On boat yards & not getting round South Foreland..

[kilkerr1]

Hey all

Our new/old boat project-stylee Kingfisher 30 needs a boat yard on the south coast to huddle in for the next year or so (year? ha!). Somewhere between Brighton and Chi. Have been in touch with Dell Quay Yacht Yard, and while they're perfectly located, they're a wee bit pricey for us. Was thinking mebbe somwhere a bit closer to Brighton - Littlehampton poss? Dunno...Any suggestions chaps?

Oh, and we didn't start our long awaited trip. The decision was made swiftly, with the input of various esteemed forumites and mickmariner's ever-indispensible advice. Our thought processes went something like: Around South Foreland? In a F6 south-westerley? I think not...

Instead we visited the forts in the Thames Estuary - aren't they weird? - the Sir Richard Montgomery, on one of whose 'Danger' buoys a little fishing boat was happily tied - isn't it scary? - the castles at Upnor and Rochester - aren't they pretty? - dodged the dinghies racing in the Medway - aren't they all mad? - and ended a great weekend spending a miserable hour trying to moor the poor old girl in some very blowy weather.

Oh, and on the way back to our mooring - wind over tide most impressive waves I've been in yet - spotted a tiny little fishing boat bobbing about madly, roughly 40m from shore in Bartlett Creek (think that's what it's called). Three shirtless, shaven headed, tattooed and mostly toothless young chaps waving madly at us from the cockpit. Not really the weather to be going alongside another boat but HWMO was feeling gallant. Our three gentlemen were obviously on the tipsy side and praised the good lord in a very colourful way for sending us. They shouted over that they'd run out of petrol and had been stranded on the mud all day. We went around, found our spare can of petrol, and, rather amazingly in that weather I thought, managed to get it to them without any harm coming to St T. I don't think those boys really cared much about the dent in their side...Anyway, we went off a little way and waited to see if they could start their engine. Which they did. They wanted to return the petrol can to us but, not wanting to risk another, shall we say, 'sudden meeting of hulls', declined their kind offer and told them to keep it. They went racing off singing - quite literally - our praises. So that was our good deed done for the day. I fully expected this to translate into excellent karma and that mooring our boat would go smoothly despite the weather. Foolish girl, you were so, so wrong...

Pip pip, dear hearties.




<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://kilkerr.members.easyspace.com/santateresa_pics.htm>Santa Teresa and other t'ings</A>

 

[robp]

How about Wilsons or Hayling Yacht Co., both on Hayling? Or Pepe? Some numbers <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.conservancy.co.uk/water/marina_boat_yards.htm>Here</A>

I found that JK or whatever up at Dell Quay got expensive too. Shame.
Good luck

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[Robin]

Lateral thinking on your boatyard needs for the project boat, if you are likely to be at it for a really long time it could be cost effective to find a local farmer or warehouse with storage space to rent and take her there by road. We had a friend do that a few years back, he had undercover storage near where he lived for much less than out in the open at a boatyard, even after paying for transportation.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

Better luck next time!

We had the cox'n of the Ramsgate Lifeboat briefed to expect you, next time perhaps!

Passing something across between boats (usually fuel or a tow rope) in heavy weather is an interesting topic in its own right. Its sort of like MOB or picking up a mooring but demands its own technique, specially under sail. Our method is to get the 'casualty' to take her mainsail down and heave to, then approach her from astern, slightly on the lee quarter until the bow is close enough to reach over, then bearing off as the transfer is made. With fuel, we have tied the can on a rope, chucked the rope over, once it is secured then dropped the can into the sea on the windward side as we bear off. I'd use this method with any awkward, heavy object. The method is the same whether under sail or motor.

I'd be interested to hear how others tackle this. Obviously it is easy enough in calm weather, its when it gets rough that is interesting.

 

[tome]

Hiya Justine

Glad to hear that you didn't challenge the tetchy weather gods, all female shift at present and it's been that time of the month for a while now with them.

As for yards, there's a possible place for K-new in Chi Harbour on the E side of Thorney Island whilst you sort her out, check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.thornhammarina.com/> here </A>. Easy to get to via road but about £1400 a year for a K30 pontoon mudberth - don't know your budget is. Good community plus best Chi marine engineer and GRP repair man I know are both based there. It's also a great area for swindlerys and pubs.

If too expensive, try Littlehampton for basic refit but move out before you start loading valuables.

a Dunk
Tom


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[tugboat]

Many moons ago when the Isle of Grain was a refinery, we used to pass very close to the 'Montgomery' on tankers full of crude oil/ petrol/ avgas etc and always held our breath and hoped the steering wouldn't pack up. If wreck and tanker had gone up Sheerness would have disappeared. My old Mum wouldn't have been pleased either!

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[Andrew_Fanner]

Navy friends occasionally remark that the diver with the worst discipline record gets to check the state of the Montgomery yearly. Is this true or just a dit? Sounds pretty dicey to me.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[Koeketiene]

Some might say this is true, I couldn't possibly comment. ;o)

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.