Can anyone recommend a boat yard?

[JorgeinLondon]

I understand that I'm probably opening a can of worms but we are looking for a boat yard to do some work on my very old Sealine 18 Weekender.

We would like to do the following work:
1) Haul out, clean and sort out anti-fowling.
2) "sort out" my hull topsides. My hull is structurally sound but aesthetically poor and we would like to do something about it. I think we want to do a Vinyl Wrap which would give us a pretty good result I would hope...
3) Service our relatively new (2012) Evinrude Etec.

I suppose I should go to Chas Newman for the engine as they are official Etec dealers, but I was wondering if there was any boat yards with experience with wrapping a boat on the Thames. We are based in Chiswick and would be prepared to go up to Shepperton. Being relatively new (been on the river since June) we've gone past loads of boat yards, so there seems to be a lot of choice which makes picking one difficult.

Any recommendations from 'the board' would be highly appreciated!

 

[Actionmat]

I have found D&R Engineering very good. (Walton Marina) and would recommend that you call and speak to Ian.

And I've also good things about Chertsey Bridge Marine

 

[JorgeinLondon]

Not such a bad journey for us.. Thanks for recommendation.

 

[Thallac]

Hi, you can always run your boat aground on the foreshore and with the use of a generator and pressure washer clean her.
Re etec you only have chas nearby as other boat yards will not have the tools/equipment. I had an etec 90 on my last boat and took it to chas. Etecs do not need a service for the first 300 hours so you may not need one.
Re lifting out Johns boat yard opposite Brentford can lift out, but not sure about vinyl wrap experience.
You could always get colour back by polishing her. Other yards near by include swan island.
Tim

 

[JorgeinLondon]

Thanks for your reply.

The engine has been serviced before, but not by Chas, so that worries me a little bit. Occasionally it runs a little rough between 2000 and 2500 rpm, a misfire now and then. Because I am constantly running it in relatively low RPM's, I think I may have some sort of build up (maybe carbon). Above or below that little range its absolutely fine. Maybe I'm being paranoid - being a relative newbie to the MOBO scene I'm constantly listening to vibrations, engine tone, any changes however nuanced. It would still be nice to have a proper 'Dealership' service done.

I have been quite keen. We brought the boat in late June, I have logged 378 miles (according to my NASA trip log which I zeroed when I brought her). Been out at least 2 times a week, mostly for 4 hour trips, but 25% out for a good 10 hours.

The main problem with the topsides is that the old Sealine transfers have been rubbed away in places. I'm not sure a polish will bring much of it back.

It spent time moored up to one of the peers near Kew bridge and I think all wake that gets generated around that corner may have rubbed them all off. It is 30 years old after all!

That's why I'm thinking the wrap maybe the way forward. It will still need quite a lot of preparation I think, there's lots of little scratches here and there.

Glad you recommend Chas. Went to visit them the other day and thought they were nice people.

 

[Thallac]

Thanks for your reply.

The engine has been serviced before, but not by Chas, so that worries me a little bit. Occasionally it runs a little rough between 2000 and 2500 rpm, a misfire now and then. Because I am constantly running it in relatively low RPM's, I think I may have some sort of build up (maybe carbon). Above or below that little range its absolutely fine. Maybe I'm being paranoid - being a relative newbie to the MOBO scene I'm constantly listening to vibrations, engine tone, any changes however nuanced. It would still be nice to have a proper 'Dealership' service done.

I have been quite keen. We brought the boat in late June, I have logged 378 miles (according to my NASA trip log which I zeroed when I brought her). Been out at least 2 times a week, mostly for 4 hour trips, but 25% out for a good 10 hours.

The main problem with the topsides is that the old Sealine transfers have been rubbed away in places. I'm not sure a polish will bring much of it back.
View attachment 54078
It spent time moored up to one of the peers near Kew bridge and I think all wake that gets generated around that corner may have rubbed them all off. It is 30 years old after all!

That's why I'm thinking the wrap maybe the way forward. It will still need quite a lot of preparation I think, there's lots of little scratches here and there.

Glad you recommend Chas. Went to visit them the other day and thought they were nice people.

Hi

I had a problem at 2000 revs where it did not sound comfortable, and was told that it was because it was switching to another gear/engine ratio.
Re transfers I don't think either Swan Island or John's Boat yard would be able to do it. You would be surprised at what compounding and polishing would be able to do
Re protecting the boat in future try these http://www.mountbattenboathouse.co.uk/blue-performance-fender-hull-protector-sheet-2-sizes/
Thanks
TIM

 

[chuckaduck]

Walton marina is your best bet, D & R engineering are good and the marina does wrapping