Trevethan
New member
Wonder if its just me or is getting a boat delivered impossible to manage smoothly?
This January after about 6 months looking, my wife and I finally bought a boat' Bought from a great broker in Northern Ireland. And the weather had been so amazing we considered getting it delivered to Devon by sea.
The day we returned from Belfast the storms started... I think its an omen. Weeks passed and the weather remained crap. So our next step was to consider sailing her to Liverpool then by road. Waited again for a good weather window.... notthing but gales and rain... lovely.....
Finally with the brokers help we arranged to have her trucked all the way from Belfast. First though she needed to be moved froim Strangford Lough to Carrickfergus, againe more lovely gales. Eventually a brief window opened last week and a skipper did the run punching straight into a force 6 (boat did very well apparently, which is pleasing) Though the fact the batteries had gone bad between the time I bought and then and needed replacing was less good....
Got her snugged up and safe in Carrick until yesterday when the lorry guys picked her up and headed here. Took the day off, all very excited.. And went down to the quay at 3 pm, Theiur rough ETAm dependant on getting a police escort into the city. The crane shwoed up about 3.30. It was too small and had no spreaders.. so I sent it away and asked for a bigger crane, which was a couple of hours away.
Fair enough, The lorry had arrived at Exeter and was waiting for the police to show up.
Sat in rain by canal, waiting for cranes boats and police to arrive.
Crane shows up at about 4.45 yeah.. A call to the police informs me the boat is still there. They can't find anyone to make the run... meanwhile I have seen 4 police cars driving up and down while sitting in the rain. *grrrrr*
A while later the driver calls. The police have called and told him they won't let him in the city until the rush has cleared (about 7.00). Poor sods have been stuck in a layby since 3.30. Crane drivers won't work in the dark. So here I sit.. this bloody boat some 15 minute drive away, a crane on the quay, (which I am paying for!). And worst of all the pub close by was shut...
And of course the lorry drivers have a boat to pick up tomorrow in Southampton tomorrow at 9am.
So all in all a crap day.. That's my rant over... On the bright side she hasn't sunk.. yet
Can't wait for tomorrow morning... 7 am start to get the thing in the water so the lorry guys can make their return trip. Hoprfully tomorrow I will retract all this and all will be weell again.... course I expect the crane will fall in the water of something.. or get pinched tonight...
Next boat I buy is going to be local.... and to think I considered buying one in Spain......
Regards,
Nick
PS who has had a worse time?
This January after about 6 months looking, my wife and I finally bought a boat' Bought from a great broker in Northern Ireland. And the weather had been so amazing we considered getting it delivered to Devon by sea.
The day we returned from Belfast the storms started... I think its an omen. Weeks passed and the weather remained crap. So our next step was to consider sailing her to Liverpool then by road. Waited again for a good weather window.... notthing but gales and rain... lovely.....
Finally with the brokers help we arranged to have her trucked all the way from Belfast. First though she needed to be moved froim Strangford Lough to Carrickfergus, againe more lovely gales. Eventually a brief window opened last week and a skipper did the run punching straight into a force 6 (boat did very well apparently, which is pleasing) Though the fact the batteries had gone bad between the time I bought and then and needed replacing was less good....
Got her snugged up and safe in Carrick until yesterday when the lorry guys picked her up and headed here. Took the day off, all very excited.. And went down to the quay at 3 pm, Theiur rough ETAm dependant on getting a police escort into the city. The crane shwoed up about 3.30. It was too small and had no spreaders.. so I sent it away and asked for a bigger crane, which was a couple of hours away.
Fair enough, The lorry had arrived at Exeter and was waiting for the police to show up.
Sat in rain by canal, waiting for cranes boats and police to arrive.
Crane shows up at about 4.45 yeah.. A call to the police informs me the boat is still there. They can't find anyone to make the run... meanwhile I have seen 4 police cars driving up and down while sitting in the rain. *grrrrr*
A while later the driver calls. The police have called and told him they won't let him in the city until the rush has cleared (about 7.00). Poor sods have been stuck in a layby since 3.30. Crane drivers won't work in the dark. So here I sit.. this bloody boat some 15 minute drive away, a crane on the quay, (which I am paying for!). And worst of all the pub close by was shut...
And of course the lorry drivers have a boat to pick up tomorrow in Southampton tomorrow at 9am.
So all in all a crap day.. That's my rant over... On the bright side she hasn't sunk.. yet
Can't wait for tomorrow morning... 7 am start to get the thing in the water so the lorry guys can make their return trip. Hoprfully tomorrow I will retract all this and all will be weell again.... course I expect the crane will fall in the water of something.. or get pinched tonight...
Next boat I buy is going to be local.... and to think I considered buying one in Spain......
Regards,
Nick
PS who has had a worse time?
