how do i get boatyard moving?

[jana]

Boat lifted out October for osmosis treatment and about £5k of other work. Hull blasted and has dried out, but little progress from boatyard, apart from monthly bills for work done (ie removal of fittings) and a nice one for moving boat from the hard into shed. Promised all work done by end February, but it's now April and little progress has been made and I'm paying for my marina berth. Boatyard people are nice and promise it will be doon soon/next weekend/next job on list. How can I chivvy them along without upset - any good tactics that I could use?

 

[hlb]

Think it's a bit late for being nice. Nice would have been ok about February. But it's bloody near the end of April now. Jump up and down, screem, sue them. Dont pay them a penny till after it's sorted. Then get really angery!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[Miker]

I wish I knew!

My sympathies. I was in the same position two years ago watching the good weather and the sailing season pass. At least my marina refunded me for the time away and the boatyard did not charge for the boat stuck on their hard.

 

[Joe_Cole]

You could send them a bill for the hire of your boat!
Or for the marina charges!

Joe Cole

 

[mtb]

Well out of order!!
Inform them that you will be having the boat moved to another yard to get the work carried out and that the costs re moving and compensation will be coming from them, when you sue the arse off em.
Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug

 

[bedouin]

The best answer is to pester them - start phoning them a couple of times a week to check on progress. Ask for detailed explanations for any delays, and suggest ways of overcoming them.

If you can drop in and see them to see how the work is progressing...just keep yourself at the forefront of their mind but keep it all friendly.

P.S. Any hints as to where it is? Sounds just like one I know; very nice people and do good work but they do need constant pestering to make any progress.

 

[ccscott49]

Must admit most of the yards that produce (finally) good work, seem to have this lacksadasical attitude, they work on the principle if you're not pestering them, you don't mind, keep pestering them. Everyday! Try and go to the yard as much as possible and let them see you, looking at the boat and shaking your head a lot! But your quite right, keep it friendly, that type of yard responds to that, One other tip I can give you, arrive just before lunch time and take a couple of the boss types (yard foreman is best) to the pub, for a beer and ask them to get on with it over a pint, always worked for me.

 

[Grehan]

It's very easy to say ". . . kick their *rses . . "

But we all know these kind of situations where turning nasty makes a bad situation even worse. Not only do they (whoever 'they' may be - could be a boatyard, could be a builder, garage - you name it) . . do they not transform themselves into 'perfection', they go slower, muck up what they do do, find lots of reasons why you should pay lots more, etc etc

Threatening to sue is a recipe for this - if you're going to sue, then you have to take that action very strongly, almost surprisingly. Like having a fist-fight - don't telegraph the move, start off with the big punch that flattens and finishes things before they've even started.

To a certain extent, they've got you by the b*lls. So, somehow you have to connect with them - get them to realise you're serious, upset, it's unfair, you've been let down . . . without antagonising at a personal level. Agreeing specific deadlines "this is the date when everything will be completely finished and the boat will be back in the water and ready to sail" is a reasonable tactic. Assertion, not aggression unless you're already committed to being very aggressive, and not - on the other hand - pathetic whinging.

Anybody see that TV programme about Burger King?
Don't upset the staff before they've given you whatever awful stuff they produce in those places - otherwise you might not want to know what they've done to your food (I mean, of course, what they've done IN your ""food""!]

 

[Guest]

You really are caught between a rock and a hard place!

Natural instinct is to want to rip their throats out and give them hell, unfortunately that will not get you anywhere with a yard like this. They will almost certainly respond to a softly softly approach, and the occassional bit of bribery(pint and pie) to yard foreman and his oppo. Keep pestering them by turning up at the yard (if possible) every couple of days "just to see how things are getting on". Whilst they are still working at the pace of a snail, let the yard owner know that they are currently some 2 months behind schedule, and whilst you appreciate that they are undoubtedly VERY busy, they are surely not going to charge you or any further storage are they?

Once they have put the boat back in the water, pay their bill PROMPTLY, and post the name of the yard on EVERY forum so we can ALL avoid them like the plague!!

Good luck, hope you manage to get afloat this season!!

www.boatsyachtsmarinas.com

 

[AndrewB]

Anyone know a yard that DOESN\'T overrun?

While I've occasionally had work done to time, far more often I'm held up by UK yards. This has to be factored into any refit.

Its totally counter-productive to threaten to sue, or take your business elsewhere. Both will mean additional delay and/or a shoddy job. As a 'problem', they'll be happy to see the back of you.

Daily pestering visits to the yard are highly effective, but very time-wasting. Strong language and tears both help. (I would say in moderation, but then I've never tried blasting away on a daily basis). Phone-calls are much less effective as they quickly learn to keep you away from the boss.

One tactic I've used for a refit is to keep your initial request for work to a fairly straightforward item, and once they start work keep adding more items. Recommended by "Sods Law of the Sea", and specially good once they've put you in the workshop. The downside is you don't get an estimate so you are giving them an open cheque. Also , make absolutely sure they have all materials to hand because if they have to order so much as a screw it will be the excuse to put you firmly back to the end of the queue.

Another recommended by "Sods Law of the Sea" is to give the order and tell them you are going to leave in a week's time, job or no job. That one DOESN'T work! But what I have done when totally exasperated is relaunch in the middle of a job, but well after the promised completion date, then do a moonlight flit and send them a quite token sum to cover the cost of work done. It didn't solve my problem, but at least gave me a gratifying feeling of revenge.

Another possibility is to bring in an outside contractor. They'll accept this despite their own rules (it gets you off their backs) but then you have to search out a back-street guy who will turn out to be just as problematic. No good asking someone from another yard - they don't trample on one another's patches.

Going abroad for a refit is a good idea. I've had excellent prompt service in Holland, but suffered similar delays on work in the US. At least in the UK delays are so common that its normal to negotiate a reduction on mooring / storage rates while you are kept waiting. That doesn't happen elsewhere.

Ultimately, the only answer is to learn to do all jobs yourself. Believe me, you can, and eventually desperation will drive you there.

 

[jonjo]

If the relationship completely falls apart you could always register www.ShoddyBoatyards.co.uk and threaten to publish a factual account of your dealings with this yard

Hope just the thought of doing so is therapeutic.

 

[oldharry]

Kicking backsides to get the job done?

Usually compounds the problem: The story goes of an airline passenger giving hell to a baggage handler in the departure lounge: the handler gave nothing but polite replies to the cutomers increasing 'arse kicking'.

When complimeted later for keeping his cool the handler replied: 'He has gone to Los Angeles, but what he didnt know was that his luggage has gone to Singapore'

Make too much of a nuisance of yourself, and you will be paid back in kind.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Kicking backsides to get the job done?

Giving hell to somebody like that is crass stupidity, same as giving the cook/steward shit on a rig!

 

[david_e]

Re: Cooks/Chefs

The hardest course in the Armed Forces is that of Chef/Cook. How do we know......because no one has ever passed it!

 

[Chris_Stannard]

I know the feeling, having had a similar experience last year, although in my case I didnot want the boat out till the end of April, so the fact that the yard missed the mid Feb deadline was of no concern.

I suggest you have a meeting with them, on the following basis:

1. Delete any items of work that can wait until next winter, unless they can be guaranteed to be completed without detriment to the overall timescale.
2. Make it clear that the bill will be paid for all work done on the day that the boat is back in the water in commision (mast back in and set up, engine de-winterised and running properly.
3. Make it clear that you do not expect to be charged for the time the boat is in the shed (if you are being charged for that) for the period since the end of February when the boat shold have bben baack in the water, that it is still there is your fault not theirs.
4. Get a timetable for the completion of the work agreed.
5. Put it all in writing.
6. Monitor the situation, if you find a boat has just come in and is being worked on when yours should be complain about it, do NOT get excited or angry, just express your disappointment that the yard are failing to keep to their agreement.

In other words Hassle them in the nicest possible way, and keep buying the beer.

I find that now the yard are my friends they say it very difficult to say no to me and will do 'Urgent' jobs if I ask. You have to make them your friends.

Best of luck and I hope you get out soon

Chris Stannard

 

[PeterGibbs]

Two main tactics in these situations - letters like confetti, or, heavy calls and personal appearances. It works - in this case sounds like lots of personal telephone calls and personal appearances. Bug the hell out of them.

Do you really want to call up a truck and have the boat moved elsewhere? I thought not.

PWG

 

[andy_wilson]

Try this....

.. You didn't say where you are geographically, or sadly who the boatyard is.

First reveal this vital info. to your friends here.

Second wait for recommendations for nearby yards who could complete the job, and get her booked in.

Thirdly, ask in frustration for the boat to be launched 'as is' (I take it underwater fittings are complete!!!!) So you can have a 'family holiday' etc. whilst the sun is still out.

Fourth, sail to new yard for completion. This will have no tangible effect on moisture levels, they will just jet wash off, de-grease, allow to dry and then complete moisture analysis.

Finally use all the delaying tactics and techniques you have thus discovered when yard No. 1 realises you are not returning, and attempt to present a bill for works part completed.

Before finally paying ensure that re-launch / mast step / new lift / de-mast / marina charges etc. are deducted from your remittance.

 

[jana]

thanks for all the replies - I shall be using some of the suggestions. Had meeting this w/end and promised all work will be completed in three weeks - I'll keep you informed......

BTW the boatyard is on the East coast!

Jana

 

[duke]

?Ipswic?

 

[Dreamers]

Is it named after an animal? Send me a PM?