T&K

[miket]

Took the boat to above for lift on to transporter, for return to Broom for winter work.
Arrived at 07.00 and prepared boat for transport (hood off, mast down and secured, etc). Steady rain throughout.
07.30 Transporter arrives declaring that he will not be able to load here as the entrance is too overgrown!! Oh dear, I say to myself!!
This area of T&K is run by EA. Come on guys, get your act together. I know there is no money but sending a few guys out with chain saws to keep the entrance clear is pretty basic stuff. I understand this may actually have happened that afternoon. If so, well done but too late.
Fortunately, Bushnells at Wargrave came to the rescue so I set off for the 2 hour run as did the transporter. We both arrived at Bushnells together and apart from a 2 hour delay we were back on course.
Many thanks, Paul Bushnell. Not sure I would have been that civil at 07.45hrs!!
Thanks also to Beverly Transport, who could have loaded anyway and the boat would have been scratched to b****ry before they even started.
Bad luck EA! My £400 lift fee did not supplement your coffers.

 

[TrueBlue]

I get the impression that the lift - although owned by EA - is managed by an engineer who used to be employed by the previous owners of T&K.

SO, as happens in large organisations, the chain of command is broken, and it's probably even more difficult to get things done outside that particular task. That is something like "he's a subby", so his priorities go right down to the bottom of the list?? I'm assume that it's still EA's property but it doesn't much use - at least for artics: going in and out, so no need to cut the trees?

What a shame - it could be so useful; quite a large area with little activity so ideal for a bit of DIY antifouling or whatever.

Methinks you should have a go at EA for these reasons:-

• You may have been put to additional expense due to the slip not being fit for purpose. If they have to pay some form of compensation, some bean counter will notice and ask questions
• Rattle their cage - otherwise they'll carry on as before.
• If they do then they may decide to sell it off as they have done with other facilities, and the boating population will lose yet another facility.

You don't have to be unpleasant, just forceful; remember you may be doing good for "us" all.

 

[sarabande]

I don't know the area, but it sounds as if a Thames boating Cooperative might be just the arrangement to make a takeover bid or management agreement ?

 

[Chris_d]

£400 for a lift out, presumably £400 to put back in as well are they having a laugh.

 

[pheran]

Earlier this year, I paid £185 to have our boat lifted out and put on the low-loader in Norfolk (300yards from Broom's) and a further £235 to have it plonked back into the Thames. Smaller boat than Amadeus-M but the lifting and plonking is just the same.