Cowes Water Taxi Service

Given the absence of a chain ferry you would have thought some IWCc subsidy would be available given they paid millions for a white elephant leaving East Cowes marina and locals stranded. Even the replacement service cannot cope with foot passengers at high tides
 
The Folly Waterbus/Cowes Water Taxi is subsidied by CHC, East Cowes Marina and Red Funnel to provide these exact services. They also run the Pontoons at the Folly for an amount of money from IWC.

Hugely subsidised, hugely expensive and hugely unreliable.

Once they were given the monopoly of the river and all other competition killed, they seem to do as they please.
 
interesting thread, and it seems to be a microcosm of the IOW in general. Doing any kind of business there from the mainland is a nightmare, let alone hopping across as a tourist on the ferry.
 
Seajet said:
Get yourself one of these quick, before the prices quadruple and everyone in East Cowes has one on the drive ! :)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a...mjyqfXAhXCJ8AKHXW-DLoQsAQIOQ&biw=1440&bih=791
Click to expand...
The last time I saw one of those was in the late 60s early 70s when it was owned by a hotelier whose establishment was close to beach at Ryde and he used to travel to the mainland so maybe it's possible to make it across the medina but I doubt it can cope with the high tide race past the chain ferry given it defeats the CHC every time
 
Maybe the CHC should have a word with Mr Dutton ? clearly this was the type of car that FB6 was built to carry so it can swim off the ramp after every crossing before driving up the ramp and the passengers can stay dry and no grounding out . Must be cheaper to buy a few of these than pay out count all that compensation to grounded car owners ?
 
http://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/water_taxi_service_stakeholder_dividend

Water taxi service stakeholder dividend

30 October 2017
Cowes Harbour Commission invites all water taxi operators to apply for a stakeholder dividend towards the delivery of a reliable water taxi service for mooring holders, stakeholders and visitors to Cowes and the River Medina, for the 2018 season.

Full details on qualifying criteria, requirements, and general responsibilities are available from Cowes Harbour Commission, along with the application form, which should be submitted with the necessary documentation by 1200 noon on Friday, 17th November 2017.

If any interested parties have further questions or require more information, please contact the Deputy Harbour Master Jon Kidd at the Harbour Office.
 
ashtead said:
The last time I saw one of those was in the late 60s early 70s when it was owned by a hotelier whose establishment was close to beach at Ryde and he used to travel to the mainland so maybe it's possible to make it across the medina but I doubt it can cope with the high tide race past the chain ferry given it defeats the CHC every time
Click to expand...

The last time I saw an Amphicar was a few years ago on the River Frome; just as we rounded that particularly blind turn near Ridge Wharf, the lime green car came round the other way, hazard lights flashing and two characters wearing top hats - naturally. :)
 
The problem with Amphicars and Duttons is coding them. Dutton and a start-up "water taxi" service up in the lake district had a long court case a few years ago which was something around "fitness for purpose" as it turned out too difficult to code them (although I understand it might have been more around the start up company not having a good business plan and wanting out once the true costs were known)
 
Coding seems to be the least of problems for the Island. Currently they have a large white elephant going nowhere fast aka FB6 but maybe the Local council have found a way round issue after some 6 months? Maybe they plan a special celebration to mark the recommisioning into service on 1st April?
 
Maybe the army could step in, 17 Port maritime is only up the road! Plenty of landing craft and auxiliary vessels, they could call it exercise ... dunno, answers on a postcard for that one.
Maybe they could court martial the Council while they were at it.
 
solent clown said:
Maybe the army could step in, 17 Port maritime is only up the road! Plenty of landing craft and auxiliary vessels, they could call it exercise ... dunno, answers on a postcard for that one.
Maybe they could court martial the Council while they were at it.
Click to expand...

I have already suggested landing craft, which seem the obvious answer to this bugger's muddle and a good bit of PR for the military, especially at a time they're talking of ditching the Amphibious support ships HMS Ocean, Albion and Bulwark with loads of vessels just right for getting Medina View, his Mrs and chums across !

Failing that I could take foot passengers on my Anderson, cars might be a bit of a stretch but maybe I could tow a raft...:)
 
a co operative of sailors doing dunkirk style job of getting people across in their own boats would be very newsworthy and shaming - might get them moving on fixing the problem
 
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