Boat club

[keana]

I`m looking into the possibility of joining a local boat club in cardiff to do away with this need for relying on local authority opening times. I`m going to have another whinge now....
They (the water centre staff) told me last year that the slipway would be open till 8o`clock when the lighter evenings came in the spring. Not so. still 4.30. I got there on easter Monday at 12.00 thinking I could come in later ....mistake, I had to be back by 4.15 thats a quater to 4 lock. What a waste of a day... 3 hours fishing and missed the best time. It appears that the local rowing club can use the slipway at any time they like and even have their own keys. I`m sure it wouldnt take much for them (cardiff harbour authority) to follow in the footsteps of the Vale council and issue annual keys for a fee. The vale council charge £25 per key for a year for each of their slipways I`m sure that the majority of small boat owners who use the Channel view centre would be more than willing to pay even £40 per year for the use of the slip and pontoon there.
I know there are other options and I have keys for the Penarth and Sully slips but either you cant park anywhere or if you can then its likely to get nicked or vandalised.
I`m also thinking long term here, like coming home from work in the summer and fancying an hours fishing.....cant because the centres shut. Has anyone got any views on any of the local clubs. Which is the best one? What about costs?.....sorry for the whinge but winge over now. There are some things you just have to get off your chest......God you must get bored reading all my rubbish. If my messages are too long please say so wont you.

[Kaptin Kod]

I'm a member of Cardiff Yacht Club,

Joining fee £50.00
Membership £130
10 hours of work out of you / or you pay them £5 for every hour you dont do £50

£50 to be paid for tokens to be used in the club bar.

this works out at £230 for 1st year for slipway access but this is 24 hours. loads of parking space, dont know how secure / safe it is though as they were broken into a few weeks ago.

2nd year £180 etc.


KK

[Charter Skipper]

Yacht club sounds like a bargin !!!......The Marina is more than £230 per metre per year............

[keana]

It does sound like a good deal. I think the wet mooring(trot) is another £130 or so. My missus wants the boat off the drive so I think I might have to fork out for that as well. Anything to keep them happy eh? Picked up the application form on Saturday. Got my proposer and seconder sorted out. Just got to get accepted now.

[Kaptin Kod]

Dont forget if you have a trot mooring you have to load your car with all your kit, unload it, row out to the boat (you will need a tender) and its a long way out when its windy. load the boat and then when you come back youve got to do it all over again.

I got fed up with all that mallarky especially after 2 incidents, once when I left my car keys on the boat and the wind was howlling accross the bay , and once just before my holls I couldn't remember if I shut the window and had to row out to check ( another windy day) to find I had , also you will have to take her out of the water regulary to clean the muck off the bottom or antifoul it. wish I had not gone this route to start as I was left with a right mess to clean up and I still have stain marks on the hull that wont come off.

I have a small Bic sportyak for sale if you need a cheapish tender.

KK

[keana]

Thanks KK for the info. Your right of course in everything you say. But if the missus wants rid of the boat off her new driveway then who am I to argue. I think I would prefer to use the slipway there but its a small price to pay to keep her sweet. I`ll have to cross the cleaning off thing and loading and unloading as I get to it.
As for the dinghy, a mate (in the club) has just bought a 32ft yacht which is now moored on the pontoon there. He doesnt want his tender any more and offered it to me for `free to a good home`. I bit his hand off for that. I think he probably nicked it from Roath Park Lake but it`ll do me just fine. It will take a small engine too if ever I get lazy. My aux could do with a run now and again anyway.

Cheers.

[biggun]

Originally Posted by keana

God you must get bored reading all my rubbish. If my messages are too long please say so wont you.

Don't worry your self, if we don't listen who will?
This is just another way that fishing helps people to get their blood pressure down

[nimue]

Hey Andy,
I keep my boat on a drying mooring and it's not much hassle rowing out with the gear. Guess it depends how far out? Luckily never been broken into and leave fishing gear on during summer. Just have to carry fuel and instruments. I'm on a very muddy mooring and it's not a lot of fun wading out to it at low tide! Guess it keeps opportunist thieves away.
Good luck.
Jules.

[keana]

Thanks fellas. I think I can live with a bit of rowing. Apart from digging bait, I dont think I get any more exercise anyway. Be able to eat a few more pies now without the missus suspecting LoL.
I have to unload all the electronics and fishing gear from the boat when I get home anyway otherwise it`ll get nicked off my drive so it wont matter to dump it all in the car and take it home but I can see everyones point of view. I`ll suck it and see. My boat is relatively old (1980`s) and doesnt look very pretty I suppose thats why the missus doesnt want it on the drive. But in a couple of years time when I trade it in for a newer one perhaps she might change her mind and want it to impress the neighbours. Then I might consider trailering it again......who knows. Funny things these women lol