MDL

[malcolm2]

I,ve sat back and watched with interest the anti MDL debate. Occasionally people loose sight of the fact that they are after all in business to make money.

HOWEVER. I have just had my Northney berth renewal through for 2004 at £4243.18 it is 14.75% up on last year.

HOW can this be justified.

Its a great marina with excellent staff, which are an asset to the company.

But this level of price hike is unjustifiable, so I suspect I have also joined the ranks of knockers. And will be looking either elswhere or dare I say after 30 of boating giving it all up.

Inerested to know other MDL berth holders feelings.

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[ccscott49]

What size boat?


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[barryjl]

Haven't had 2004 figs from MDL yet, but I agree with you - our marina (Mercury) is excellent, with first class staff and cerrtainly a far happier atmosphere than where I was before. And yes, MDL are there to make money so I suppose price hikes are inevitable, especially when marinas are full or very nearly full in our case. It would be tragic if you gave up after 30 years - is that really an option? I know at the end of the day it wouldn't be an option for me unless it was really forced on me.

<hr width=100% size=1>There's no problems..just opportunities

 

[malcolm2]

10.6m long including all the usual overhangs etc.

Packing it all in after 30 years......... everything has its price... balancing expense or cost against enjoyment. In other words value for money.!

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[ccscott49]

Christ! I was thinking of a berth somewhere around there, for 17.5 meters, I just wont be able to afford it!

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[Greg2]

In my view marina prices are unjustifiably high. Being on the east coast mine are nowhere near as bad but as our marina has been taken over by a national company and is now full I fear for the future - I simply couldn't afford £4k pa.

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[mrloudly]

I'm in Hythe at the moment, although the new tub won't fit and we're off to Ocean Villiage. 47'10" Phantom's going to cost us £7000 for 2004. Thing is if you look at an apartment you've got 1500 ground rent 1000 year rates 1500 insurance plus furniture costs and to top it off ar.holes for neighbours. At least with the boat you can move if you want!! We looked at the Ocean Villiage Flats 300K for a reasonable one. (Marina view if you hang off the balcony )))) I'd sooner pay the same and be in the Marina!!

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[PGD]

I was with Ian Hurley, Ops Manager for special projects....had a chat with him about MDL's vision if you like. They are very aware that some of their marinas need more improvements in terms of facilities and amenities, for example safety, security, visual appearance, clean footpaths, waste reception areas close to boats, dog (waste) bins - not bins for dogs /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

I know they are looking at centralising if possible some purchasing etc or maintaining local deals if these are better.

So he may a good point of contact to put some pressure on about what beth holders expect. He's based at Hamble Point.

Peter

<hr width=100% size=1>Complete the Consumer Survey <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mssa.org.uk>http://www.mssa.org.uk</A> Marine Service Standards Assistance

 

[miket]

Sad fact of life.

Whilst marinas are full there is little incentive for public companies not to match demand to supply and maximise their profit.
If you manufactured widgets for which demand outstripped supply, would you say "it is not fair to ask so much money, we'll put up with a smaller profit". May I suggest you would rub your hands together and screw the customers for every last penny.
The Solent must be one of the most popular coastal boating areas with what seems an endless demand for more berthing.

I recently looked at the practicalities of keeping the boat in France. Cherbourg, St Vaast, St Malo or somewhere close to either a ferry port or cheap flights airport.
If I was retired or semi retired I would be gone tomorrow, but for my style of boating (frequent) and as an employee with restricted holidays it makes no sense.

There will come a time when the cost will be just too high. Until then expect to continue paying.

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[malcolm2]

I suppose I do not mind it going up, its inevitable, law of supply and demand etc.

BUT I OBJECT TO IT GOING UP BY ALMOST 15% or £550, In one hit.

At a time of more or less zero inflation.



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[Mike21]

Not trying to justify price hike, but how much of the rise is due to the large council tax rises and increasing taxation?

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[qsiv]

Makes my 3,200 for 15 metres seem like a real bargain - I'll stop grumbling ...

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[MRC]

Just a thought but triangle berth brokers are offering a 32yr lease on a 12metre berth at northney for offers on 50k, or even better value may be the 12m at port solent or the 15m at gosport, 64years for 70 grand. great tax advantage to buy a long lease too.

As long as it has sub let rights you can ease re let after you have finished with it or sell onto someone else.

I bought a 12m berth at Ocean Village a couple of years ago and sold it as a package with my boat when we sold. Made berthing more affordable.


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[andyball]

something odd there....mine's gone up by about 3.5% which is OK by me. (also at Northney, but under 10m).

Over 10m boats were £386.70 per m this year, your new figure suggests 4243.18 / 10.6 = £400.30, an increase of £13.60 per m . 13.6 / 386.7 = 0.035.....so 10m+ rates have also risen by 3.5% ?? (seems likely,since sub 10m have risen by the same

So, if this year you paid £3693'ish (your renewal price of 4243.18 less the £550 increase you mention) then 3693.18 / 10.6 = £348.41 per m, which ain't right, 'cos as mentioned earlier, they charged £386.70 per m for 10.1m+ this year).

So there's a mistake somewhere, if you paid £3693 for a whole year with a 10.6m boat, it sounds like one in your favour, or am I missing something?.


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[malcolm2]

Are we sitting comfortably.... then I'll begin.

Reason for apparently horrendous price increase... Digit failure.

In that Computer evidentally misread boats length as 10.6m not 10.06.

So fellow Northney berth holders, do not panic, price increase is in actual fact only 3.5%.

Appologies to MDL.

Please can I go night nights now.?

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[tripleace]

Re: berthing

100 ft of best thames, freehold at 80,000.

and when I'm finished with it, it will still be worth 80,000 plus inflation plus plus.

and that a good reason why I like the thames and not the sea....

there are a few plots available for those of you that don't want to pay a third party.

the chancellor announced yesterday that residential property could be bought with pension funds... well watch the price of river side property go through the roof when people find out they can use their "locked in" pension to buy things they can use now....

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[Jon_Eads]

Ah ha...

all's well that ends well...

Sorry for the shock anyway!

Jon Eads
MDL

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[Birdseye]

" I suppose I do not mind it going up, its inevitable, law of supply and demand etc.

BUT I OBJECT TO IT GOING UP BY ALMOST 15% or ?550, In one hit.

At a time of more or less zero inflation"

So how much has your house gone up this year? Would you sell it for just an rpi level of price rise? No you wouldnt would you.

MDL is a property based business, so you can expect its charges to reflect the market in that type of property. Which, like the house market, is limited by the nimbies and their pressure on the planning system. The answer to MDL is another 100 large marinas round the country.

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[TwoStroke]

Ah, but house prices have all gone up - so no real net gain. Where as we are all renting a berth and the marina are still paying the same cost of the capital - even house rentals have dropped!

In reality, they are maximising their return, and I'm expecting a 15% increase on renewal. Their trailer storage has doubled (Premier Marina). Because there are so few alternatives they quite simply have a local monopoloy. If they're not careful, they will start to alienate alot of their customers.

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[tripleace]

what a ridiculous position.

using your argument.

MBY a newspaper owns an office block and print factory. It makes a profit each year but because the value of the office has increased then it thinks it can increase the cost of the magazine by the increase in the property value.

Its different if they pay rent, but then the rent will be fixed for a number of years until a rent review takes place.

In any event the property which increases in value actually could (if sold)add to the profit of the company and thus the magazines could be sold cheaper.



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