The Best Boating Destinations in the UK – Read our Top 5
The UK offers excellent boating destinations for all types of watercraft. From lively harbours to quiet anchorages, these locations provide secure mooring, good facilities, and easy access to local attractions. Here are five top destinations for boating in the UK. 1. Dart Marina Yacht Harbour, Dartmouth Dart Marina in Dartmouth is ideal for families and casual boating trips. Its deep-water berths can accommodate boats of various sizes. The marina is close to the town, which has restaurants, shops, and historic sites. Families can enjoy short cruises along the River Dart, while more adventurous boaters can explore the scenic South Devon coastline. Services include refuelling, maintenance, and secure mooring. Perfect for: Families, day trips, scenic river cruising 2. Falmouth, Cornwall Falmouth is one of the most popular coastal boating destinations in the UK. Its natural deep-water harbour can take boats of all sizes, and marinas offer full services. Boaters can explore nearby bays, hidden beaches, and Cornish coastal towns such as St Mawes and Helford. The area is also ideal for watersports, fishing, and leisurely cruising along the rugged coast. Perfect for: Coastal cruising, watersports, exploring Cornish villages 3. St Katharine Docks, London St Katharine Docks is a central London boating hub. It caters to a range of boats and offers secure berths and easy access to the city. Boaters can explore London landmarks from the river, including the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf. The marina has nearby restaurants and shops, making it convenient for short stays or city-based excursions. Perfect for: Sightseeing, city breaks, urban boating 4. Poole Quay Boat Haven, Dorset Poole Quay is a large, natural harbour with facilities for all types of boats. The marina supports vessels of different sizes and offers refuelling and maintenance. From here, boaters can explore the Jurassic Coast, secluded coves, and nearby seaside towns. The harbour is lively during summer but also provides quiet anchorages for overnight stays. Perfect for: Coastal cruising, day trips, exploring beaches and towns 5. Stornoway Marina, Stornoway Stornoway Marina on the Isle of Lewis is ideal for boats venturing to the Outer Hebrides. The marina provides secure berths, fuel, and basic maintenance. Boaters can explore remote islands, sandy beaches, and rugged coastal scenery. Stornoway also offers local restaurants and shops, making it a convenient base for longer trips in the Scottish isles. Perfect for: Remote cruising, island hopping, scenic exploration These five destinations provide safe moorings, excellent facilities, and access to unique attractions. Each location has its own character, from family-friendly river cruising to remote island exploration. If any of these boating destinations appeal to you, Go Earth Boating can help you find and purchase the perfect boat to explore them in comfort. Book a free call with us here, and we will guide you through selecting a boat that suits the type of cruising you want to enjoy.
From Australia to Antibes: The Mediterranean Yacht Buyer’s Journey and How to Make It Effortless
For many successful Australians, owning a yacht in the Mediterranean is more than a dream, it’s a lifestyle goal. Waking up off the coast of Corsica, long lunches in Ibiza, island-hopping through Greece, and hosting friends in Saint-Trope, it’s the ultimate way to experience Europe in style. But here’s the catch: The reality of buying a yacht in the Med from Australia can be a logistical nightmare. You’re 10,000 miles away, navigating unclear regulations, languages you may not speak, VAT traps, and mooring contracts that make Aussie paperwork look like a picnic. Add to that the back-and-forth flights, timezone issues, and the sheer number of choices and it’s no wonder many potential buyers delay the dream, or give up entirely. The Typical Mediterranean Yacht Buying Journey (for Australians) If you’re doing this solo, here’s how it often plays out: Weeks of Online Research – Trying to compare yachts, sellers, countries, flagging options, and prices across 7+ marketplaces. Endless Broker Emails – Getting bombarded with emails from agents who don’t understand your needs or sometimes your timezone. Flying Over – Spending 2–3 weeks in Europe just to view a few boats, hoping one will tick the box. Often, they don’t. Confusing Paperwork – Negotiating in a foreign market, unclear on local taxes, import duties, or the fine print. Unforeseen Costs – Mooring, insurance, crew, maintenance — no one gives you the full picture. Post-Purchase Problems – Now you own it… but who manages it? Charters it? Maintains it? Navigates EU rules? You end up spending more time managing the purchase than enjoying the boat. surely that wasn’t your plan? At Go Earth Boating, we eliminate all of this friction for Australian-based buyers. We’ve helped clients across Australia successfully acquire, manage, and enjoy yachts in the Med without the stress. Here’s how we make the process seamless: Step 1: We start with a call or we listen, really listen, to your ideal boating lifestyle. Are you chasing a charter income? Is this for family getaways? Do you prefer Greece or the South of France? We narrow the options fast, so you’re not overwhelmed by choice. Step 2: Through our deep network across the Med (and trusted partners on the ground), we source only vetted yachts that meet your goals, no wasted time. Step 3: We’ll view the yachts on your behalf, shoot video walkthroughs, and give you honest feedback. You don’t need to fly over, you could purchase, as many have, your dream boat completely remotely. Step 4: Our team handles everything from legal checks & contract negotiation, flagging & registration, EU VAT navigation, Marine surveys & insurance. We’re independent, so we work for you, not the seller. Step 5: Ongoing support in Europe post-purchase, we don’t disappear. We can connect you with charter management companies, moorings, maintenance & refit yards. Why Australians Love Owning in the Med There is so much coastline, more destinations, with 22 countries accessible by sea. There is a very popular charter market in the Med and you can offset the cost of your yacht by using some weeks of the year for chartering out. The season is long from April to October where you can dine, shop, undertake sports and socialise at some of the worlds most glamorous ports. We turn complex, distant, and frustrating into simple, local, and enjoyable. Our clients say they would never do it any other way and some even come back for a second yacht. Whether you’re just exploring the idea, or already browsing listings, we’re happy to chat and offer some honest guidance with no pressure.
The UK’s South Coast by Sea: A Journey of Discovery
There’s a unique kind of magic in the air on the UK’s South Coast. From the rugged cliffs of Dorset to the sparkling waters of the Isle of Wight, this stretch of sea is a world of its own, waiting to be explored. There is no better way to discover its hidden coves and charming harbour’s than from the comfort of the Bavaria 450 Sport Coupe ‘Weeks Away’. This isn’t just a boat; it’s a home on the water. With its twin Volvo D6-400hp engines, Weeks Away makes cruising effortless, turning every trip into a seamless adventure. Spend countless weekends charting new paths, creating moments of pure, unadulterated relaxation for yourself and your family and friends. Here’s an example Week Away on ‘Weeks Away’. Setting Sail from the South Coast The journey begins in the early morning. With the press of a button, the electric sunroof glides open, flooding the cockpit with fresh air and sunlight. Another button, and the rear window descends, seamlessly blending the saloon with the sea behind you. You are not just on the water; you are a part of it. After a quick, fresh breakfast from the fully-equipped galley—with its ceramic hob and microwave, you can set your course. The extensive Garmin navigation system makes the voyage a breeze, and you can relax knowing you have a powerful and reliable vessel beneath you. A Pit Stop in the Solent There’s nothing like dropping anchor for lunch in a quiet bay in the Solent. The hydraulic swim platform lowers effortlessly, making it easy to hop in for a swim. Fire up the BBQ grill in the cockpit wet bar, grilling fresh catches while listening to music through the premium Fusion audio system. This boat truly transforms any beautiful spot into a perfect alfresco dining room. A Night in the Channel Islands The journey to the Channel Islands is a highlight in itself. Inside the boat, the Webasto heating system keeps you cozy as you enjoy a sunset drink in the luxurious dark brown leather saloon. With three cabins and a separate shower, there is plenty of room for friends and family to join you on your adventures. The quiet, understated luxury of the Bavaria is everywhere you look—from the beautiful oak woodwork to the spacious heads with separate shower cubicles. This boat has been cared for with a full-service history, and you can feel the attention to detail in every aspect of its design. It’s a boat built for making memories, and that’s exactly why you should view this boat if you are interested in this lifestyle. Life Aboard: Effortless, Comfortable, and Unforgettable From sun-drenched days exploring coastal towns to peaceful nights under a sky full of stars, Weeks Away is the perfect vessel for this journey. It’s a boat that doesn’t just get you from A to B—it makes the entire trip the destination. If you’ve ever dreamed of a life on the water, of weekend getaways and discovering the hidden gems of the UK’s stunning coastline, this Bavaria 450 Sport Coupe offers you that opportunity. It’s more than just a sale; it’s an invitation to a new chapter of adventure. Contact us for more information and create your own journey of discovery.
The Cost of Running a Boat
One question we often get asked is “How much will it cost me to run my boat?” While some people worry that owning a boat is like throwing money into a hole in the ocean, a sensible approach to understanding and managing costs will keep them at a reasonable level. Just like owning a car, having a boat comes with running costs, and the key is to understand and manage them so they stay comfortably within your budget. This article provides a useful framework for doing just that. Rule of thumb It’s nice to get a simple answer to the cost question – If you want a simple answer, we would say budget between 6% and 10% of the purchase cost for annual running costs, excluding depreciation. This is an over-simplified answer but maybe it’s a good starting point. In a nutshell, if you can afford the purchase price, you can probably afford the running costs If you want a method of getting a fuller, more accurate answer, then read on… Categories of running costs Of course, you are interested in the level of costs. However, we recommend that you also categorise your costs by two criteria, which we call predictability and controllability. These are related but different; and this article looks at these two factors. Predictable costs are costs that you know with a reasonable degree of certainty in advance. For example, berthing costs are typically so much per metre, per year. You know the size of your boat and you can do the math, and so these costs are highly predictable. They are even predictable for several years in advance, as berthing costs are likely to rise only by about the rate of inflation. Many other costs fall into this “predictable” category, such as insurance costs etc. Some other costs may have only a medium degree of predictability. Fuel costs per litre are one example. They may certainly rise or fall, but are unlikely to halve overnight. Controllable costs are unsurprisingly, costs that you can control yourself. Total annual fuel costs are a good example of this. You can get them down to zero by not going out in your boat; although this is not an approach we would recommend. The nautical miles you travel and the speed you go at (and hence fuel consumption) are all fully controllable by you. Their predictability depends on how certain you are about how far you will travel in the coming year. Therefore, in the table below, they are shown in each of High, Medium and Low Predictability. On the other hand, your annual berthing costs have, at best, medium controllability. Given the size of your boat, the marina will charge you their rate, and there is not much you can do about it if you want to stay at that marina. Telling fibs to the marina about the size of your boat doesn’t work. They know the size of most boats – sorry folks! However, you do have some control, as you could move to a cheaper marina, change to a mooring instead of a berth or even move to a trailer. Some marinas even offer a park and ride system, whereby boats up to a certain size are dry-stacked out of the water – this is typically at a much lower cost than a traditional berth. If you think about your costs in this way – predictability and controllability – you will have greater understanding of how costs could behave, and therefore be able to much more easily manage your budget. The numbers Of course, you now need to know the specific numbers to attach to the various costs. These are so variable as it depends very much on the type of boat. For example, a superyacht probably has crew recruitment, selection, retention, salary, and various on-costs to take into account. For the typical boater, this is not an issue – other than the need to supply the occasional G+T to willing volunteers who assist with berthing and other crewing activities. At Go Earth Boating we can help you draw up a realistic budget for running cost for any proposed boat. Specific costs Be aware that certain types of boating have specific costs associated with them. In particular boating on a canal or river typically requires an annual license and a Boat Safety Certificate every four years. Also, steel hulled boats require blacking; and fibreglass boats require anti-fouling if kept in the water. Sailing yachts have rigging costs that do not apply to powerboats. These rigging costs depend in part on how energetically the yacht has been used and the stresses on the mast. Defraying costs There is another way in which you can reduce costs even more. At the high end, for a superyacht, you can charter your boat out. There are many agents that will manage this process for you. Go Earth Boating can recommend suitable managing agents and give you an estimate of the possible income. Indeed, if you charter the yacht out a lot, you can even cover all your running costs; and still give yourself plenty of time on the boat. However, all is not lost if your boat does not qualify for the title of ‘superyacht’. You can rent your boat out via agencies such as Beds on Board and AirBnB. The deal here is that people stay on the boat as an alternative experience to a hotel; but do not take the boat out. The boat stays in the berth. Our company boat, a Jeanneau Prestige 34, is on both these sites and is a very popular choice. Go Earth Boating can advise you on the pros and cons of this option if you are thinking of buying and then defraying the running costs in this way. Conclusion Boats do have running costs – but they are in essence no different from the costs of running a car and with a bit of common sense are easily manageable. For any additional questions, contact Go