. Eg somewhere warm & sunny in Europe...

Being a ski fan & often working abroad means I'm frequently in Euroland & somwhere along the south of France/Italian borders might not be a bad place to park the boat, with a view to staying onboard for a few days at a time.

Isola 2000 is only a few hours from the sea & the Sierra Navada range in spain is handily nearby too.

Suggestions welcome if anyone has any experience or boat yards, moorings etc

Try Malaga. Good flights and decent marina at Benalmadena or on land storage. Benalmadena isn't the best of places in summer but quite nice out of season and the marina is good, has a slip (many don't round there so they rip you off with crane fees) and its pretty reasonable; slip is about 15 E and out of season marina fees about 30-40 E a week. Speak to Paco ( predictably) at Pescatun who can sort on land inside storage and speaks good English to help with any language issues sorting other bits out.