colhel
Well-Known Member
I guess there must be a way then :encouragement:
East Cowes Marina and Ferries.
- Thread starter MedinaView
- Start date
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
Sad to report that we will have to get a dingy or move to a walk ashore as once again tonight we can't get off our boat in Cowes.
It was the amenities that Cowes had to offer that attracted us here, but since buying a boat we have been treated like second class citizens.
It was the amenities that Cowes had to offer that attracted us here, but since buying a boat we have been treated like second class citizens.
{151760}
...
I've always considered a dinghy as an essential. Water taxis can be useful, but self-reliance is always best.
Lymington doesn't have a water taxi, nor does Beaulieu river anymore, I believe. Poole, I'm not sure, but I've never seen one.
Dartmouth and Salcombe did have, but it was seldom convenient. If you don't carry your own tender you will miss out on many good places.
Expecting you to make your own way to and from your own boat is hardly 'treating you as a second class-citizen' I'd say.
Lymington doesn't have a water taxi, nor does Beaulieu river anymore, I believe. Poole, I'm not sure, but I've never seen one.
Dartmouth and Salcombe did have, but it was seldom convenient. If you don't carry your own tender you will miss out on many good places.
Expecting you to make your own way to and from your own boat is hardly 'treating you as a second class-citizen' I'd say.
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
My comment of second class didn't just relate to the water taxi, but the massive change in being on holiday here when the water taxis ran all the time and were cheap and reliable, compared to now we live here and the service has become unreliable, rude and expensive has become quite a shock.
I never realised quite how little the marinas/moorings cared once they have your money, and I have been surprised how little people seem to want to do work on the boat but they want top money for the jobs they do.
Like I said, I am new to boat ownership, so it's just a case of acclimatising, but it's been a big shock from the rose tinted glasses we had when we were just visiting Cowes.
I never realised quite how little the marinas/moorings cared once they have your money, and I have been surprised how little people seem to want to do work on the boat but they want top money for the jobs they do.
Like I said, I am new to boat ownership, so it's just a case of acclimatising, but it's been a big shock from the rose tinted glasses we had when we were just visiting Cowes.
dslittle
Well-Known Member
Hmmm Unfortunately you will have to get used to it. Yesterday I approached a marine specialist asking about a project (that I was not in a hurry for) for an estimate. The outcome was that it was a lot of work and a bit too difficult to price so a definite maybe...
{151760}
...
Your experience is totally opposite to mine. I've had no trouble getting work done at a fair price. I've found the harbour staff civil and helpful. I have a good relationship with the marina I use over the winter, save for one mix-up last winter, which could have happened anywhere. I expect the mooring gear to be serviced annually and to be in good condition, but otherwise I assume I'm responsible for everything else. I consider that the norm, but perhaps I'm behind the times.
The demise of Sally Taxis is regrettable, but as more people demand walk-ashore moorings with water and electricity, it's probably inevitable. I hope your experience improves.
Last edited:
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
Again perhaps I generalised. I found Cowes Yacht Haven very amicable, so I will be more than likely to use them for the this winter coming.
And sadly it does sound like the demise of Sally inevitable if the harbour financed someone else instead to give them the advantage.
And sadly it does sound like the demise of Sally inevitable if the harbour financed someone else instead to give them the advantage.
Tomaret
Well-Known Member
The minutes of the meetings of the CHC put a somewhat different complexion on things, which is hardly surprising. It reads as though the CHC did all it could to keep a service in operation albeit at a lower level than in the past, initially with Sally and when that didn't lead to the service levels anticipated with others. The three times I've been in Cowes during the week this year, it seemed very quiet and as such I'm not surprised that a ferry service running until midnight is no longer viable.
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
The minutes of the meetings are very unclear. It suggests that Sally Water Taxis claimed that the harbour commission had done a deal with the Folly and not them and that the Harbour Master had claimed that the Folly are Sally Taxis?
Now the Folly has become Cowes Taxis and changed their phone number and Sally are completely gone.
All very strange.
Now the Folly has become Cowes Taxis and changed their phone number and Sally are completely gone.
All very strange.
{151760}
...
The Cowes Water Taxi, operated by the Folly launch people, is on VHF Ch. 06 or mobile no. 07551 431993. The old number should be redirected to this one.
If you're upstream at the Folly inn, the Folly launch is on VHF Ch. 72 or mobile no. 07884 400046.
The Folly Water Bus, which will take you from Cowes as far as Newport is on VHF Ch. 77 or 07974 864627. Hope this helps.
If you're upstream at the Folly inn, the Folly launch is on VHF Ch. 72 or mobile no. 07884 400046.
The Folly Water Bus, which will take you from Cowes as far as Newport is on VHF Ch. 77 or 07974 864627. Hope this helps.
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Yes, I think I have all the current numbers and routes understood, but it's the operating hours. Cowes seemed to finish early for us to get back to our mooring on East Cowes Marina. He did answer the phone, but told us we had left it too late.
Also in the water taxi investigating, FaceBook shows something interesting that the Sally water taxi page has now changed name to Medina Water Taxi and on the about page it mentions Medina water taxi trading as Sally water taxi from 2006-2016.
So it looks like Sally was just a trading name, and the habour paid Folly taxis from the beginning of last year to run in Cowes too.
It all seems very odd to me, and its hard to understand why if they are being paid by the harbour the hours have still been cut and the fares have risen.
As you can see I feel like a dog with a bone on this, but I just cant get over the change in the level of service and even professionalism. The chaps on the new taxi seem almost rude compared to the chat when we were on the taxis last year.
I spoke to someone about the possibility of keeping a dingy at Kingston, and sadly this seems to have been a rumour we could keep dingies there as I was told now that they dont provide dingy mooring. I will go and see East cowes sailing club next weekend.
Also in the water taxi investigating, FaceBook shows something interesting that the Sally water taxi page has now changed name to Medina Water Taxi and on the about page it mentions Medina water taxi trading as Sally water taxi from 2006-2016.
So it looks like Sally was just a trading name, and the habour paid Folly taxis from the beginning of last year to run in Cowes too.
It all seems very odd to me, and its hard to understand why if they are being paid by the harbour the hours have still been cut and the fares have risen.
As you can see I feel like a dog with a bone on this, but I just cant get over the change in the level of service and even professionalism. The chaps on the new taxi seem almost rude compared to the chat when we were on the taxis last year.
I spoke to someone about the possibility of keeping a dingy at Kingston, and sadly this seems to have been a rumour we could keep dingies there as I was told now that they dont provide dingy mooring. I will go and see East cowes sailing club next weekend.
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
{151760}
...
My reading of the situation, though I don't have any inside information, is that it became very difficult to run a commercially viable taxi service because of the changes in the way people sail, and perhaps some decline in the number of visitors to Cowes. Cowes Harbour Commission wanted some sort of water taxi service and was therefore obliged to subsidise it. They chose the Folly set-up to do that.
It all becomes a vicious circle, with lesser services inhibiting visitors leading to more cuts etc. Perhaps if the new Marina in East Cowes ever becomes a reality the situation will improve. On the other hand, if it simply fills up with boats that are hardly ever used, like many marinas, it will make it worse.
It all becomes a vicious circle, with lesser services inhibiting visitors leading to more cuts etc. Perhaps if the new Marina in East Cowes ever becomes a reality the situation will improve. On the other hand, if it simply fills up with boats that are hardly ever used, like many marinas, it will make it worse.
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
It is so hard to tell what has gone on, but yes, I think I agree with the way your are seeing it too. I know when we used to catch Sally quite often they had two boats on and maybe a couple of passengers on each. In the end I guess a customer orientated service has had to give way to a commercially viable service, and perhaps that is how Cowes harbour commission made their choice.
This year does seem quiet when we do manage to catch the taxi in the evening. They did allow us to stay out till 22:30 the other night, so they have extended their times a little.
This year does seem quiet when we do manage to catch the taxi in the evening. They did allow us to stay out till 22:30 the other night, so they have extended their times a little.
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
To add insult to injury, apparently the new taxis are only running until midnight during Cowes Week!
colhel
Well-Known Member
The Chain ferry will be running from 5am to 1.50am during Cowes Week.... Apparently :nonchalance:
MedinaView
Well-Known Member
Not this morning though, it's aground.
