Moorings

"Why do I need to pay for mooring maintenance?"

"I rent the mooring - it's up to the owner to cut the grass!"

"I don't care if the weeds are in my mooring - I don't use my boat much..."

"If other people don't look after their moorings, why should I?"

"I can't afford to get it repaired or to put a new quay heading in"

"I'm not going to pay to have the river dredged, I can get out ok even if others can't"

...and so on.

Let's put it into perspective so you are in no doubt whatsoever.

For several years, DBC members have been constantly checking boats, moorings, etc., especially where the mooring owners or boat owners live a distance away. These members are often seen clearing out the weeds from around boats, securing boats that have been battered by high winds, and even cutting grass from some moorings which were starting to get overgrown.

Unfortunately, life, age, and circumstances creep up on us all, and the members are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up this work. Furthermore, the attitude of some mooring and boat owners is why they should pay a mooring maintenance fee if people are going to do it for free.

I will tell you why. It is because of their caring nature and their wish for the moorings of Dilham Marina to be kept nice for the benefit of everyone.

Moving forward, the DBC members will happily and enthusiastically continue to look after the moorings of the owners and renters who have paid the incredibly small annual Marina Maintenance fee. Also, these mooring owners will be entitled to have their part of the roadway maintained when necessary, following the inevitable erosion of the roadway due to both the weather and the wear and tear from vehicles.

Any mooring owner who does not wish or intend to pay the Marina Maintenance fee will be presented with weed clearing invoices, road maintenance invoices from bona fide companies who carried out that type of work, so that the Marina as a whole is properly and correctly maintained.

There is good news. It is also a 'heads up' for mooring owners, especially those who are at an age when they will one day need to hang up their deck shoes due to a lack of mobility, financial constraints, etc.

In 2019, the Marina was dredged, following input from the motoring owners. This was vital work, allowing boats to enter and leave the Marina easily. The cost of this operation was £48,000, and it demonstrates the power of people working together for a common aim.

It is suggested that this work is still good for another 10 years. By that time, the cost to dredge the Marina will have risen considerably, and may be out of reach of many. Furthermore, the cost to repair, replace or simply maintain their moorings will also be prohibitive, running into the thousands of pounds, even going into double figures. So if you are thinking of 'selling up', now is a good time to evaluate your options.