Servicing on the Lower Thames

[TRA]

Hi, Some advice much appreciated if anyone has any experience of general boat servicing on the lower Thames. I currently have a Chaparral 260 in St Kats, has been there for about a year and needs a good service, has 7.4ltr Mercruiser, with Bravo 2 leg both in need of serivce, plus bellows and a hull polish and possible new canopy. I seem only to be able to find engineers around the Shepperton / Chertsey area. Notabley Kings Marine and Lindon Lewis, both of whom appear to have quite different service schedules and prices. For example Kings quote 220 £ for an outdrive service and additional 340£ for the bellows, however Lindon quote 240£ for service and state that the bellows is included in the service as standard. Clearly quite different opinions and prices. Basically would be hugely appreciative of any advice as either experience of these two companies and / or any advice on alternatives. Many thanks. Tim A.

 

[jaws]

I usually take mine up to Penton for a lift out and then get DB Marine to do the service. Always do a good job. I personnaly wouldn't use Shepperton as had bad experience there.

They also dropped a boat (slipped out of slings) next to my friends which was waiting on the fuel pontoon. Luckily it was dropped into the water but my mate was showered in weed and other bottom of boat stuff as well as water, of course.

 

[Marine Reflections]

A second vote for DB Marine over Shepperton, however Kings Marine at Chertsey would be my first call

 

[Salty Sealine]

I recommend VolvoPaul who will come to you and at least you know who will do the work.

He posts reguarily on the site, but mainly on the Motorboat Forum

 

[oldgit]

I recommend VolvoPaul who will come to you and at least you know who will do the work.


Even Paul will still need it out of the water.
Problem is that Kats has no lift/slip facilities ? and boat will need to come out of the water somewhere to change rubberware.
Moving it somewhere by river will not be fun in this weather even to reposition it where it can be lifted out or popped onto a trailer.
Praaps best to wait until spring and then move it above the lock in order for somebody to get at it.

 

[alruss]

The Hurlingham yacht club has a dry dock that is available for temporary members,
the temp membership is for insurance purposes. Members have experience of most aspects of boat maintainance. One member is professional engineer for engine, another member does canopies etc. etc. PM for contact info. Alan

 

[Harleyford_S37]

I think that South Dock Marina, just down river from St Kats opposite Canary Wharf has lifting facilities.

 

[TrueBlue]

Aren't there some suitable facilities on the Lee.
I haven't been up there for some time, but seem to remember a marina with a quantity of cruisers in there. Not all that far up the navigation either. Being on BW waters they might be cheaper?

Juts an idle thought.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I think that South Dock Marina, just down river from St Kats opposite Canary Wharf has lifting facilities.

They have a crane and boat park and, being run by the local authority, may not be too pricey. There's also Bridge Marine by Walton Bridge.

 

[Blue_scarabs]

Hello all, just joined up as I can add a bit of info to the original post request & subsequent responses. Someone mentioned the River Lee, in which case you would need to search for Springfield Marina, which is located directly opposite Springfield Park in Hackney. There are a number of boats on the hard but I don't know how they got there as the site is secure & visibility is rather obscured by the boats. South Dock Marina was also mentioned & they definitely have lift out facilities as I witnessed it when I cycled there on the 1day of summer we had last year.

 

[snapper]

If you want everything done for you but somewhat if pricey, nip down to Putney and Chas Newens Marine will haul your boat out, do the work and relaunch. They did similar work on my Searay 215 kept afloat nearby and are Mercruiser service agents. They do a good job.

If you want to do some of the work yourself, then as AllRuss said, Hurlingham Yacht Club has this superb facility of a drydock, with very friendly members who will provide plenty of advice. They also have skilled enginners who will work on your boat as All said.

 

[suzanne]

Lindon Lewis Marine @ Shepperton

Hi,

This may seem like a bias opinion but the service side of things at Lindon Lewis Marine in Shepperton Marina has changed a hell of a lot recently especially since the drop. There is new management over seeing all the work and new administrators looking after the customers throughout their work.

I'd be happy to talk to anyone who has had a bad experience in the past to arrange the possibility of being able to rectify the situation and provide a future service.

 

[ms1]

Tim, If you're prepared to come up as far as Walton or Shepperton I would use Tim Barfield at Hampton. He wont drop your boat because he uses a cradle on a slipway, he's not pickie about you being there in the yard doing your own work on the boat. He wont charge you as much as the said outfit at Shepperton Marina.

Alternatively have a lift out at Lyndon Lewis @ Shepperton LOCK and get mobile engineeer Lyndon Evans along to do the job . .. or have a lift at South Dock and get him to come there.

Lyndon Evans 07795218704

For new new Canopy ..... BEHC Marine Trimmers at Walton Marine 01932 269969

The Lyndon Lewis quote you have doesn't appear to include lift out and re-launch.

 

[The Frog]

You might be interested to know that Shepperton Marina will be running the crane at Shepperton Marina from July 2010. They will also be selling the fuel and running the hard standing too.

As I understand it Lindon Lewis Marine will still be running the service centre and the chandlery.