Undesirable sales men

volvopaul

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I was working in one of the MDL marinas today on a boat out the water with my van next to it, I looked out the back as I heard another van pull up, my back doors were open so I spared a second to look at the person staring into the back , he then saw me looking and asked my in his native tongue did I want to buy any generators or power tools , I climbed down the ladder to more of less nearly snap his head off in the van doors trying to close them
There is no way he was selling anything , he was looking to see what he could take.
It just shows how unsafe boatyards are, he had driven in with not a care or respect for anyone, totally unchallenged by staff, I took the number and went to the office, went for a pee , went back to the office to see the van moving around the yard going exactly where he wanted to still unchallenged by staff that were operating the yards plant.

Come on MDL up your game, you take enough of boat owners and contractors fees.
 
Being an MDL berth holder that is not good to hear at all, Care to say which one

Its a shame that people are allowed to enter marinas with out being checked.
From Memory Trafalgar Wharf has an entrance barrier to the whole site and if you do not have the code or key fob you have to press the buzzer for access
 
That wouldn't be the same MDL that my boat was in last winter would it Paul? If so then I am not surprised, I was amazed at the lack of security when compared to my home MDL.
 
Are you sure he wasn't a genuine salesman selling stolen generators :ambivalence:

seriously though I am berthed at an mdl marina and would like to think they take security seriously especially as for most of us on here a boat will be the second most expensive thing we buy and is probably the most expensive thing we have to look after, well at least it is for me :o
 
From Memory Trafalgar Wharf has an entrance barrier to the whole site and if you do not have the code or key fob you have to press the buzzer for access

Not for the last month or two it hasn't, but it looks like they might be in the process of installing a new one.

Pete
 
Saxon wharf, to be fair the staff are very nice people , I've no complaint there but it just shows how easy it is to drive in without anyone realising what your up to.
 
Tis the season for "travellers" at the moment, they have been flooding into the area due to the Wickham horse fair but this has been a problem in all marinas for many years. I learned the hard way both whilst working in the marina that to leave tools etc on view or leave the workshop door open was to invite theft.
 
This happened last year at Glasson Dock. The person who had a boat next to mine bought a 2,5 KVA Petrol Generator ( a Honda copy but didn't say Honda) he paid £200. I looked on eBay and one of the big Chinese Importers had exactly the same generator for £99. including DELIVERY.

I bought one, (excellent machine) Wish I had bought 10, then I could have gone round boatyards selling them to people who dont know how cheap imported Generators are.
 
This happened last year at Glasson Dock. The person who had a boat next to mine bought a 2,5 KVA Petrol Generator ( a Honda copy but didn't say Honda) he paid £200. I looked on eBay and one of the big Chinese Importers had exactly the same generator for £99. including DELIVERY.

Errm, what happened? I don't see anyone nicking tools out of vans in your story?

Pete
 
Errm, what happened? I don't see anyone nicking tools out of vans in your story?

Pete

That's because I asked him what he was doing with his face in the back of my van, had I not challenged him I'm pretty sure he would have helped himself to my tools.
 
After what happened at Hudson marine last year I would guess anything is possible, it's so sad that instead of earning a living we have these t****** taking what we work hard for
 
I was working in one of the MDL marinas today on a boat out the water with my van next to it, I looked out the back as I heard another van pull up, my back doors were open so I spared a second to look at the person staring into the back , he then saw me looking and asked my in his native tongue did I want to buy any generators or power tools , I climbed down the ladder to more of less nearly snap his head off in the van doors trying to close them
There is no way he was selling anything , he was looking to see what he could take.
It just shows how unsafe boatyards are, he had driven in with not a care or respect for anyone, totally unchallenged by staff, I took the number and went to the office, went for a pee , went back to the office to see the van moving around the yard going exactly where he wanted to still unchallenged by staff that were operating the yards plant.

Come on MDL up your game, you take enough of boat owners and contractors fees.

Well said. Boatyard security is a joke in my opinion.
 
Intetesting Topic and it doesn't seem to be limited to MDL either. Berthon has a barrier on free vend and when I was wandering around looking at a Corniche recently I could have gone anywhere, same at Yacht haven and Beaulieu.
 
I guess it's down to the individual marina to ensure their security is up to standard. Where we are at MDL Torquay I am very happy with the security, swipe card for for berth holders on all gates/doors and they are never left open. Visitors get a code number for the gate/door locks and that number is changed every week. However it is a fairly easy marina to secure as there is no hard standing or lift out area, so vehicles can not drive up to any boats. The underground car park is card access only with NPR & security cameras in abundance.
 
Saxon Wharf is very exposed. Wouldn't fancy my boat lying on a cradle there.

Its as good as any other marina. We have not had a problem since we came here 7 years ago. Lots more cctv than you realise and night security is very good. Its a difficult issue wifh all marinas and boatyards, they have to allow access to boats and on site businesses and short of having a guard on the gate 24/7 checking everyone who goes in, there is not much more they can do. Having owned a boatyard in the past, I speak from experience.
 
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