Saturday 28 January 2023

The madness that is mooring costs

In this cold and icy time I've exercised my mind and fingers to see what's out there regarding online off side moorings and costs. Boy do they vary from the appealing to the absolute ridiculous. 

I'll not mention all actual places other than canals as I'd not want ( yes I know my social media impact it very limited)  to influence cost increases for people if mooring managers found out the specific rates but I have no doubt they do check, but some are greedier than others for sure.

All for a 60 foot boat

Start with where we are at the moment Great Haywood marina  - £2993 p.a 

There is a free 60 foot mooring at Fradley  - Hunts Lock were we were for 10 year - a bit over £2,500, no water no parking no electric and a decent walk over a lock - nice moorings though 

Three prices on the Shroppie ranging from a staggering £3672 and that was for a 57 foot mooting so well over £3,700 for Percy. Another was £3,276. Best (no vacancies surprisingly) was £1,620... All of the Shroppie ones were the same water and parking middle one was electric available but a walk to park.

On the Staffs and Worcester one - best yet was under £1,200   - again no vacancies.

So this year if we stay where we are are (not started the engine not moved anywhere) costs in brief will look like this ....

Moorings  - £2993 ( will go up when we renew if we renew in April)

License -£1,096 ( gone up 4% in April 2022 and another 4% in October 2022)

Insurance  - £200

Blacking £500  ( we try and black every 2 years and budget about £1000 per blacking) 

Service  £100 ( each year for oil stern greaser which is automatic and antifreeze etc)

Batteries £150 ( about £600 eveey four or so years)

RCR - £200 ( we don't have tis but may add it for peace of mind in the future)

So sitting still in the water before we add diesel etc it'll cost us around £5,250

Thats a chunk of change for this pensioner  - walking cycling and camping are sooo much cheaper ! 


5 comments:

Nb Duxllandyn said...

We have recently taken an offside mooring run by Hatherton Marina just under £150 per month. It’s strictly no frills- just somewhere to leave the boat which is what we wanted. So, no electricity, water is available either at the marina or by taking a jolly up to Gailey Top Lock. There’s secure parking but not alongside the boat, it’s about 150 yards away. It’s all *very* basic but set in a green and rural setting and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The surrounding area used to be a pub and leisure park which closed in 2015 and is slowly returning to nature. I think there’s at least one or maybe two free moorings. Contact is John on 07476 372819. What three words location of our mooring is ///orders.sundial.sparks
SJ934083
Mike and Marian
Nb Duxllandyn

Nick Atty said...

Market Drayton has a 60 footer at 2108. It's where we are: herrigbone on the offsde with water and electricity and parking. So a fraction above bankside but definitely not marina - which works very well for us (and easy places to turn very nearby in both directions).

Nev Wells said...

Hi Both, Many thanks for taking the time to post your information and recommendations. We did consider the MD pontoon moorings but really wanted broadside onto the canal as we have been before, but thanks for thinking of us. The Hatherton moorings sound nice... having had to move for water when at Fradley and having water by the boat at Shebdon (and the marina) has spoilt us somewhat.

The possible good news is we have a lead on a mooring on the Shroppie - a lot cheaper and back on the canal to watch the boats go by.... more to come hopefully.

Take care and thanks again.

Lisa said...

Hi Nev,
We are trying to remember what we have just paid at GH David thinks it was £3,800 for us a 70' he has also checked at Overwater Marina and for us over £4K.
Eyewatering prices. What a difference ten foot makes to us! Over £1K.

Lisa
NM What a Lark.

Nev Wells said...

Hi Lisa, Never realised you were 70 feet, it must be quite the challenge getting in and out of the marina ? We recently checked Overwater and they had no 60 foot vacancies - so I can understand why they charge so much.

Nev