For those who keep their boats in Cote d'Azur...

[marcochi76]

...and especially in the area between Monaco and Nice:

I would like to plan in advance for the annual revision of my boat (Princess V39).
- Volvo Penta engines and outdrives
- Onan Generator
- antifouling
- polishing of the hull

It will be my first one, so I have no idea who to contact.
My boat is moored in Beaulieu sur Mer

Would you have any contact to suggest me?
I would like to avoid paying twice for the same job ))))

ps: I have no pb in moving the boat to reach another harbour for the revisions, if that is needed

Thanks!

 

[petem]

Don't a lot of those marinas only allow the local yard / agent to work on boats?

 

[Portofino]

Arie d boom @ la Rague .
Contact them re updates on Covid work restrictions.
Pre Covid it was anything goes .
DIY live aboard - I did this occasionally
Out side contractors I did this occasionally.
Them doing it all or WHY .
Any combination of above .

Toilets on site , shore power , swanky bars near and a boat shop for all sundries .AF , anodes etc etc
They are excellent with VP stuff ( authorised agents ) .The sights in the engine shed are an eye opener or turned around a off putter to dangly bits hanging in the sea . .

VP .Fr HQ is 10 mins away at La Napoules business park next to the private jet airport , and there is a steady stream of delivery vans .Any parts they can get in 1 hr .

It will be a good hr or longer if your boats props are fouled which it will be unless you can reach down to scrub up the duo props .

Weather in May is warm + shirts n tee shirt in the daytime in the yard .

They do do a thorough bellows job .Remove the legs , take them inside totally strip them - pull out all the shafts / gears .Measure to spec .Pressure test .Reassemble with fresh seals and anything out of spec , is replaced .
Refit , refill , new anodes , fresh paint on the boat .Occasionally they even sea trialed re lifted ( all included) and adjusted something.Then sent you on your way .

Any one time 20-30 boats on the hard in various stages , about 10 engine techs on the go at any one time and 10 motors or bits of VP is various states of dismantling in the engine shed .They do Cummins and CAT + Evenrude as well as VP repair/ service .
About 5 general yard antifoul/ polish techs in the yard as well .

You pay for what you get and at least it done right .
Never had a breakdown/ show stopper in 9 yrs of KAD 300 + 800 hrs of ownership.
Dodged all the woes regularly regurgitated on this forum .

Spent a lot instead up front ,.

Time spent there for me , saw what’s coming as VP stuff ages so made a timely jump to MAN ..

Your new boat needs careful maintenance.
Last thing you need is “ white van man “ turning up and within 2 hrs wrestling the bellows off , refitting none OEM parts and cheapo anodes, cheapo jubilee clips etc ……then billing you 2 % less then a proper VP outfit as described .

 

[marcochi76]

Thanks Porto.
That's interesting. In Mandelieu there is also the official Princess dealer, if that could be useful.

My only concern of doing maintenance works on a different harbour is the following:
if I have an urgency, will the local VP guy in Beaulieu react fast knowing that he did not service the boat?

 

[Portofino]

Thanks Porto.
That's interesting. In Mandelieu there is also the official Princess dealer, if that could be useful.

My only concern of doing maintenance works on a different harbour is the following:
if I have an urgency, will the local VP guy in Beaulieu react fast knowing that he did not service the boat?

Yes DLB are still there .
As long as your local guy is not called not to put right another guys repairs , which this isn’t I do not see an issue .
Bit like cars , new cars fully stamped up book does it matter which dealer ?

A break down scenario your guy will start + bill from 1 st principles .

Have you spoken to the tiny yard at St Jean ?

 

[marcochi76]

Have you spoken to the tiny yard at St Jean ?

not yet, do you recommend?

Concerning Beaulieu: I dealt once this summer with Denis from Meca Technic Marine in Beaulieu harbour for a pb with the lift sensor of an outdrive (...what a surprise...)
and I have to admit they had been very reactive.

 

[Portofino]

not yet, do you recommend?

Concerning Beaulieu: I dealt once this summer with Denis from Meca Technic Marine in Beaulieu harbour for a pb with the lift sensor of an outdrive (...what a surprise...)
and I have to admit they had been very reactive.

No I had AdB on my door step ,
MC Anderson of this parish has a VP boat in BsM he raves about it .

That st Jean yard looks tiny 4/5 boats or something so you need to book in advance.

 

[mcanderson]

Hello there. Stuck in the UK, the plan was to be in Beaulieu next weekend, but we are now not too sure. Give Didier a call at Lacoche Marine in St Jean. I’ve used the St Jean yard for the last three years. I like the yard, as you can do yourself so I can do the anti fouling and polish myself. I recently used

2	ADEM SARL
	18 QUAI ANTOINE 1er, Monaco
	377 9 33 01 955

found them to be excellent. There are also a VP dealer at St Jean and you already met Mecca in Beaulieu. I had a bad experience with Mecca as has had my neighbours so I’m not going back.


Of course you can ask Didier to sort the whole lot out and he will. Getting a lift in the run up to summer in Beaulieu can be interesting as Monaco Marine look to sort out bigger boats than you and I own at that time. St Jean can only lift up to 20T from memory. The can fit more than five boats.

Any questions, please ask.

 

[Chris H]

I’ve had mine lifted & cleaned @ St Jean and Monaco marine in Saint Laurent du var, Monaco marine was half the price, just ask Didier to sort it, he takes the hassle out of it and doesn’t charge much.

 

[marcochi76]

Yes, I know Didier Lacoche. He run some maintenance on a friend's boat. But I do not remind if he was VP certified agent?
I would prefer to avoid intermediaries how subcontract the engine works.

 

[mcanderson]

Didier doesn’t have a mechanic he will just sort out the sequencing and booking. He will arrange for whoever you want to come.

 

[DAW]

Agree with the recommendations from ChrisH and mcanderson to use Didier Lacoche to take care of the lift out, antifoul and polish. He has his own team of people and they will do the work themselves ... much cheaper than Monaco Marine or any of the other shipyards.

For a V39, the yard at St Jean Cap Ferrat will be fine if you can be a little flexible on timing. It can lift boats up to 20T/50-55 feet, there is plenty of room and the cost is competitive. Monaco Marine in St Laurent du Var is another good option and will probably be the cheapest, but you have to get the boat there and back. AdB in La Napoule is also a good yard, but a long way (too far) from Beaulieu. Monaco Marine in Beaulieu is not a good option for you because the cost will be prohibitive ... they target larger boats and price accordingly.

Its more challenging to recommend a VP service agent as they all have their ups and downs, and each has its advocates and critics. I've used Monaco Boat Skin in Beaulieu for 10 years on three different boats and found them generally OK for the routine servicing. More importantly, they are local and very responsive if anything breaks during the season ... usually a same day visit/fix.

 

[Chris H]

Agree with the recommendations from ChrisH and mcanderson to use Didier Lacoche to take care of the lift out, antifoul and polish. He has his own team of people and they will do the work themselves ... much cheaper than Monaco Marine or any of the other shipyards.

For a V39, the yard at St Jean Cap Ferrat will be fine if you can be a little flexible on timing. It can lift boats up to 20T/50-55 feet, there is plenty of room and the cost is competitive. Monaco Marine in St Laurent du Var is another good option and will probably be the cheapest, but you have to get the boat there and back. AdB in La Napoule is also a good yard, but a long way (too far) from Beaulieu. Monaco Marine in Beaulieu is not a good option for you because the cost will be prohibitive ... they target larger boats and price accordingly.

Its more challenging to recommend a VP service agent as they all have their ups and downs, and each has its advocates and critics. I've used Monaco Boat Skin in Beaulieu for 10 years on three different boats and found them generally OK for the routine servicing. More importantly, they are local and very responsive if anything breaks during the season ... usually a same day visit/fix.

Didier works on his own now.

 

[marcochi76]

So I understand the same Monaco Marine applies different rates depending if it is in Beaulieu, Saint Laurent or other places?

what changes?
Just the cost of lift and parking or also the works?

Monaco Boat Skin: didn’t know, I’ll check them

 

[petem]

As long as your local guy is not called not to put right another guys repairs , which this isn’t I do not see an issue .
Bit like cars , new cars fully stamped up book does it matter which dealer ?

A break down scenario your guy will start + bill from 1 st principles .

That's not the point though is it. When you're on holiday, it's peak August season, and the boat won't start, who will the agent come and see first, his regular customer or the bloke that uses some other agent down the coast?

 

[Portofino]

That's not the point though is it. When you're on holiday, it's peak August season, and the boat won't start, who will the agent come and see first, his regular customer or the bloke that uses some other agent down the coast?

Yes see your point , more so if you are factoring in breakdowns in a new ( ish ) boat .I wasn’t .
Never had a show stopper in 16 yrs .So I don’t know .Even with the KAD , partly because AdB looked after them as I outlined ^^^ .

This is the dilemma reading between the lines .
1- use the official manufacturers franchised outfit …..arguably distance / logistics issues .Or
2- The jack of all trades experienced diesel guy in the marina who comes with or without recommendation ?

We know with cars the franchised guys have access to the latest software and electrotwackerey updates .
We know with new boat engines the S numbers are logged on the “ system “ and the franchised guys will regularly update and enter any recalls / up grades .
Where as your friendly “ rip the bellows off” and replace in under 2 hrs ( bill you for days labour ) hand man in the marina will not have access to the manufacturers “ system “


This boat just batts .Even weak starter batts I used the cross over switch and even fired up the geny put everything on charge and while running fired up the main motors once after a long day @ anchor .
Got back at 5 o clock to base .Just happened to see my guardian passing struck up a conversation “ I fancy some new batts …..? “
Jumped on board multimeter out = confirmed the Dx
“ Do you want them now “ he said .
” Well what ever suits you” I said

Returned with a muscle man + two new 180 Ah @ 55 kg each and 20 mins later while wife and myself sipped G+T s all done .By 6 pm I had new starter batts fitted .
The price was only a few € more than some tinternet outfit and of course fitted and old got rid of and no knackered back for me .

Thats my sum total of “ breakdowns “ show stoppers .


Look the differentiator in my view is this .Do they ask for S numbers of the motors , want to see the plaques ?
If so that tells me they are serious and care .

Even my 2003 MAN s in Italy I use a franchised guy to change a sensor ( no show stopper btw ) based 30 miles away .
Paid travel time .=Able to hook up lap top to test in situ .
Other wise you could end up in a parts throwing fest using the “ handy marina diesel guy “ .
Or worse still end up with a knock on problem = deeper and costly damage .

Same for replacement exhaust.This was because of the sign off , the back pressure / temps/ boost pressure - malarkey .Only he has the lap tops / software to do it properly. Sea trial etc…..as per the book .

Sure plenty of other choices knocking around “locally “.Who would bolt on a new pipe and run ! .

How new is the boat and how much warranty is left on the VP stuff .
Yes AdB do travel , you just pay travel time or they bill VP if it’s warranty work .

 

[DAW]

So I understand the same Monaco Marine applies different rates depending if it is in Beaulieu, Saint Laurent or other places?

what changes?
Just the cost of lift and parking or also the works?

Monaco Boat Skin: didn’t know, I’ll check them

Yes ... the Monaco Marine yards in Beaulieu and St Laurent du Var operate on different business models.

The Beaulieu yard targets larger yachts and more extensive works. You generally have to use Monaco Marine or its approved sub-contractors for any work, or pay a fee to use your own contractors. They will only allow professional contractors on site, so you cannot do any of the work yourself. The charges for lift out and standing on the hard are considerably higher than those of St Laurent du Var. Its one of the few yards in the SoF capable of lifting +30m boats, so its always busy. St Laurent du Var is more flexible and lower cost and you can have your own contractors (e.g. Lacoche) do some of the work.

 

[DAW]

That's not the point though is it. When you're on holiday, it's peak August season, and the boat won't start, who will the agent come and see first, his regular customer or the bloke that uses some other agent down the coast?

Exactly ... I've had (thankfully rare) situations where guests are onboard and the boat won't start, or there's an alarm and I haven't been able to resolve it myself. MBS is based in the marina and its engineers live locally. On each occasion they had someone onboard within an hour, issue identified and repair quickly completed, so that the day is not a complete write-off. This includes Saturday and Sunday.

 

[marcochi76]

Thanks all for your suggestions
I wil definitely contact Lacoche and see also who he proposes for engines’ revisions

 

[marcochi76]

Hello
Coming back to this topic.
I contacted Didier Lacoche: he will do all the cleaning, antifouling and polishing. We’ll use Saint Laurent du Var facility as effectively cheaper.

Concerning engines:
Didier suggested ADEM.
For info: Meca in Beaulieu and Monaco Boat Skin are exactly the same owner (Denis) and people.

I got a quote from both Adem and Boat Skin and they are equivalent.