Boatyards near Burnham ...... comments, experiences?

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NealB

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Our old Seamaster 34 is in need of some much overdue TLC.

She is based in Limehouse, but we live in Burnham, so there would be advantages having her ashore here.

I guess the obvious people to approach are: Priors, Rice and Cole, Burnham Yacht Harbour, Bridgemarsh, Fambridge and Brandy Hole.

Any recommendations (have I missed anywhere), or otherwise, would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to pm, if you'd rather be discreet.

Thanks.
 
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Brandy hole probably the cheapest if you going to DIY but if you require services of engineers etc then best look else where

Also you might consider Suttons Wharf at top end of the roach , they are a helpful bunch and not going to break the bank either .

Fambridge has elec / mech people on site

Can't comment on Burnham as no personal experiences
 
OR4751 said:
Not without reason.
Would avoid them like the plague :mad:
Rip-off Britain is alive and kicking at BYH.
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Always found them reasonable, reliable and trustworthy. Have faith in the work they do and they are always very helpful. They have to stick to all the rules and regs. They may be a bit more expensive but I believe you get what you pay for. Having had a bad experience with a local engineer in the past would much rather put my safety in the hands of professionals.
 
Fambridge are very useful regards employing people to do work for you. They do not seem to mind if you bring in contractors and don't seem to charge you for the priveledge. In consequence there are a number of specialist types who operate from their yard but are not actually FYH staff. Erbas of this Parish does electrical, Robert of Brookland Marine is the local GRP expert, There is a welder and they seem to have contacts with a local shot blasting chap.
 
tidclacy said:
Always found them reasonable, reliable and trustworthy. Have faith in the work they do and they are always very helpful. They have to stick to all the rules and regs. They may be a bit more expensive but I believe you get what you pay for. Having had a bad experience with a local engineer in the past would much rather put my safety in the hands of professionals.
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I can second this. I kept my boat at BYH for three seasons and they did any bits that I couldn't do myself. Whilst the work was never anything really substantial, it was always carried out as promised. I have no complaints.
 
I feel I should elaborate on my comment regarding BYH.

In 2006 our cutlass bearing needed replacing. We were berthed at BYH at the time.
The yard manager quoted me £300-500 for the job - to which I agreed.
Upon completion I received an invoice for... £1,200
When I asked what had happened to the quoted £300-500 I was told that:
- the job had taken longer than expected
- the quote did not include the hauling out/launching/cradle hire
- the quote did not include VAT.

Whilst I had no complaints about the quality of the work, I am - as you can no doubt tell - to this day pissed off about the IMO despicable practices when quoting for work.
 
I went to an EC boatyard a few years back and asked for an estimate for blasting, re-epoxy and re antifoul, The back of fag packet in the office was about £1700... the paper quote was over £5000... Needless to say I did not take it up
 
Hi,

FYH do not add a surcharge for contractors you wish to come on site, unlike many other marinas. As mentioned above there some resident mech/elec engineers, glassfibre/polishing experts. You do course have to pay for time on pontoon or haulout/launch time ashore. FYH brochure with local adverts for services is on-line.

Good luck finding competent, trustworthy people.

A
 
moonshine said:
Hi,

FYH .... You do course have to pay for time on pontoon ...
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Not necessarily :)

(I'm cautious about pushing my business on here too much but suffice it to say that I have an arrangement with FYH with regard to "parking" customers boats on the pontoon whilst I'm working on them)
 
tidclacy said:
Always found them reasonable, reliable and trustworthy. Have faith in the work they do and they are always very helpful. They have to stick to all the rules and regs. They may be a bit more expensive but I believe you get what you pay for. Having had a bad experience with a local engineer in the past would much rather put my safety in the hands of professionals.
Click to expand...

+1 replaced my engine, were competitive, helpful & accomodating. Tony Pitt the man to talk to.
 
You already know my opinion of Rice & Cole and their underhand & devious business practices regarding the infamous theft of our mooring chain, I wouldn't touch them if they were the last boatyard on earth.

Can't speak from experience but BYH have always had a reputation for being a bit incompetent while also being overpriced.

Bridgemarsh marina has always had a good reputation for being reasonable, does Biff still run the place? Alternatively I have found Robin Prior to be quite a personable chap so Priors is another possibility.

Assuming you want somewhere on the north of the river, considering your location, I guess that is about it.
 
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