wizard
Well-Known Member
Can anyone tell me if there is a water taxi at Lymington if you moor on the fore and aft buoys just off the town quay.
Lymington water taxi ?
- Thread starter wizard
- Start date
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
No there isn't. One ran last year as a trial just weekends in high season, but haven't seen it this year.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
The harbourmaster boat will usually ferry to and fro while they are on duty, though that doesn't extend to pub kicking out times, or run with any regularity, so of little use for those ashore during the time most will require the service - evening meals, pub visits etc.
wizard
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply. I had heard the rumours so thought I had better check before going there this weekend.
So its out with the inflatable and lots of pumping /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
So its out with the inflatable and lots of pumping /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
I know, I've run people back to their boats in my dinghy twice this year who came ashore with the HM and didn't know that there was no guarantee of return trip - and that isn't a criticism of the HM lads who I think are the most consistently helpful and friendly in the Solent.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
I know you know!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Just pointing out that while they will take you ashore when you arrive, many people don't realise the reverse trip may not be possible. I like you have often given stranded on shore peeps lifts to their boats on moorings.
Just pointing out that while they will take you ashore when you arrive, many people don't realise the reverse trip may not be possible. I like you have often given stranded on shore peeps lifts to their boats on moorings.
gjgm
Well-Known Member
ok, well guess you know, but I d have sworn I ve seen one this year when I ve been down there. Maybe it was w/ends only and at certain hours...or maybe I m mistaken.
Robin
Well-Known Member
Not this year, they stopped the trial last September and the signs giving the phone numbers and VHF channel have gone.
IMO they didn't try hard enough. It was Yarmouth Taxi people doing it but nobody knew, they didn't mailshot the HMs or YCs so people arrived prepared as usual to use their own dinghies. We used it once and they were complaining people weren't using them, well not surprising really if people didn't know they existed and already had their own dinghies ready to go.
St Peter Port has a similar problem on the outside pontoons in the Pool, a taxi service so unreliable and expensive that people use their own dinghies and the taxi then complains at little custom.
IMO they didn't try hard enough. It was Yarmouth Taxi people doing it but nobody knew, they didn't mailshot the HMs or YCs so people arrived prepared as usual to use their own dinghies. We used it once and they were complaining people weren't using them, well not surprising really if people didn't know they existed and already had their own dinghies ready to go.
St Peter Port has a similar problem on the outside pontoons in the Pool, a taxi service so unreliable and expensive that people use their own dinghies and the taxi then complains at little custom.
Goldie
Well-Known Member
St Peter Port Taxi charges £1.50 per person each way - about 40m if you're on the most distant pontoon, about half that if you're on the nearest. I wonder why custom is scarce.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Robin
Well-Known Member
We were in St Peter Port once for just one night so used the taxi to get ashore rather than pump up the dink. We asked what was the latest time we could get back on board if we used them again that evening to go to a restaurant and were told they could take us ashore but NOT bring us back as they weren't running that night (in August) and we would have to get one of the HM dorys to take us back. As we expected to need a lift back at about sill opening time and there was a full compliment on the waiting pontoons, we thought it very unlikely we would get a dory lift and so pumped up our own dinghy - which we should have done earlier and saved the £6.
For us St Peter Port is no longer a favoured stopover, £24 to be rafted up to 3 out on the outside pontoons with no power and the aforementioned taxi is way OTT and the restaurants now are way too pricey, so we'll reserve our eating out funds for France. These days we stopover in Havelet Bay if we can and are usually gone on the next tide, their loss is a gain for the French but I doubt they care.
For us St Peter Port is no longer a favoured stopover, £24 to be rafted up to 3 out on the outside pontoons with no power and the aforementioned taxi is way OTT and the restaurants now are way too pricey, so we'll reserve our eating out funds for France. These days we stopover in Havelet Bay if we can and are usually gone on the next tide, their loss is a gain for the French but I doubt they care.
SirSnoozalot
Well-Known Member
If a water taxi were profitable, then someone would run one. Problem is, that the profit margin must be more than the dole or income support to make it cost-effective. It staggers me that some enterprising youngster or even retired old hand can't put something together that was worth doing.
xcw
Well-Known Member
probably put off by the bureaucracy of getting a licence to operate. I can just imagine the health and safety, local authority and no doubt harbour authority hoops you have to jump through to get a licence. Plus the cost of the licence, no doubt regular health and safety inspections, constraints on when you can operate etc etc etc etc. Suddenly life becomes just too difficult and everyone suffers as a result /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
SirSnoozalot
Well-Known Member
Yes. I think you are probably right. Sad state of affairs.