Think about the possible ideal retreat, once the most intense stage of work activity is over, it is something that at any given moment any person considers and there are as many «perfect» plans as there are tastes and preferences. Many people see the sea as the best environment for active aging, combining relaxation with their favorite hobbies, from fishing to the simple pleasure of sailing.
To make the dream come true, you don’t just need one sports or pleasure boat, of more or less meters in length, but also a safe place to leave it. Finding it can be more complicated (and expensive) than buying the boat itself.
What legislation applies to mooring points?
Before launching into a reality that idea that you have always had in mind, you should know how a Leisure port, sports port. These ports, located in areas considered maritime – terrestrial, are assets of public interest with special legal protection. They are property of the state although the competence regarding their construction, remodeling or management is transferred to the autonomous communities.
In turn, each community can decide whether to take charge of the port itself, through direct management, or to assign it to a company for a certain number of years. Until a few decades ago, the maximum time for this transfer was generally 30 years, although some communities have already put in place regulations to extend it to 50 and even 75, as indicated by the Spanish Federation of Sports and Tourist Port Associations (@feapdt).
Lawyers specialists in this matter, they explain that the mooring points work in concession regime, that is, even if you buy one, in reality what you buy is a right of preferential use during the years of validity of the port concession. After this time, you would have to renew your mooring right.
The rental option is also possible, either for a short period (days or weeks) or for long periods (months or years). In this case you would have the same rights as the «owner».
How much do they cost and what are the costs?
Like any other good, the price of a mooring point will be determined mainly by supply and demand. The differences in terms of rates, both for sale and rent, are very different and depend fundamentally on where the marina is located and the services it offers. It is not difficult to imagine that the prices of a berth in Puerto Banus, in the Balearic Islands, in the Port of Marina Port Vell in Barcelona or in Sotogrande in Cádiz, will be much higher than others that you can find in coastal areas. less valued. In this sense (and so that you do not panic) there are many towns that have several ports of this type. Along with the super port of exclusive yachts, there are usually, not too far away, others with less «power» but perfect for docking your «boat» with the same guarantees.
The tie point It offers facilities and also a series of services, in whose maintenance the «owner» must collaborate by means of the corresponding fee. Cleaning, electricity supply, security personnel, ease of repairs … Regarding rights, the first of course is to be able to leave your boat moored whenever you want and in most marinas it is possible rent that space to third parties if you deem it appropriate (you will always have to consult the specific regulations of each port).
What to look for when choosing a certain mooring point?
Logically, the ideal port is the one that you can access more easily because it is closer to your usual place of residence or summer, but, sometimes, due to price, it can compensate acquiring the berthing point in another that is somewhat further away. . It is also obvious that you will have to purchase or rent one appropriate for the dimensions of your boat.
It is very important to take into account the security conditions offered by the port, both in terms of protection against possible inclement weather (dams of proven effectiveness against storms and large tides) and in terms of possible surveillance services, that guarantee that your ship will be protected while it is in port. Generally, the port is not responsible for any mishap or damage that your boat may suffer.
Also check that the facilities are adequate and that there are extra services that are especially useful: changing rooms, showers, electricity and water outlets for the boat, gas station in the port itself, bar or restaurant …
Finally, if you are not an expert skipper, check the ease offered by the mooring point when docking. As with garage spaces, some allow you to leave the boat perfect and «first time» and others require complex maneuvers. If you can choose, the best ones are those that have a “finger”, that is, with a small separation, like a mini-dock, between boats that perfectly delimits the space that corresponds to each one of them.
