Harty Ferry moorings - unscrupulous charges?

[xyachtdave]

A very pleasant day spent at Harty yesterday with my daughter bombing about in her dinghy and a bit of seal hunting (not to eat - just photos!), ended with a visitor collecting 'harbour dues'

Some fisherman in a little day boat arrived unloaded some gear on the south shore and then did a lap of some of the moorings charging 'let's call it a tenner?' for the night.

I pointed out the pilot book states that the yacht club moorings are free for one night (mine had WYC #1 5 tons max painted on).

They then both looked really shifty/sussed out and decided that it was my lucky day as they didn't have their 'harbour plan' with who owns what on it. They wouldn't look me the eye and were desperate to leave but I kept asking them questions about fishing and baits etc which was quite good fun.

We then watched them tour some of the other boats, avoiding those rafted with lots of people and saw money being passed over. What looked like a sailing school boat appeared to argue with them before leaving.

Have I done these chaps a disservice and is this normal?

 

[DavidofMersea]

A very pleasant day spent at Harty yesterday with my daughter bombing about in her dinghy and a bit of seal hunting (not to eat - just photos!), ended with a visitor collecting 'harbour dues'

Some fisherman in a little day boat arrived unloaded some gear on the south shore and then did a lap of some of the moorings charging 'let's call it a tenner?' for the night.

I pointed out the pilot book states that the yacht club moorings are free for one night (mine had WYC #1 5 tons max painted on).

They then both looked really shifty/sussed out and decided that it was my lucky day as they didn't have their 'harbour plan' with who owns what on it. They wouldn't look me the eye and were desperate to leave but I kept asking them questions about fishing and baits etc which was quite good fun.

We then watched them tour some of the other boats, avoiding those rafted with lots of people and saw money being passed over. What looked like a sailing school boat appeared to argue with them before leaving.

Have I done these chaps a disservice and is this normal?

There used to be a man in West Mersea that "collected" mooring fees. A visiting Dutch yachtsman told me about him and said he looked like the Mafia, and I told him he was not far wrong

 

[xyachtdave]

There used to be a man in West Mersea that "collected" mooring fees. A visiting Dutch yachtsman told me about him and said he looked like the Mafia, and I told him he was not far wrong

Maybe he has moved and taken up fishing?

 

[DavidofMersea]

Maybe he has moved and taken up fishing?

I think not. Sadly there are more than one man trying this trick. The guy I refer to was supposedly on the dole. The dole people became suspicious when he arrived in his Daimler at the dole office in Colchester - He got 6 months inside

 

[Suttle]

A very pleasant day spent at Harty yesterday with my daughter bombing about in her dinghy and a bit of seal hunting (not to eat - just photos!), ended with a visitor collecting 'harbour dues'

Some fisherman in a little day boat arrived unloaded some gear on the south shore and then did a lap of some of the moorings charging 'let's call it a tenner?' for the night.

I pointed out the pilot book states that the yacht club moorings are free for one night (mine had WYC #1 5 tons max painted on).

They then both looked really shifty/sussed out and decided that it was my lucky day as they didn't have their 'harbour plan' with who owns what on it. They wouldn't look me the eye and were desperate to leave but I kept asking them questions about fishing and baits etc which was quite good fun.

We then watched them tour some of the other boats, avoiding those rafted with lots of people and saw money being passed over. What looked like a sailing school boat appeared to argue with them before leaving.

Have I done these chaps a disservice and is this normal?

Usually go to Harty two or three times a year and have never been charged. havn't been there yet this year, perhaps things have changed but I doubt it.

 

[Cantata]

Nothing has changed.
The fisherman based there in a large boat moored directly off the causeway manages the moorings, a Mr. Walpole. He has been known to collect fees off visitors. He would not need a 'harbour plan' to know whose mooring is which. However you were on a Whitstable YC buoy, which obviously carries a slight risk of a club member turning up and asking to use it, but on the other hand has the benefit of NOT attracting a fee from the fisherman - any fee would/should only go to the club concerned, and in practice they will only ask if someone takes the p*ss and leaves their boat there for weeks on end, as occasionally happens.
The sailing school was probably Elite, can't imagine they would pay.
This does sound like someone trying it on. Be warned.

 

[xyachtdave]

Usually go to Harty two or three times a year and have never been charged. havn't been there yet this year, perhaps things have changed but I doubt it.

Just get your pilot book out show him the words of wisdom about who owns what and then ask him about fishing for as long as possible......

I got the details of the van on the hard and their boat via our binoculars if anyone feels like they've been had over.

Benefit of hindsight - should have said hold on I'll get my wallet before reappearing with a camera for some mug shots and the relevant page of the ECP!

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Nothing has changed.
The fisherman based there in a large boat moored directly off the causeway manages the moorings, a Mr. Walpole. He has been known to collect fees off visitors. He would not need a 'harbour plan' to know whose mooring is which. However you were on a Whitstable YC buoy, which obviously carries a slight risk of a club member turning up and asking to use it, but on the other hand has the benefit of NOT attracting a fee from the fisherman - any fee would/should only go to the club concerned, and in practice they will only ask if someone takes the p*ss and leaves their boat there for weeks on end, as occasionally happens.
The sailing school was probably Elite, can't imagine they would pay.
This does sound like someone trying it on. Be warned.

I think Bluey (mr walpole) son ,everybody calls him Wink, was round over the weekend collecting.
Beats fishing anyhow .His dad does lay and maintain the moorings ,except ones labeled Yboats CYC,HCC etc
Cindy

 

[xyachtdave]

I think Bluey (mr walpole) son ,everybody calls him Wink, was round over the weekend collecting.
Beats fishing anyhow .His dad does lay and maintain the moorings ,except ones labeled Yboats CYC,HCC etc
Cindy

Well based on that info and from Cantata, Bluey seems to have made an honest mistake regarding the harbour plans.

Bless him.

Edit to add - I'm happy to pay for what I use, shall send WYC a tenner and hopefully learn some more fishing tips from Bluey the next time we meet. Tight lines sunbeam!

 

[Cantata]

You don't need to send the dosh to WYC, Dave. As we said, the clubs aren't going to worry about one night.
BTW, Bluey is an older chap, probably 60's, doesn't sound like him.

 

[xyachtdave]

No early 20's and not that clued up about fishing!

 

[wilkinsonsails]

That sound like its is Wink .Bluey Walpoles son.Ask for a receipt next time .
Cindy

 

[xyachtdave]

That sound like its is Wink .Bluey Walpoles son.Ask for a receipt next time .
Cindy

Ok, Bluey and Wink are not the same person.

Wink my old son, take your harbour plan with you next time!

Kids today etc........

 

[Colvic Watson]

Bluey is a real gent, we rented a mooring from him for a season, we met him first and he saw my beautiful new wife who said she was nervous about rowing out to a moored buoy, he said he'd sort us a nice mooring, turned out he put in a new one especially for us, right at the end of the slipway, at low water you could almost walk ashore. The first time we came down to the boat he came to meet us and reassured SWMBO and waded out to push the dinghy almost out the the moored boat. How many fishermen would do that? Lovely chap, get him talking about his trips to the Frisians.