Solent Yacht Delivery Suggestions

Lucky Duck

Lucky Duck

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It is possible that that the local harbour master is going to require boats either being towed or moved by a professional to their summer mooring rather than by their owners.

The practical benefit of this is eluding me right now

Any recommendations would be appreciated - the trip from the hoist to my normal berth is about 7 miles
 
The Plymouth QHM has ruled as follows when asked about a 'repositioning move' from a yard to a private mooring 6 miles distant.

"
As you will be aware the advice from the Government is changing daily. Not unsurprisingly, the guidance cannot be expected to cover every eventuality and individuals will need to use their own judgement. Given the proposed move is a few weeks away the guidance may well have changed.

However, given that the passage from the yard can only be conducted around spring tides it would not seem unreasonable to plan make a ‘once only’ trip to move your yacht back to her mooring. Once there it is recommended that you should not use your yacht until the Government restrictions on recreational activities are revised.
"

If you PM me with an email address I can forward you the original email. I am told that it is very similar to the advice given by Portsmouth QHM.

I cannot see how a "professional" will offer a significant reduction in risk management for a boat move, when th eowner is more intimately aware of the boat's handling characteristics and more familiar with location and deployment of the boat's emergency equipment.

It sounds as if someone with a recent Day Skipper qualification has decided to start up a support business delivering boats.
 
Thanks, will send a PM.

I can't see anything directly on the web from the relevant HM but this was posted on another thread Closing uk marinas

Another practical problem we have for the other boat is that TMSC have booked their lift in for early June I am not sure whether or not we will be welcome to drive down there by then and there is some vital stuff in the garage at the moment such as the tiller!
 
I cannot see how a "professional" will offer a significant reduction in risk management for a boat move, when th eowner is more intimately aware of the boat's handling characteristics and more familiar with location and deployment of the boat's emergency equipment.

Thanks sara, that made me laugh!
 
sarabande said:
I cannot see how a "professional" will offer a significant reduction in risk management for a boat move, when th eowner is more intimately aware of the boat's handling characteristics and more familiar with location and deployment of the boat's emergency equipment.
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capnsensible said:
Thanks sara, that made me laugh!
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I *think* that means you disagree. If it does....not that I am moving my boat (before the forum lynch mob descends) but why would a random professional skipper present less risk moving my boat than I would? I believe I agree with sarabande on that point.
 
Boats in Salcombe are commonly moved without owners to and from their moorings.

They are towed alongside the workboat, typically an outboard powered large dory/Boston whaler.

I guess the contractors get quite good at judging how the towing combinations handle...

Probably even manage a yacht with no tiller provided the rudder was central.
 
laika said:
I *think* that means you disagree. If it does....not that I am moving my boat (before the forum lynch mob descends) but why would a random professional skipper present less risk moving my boat than I would? I believe I agree with sarabande on that point.
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Of course. Anyone who does anything every day for a living will be much better at it than someone who does the same thing not very often. Frequently overlooked on forums.....
 
James_Calvert said:
They are towed alongside the workboat, typically an outboard powered large dory/Boston whaler.
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Spot on. Why risk the unknown on a strange boat with its electrical and mechanical systems when you can just roll up on another boat and tow. Keel or motor boat, makes not a lot of difference other than windage.
 
capnsensible said:
Anyone who does anything every day for a living will be much better at it than someone who does the same thing not very often.
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If that were universally true then any minicab driver would be a better driver than your average "non-professional" member of the IAM for whom driving was a passion but realised that law, medicine or whatever paid more and let them spend every weekend on the track.

Note that I specifically said "random professional skipper". Hopefully you will concede that there is a range of abilities.

Let's assume the boat owner has the same paper qualifications as the delivery skipper. They have PPR even if they don't have PPE.
Said boat owner has intimate knowledge of how their boat handles, where everything is stored, the quirks of the engine, which locker those spare shackles were in, all those "yeah it jams if you do that too quickly" quirks. They know the callsign and the mmsi off by heart and they're intimately familiar with the local area because they sail it every weekend. They'll also know the local area and the marina so faff and social contact to locate the boat is minimised.

I'm not saying 200+k miles, day in day out for years on hundreds of different boats doesn't make a greybeard skipper more prepared for anything than a "non-professional" with only a few 10s of thousand miles but that wasn't sarabande's contention. A demonstrably competent person, possibly with rather more delivery experience than someone in their first delivery job, sailing their own boat in their local area is no bigger risk than many "professionals" who may be unfamiliar with the boat or the area

And we're talking a 6/7 mile trip: the boat owner has probably done *that particular trip* more times than the pro who has greater total seatime, but gained elsewhere...
 
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And then there are the (hopefully few) professional skippers who slam the engine between forwards and reverse (I’ve seen it done). They may well be skilled helmsmen, but it’s not their boat…

PS. What’s the fastest car in the world?
 
James_Calvert said:
Boats in Salcombe are commonly moved without owners to and from their moorings.

They are towed alongside the workboat, typically an outboard powered large dory/Boston whaler.

I guess the contractors get quite good at judging how the towing combinations handle...

Probably even manage a yacht with no tiller provided the rudder was central.
Click to expand...


There is actually a very good reason they tow or put boat alongside workboat for the job ... if they open up the boat to get inside - they are not insured against any claim.

Its same as when my boat was launched before I got back to UK ... it was lifted in ... workboat then moved her to pontoon. When I arrived few days later - marina advised me that something is wrong as boat was deep in the water and very tender ... literally rolling about.
She was half full of rainwater from standing on the hard and drains had blocked.
I asked them why they didn't open her and check ...

Reply was that if the opened her or used any gear on her - they would be 'outside' their insurance and could be liable.
 
Laika, my old dog earred friend, all those woes and worries you understandably raise simply arent problems for pro skippers. Thats why they are pro skippers. Moving boats isnt that difficult anyway.
 
capnsensible said:
Laika, my old dog earred friend, all those woes and worries you understandably raise simply arent problems for pro skippers. Thats why they are pro skippers. Moving boats isnt that difficult anyway.
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They're not a problem for a competent boat owner either. Moving boats isn't that difficult
 
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