Did they see me coming...

[tjc]

Just had my invoice for launching. From the yard in a travel hoist to the water, approx 75 yards.....£155.

Checked the invoice....."to move with the mast in situ" ...an extra charge because the mast is in!!! When queried the wording and price was told it was a bit more because of this.

Checked end of last seasons invoice when the mast was taken out, same price to come out of the water. It read "to move with the mast down". ODD

"Dismantle cradle and move to launching position". Funny, I thought it had legs all year, I know that because they charged me to put them on even though I did it. When I asked I was told it was a standard charge even if you have no cradle.

Why do we put up with this?

 

[halcyon]

Never used our local yard after a launching bill for £127 in 1996, that again included removing legs, again a job that I did.
But to add insult to injury, the wife did the accounts there, so she fleeced me, though the invoice did include employee discount.

The frustrating thing is as you pull out, there's a list of people waiting to move in, most first time owners who assume that's the cost for the job, so the spiral goes on up and up.


Brian

 

[tony_brighton]

The old 'standard charge' ploy - perhaps the lawyers out their can confirm but i dont think they can charge for a service they haven't provided. The weakness in your case however is that you didn't establish the service being offered and the price to be charged in advance - in effect opening yourself up to be charged anything they like.

 

[incognito]

There\'s no such thing as a free launch.

Or is there?

Our marina (non-MDL) sharge £12/m for haul out, incl powerscrub, cradling etc.
Then £10/m for back in. £7/m for out,scrub,back. (Of course, plus VAT)

(I got the impression that this was slightly lower than usual, although still extortionate, am I wrong?)

The yard charged about £200 for redoing the gold cavita lines (yeah, I know, but I didn't have any time) and did the s/b one badly. After a lot of hassle, I got them to agree to a free launch!! They would have great difficulty in giving back dosh, or redoing the job, but can do something free.

I think the marina has a special arrangement for haulout + launchlater (£22/m, as above) where the launch comes free, if it is done after June 1st when work is lighter and the hard is less cluttered. Owners' groups can bring presssure to bear to create deals like that.

 

[JeremyF]

Ive just had a lift-out, jet-wash, hold for survey, and put back. All for £10p.m.
Its up at Hartlepool, mind.

Volvo agent charges £26 ph, compared to the same at Haslar who charges £38 ph.

So, its not just the berth thats expensive in the Solent. Trouble is that I live 15 mins from Port Solent, but 318 miles from Hartlepool.

Jeremy Flynn

 

[Col]

Lift and hold in slings, over lunchbreak £122

 

[david]

I've just done the bottom of my 38' Motor Sailer at Huggins boat yard Torpoint near Plymouth.
Haul out £70
Hire steam cleaner £20
Hire of cradle and boat storage per month on 38' £13
Put back in water £70

SM Marine working from the same yard also supplied me with anodes at half the price I could get them myself in the posh chandleries over in Plymouth.

David

 

[Guest]

Just pulled mine out to raise the waterline.

£1 a foot to haul out / put back

25p per foot per week shore storage

£2.50 per week cradle hire

Boat 20 yards from my front door.

Beautiful location on Tamar

Luvvin it

 

[WayneS]

And I pay

£50 lift out
£55 for 6 months winter storage
£50 Lift in.

Hee hee

 

[Lady_Patricia]

At least you have a travel hoist.
At Ramsgate we have one on order... only problem is that if and when it arrives the port captain will only use it when a large number of boats are waiting for a lift all at once.

The charges are not yet set but Knowint Thanet Council they will be very expensive and we won't get good service...