Time for a new marina

[Ian h]

Makes me glad that I am dry stacked and on the second level so more secure as well.

RE marina have you thought about Shamrock Quay or is that too far out of the way, I bet its a lot cheaper than the Hamble

 

[Switch]

Hi Johnathan , first of all you are in control here , your the victim not the unprofessional cheater I mean charter company .
Perhaps you should let us all know who they are so boaters can ask the marinas not to allow them to berth there with that attitude.
You need to contact your insurer , I shouldn’t cost you anything, then get the highest quotes you can and tell this cowboy outfit you mean business.

Get the boat lifted out at there cost , employ a surveyor to assess the true damage and submit a claim, don’t let them do the work as they will only bodge it up , maybe even make it worse, if the roller is bent you must check the deck under it for damage and prove that the anchor was as new so they make it right .

The problem with all marinas is they are capitalists , they allow far too big boats to moor on small pontoons , the fairways between them are not big enough to safely manoeuvre in anything but slack tide.

I recently witnessed a yacht full hit a boat in an MDL marina , I won’t say which one but after they had moored up I walked by and asked had they informed the office of the damage , the reply from the skipper was that I should mind my own business, so I went straight to the office which showed me they had absolutely no intention of owning up at all.

Fight your case mate to your own satisfaction, it what your insured for, send a letter of intention to the charter company and a copy to the marina office .

I agree with VP in getting the boat lifted. You need to get the winch checked as well. My first boat took an impact from a large barge right on my anchor. At first sight there was no apparent damage to the anchor so I let the matter go after a sincere apology from the barge skipper. However, I hadn’t realised at the time that the anchor winch had absorbed some of the impact and it never worked properly after that. This culminated in my ex-wife almost losing a finger whilst trying to deploy the anchor in a very busy Newtown Creek. I still have nightmares about that.

 

[superheat6k]

Makes me glad that I am dry stacked and on the second level so more secure as well.

RE marina have you thought about Shamrock Quay or is that too far out of the way, I bet its a lot cheaper than the Hamble

A pal of mine drives the forklift - you're not that safe !!!

 

[Ian h]

They have to my knowledge only dropped 1 boat there and that luckily was from about 3 feet into the water , No damage done. I however do like to watch the boat being lifted into and out of the water and then back into the rack.

Seem to recall that a boat got dropped at Cobbs a few years back, Thats was dropped onto the ground and did a fair bit of damage

 

[stelican]

They have to my knowledge only dropped 1 boat there and that luckily was from about 3 feet into the water , No damage done. I however do like to watch the boat being lifted into and out of the water and then back into the rack.

Seem to recall that a boat got dropped at Cobbs a few years back, Thats was dropped onto the ground and did a fair bit of damage

MDL purchased him a new larger boat

 

[hunton69]

They have to my knowledge only dropped 1 boat there and that luckily was from about 3 feet into the water , No damage done. I however do like to watch the boat being lifted into and out 0of the water and then back into the rack.

Seem to recall that a boat got dropped at Cobbs a few years back, Thats was dropped onto the ground and did a fair bit of damage

My boat was there for 11 months and they damaged the spray rail which they did not admit to. It only came to light as the boat had a survey and the area was dry therefor the boat had not been in the water.
We also had other damage but could not prove that it was damage at Saxon however the boat had only ever been moored at Mdl mariners

 

[lisilou]

We’ve berthed at both Hamble Point & now Swanwick. Both great imo. HP more expensive but no river run (we like the river run so the half hour trip down river doesn’t bother us). Spring ebb at the far end of E pontoon at Swanwick has caught many an unsuspecting boater out, occasionally to the detriment of berth holders there. We copped it once when a skipper got dragged into our stern.
The downside to HP is always going to be the traffic going into Hamble. The infrastructure around there doesn’t cope well with the traffic.
Both great places with equally helpful & friendly staff in our experience. They have very different atmospheres I feel. HP being quieter compared to Swanwick’s more vibrant vibe.
Swanwick’s re-development is quite exciting I think.
L

 

[benjenbav]

Also, what they’re insured for. The measure of damages for negligence is to put matters back as if the negligence hadn’t occurred. A responsible business will carry third party liability cover to protect itself against just this sort of issue/expense.

 

[benjenbav]

well my suggestion as an MDL berth holder just try both. A couple of weeks in HPM and a couple in Mercury probably will give you all you need to make a decision.

I have stayed at HPM overnight a few times... its OK. I come out there over winter every year and the boat yard is really big and busy, would I want to be there all year round? no..

I have known Mercury all my life, my parents had a boat there before I was born when Robin KJ owned it, and we only just sold their berth this year.
Good Points;
Its quiet and not a lot has changed for many years
Berth holders tend to own their boats - no rental/charter boats to concern yourself with. Not seen any mishaps for years
Toilet & shower Facilities are clean and well kept
Not a huge amount of activity but it is fuller than I have seen it for a few years
Waters Edge is now open, now owned by MDL and managed by Drift (who run Drift at Sparkes), bar only, restaurant to follow. Initial signs good
Force 4 Chandlery (Aerial who works there in the summer great for advice & finding stuff)
Staff are friendly (although a lot of swapping between all three Hamble marinas so you will recognise some of them),
Many different views depending on where you chose to berth - Badnam creek or River or trees..!
Security good
Badnam Creek, and up the river to Swanwick and beyond nice to investigate by dinghy/paddleboard

Down Sides;
Its quiet and not a lot has changed for many years..
Force 4 Chandlery (they never actually have what you want if Aerial isn't there)
Toilet & shower Facilities are clean and well kept... but in todays world a little on the basic side (compared to Berthons or Premier)
Tides can be a fierce on springs the further out you get (we are on D19 and tidal flow is minimal even on springs, and can berth without thinking about it)
Don't berth near the hoist as if the wind is in the wrong direction your boat gets covered in antifoul (we moved because of that issue)
Tumble down old boat yard sheds I suppose a bit of an eyesore..
And the threat of future plans to build which I think is stopping MDL spending much money on the marina as it stands..

I visited Mercury a couple of times some years back and really liked it to the extent of thinking about moving there. But the powers that be were less keen, owing to a combination of the somewhat compromised road access and shortage of non-boating facilities in the immediate vicinity, which was when we moved to Berthon.

 

[Firefly625]

I visited Mercury a couple of times some years back and really liked it to the extent of thinking about moving there. But the powers that be were less keen, owing to a combination of the somewhat compromised road access and shortage of non-boating facilities in the immediate vicinity, which was when we moved to Berthon.

If getting to Lymington from where we live wasn't a complete pain in the backside I too would be at Berthons…

 

[benjenbav]

If getting to Lymington from where we live wasn't a complete pain in the backside I too would be at Berthons…

In those pix of Mercury is the hulk on the far bank in the modern photo the TSDY on the outside of the seaward pontoon in the earlier scene? Looks too big but there's something about the canoe stern that makes me wonder.

 

[Sailorsam101]

I'm up at Eastlands. Always deep water...hardly any boat movements. very friendly..cheap...The bridges are not a real issues depending upon what you have.

You don't hear the motorway once you are there.

I won't go back down the river as it's just to busy. Was in deacons and as already said so many accidents due to the strong tide...just never an issue at Eastlands.

 

[Firefly625]

In those pix of Mercury is the hulk on the far bank in the modern photo the TSDY on the outside of the seaward pontoon in the earlier scene? Looks too big but there's something about the canoe stern that makes me wonder.

Martin, well I agree... there is a similarity. What I do know is the wreck is the remains of an Admiralty MFV (Motor Fishing Vessel) built at Wivenhoe in Essex in 1944. From 1948 it was registered as a trawler in Lowestoft, under the name Ala. In 1957 it was registered in Brixham under the name William Allen. It was at this time it would have been given the registration number BM137. The William Allen continued trawling for fishing companies until 1966, when it became privately owned. It continued to be registered in Brixham up to 1993, although it is believed to have come to the Hamble River and was abandoned at its current location before the 1990’s

 

[Elessar]

Thanks for the info. I may move to a far side pontoon at Port Hamble and see how it goes.

Had a trip down today to inspect the damage. Bow roller is bent and off centre, a chip in the gel coat, scuff on bow gel coat and the anchor has loads of score marks.

Bought the anchor brand new in August at quite a cost so gutted about that.

Link to images and vids here -

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FseDp8b59fBGxE4B8

The charter company are saying they will refurb the bow roller like new and are confident it’s simple for them. I did ask for a replacement.

Regarding the Anchor they are saying insurance likely won’t pay for a new one as anchors get marked anyway. Am a bit peeved at that as it’s pretty much brand new... it’s got a lot of marks and abrasions and I like my boat looking tip top. Am I being unrealistic asking for it to be sorted. The charter company says the marks and abrasions will discolour over time to be the same as the anchor.....

Any views welcome.

You have a right to have it put back. They can keep the old scratched anchor but you are demanding a new one. Simple.
Your boat is immaculate it should stay that way.
I know a great gel coat bloke for the chip call me if you want me to put him in touch.

 

[burgundyben]

Martin, well I agree... there is a similarity. What I do
know is the wreck is the remains of an Admiralty MFV (Motor Fishing Vessel) built at Wivenhoe in Essex in 1944. From 1948 it was registered as a trawler in Lowestoft, under the name Ala. In 1957 it was registered in Brixham under the name William Allen. It was at this time it would have been given the registration number BM137. The William Allen continued trawling for fishing companies until 1966, when it became privately owned. It continued to be registered in Brixham up to 1993, although it is believed to have come to the Hamble River and was abandoned at its current location before the 1990’s

It was there about 1980 ish. I used to sail up to it that far back.

 

[jcwads]

You have a right to have it put back. They can keep the old scratched anchor but you are demanding a new one. Simple.
Your boat is immaculate it should stay that way.
I know a great gel coat bloke for the chip call me if you want me to put him in touch.

Thanks Mark. I'm going through insurance and have a surveyor attending next week.

 

[Paul_f7]

Sorry to say it but so long as there are skippers in the hamble that cannot deal with tides you will always be at risk wherever you decide to berth. From deacons to hamble point 2 to 4+ knots of tide will be the reason the other skipper gives. The only logical solution is to go with your instinct and get out ! Sorry but that's the simple truth.