largs yacht haven unhappy boaters

Beamishken

Beamishken

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Hi I posted this in the motorboat forum but was advised it might be better here sorry for the double post but hopefully of interest here too
We berth in Largs yacht haven & have several friends who also berth there*
The marina offer a dry berth facility for boats up to around 30ft which is quit popular with ribs & smaller cruisers etc. Boats are stored in the yard & when required launched by marina staff with a tractor.
Recently a member of staff was moving a 30ft motorcat towards its trailer when apparently one of the outboards stuck on wot the result was 3 damaged ribs & the motorcat perched across one of them. The marina staff decided to sink said rib to free the motorcat from it almost certainly writing the boat off
Yacht havens have told the boat owners to claim off there own insurers as they have to carry insurance as part of there berthing terms & have been totally unhelpfull towards the aggrieved owners
surely this cannot be correct the marina should be making good damage done by there own staff?*
Can anyone confirm the legal position?*
Whilst my boat wasn't damaged I'm obviously concerned that if it was then I'd be left claiming from my own insurers rather than the people who did the damage

On another note there was recently a sailing event taking place & the rear gate into the boat yard was left open from 8 am till 9 pm for a week as the rear of the yard was used as a temporary camp site for the dinghy sailors. This meant unchecked access to the entire boat yard for all & sundry -result 7 outboards stolen in one week - Marina's reaction 'keep it quiet'*
How can they get away with it ?*
Anyone else had problems in a marina & is this typical?
 
Contact the MD and ask for his/her views on the subject, inviting the company to fix what they broke before you take a group acton and go down the legal route. Consider your response to the companies reply and if necessary go down the legal route with letters to the boating, local and national press.
 
I had a well known marina damage my boat on launch. No names no pack drill as they behaved very well and sorted the issue out at no cost to me. Point being though that the claim was dealt with by the two insurance companies, mine and theirs. There was no loss of my no claims and I was given out of pocket expenses and costs for loss of amenity. Tell them to put it to their insurance companies and I think they will be after the yard like Rotwiellers.
 
Hadenough said:
I had a well known marina damage my boat on launch. No names no pack drill as they behaved very well and sorted the issue out at no cost to me. Point being though that the claim was dealt with by the two insurance companies, mine and theirs. There was no loss of my no claims and I was given out of pocket expenses and costs for loss of amenity.
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Can't see that happening here the guy who's rib was sunk used it to access his sailing boat which he keeps on a mooring a mile or so away
he asked as he couldn't use the rib & now couldnt access the sail boat either could he bring the yacht into the marina
He was told he could bring the yacht in but would have to pay the going visitors rate!!
Customer care at its best!!!
 
KEN_NUNN said:
...Recently a member of staff was moving a 30ft motorcat towards its trailer when apparently one of the outboards stuck on wot the result was 3 damaged ribs & the motorcat perched across one of them.
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If the accident was cause by a fault on the motorcat, shouldn't the motorcat's owner/insurer be liable?
 
JumbleDuck said:
If the accident was cause by a fault on the motorcat, shouldn't the motorcat's owner/insurer be liable?
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It was a marina employee driving so I don't know how it will pan out
The disappointing thing is the Marina's attitude to the whole thing which seems to be sort it out yourselves rather than reassuring customers that they will be looked after in a difficult situation
 
I would almost certainly place liability (and therefore responsibility to make good) on the marina. They certainly sound like they need an attitude adjustment.
 
I used Largs Marina years ago when I had the wee Shetland 535. I liked the marina's facilities and location, though some of the staff at the time were a bit snooty IMO, when I reported that my boat had been broken in to and the fuel tank and fish finder were stolen. They got a bit shirty when I quizzed them about their security they proudly boast. I also think the fee's are overpriced for what you get as there're cheaper options elsewhere.
 
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Contact Yacht Havens Ltd head office in Lymington (the head office, not the marina)

It's unlikely they'll be happy with the way it's being handled especially with the matter gaining attention on social media (which, of course, you'll mention to them!)

(Must say that I'm a very happy customer of Yacht Havens Group albeit at one of their other marinas and this doesn't sound like their way of doing business from my experience)
 
The yard caused the damage, so their insurance must pay, that's why they have insurance. The owners should contact their insurance companies who may do the chasing for them.
 
Give it a while - it's getting there!!

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  1. [h=3]largs yacht haven unhappy boaters - Yachting and Boating World[/h]www.ybw.com › Forum › Forum › Yachting Monthly's Scuttlebutt
    12 hours ago - 7 posts - ‎5 authors
    We berth in Largs yacht haven & have several friends who also berth there* The marina offer a dry berth facility for boats up to around 30ft ...


  2. [h=3]largs yacht haven unhappy boaters - Yachting and Boating World[/h]www.ybw.com › Forum › Forum › Motor Boat Forum
    2 days ago - 10 posts - ‎9 authors
    We berth in Largs yacht haven & have several friends who also berth there The marina offer a dry berth facility for boats up to around 30ft which ...


 
It's very common for yards and marinas to be very secretive about theft and damage issues. It's sometimes due to the fact that employees aren't honest about what's happened but for most places it's company policy to deny everything and anything.
 
Hadenough said:
By my calculation you typed this post while steaming through Harwich harbour. Welome back to the Orwell.
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Thanks old chap. We came back from Dover today and because I was a tiny bit tired the crew said they wanted to do the last 10 miles and packed me off to the aft cabin. I've never heard so much noise in all my life, from three years old to SWMBO there were shrieks and shout about 'let's goose wing it' and the seven year old was challenging the fourteen year old to a winching contest. I realised I wasn't going to get any kip so I came on here to offer my usual brand of incompetent advice.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I thought a malfunctioning boat caused the damage. The yard really can't be blamed if someone's boat fails, even if they are moving it at the time.
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Whilst that may be true, in the interest of customer relations the yard should be reassuring customers that they will ensure they are not out of pocket & offering any assistance necessary which they are not doing
We all accept accidents do happen it's how the aftermath is dealt with that makes the differance
 
JumbleDuck said:
I thought a malfunctioning boat caused the damage. The yard really can't be blamed if someone's boat fails, even if they are moving it at the time.
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If I read the OP correctly, the damaged boats were both part of the dry stack scheme. It may be different in Largs, but most offer this as a "tell us when you want to come and we will have the boat ready and when you are finished let us know and we'll put it back" type service.

If that is the case then the liability surely rests with the yard as they were "in charge" or "in command" at the time.

Where I have seen these type of operations running, the marina workboat usually does the to'ing and fro'ing between the berth and lift point. If Largs chose to not do that and cut a corner and use the owners engines then they are still at fault.

It's got nowt to do with going the extra mile to keep happy customers, it's about taking responsibility when you screw up, and it seems they are very lacking, whether on this occasion or over thefts or over security.
 
Comrade Red said:
If I read the OP correctly, the damaged boats were both part of the dry stack scheme. It may be different in Largs, but most offer this as a "tell us when you want to come and we will have the boat ready and when you are finished let us know and we'll put it back" type service.

If that is the case then the liability surely rests with the yard as they were "in charge" or "in command" at the time.
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I read it as a dry stack boat which went wrong - jammed open throttle - when being returned to the hoist to come out. Of course the marina should be making soothing noises, but would they be expected to take liability if, for example, the mast on a sailing yacht fell over and damaged others while they were moving it?
 
JumbleDuck said:
I read it as a dry stack boat which went wrong - jammed open throttle - when being returned to the hoist to come out. Of course the marina should be making soothing noises, but would they be expected to take liability if, for example, the mast on a sailing yacht fell over and damaged others while they were moving it?
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Agree re mast, but if the engine was being used by the marina to move the boat, rather than use a workboat, then they are at fault.

Using the mast example, let's say your boat is in a Marina and the marina need to move it. Rather than use their workboat they put your sail up. They sheet in, but then need to let the sheet out quickly but the sheet block jams, causing your boat to slam into another as it rounds up......

Do you see my point?
 
My two penny's , as I see it the min the marina take charge of any boat not matter what it down to them , example a marina in Greece decided over the winter to move a yacht because they wanted that berth for a bigger boat , while doing it they damage another boat , same thing there didn't want to claim of their insurance , in the end the guy took it to his insurance and was told they would deal with it but not to worry because the marina was responsible and they would claim off the marina insurance .
I think the truth is if the guy reported what happen to his insurances his insurance would just do the same , the really problem is the relationship between the marina and the owner will suffer badly just because the marina it trying to worm there way out of the problem .
What a pity , it give every one a bad name .

another beautiful day on the med .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com
 
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