MDL expansion

Just left MDL marina after 6 years (no names whilst boat still in vicinity), I found there 'if you dont like it f--- off' attitude extremely effective, - I didnt so I have!
 
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Bad, bad, bad news about Sparkes

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One of the options that I heard of was lots more concrete and 'luxury' waterfront flats. Whatever anyone thinks of MDL, I think that retaining a marina more favourable.
 
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The MDL knockers on the Haslar thread will be pleased to learn that MDL has taken over Sparkes Marina on Hayling Island as of yesterday.

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Two page feature in the next YM?? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Hi James.
About time MDL got stuck in to the eastern Solent, it's been a bit neglected and last time I was in Sparkes it was a sh**hole. Nice peeps but horrid place! You wait a couple of years, then the big development just east of Cherbourg harbour will be happening and they will control the mid-channel. Perhaps the planners will then have to sit up and free up some sites for new marinas. Who knows, maybe even Swanage will have another vote!!

The MD is MDL is happy to take calls and complaints from anyone....amazing how all the remote control heroes love slagging off the company. Maybe they aren't brave enough to go to the top!
His name is Jon Eads, 02380 450210, and he is happy to talk to the peeps who want to keep having a go. I have no connection by the way.
 
Nothing wrong with MDL...

The sale of Sparkes was unfortunately going to happen come what may, so to that end I personally welcome MDL there, just think who else it may have been had MDL not done the honours!

My personal experience of MDL has been all good for a number of years, keep a boat with one, although that will now be boats with two come the summer! Work in an MDL owned facility, dont work for MDL btw.

Plus now I will be living pretty much next door to an MDL marina/yard!
 
I have nothing in particular against MDL (apart from their high prices), I just do not think it is healthy (or in our interest as boatowners) that most of the marinas on the South Coast are now owned by 3 or 4 companies.

Marc.
 
Of course you are right, same issue with the supermarkets.

Visit a marina operated be one of the larger operators and you have good parking clean modern facilities and good safe pontoons, well maintained. Sparks was independent, only being sold because of very poor health within the family, but Sparks really does need some investment.
 
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Of course you are right, same issue with the supermarkets.

Visit a marina operated be one of the larger operators and you have good parking clean modern facilities and good safe pontoons, well maintained. Sparks was independent, only being sold because of very poor health within the family, but Sparks really does need some investment.

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The problem is that Investment = Higher prices. The three big companies now have a virtual monopoly of marinas on the South Coast and are all offering the same - very expensive - style of Marina.

That equates to a lack of genuine choice for sailors - rather like having to choose between tesco and sainsbury when what you really want is the local shop or farmers' market
 
Dont dissagree, in this particular case, and if I remember correctly, Sparks charges were more than Chichester Marine (Premier) and only a little cheaper than Northney (MDL) for a 10.5 mtr berth 2 years ago..

Taking Sparks as an example It seems that whether there has been investment or not the prices all are about the same. High.
 
To me it seems a misconception that marinas are expensive because of the high standards.

All the south coast marinas that I have been to (which is most of them) have had facilities ranging from average to miserable compared to facilities found in private marinas on the continent. And prices are typically 3 to 6 times higher.

Obviously the south coast sailor is willing to pay the higher prices, but he shouldn't be delusioned into thinking that the facilities are good.
 
I must admit that Sparkes is just about the only marina which I am not sorry to hear has been taken over by one of the big boys
 
It is difficult to compare prices between UK and the continent because of different economic factors - in terms of capital costs and tax and other charges. I think you would be hard put to find a marina on the continent in an area with as high land costs as prevail along the south coast of England.

I don't know much about the economics of running a marina - but from the number that have changed hands over the last 10 years I get the impression that they are not necessarily the license to print money that we berth holders (=cheque writers) might believe. So the money must be going somewhere.
 
Britain is certainly an expensive country, and land in the UK is expensive. But land isn't cheap in Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark etc. either, and nor are other running costs - salaries etc. Just having come back from Denmark a couple of days ago, it seems to me that the cost of living in Denmark for example seems to make the UK look cheap. But I would not expect to pay more than about £11 a night in a marina there for my 32'-er. And I would normally expect that to include free electricity, probably free wi-fi, good showers etc.

What's more the attitude is different, so that the marina master is likely to let you off the odd week's marina fee here or there. Last year marinas I stayed in wrote off a total of about 2-3 months worth of harbour fees as a friendly gesture. You don't get that sort of thing on the south coast!

So I don't really buy it that south coast marinas aren't making decent profits...
 
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