Competition between marinas for berths

lustyd said:
Like the “fuel at cost” that presumably they buy from the service station down the road given ot always ends up the same price.
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Berth holder discount is something like 30p litre off what is admittedly something just above what Tesco will sell diesel for. TBH it seems about the only positive thing yo come out of it so far as it really grated paying that surcharge.

Bucklers Hard seem to be wanting £1.68 on a 40/60 split when I visited last weekend
 
Lucky Duck said:
Bucklers Hard seem to be wanting £1.68 on a 40/60 split when I visited last weekend
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I genuinely don’t understand how this isn’t considered the fraud it is. We paid something like 98p/litre at Troon recently on 60/40 which felt much more genuine. What’s the point in being able just to claim tax relief if the marinas just pocket the difference? I’d actually prefer the government take it.
Funnily enough in Ireland it does end up pump prices with no tax break so apparently it doesn’t cost more to provide.
 
I've just had an email from MDL. Seems they're adjusting their berthing plans again since there were a lot of people who didn't like the loss of "Freedom Berthing" when the Otium points scheme was launched.

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As we move into 2026, there are a number of changes that you will see in relation to Otium and your berth renewal.

Firstly, the Otium points scheme remains, but references to Otium will be solely for the purposes of collecting and redeeming points, and is separated from the various berthing packages that will no longer carry the Otium name.

Secondly, the names of the various berthing packages available are being simplified and will now comprise of:
  • Simply Berthing - a no-frills attached package aimed at smaller vessels
  • Signature Berthing - our recommended berthing package
  • Platinum Berthing - an enhanced berthing package
The details of each of these berthing packages is noted below, and those available to you at renewal, along with prices, will be displayed in your MDL portal in the run up to renewal.

Simply Berthing (ideal for smaller boats under 12m)
  • Secure, no‑frills berth
  • Access to shore‑side facilities and free Wi‑Fi
  • 2.5% of your berth fee in Otium Points
  • 2% on fuel in Otium Points
  • Up to 14% in Otium Points on boatyard services
  • 4% in Otium Points on storage ashore
  • 10% off holidays at Mercury Holiday Park
Signature Berthing (for those seeking extra benefits and rewards)
  • 8 weeks ashore storage included
  • 5% of your berth fee in Otium Points
  • 16% on fuel in Otium Points
  • 22% in on boatyard services in Otium Points
  • 20% on visitor berthing at MDL Marinas in Otium Points
  • 10% off holidays at Mercury Holiday Park
  • 3% early payment discount - eligible for those paying in full more than 8 weeks prior to their contract start date.
Platinum Berthing (for the ultimate cruising experience)
  • Includes all Signature benefits detailed above, plus:
  • Unlimited visitor berthing at MDL's UK marinas and 130+ European marinas via Pass-Ports Escale
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PS - I hate the word "signature" which seems to be applied to everything these days to imply some sort of kudos or upgrade.
 
wonkywinch said:
I've just had an email from MDL. Seems they're adjusting their berthing plans again since there were a lot of people who didn't like the loss of "Freedom Berthing" when the Otium points scheme was launched.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As we move into 2026, there are a number of changes that you will see in relation to Otium and your berth renewal.

Firstly, the Otium points scheme remains, but references to Otium will be solely for the purposes of collecting and redeeming points, and is separated from the various berthing packages that will no longer carry the Otium name.

Secondly, the names of the various berthing packages available are being simplified and will now comprise of:
  • Simply Berthing - a no-frills attached package aimed at smaller vessels
  • Signature Berthing - our recommended berthing package
  • Platinum Berthing - an enhanced berthing package
The details of each of these berthing packages is noted below, and those available to you at renewal, along with prices, will be displayed in your MDL portal in the run up to renewal.

Simply Berthing (ideal for smaller boats under 12m)
  • Secure, no‑frills berth
  • Access to shore‑side facilities and free Wi‑Fi
  • 2.5% of your berth fee in Otium Points
  • 2% on fuel in Otium Points
  • Up to 14% in Otium Points on boatyard services
  • 4% in Otium Points on storage ashore
  • 10% off holidays at Mercury Holiday Park
Signature Berthing (for those seeking extra benefits and rewards)
  • 8 weeks ashore storage included
  • 5% of your berth fee in Otium Points
  • 16% on fuel in Otium Points
  • 22% in on boatyard services in Otium Points
  • 20% on visitor berthing at MDL Marinas in Otium Points
  • 10% off holidays at Mercury Holiday Park
  • 3% early payment discount - eligible for those paying in full more than 8 weeks prior to their contract start date.
Platinum Berthing (for the ultimate cruising experience)
  • Includes all Signature benefits detailed above, plus:
  • Unlimited visitor berthing at MDL's UK marinas and 130+ European marinas via Pass-Ports Escale
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS - I hate the word "signature" which seems to be applied to everything these days to imply some sort of kudos or upgrade.
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So, not much change really from our current contract. MDL are just branding it differently and making it a bit more transparent. I got fed up advising them that the Otium points setup only really benefits mobo owners. Yet again our marina gets another new manager ……..
 
Lucky Duck said:
I called the marina office this afternoon as the neighbour’s bow line was on its last few threads and was threatening to give way. The owner couldn’t make it down until tomorrow and I didn’t feel entirely comfortable reorganising thier lines.

A member of staff duly arrived and seemed to struggle to understanding what the issue was and then said they had no spare lines that could be temporarily used and wandered off so I end up having to repurpose one of the springs as a bow line….
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Tbh I think you need to tell the marina manager about the lack of interest from his staff.
 
lustyd said:
Did it have the extra bonus point for entirely loose around the cleat in the middle of the two? I’m seeing this more and more often it seems a trend for some reason to just wrap the cleat rather than tie, so the boat is very free to move about.
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I’m always surprised about 1/3 of the boats in our marina don’t just drift away. It’s very common to see what looks like an old jib sheet (with absolutely no stretch) repurposed as a warp. A single spring is sometimes present, but no understanding of its function is apparent. Still they sit there season after season getting greener.
 
Every day I visit a different type of business. From small independant businesses to large scale with 100s of employees. Find it utterly amazing how they manage to survive. It’s the backbone of our economy. No easy task nowadays. I’ve run a fair few small businesses over my time and frankly it’s hard. What I’ve learnt and far too late is that you cover your fixed costs from your main income and any real profit is made from additional income streams.

Today I went to a fabrication company manufacturing armour plate for tanks and military vehicles. 100s of employees. Yesterday a small business in Sheffield that specialises in grinding. Oh not so long ago a firm that create specialised supports for some project under the Hudson River. Make in the UK and sent to the US in containers with made in the UK on them. Blimey these businesses are good. No time for feeling sorry for themselves. They survive with blood and sweat..

Marinas. They’ve got it easy.

Steveeasy
 
steveeasy said:
Blimey these businesses are good. No time for feeling sorry for themselves. They survive with blood and sweat..

Marinas. They’ve got it easy.

Steveeasy
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Yup.

Bang a few piles into a muddy creek, float some pontoons between them and then engineer a monopoly on parking and access and chandlery and maintenance and just sit back and watch the money roll in.

Sounds like a doddle to me too.
 
I don't think managing a marina is a doddle to make profit. There are a few marinas in Scotland that have really struggled at some point in their trading history: Craobh, Rhu, Dunstaffnage, Kerrera. The upkeep of the facility is cash intensive as salt water, waves and wind damage the pontoons and utilities, travel hoists. It is also labour intensive which is a high overhead.
 
My reading is that you marina users are giving to charity. The Wellcome Trust owns Premier Marinas and Boatfolk now too. Keep giving! I'll stay as far from 5* marinas as I can.
 
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Lucky Duck said:
They have played that card already - you can donate some of your ‘berth holder benefits’ to them, I guess one could declare it as charitable contributions to HMRC?

Think they tried something similar during 2020
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They use Gift Aid to pass profits to The Wellcome Trust. Was just looking at an annual report for last year (at Companies House). So your money is already Gift Aided. Keep paying! We oldies need health research.
 
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