Lack of moorings holds back marine traders

There is a waiting list of up to three years for a mooring at St Peter Port or St Sampson’s.

And Guernsey Boat Owners Association president Nick Guillemette said the waiting list was still a big issue for the local boating community.

‘There are people champing at the bit to buy boats, but they have nowhere to put them,’ he said.

‘For marine traders, this is stopping them from growing their business.’

Investigations into using the Pool for a marina have been taking place and a seabed survey has been carried out.

It is not just about new owners buying boats during lockdown, but also existing boat owners wanting to buy new, larger boats, but not having the space for them.

Mr Guillemette said creating the floating marina would help free space in the existing ones, as boat owners would look to move if the Pool project goes ahead.

The association has been in discussion with Guernsey Ports over the project and Mr Guillemette welcomed the work taking place so far.

‘But at best we are looking at this taking four to five years,’ he said.

‘There is no quick solution.’

Guernsey Marine Trades Association president David Norman has called a meeting with the Harbour Authority to discuss how the demand can be met.

‘It something we have been looking at for many years. Moorings could have been managed more carefully and tightly.

‘A number of boats are not fit for the sea and there are boats that are an inappropriate size for their mooring,’ he said.

‘We have been looking at other areas of the harbour and temporary moorings, which would certainly get people off the list.

‘We would like to see more people enjoy the waters around Guernsey because, as a boat owner myself, its a great thing.’

He said that when the QEII Marina opened in 1988, it increased the number of spots available three-fold.

All moorings were then full within 12 months.

Lovell Yachts owner Martin Lovell sells second-hand vessels and said there had been problems with waiting lists for many years, especially when it came to vessels more than 40ft long.

He praised Guernsey Harbours for introducing a small fee to get on the waiting list, as it ensured people were serious about needing the mooring.

But there were simply not enough space.

‘I know people selling new boats are getting very frustrated,’ he said.

‘Getting new boats are hard to get hold of, but then when they get one, there is nowhere to put it. Lots of people moving here want to get out on the water and they are being stopped from doing that.’

He welcomed moves to create a new marina.

THE next phase of the Pool marina investigations will start later this week.

It will involve core drilling into the seabed using a jack-up barge.

Due to the manoeuvring and safe operating space required by the barge, all vessels moored in the Pool, Falcon trots, north pier and south pier chains need to be moved into the Victoria Marina. It is anticipated the work will take about four weeks to complete, weather dependant.

Anyone unable to move their vessel should contact the marina office on 725987.