SeaStart our gardian angel

[Dave_Knowles]

Last night SeaStart did again - SAVED THE DAY.
We set out for a short trip, bit of fishing, some food and be back before dark. The trip down the Beaulieu River was uneventful. I had done all my pre trip checks, oil etc. Engine sounded fine.

Got into the Solent opened her up and after about 5 mins the engine just stopped. I tried to restart it and although it turned over it was obviously not going to fire up again. We decided to drop anchor as the boat was drifting pretty fast towards some very shallow water and then phone Sea Start. Within an hour they were with us by which time for some reason the engine ahd decided once again to start, checked everything out and followed us part way back to our mooring just in case we had any further problems.

Our history with Sea Start:

After my first trip out just a few weeks after buying my boat I joined Sea Start and they have been the best investment I have so far made. In the early days we had two major breakdowns where we needed towing in and they were there within 30 mins to save the day. The wonderful thing about them is how helpful they and the feeling of security you have if like last night as the sun goes down your engine dies and refuses to start.

Thank you Sea Start and especiall Bob and Murphy (his dog) who we draged out last night. It was great to see you as we sat there alone in the Solent. Keep up the good work.

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

 

[tillergirl]

Forgive me but is your engine telling you it needs a little tlc?

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[Rob_Webb]

It's always good to see help arrive as the sun sets, agreed.

Now that you're safely back in, would you not be tempted to consider a backup engine option to reduce your reliance on SS. After all, next time they might not be able to get to you in time to prevent a nasty?

And ultimately, if you repeatedly call them out then I presume they will review your (and other) premiums and make increases where frequency of callout makes it necessary!

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[andy_wilson]

Hmmm... Makes you think doesn\'t it? nm

nm

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[Happy1]

Dave you are either very unlucky, have a crap engine or don't service the boat properly. I invested in a spare engine for my boat which cost quite a bit, I considered sea start but they are not in my area. I have never broken down yet, touch wood, but have he knowledge that I can get home. I carry spare that I would need, including a battery booster.

It seems to me that Sea start is the cheaper option of having to worry about self help. I would not join for the reason that I would be subsidising people who don't seem to want to take on their own responsibilities, don't get me wrong, if you are getting the service then good for you, but some mug somehere is paying for it /forums/images/icons/wink.gif Sea start is a business, it is not run as a charity, so I don't really know what the big deal is. It does seem the the enterpenoureal guy is giving a good service, well done to him. But if you carry on the way you are going, I am sure the fees will increase next year. Bit like the AA or RAC, I was a member for over 20 years never broke down, but would always see the ill maintained cars calling them out.

I am know there were genuine cases with the AA as well as in Seat Start, but my risk asessment has shown me that if I had an emergency I would want to deal with it and have the capabiities, an hours wait could be disasterous in certain conditions, not like sitting at the side of a road waiting for the AA. Don't take this as a critisiscm of you, I have just put it up for discussion to balance things /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

BUT it is not normal to have all the problems you have, how can you relax when it keeps breaking down, get that boat checked out properly, next time you may not be so lucky /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Woodpile]

They're great - I got two free tickets to the boatshow when they couldn't come and give me a tow once. Had to float up the river Frome on the rising tide, instead - which wasn't so bad as it was a nice evening. Apparently, Sea Start had broken down themselves!

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[Dave_Knowles]

Tillergirl,

It's had oddles of that - I have rewired the boat, serviced the engine, had a Volvo engineer check it out, serviced the outdrive including new rams, iIt now has a bilge pump that works, fire fighting equipment etc. etc - but it is old and has not been given enought tlc in the past. We are getting there though with a little help from Bob and his dog.

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dave_Knowles on 14/08/2003 13:27 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Dave_Knowles]

Happy 1,

My original posting was as a thankyou to Sea Start. I am a little upset with your inference that I am both unprepared and have quote "a crap engine". Not all of us can afford vast sums for either new or nearly new boats and when you buy a boat you have to sometimes learn how well it has been cared for the hard way. On thge face of it my engine looked good sounded good but it has needed a number of things done. I am getting there but it takes time.

I would point out the call outs were for the following:

1st we blew the rubber bajo on the exhaust manifold. They tried to fix it but couldn't on a Sunday. Maybe you carry a spare.

2nd. Out steering box seized up inside due to a cog breaking. Maybe you carry a spare streering box.

3rd Last night which you know about.

As for Sea Start if everone took your attitude they would not exist as neither would the AA or RAC. Having me the owner and talked to him about call outs he said that it evens out. They have many members that have never called them out but are members just in case.

Boats do break down even new ones I just hope one day you don't have to eat your words.



<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

 

[Solitaire]

Well said Dave - I only have praise for the guys at SS. I was going to respond to H1 - but it would only have wound me up even more. Still its just another example of ill-informed comment by someone with no real expereince and likes to wind folks up. It's comments like that that lead to problems in the first place - perhaps when he has been boating for a few more years he'll understand.

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