Using a boat as a holiday home

Using a boat as a holiday home

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clan

Original Poster:

131 posts

203 months

Friday 12th September 2008
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After reading one of the other threads on this boat http://www.boatsandoutboards.com/view/F190526 it got me thinking. In the current climate of cheaper boats and cars and falling property prices, would it be a good idea and practical to buy a boat like this and moor it in a marina in somewhere like Spain, France or Cyprus and use it as a family holiday home. Obviously I will have mooring fees to pay, but I would try and go for a cheaper area. How practical do you think it would be to do this and are there any pitfalls?

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

225 months

Monday 15th September 2008
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You read my mind.

We'd thought about selling our boat in the UK, buying another and keeping it in the Canaries. Marina fees are cheaper out there and there's almost gauranteed sailing weather year round. Could do some interesting inter-island trips too.

Much cheaper than property, less commitment and maybe easier to sell too. Could get together with friends and set up a boatshare arrangement to make it even cheaper.

Why not? Anyone?

Not Ideal

2,989 posts

203 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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Could you not transport your boat to the canaries or you thinking of upgrading..??

BigBazza

2,135 posts

262 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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I've been thinking EXACTLY the same thing - i'm sure it would work.

Think i'm going to go shopping in the closed season.

Getting a berth in a decent marina is the trickiest bit I think.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

225 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
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BigBazza said:
I've been thinking EXACTLY the same thing - i'm sure it would work.

Think i'm going to go shopping in the closed season.

Getting a berth in a decent marina is the trickiest bit I think.
I think in the med you're expected to buy and not rent a berth. Most of the Marina's in the Canaries I've seen are half empty 'tho, so finding one shouldn't be a problem

clan

Original Poster:

131 posts

203 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
Jaguar steve said:
BigBazza said:
I've been thinking EXACTLY the same thing - i'm sure it would work.

Think i'm going to go shopping in the closed season.

Getting a berth in a decent marina is the trickiest bit I think.
I think in the med you're expected to buy and not rent a berth. Most of the Marina's in the Canaries I've seen are half empty 'tho, so finding one shouldn't be a problem
This is the sort of thing that I wasn't sure about, price of berths, do you get a water and electricity supply. The other way I was looking at it was unlike a holiday home if you got bored with the area that you were berthed up in then you could move on to another area for another couple of years. The problem is that I have never owned a boat before and I now feel that I have got hours of research ahead of me.

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

225 months

Thursday 18th September 2008
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Puerto Calero in Lanzarote is one of the Transmanche (sp?) group of marinas that are dotted round the south and east coast of the UK.

Berthing costs were cheaper in Lanzarote than the UK when we enquired a couple of years ago. Another one, Marina Rubicon is in the south of the island at Playa Blanca, I've never seen this one more than half full so finding a berth shouldn't be a problem.

Back out there in a couple of weeks - I'll see what I can find out.

Weather of course is cloud9 for sailing all year round.

Edited by Jaguar steve on Thursday 18th September 08:55

NickyTwoHats

2,093 posts

256 months

Friday 26th September 2008
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If it flies floats or f*** .. rent it!
We do the BVI every winter $1,000 a day gets you a 59' motor boat with 4 double cabins and NO hassle or on-costs.

xjandy

1,216 posts

208 months

Friday 26th September 2008
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Funny enough we use ours as a holiday home.....in the UK.Its nice to get away when things get tough.