My new project... MFV Elizmor

[chewi]

I didn't read anything Ellie wrote, here or on her blog, as criticism of Preston Marina. Frustration with a very difficult and expensive problem certainly but I read an implied acknowledgement that the Marina were trying to be helpful but coming up against regulatory and insurance issues. Maybe that was my sympathetic imagination.

Are'nt you reviewing something you admit you haven't read?

 

[Stork_III]

Are'nt you reviewing something you admit you haven't read?

Reread what he posted. He says he read it all here and the blog BUT did not regard any of it as criticism of Preston Marina.

 

[dom]

reading what people actually wrote and then responding to their words is too sensible

far better to respond to what you think you read

the idea in long YBW threads is to get hold of the wrong end of the stick and then use it to beat some-one into submission

dylan

Is it really fair to criticize those folk who in good faith got swept along with the gist of the OP. E.g. on 9th March OP wrote,
"This is getting ridiculous. Launch cancelled for the second time. The marina have insurance issues again. I have bought a boat in a boatyard and just want to launch her!

Later that day post #157 opens with,
“The yard she is in doesn't have a crane big enough to lift her so I need to get a 200t crane in. I'm literally right next to the quay wall, nothing in the way, she needs picking up and swinging 90 degrees so she's alongside the quay in the water.

"First time round the marina told me to sort it out myself externally, so I arranged to hire a crane under a contract lift, booked a date etc. Then the marina advised I postpone the launch as they had some issues with it and wanted full indemnity....”

The OP could have, but didn't, intervene to set everyone straight and explain that Preston Marina was bending over backwards to help. Consequently, Preston Marina were forced into the fray. I think it's most unfair to now dismiss those who got swept along with the initial sentiment as a bunch of emotionally charged twits ...(and that interpretation is just joining the dots as you present them)

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

You know? I think that's just a horrible thing to say. You and many others seem to delight in kicking someone when they're down.

To me, she seems so obviously hurt by all the nastiness that this thread has turned into, and then you just can't resist putting a new snide comment, to bump the post back up to the top?

I hope it makes you feel better about yourself anyway.

What a dreadful example of "one sailor helping out another" on this usually friendly forum.

This thread is beginning to feel like bullying with the number of keyboard warriors picking on a single individual.

I think you are misinterpreting my post. I was merely explaining, to another forumite, how this kind of marketing works. Ellie herself would probably say exactly the same. she is, in fact very high in my esteem, as you will see if you read the final sentence of my post.

 

[MYStargazer]

If I owned the marina, I'd be getting the very talented Ellie to do some online and social media marketing for me, in exchange for sorting out insurance and craneage - using my commercial weight to help to make it all happen.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The OP could have, but didn't, intervene to set everyone straight and explain that Preston Marina was bending over backwards to help. Consequently, Preston Marina were forced into the fray. I think it's most unfair to now dismiss those who got swept along with the initial sentiment as a bunch of emotionally charged twits ...(and that interpretation is just joining the dots as you present them)

I agree. Isn't the whole point of social media marketing that you don't do anything too overt? You drop a few hints, start a few hares and rely on the masses to do your marketing - or your pressurising - for you. Ellie could easily have jumped in and said "Hang on, guys, don't blame the people at Preston Marina, they're really trying to get this to work and they've even given me some free stuff from their chandlery" but she didn't. That was at best unwise. As we're now seeing, this finely nuanced stuff can go either way.

Just to make clear: I really do hope everything works out well, that we hear soon of Elizmor's triumphant progress down the Irish Sea and that it doesn't cost a ridiculous amount to get her there. It sounds as if Preston sees regular if occasional heavy loads loaded and unloaded so perhaps delay, though frustrating, will bring a solution.

 

[chewi]

Reread what he posted. He says he read it all here and the blog BUT did not regard any of it as criticism of Preston Marina.

Absolutely right, I misread it.
My apologies to Mr McCulloch.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I used to have a poster in my room at work with the following legend: "Sometimes it shows a fine command of language to say nothing."

 

[chewi]

I used to have a poster in my room at work with the following legend: "Sometimes it shows a fine command of language to say nothing."

(I should put a zip where the mouth is)

 

[Lakesailor]

Preston Marina have been very wise. All they are doing is dealing with a client in the best way they can. However, even with the best will in the world, they really can't cut corners.
That wouldn't be a wise business move. It's unlikely any crane operator would go along with a short-cut either.

I can see the underlying message in their last sentence.

It is our sincere wish to see Ellie and Elizmor happily on their way, which we are sure will be possible somehow and we remain available and willing to assist in any way that we reasonably can.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I can see the underlying message in their last sentence.

Ooh, well spotted. I hadn't noticed that. How beautifully phrased.

 

[KevB]

I only have admiration for the young lady. She is living the dream and doing what 95% of us testosterone fueled males would have loved to have done but never had the balls. She deserves a little bit of slack.

 

[john]

I only have admiration for the young lady. She is living the dream and doing what 95% of us testosterone fueled males would have loved to have done but never had the balls. She deserves a little bit of slack.

Not so. I, and many others have taken equal or greater risks, had adventures and perhaps as you say "lived the dream" with boats - the difference is that we do not use this forum in a purely commercial way: e.g. marketing 20,000 or so visitors to a site as "followers" when asking companies for sponsorship. The quality of this forum will be diluted if we accept this as the norm.

I'm admire the project itself but find it telling that we have not had anything from the OP since we heard the other side of the story from Preston marina.

 

[clyst]

I only have admiration for the young lady. She is living the dream and doing what 95% of us testosterone fueled males would have loved to have done but never had the balls. She deserves a little bit of slack.

Hardly living the dream ,nightmare more like it ,and I suspect this is only the start .

 

[KevB]

Not so. I, and many others have taken equal or greater risks, had adventures and perhaps as you say "lived the dream" with boats - the difference is that we do not use this forum in a purely commercial way: e.g. marketing 20,000 or so visitors to a site as "followers" when asking companies for sponsorship. The quality of this forum will be diluted if we accept this as the norm.

I'm admire the project itself but find it telling that we have not had anything from the OP since we heard the other side of the story from Preston marina.

Well done, you're in the 5% as mentioned above. I take my hat off to you. As for her posting on the forum to 'advertise' herself, it's been worth every penny as far as I am concerned. If she hadn't posted I wouldn't have had the luxury of reading about the adventure.
I truly hope she succeeds and gets as much non financial help as possible on the way.

 

[OceanSprint]

It has been a fascinating read - and the current situation is intriguing. But surely 53,000 "visitors", is more likely to be 1,000 visitors, 53 times each (or something more like this) as they catch up on the story?

 

[lw395]

So is this boat launched yet? I only look at this thread now and then.
Exactly what does it weigh?
Are there any cheaper solutions than a huge crane?

 

[JumbleDuck]

It has been a fascinating read - and the current situation is intriguing. But surely 53,000 "visitors", is more likely to be 1,000 visitors, 53 times each (or something more like this) as they catch up on the story?

Which number do you think sounds better to a potential blagee/sponsor?

 

[fisherman]

Are potential sponsors more interested in numbers accessing this thread or the blog?

 

[JumbleDuck]

So is this boat launched yet?

There has been no update here or on the Elizmor website/blog since Preston Marina's posting. I presume that means "no".

Exactly what does it weigh?

Seventy tons, I gather

Are there any cheaper solutions than a huge crane?

The Preston Marina post outlined the issues involved very well, I think. I think the summary is that it's an easy job for a big crane, but that it will cost a lot because the condition of the quayside has to be assessed by an expert and the crane insured in case the expert gets it wrong. As so often with boating, enough money will make all the problems go away.