A boat spends most of the year tied up. Where it lies decides how often you use it, how the maintenance runs and what the year costs. So think about the berth together with the boat.
Summer base and winter base
In Turkey the two are often different places. In summer the boat goes down to the Aegean or the south coast for the season, to a marina or the bays. In winter it stays afloat in a marina or is hauled out onto hardstanding. You choose and cost the two separately. Think early about who will take the boat down each spring and back each autumn.
The options
A boat can be kept in a marina, in a municipal or public harbour, at a club or on a laid mooring. A marina puts electricity, water, security, engineers and hardstanding in one place. A harbour or a mooring is simpler, and you plan maintenance, access and security yourself. A marina usually costs more for that reason, and in return your boat is never left unattended. Berths are let by the year, the season or the day.
How the fee is worked out
The berthing fee is based on the length stated on the boat's registration document. Hardstanding is charged on the same length, by the day. Season, contract length and location also move the price, and an annual contract is usually the most economical. Electricity and water are included in some places and metered in others. The travel lift, engineering work and wintering are separate items.
The berth has to fit the boat too: beam, draught, depth off the pontoon and room to manoeuvre. Ask beforehand.
How the boat is moored
The usual arrangement in the Aegean is stern-to mooring. The stern is made fast to the quay and the bow is held by a line from a laid mooring. A laid mooring is a heavy block set on the seabed with a chain, and the mooring line comes up from that chain to the surface. In bays without them, the anchor goes down from the bow and the stern is tied ashore. Here it matters how the bathing platform and the passerelle meet the quay, whether there are bow and stern thrusters, and whether the boat can be moored short-handed. Where boats lie alongside, the fenders and lines must suit the boat's length.
Ask about shore power too. If the supply on the quay falls short of what the boat needs, you will often run the generator for the air conditioning. On large boats this small detail shapes daily life.
What to look for in a winter base
Shelter from the prevailing wind and swell comes first. Then:
- a travel lift that can take the boat's weight and beam
- space on the hardstanding
- access to engineers and authorised service agents
- a fuel berth and a pump-out
- access control and security
If wintering and winter maintenance happen in one place, the boat need not be moved. Hardstanding is not always inside a marina; some boatyards are run separately. Some marinas cut their services back in winter, so ask which stay open all year.
How far away
The distance from your home or the airport directly affects how often you use the boat. For the summer base, closeness to the bays and the cruising area counts most; for the winter base, closeness to the engineers and ease of getting there yourself. Guest parking and nearby shops count too.
Availability and the contract
In popular marinas berths are scarce and there may be a waiting list. The bigger the boat, the fewer the options. If you want a large boat, look into the berth before you decide to buy; we raise it at the start of the search.
The contract should state the term, the services included and the items charged separately. Is your berth kept if the boat is away for a while? Can the contract be transferred if you sell? Ask before signing. Marinas require valid liability insurance for a contract.
A well-chosen berth gets the boat out to sea more often.
