Living aboard in Montenegro~ Mediterranean

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Thomea

Wow Fleetwoodjack. Sounds like the harbor folks are paid to give people a hard time. Does anyone on here recommend a good school to get the STCW? Maybe I should work on that before I go abroad

You can obtain an ICC here cheap. Not sure of the price, but any euro license can be obtained locally. Call the Porto Montenegro office for details.

We had no issues with clearing in unlike Fleetwoodjack, who apparently failed to do his homework... Dropped in....then complained.

I really get tired of folks doing the same... just dropping in on some foreign country without doing any homework, then getting mad at the locals or local officials when they get ticketed, fined or turned away for not having the correct documents. In our case here in Montenegro, the official at check in told us to display our cruising permit sticker on our mast.... we are the only boat I've seen actually doing it. We've had no issues nor have we been approached by any officials, whereas I watched as a complete anchorage was cleared of all boats except ours, they were asked to move or face fines, and of course all the boat owners were complaining. Just put the damn sticker on your boat as directed to do so.

Unlike Fleetwoodjack, here's what I went through prior to entering Montenegro instead of just dropping in:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...es-168794.html

The other lesson I've learned is... Don't argue with the officials, just smile and politely do as they ask. Then they leave you alone and in fact can be quite helpful. This has worked well in the UK, Spain, Italy, France and now in Montenegro.

[David B]

Originally Posted by chuckr

Agree with David B on Tunisia as we wintered over there on board for 2 winters in Port Yasmine. Tunisia is a great country with great people and reasonably inexpensive.

We wintered over last year in Kusadasi Turkey and will again this winter. We find it the ultimate city to winter over in. Marina is right downtown and very secure. Great boat yard for repairs. We walk off the boat and in 2 blocks or so we are downtown. It small enough but also large enough and central if you want to travel inland.

Kusadasi sounds interesting. Just had a look on Google Earth, and looks like they also have reasonable hard stand there for over wintering (or is it just short-term?). Any information you can give regarding cost of in-water and hard-stand storage for a 15 metre mono ?

We are planning on being in Turkey by early July next year, and were aiming for the Bozburan peninsular. There is a yard at the bottom of that who quoted EUR2500 back in 2013, for hauling, washing, storage (10 mths), and return to the water. No travel lift, but a big multi-wheeled cradle/trailer that they run into the water on a slipway, then send a diver down to adjust around your hull.

Have you by any chance bumped into Champuurs - a Bavaria Vision 46 with Bob and Vereena on board? They are loving Turkey also.

[Lojanica]

Montenegro is a gem of a country in geography, culture, people, and ports. They are doing their best with regard to the changing border situations in that part of the Med. The officials are trying to keep the place from being over run by transients but at the same time welcoming tourists and favorable immigrants. Tough job in the current environ with their proximity to the refugee highway.

I would error on the side of having all your docs in order presently as things have tightened, not onerously or disruptively so, but enough that life will be easier if you follow the rules. I believe in years past the milieu was looser but lately mostly out of necessity they're doing their best to keep the place a top notch safe destination for desirable visitors.

[David B]

Nice way to put it - the Med is changing unfortunately.

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by David B

Kusadasi sounds interesting. Just had a look on Google Earth, and looks like they also have reasonable hard stand there for over wintering (or is it just short-term?). Any information you can give regarding cost of in-water and hard-stand storage for a 15 metre mono ?

We are planning on being in Turkey by early July next year, and were aiming for the Bozburan peninsular. There is a yard at the bottom of that who quoted EUR2500 back in 2013, for hauling, washing, storage (10 mths), and return to the water. No travel lift, but a big multi-wheeled cradle/trailer that they run into the water on a slipway, then send a diver down to adjust around your hull.

Have you by any chance bumped into Champuurs - a Bavaria Vision 46 with Bob and Vereena on board? They are loving Turkey also.

Yea Kusadasi is a great marina. You have to contact them for a price as they vary a bit. and they do have hard stands for the winter - most boats are out of the water for the winter --

We also know of a contractor who has some slips that he can rent and can make a deal for them - I will pm you with his contact

We do not believe we have met them as the only place we have been are Kusadasi and north and along the Black Sea and only saw one sailboat up here and it was German and only doing the Turkish coast.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Fleetwoodjack.