Normal boatyard practice?

timmygobang

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Is it normal practice to move boats around in the boatyard without letting the owner know beforehand?

Luckily I tidied everything away, but had the boatyard moved my boat last week I would have had white spirit all over the cabin (as I'd left some paint brushes to soak) and maybe a splash of bilge paint

This isn't a gripe, I'm just curious as this is my first time on the hard.
 
Certainly when our boat was ashore at Foxs in Ipswich last year it was moved at least 4 times, at one point from one end of the yard to the other. Each time we went down we had to go and hunt out where it was! I always assume that it might be moved, even if it is then put back in the same place, if only to allow other boats around it to be moved.
 
In a word, yes. Bit of a shock, I know, but at least now you know to leave things as if she was afloat. Especially if your boat is in front of someone who wants to be launched before you. To be fair, the alternatives are giving everyone a fixed launch date (as in the communally run clubs) or a strict first in - first out order. Actually, in practice, if I am down at the yard and they know they are going to move my boat the following week, someone usually makes a point of telling me, but I don't expect a phone call, that would involve a whole level of beaurocracy unbecoming to a boat yard.
 
I don't expect a phone call, that would involve a whole level of beaurocracy unbecoming to a boat yard.

Yeh that's true. Well least I know for future reference. I try to keep it tidy as can remembered two weeks ago I left some brushes to soak on the side, lucky escape.

Guess the plus point is that I can touch up the AF where the supports were previously placed :)
 
Is it normal practice to move boats around in the boatyard without letting the owner know beforehand?

Luckily I tidied everything away, but had the boatyard moved my boat last week I would have had white spirit all over the cabin (as I'd left some paint brushes to soak) and maybe a splash of bilge paint

This isn't a gripe, I'm just curious as this is my first time on the hard.

YES is the answer.

Gives you an official "OH SH*T" moment when you come back from a day off from boatyard h*ll to find her gone though.
 
I once bought a boat at a distant boatyard. I'd spent a few days aboard sorting it out, and, having finally solved a couple of problems, asked the boatyard when they could launch her. They told me they were fully booked over the bank holiday weekend (this was Friday) so I'd have to wait until Tuesday. I jumped in the car and drove a few miles to the nearest phone box (pre-mobile days) to let the friend who was coming down to help me sail her home not to rush down after work, as we wouldn't be afloat for a few days yet. When I arrived back the boat was gone. I found her on the beach, standing on her legs waiting for the tide to come in. Fortunately the mug of tea, camera, and tools etc. I'd left in the cockpit were all fine, so I dashed back up to the phone box to advise we were back to Plan A.
 
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