Hamble Taxi

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brians

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For those not aware, the yellow taxi has upped it's rates. My journey which used to cost £4 is now £7. An increase of 75%! The rate used to cover up to 3 people but that has also changed.

There is clearly rampant inflation in Hamble.
 
I'm only aware of the Barbie Pink ones. If the yellow one is a competitor, it won't be for long at those prices.

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Elizabeth


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Kin'ell


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Ts'er
 
The yellow one is the old pink one if you see what I mean. I think the driver bought that bit of the business, painted the boat yellow and now runs separately as the only water taxi service.
 
My understanding is Mike (owner of the Hamble-Warsash Ferry and also a mooring maintenance company) sold the Water Taxi Business to his brother Andy last year. To differentiate the businesses Andy's Water Taxis are Yellow, and the Mike's Ferry etc remains Pink.
 
Even with the new rates I reckon it is good value. My wife and I use it with two small children and it is a good way to get back up to Universal Marina after taking them for the walk down to Warsash then crossing on the ferry to Hamble. Also he does not charge for the children which is a bonus so he is not totally in it just for the money. It's the Warsah - Hamble ferry that is really expensive and he charges for children - even very small ones.
 
I paid 15 squids the other day to be taken from my (sublet) mooring to Swanwick Marina -- about 300 metres. Yikes! Next time I'll swim, I think. Is there only this one taxi service on the river?
 
In all fairness though the Taxi rates had not changed from at least 2004 during which time the cost of fuel has doubled (circa 50p to £1 per ltr)
 
Dockhead said:
I paid 15 squids the other day to be taken from my (sublet) mooring to Swanwick Marina -- about 300 metres. Yikes! Next time I'll swim, I think. Is there only this one taxi service on the river?
Click to expand...

Is there only the one taxi service on the Hamble? Does anyone know?
 
Until the recent price increase the journey to my boat from the ferry hard at Warsash was £3 each way for 3 persons; The Ferry doing the same trip was £1.50 per person to the boat or HM pontoon at Hamble until the change of business, now the launch costs £4.50 each way, and the ferry no longer takes us to the boat. I do have a dinghy at the club but too small for safe transporting of two adults if at all busy or rough water in the river.
To save £9 I can motor the dinghy and release the mooring and pick up crew at the club jetty or pontoon.
From the River Taxi point of view the guy has to make a living and cover his fuel,insurance, etc. but seems he's 'killing the goose' so to speak as the reduction in traffic will kill off the business rather than encourage its regular use.
I do know that he is having to replace the 20hp Beta in his launch very soon which may have triggered the increases.
Incidentally there is only the one yellow River Taxi ,the other launch is the 'tender' for the Moorings and Ferry business and remains pink in colour.

ianat182
 
Last edited:
ianat182 said:
Until the recent price increase the journey to my boat from the ferry hard at Warsash was £3 each way for 3 persons; The Ferry doing the same trip was £1.50 per person to the boat or HM pontoon at Hamble until the change of business, now the launch costs £4.50 each way, and the ferry no longer takes us to the boat. I do have a dinghy at the club but too small for safe transporting of two adults if at all busy or rough water in the river.
To save £9 I can motor the dinghy and release the mooring and pick up crew at the club jetty or pontoon.
From the River Taxi point of view the guy has to make a living and cover his fuel,insurance, etc. but seems he's 'killing the goose' so to speak as the reduction in traffic will kill off the business rather than encourage its regular use.
I do know that he is having to replace the 20hp Beta in his launch very soon which may have triggered the increases.
Incidentally there is only the one yellow River Taxi ,the other launch is the 'tender' for the Moorings and Ferry business and remains pink in colour.

ianat182
Click to expand...

I was charged 15 pounds recently for the several hundred meteres between my sublet mooring and Swanwick Marina! This is madness. Surely there is some other way to do it besides swimming?
 
I avoid the taxi like the plague anyway. The last time I had to use it, the driver (not the usual operator) casually rammed my boat's topsides with his rubber fender-rope, and with a smirk on his face, leaving heavy black scuffs all over it.
 
Babylon said:
I avoid the taxi like the plague anyway. The last time I had to use it, the driver (not the usual operator) casually rammed my boat's topsides with his rubber fender-rope, and with a smirk on his face, leaving heavy black scuffs all over it.
Click to expand...

I have no such complaints. The taxi boson -- the usual fellow -- is an extremely skillful helmsman, friendly, energetic, etc.

In Cowes there is Sally's, and I think they run several boats, and some competitors for good measure and a reality check in case Sally's ever try to start charging 15 pounds per trip. Is the Hamble a monopoly?! What if he decides to start charging 30 pounds? 50?
 
I think some people are conveniently forgetting the water taxi operators have to comply ( ie pay for ) ;

insurance

fuel

Harbour dues ( probably an upped rate )

crew pay

boat maintenance

engine maintenance, and spare engines if one packs up

lifejackets - servicing

I doubt anyone got a Rustler 44 by running a water taxi; be thankful they're there !
 
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