Was I had?

[chriscallender]

Just received the bill for lifting a 28 foot boat out, holding in the slings for 1 hour over lunch break so that the surveyor could do his stuff and relaunching afterwards - £212.50. Now this doesn't include blocking off, scrubbing or anthing like that which might take some time. More fool me for not checking what the price would be first, but I'd assumed that a lift/hold/relaunch would be similar to the cost of a 1 way lift which at other marinas/boatyards I've paid ~100 quids for.

The other reason I feel that this was a bit of a rip off was that the next week I had the boat lifted out, scrubbed, blocked off, stored ashore for a week to do some repairs (from the survey :-() at Gosport Boatyard. They were very helpful and the whole week ashore lifting cost me less than an hour in the slings at marina X - which some of you will have guessed the name of already!

I feel ripped off, although I'll have to pay the bill and remember the lesson never to take anything for granted when it comes to boats and money. What do you think? Was this excessive?

Chris

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[tony_brighton]

Of course it was excessive - but then you dont see too many marinas going broke about now.

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[Robin]

That was indeed a rip off, about double the correct price. Is it not worth questioning this, just maybe it was an error in the office?

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[Will]

I reckon you were

I'd have charged you £9.50/ metre. So that's about eighty quid. Fair old difference really, and no, I'm not in Grimsby or Liberia, but on the south coast. I think the answer is just to shop around between the marinas a little.

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[bedouin]

I think you've just discovered the difference between a boatyard and a marina. GBY would have charged you about £80.

To be fair to the marina, moving boats is not their principle business so they may not have a crane driver available. If they have to hire one for half a day just to do the one hoist in/out the fees begin to seem a little more reasonable.

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[jhr]

It seems to be fairly common practice to charge £££££ to hold the boat in the slings but I still think you were conned. I had a lift, hold and re-launch at Sh*mr*ck Qu*y recently to have a survey done and, all credit to them, they tried to pursuade me to have it done at lunchtime because "they wouldn't have to charge me for the holding period".

Unfortunately, I couldn't make the timings work, so ended up paying for an hour in the slings. ;o(

But at least they tried to help........

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[rob]

Chris,

Who the hell is 'Marina X'?
Its no good just saying about it and letting other people fall for the same trap, name them!!
If the 'marian X' feel there extortionate prices are justified, then so be it.
But if they get bad press about their prices then in future they might ammend the charges to a more acceptable level.

I dont feel you were had its the way we act, if it was servicing costs for your car etc. you would question it and complain.

I feel it best always to name and shame them, boaters are ripped off all the time, and I am getting fed-up with it.
Am I the only one?

rob


rob

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[chriscallender]

OK, Marina X = MDL, Northney!

The reason that I chose them initially was because they were offering a summer offer of 5 days out of the water for £160 or thereabouts. So I thought great, I get the surveyor out on day 1 and if he tells me that there is any urgent underwater work I still have days 2-5 to do any maintenance that needs done, antifoul, change anodes etc.

So first I called MDL and found out about the availability of the offer then called back the surveyor to book the survey. He told me that he could do all that he needed to do in an hour and that would save me money over being blocked off.

So I called MDL back and booked in for the hold in sling, under the assumption that it would at least be cheaper than the 5 days ashore offer. Of course I should have checked but I was busy at work, in a rush and any other excuses I can think of.... ok its really just my fault for not asking!

Someone mentioned that this is the difference between a boatyard and a marina - well I wouldn't mind so much if I got 5 star service for that but bear in mind they didn't even do a scrub and the hold was booked in for lunchtime so the guys were sitting around eating their sandwiches while the surveyor did his work.

Based on the consensus that this charge was excessive, I will contact them and check there is no error before I give them my money and I'll let them know that I think its a bit steep - I wanted to know what other people thought. But as I said I am to blame for this for not checking out what I was being charged before I went. I can say however that unless there has been a big mistake I won't be going back there in a hurry!

Chris

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[andyball]

That's odd...'cos Northney's offer also includes: lift/scrub/relaunch for £80 + £20 extra to hold in slings overnight or lunchtime, any size up to 15m

Maybe it's a mistake?

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[chriscallender]

Yes, and for 212 quid they didn't even have to do the scrub!

OK I'm convinced, I'm definitely going to contact them up and ask if its a mistake, will let you know how I get on.

Its possible that the hold wasn't done over lunch as I wasn't there, but that was the plan that had been discussed with both the surveyor and the marina.

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[iangrant]

Check with the folks at Northney - 80 quid should have done it with a scrub as well. (it did for me less 10%)

As for the crane it's there all the time and in use every working day..

Ian

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[M_Russell]

When I bought my 29ft Moody back in March Chichester Marina charged £207 for a lift and hold over lunch time whilst the Surveyor did his thing! Being a first time buyer I assumed that was typical but I'm feeling a bit p*ssed off now!

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[Captain_Chaos]

It just had to be MDL.
There was an earlier thread where someone had been charged shedloads for parking a car at MDL's QAB (Quite Aweful Berths).

I know these guys have to make a profit, nothing wrong with that but stories like these do nothing for their long term business prospects.

Until this year I have berthed at a number of MDL marinas but finally got fed up with the ever increasing charges and aggressive policies on incidentals such as car parking. Although no longer a berth holder at Brixham, I was still sent a letter threatening hellfire and damnation .... well clamping, to any car not displaying the correct pass or pay and display ticket in the car park.

I accept that pay and display car parks can be abused but the thought of being stranded across the channel waiting for the weather to change, unable to get a signal on the mobile phone and knowing that some car clamping company was about to clamp the car does not make for a peaceful holiday. MDL also made it quite clear that leaving details of berth / boat name was of no use because a third party firm had been given the rights to harvest all defaulting motorists.

<hr width=100% size=1>I'd rather be sailing

 

[aod]

It's back to the British yachting industry ripping the a-r-se out of ordinary yotties. Poor quality workmanship, top dollar prices and inordinate delays. Unless you spend seven grand a year on chartering it simply isn't viable to own a boat.

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[Sybarite]

20 or 30 years ago motor bikers in France got pissed off with they way they were being treated and formed a mutuelle (cooperative) company : FFMC (Fédération Française des Motards en Colère) to act as a pressure group. The result was that, inter alia, they obtained exemption for road vehicle licences and formed their own insurance company and more than halved insurance costs.

Anytime dodgy legislation is now proposed the FFMC members - a few thousand of them - do a go-slow round the streets of Paris. The measures are soon dropped!

Maybe UK boaters need to consider the same thing.

John

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[Twister_Ken]

Shame that John Watson has gone

I'm sure he'd have responded favourably, or at least defended MDL policies.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Jon_Eads]

Dear Chris

I read your e-mail with interest regarding the lift out charges for your recent survey at Northney. There is no way I want you to feel "ripped off" as having spoken with the marina they did have you down as a survey lift and hold in the slings etc.

You are quite correct in saying we have some very cost effective 'summer scrub' offers at MDL at the moment and we will charge you for your survey based upon this offer.

After all, I would much rather you came back again than told the 'world' that you felt ripped off! Speak to Mike Smith, the manager and next time we will wash your 'bottom' as well!

Best wishes,

Jon Eads

MDL - Marina Director

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[BrendanS]

Well done. Good to see the John Watson ethic of stepping in here to solve issues, and maintain an MDL presence is being continued. I for one hope you will be a regular here.

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[Jon_Eads]

The answer to your question is yes. I will pick up where John Watson left off as all the team at MDL want to carry on his good work. My roll is to pick up on any customer facing issues whereby our customers either want to praise or moan at us! Warts 'n' all...

We are proud of what we do and the servicies we offer at MDL. I have an open door at Hamble Point or can be telehoned on 023 8045 0210 or e-mail j.eads@mdlmarinas.co.uk.

I would like feedback to help us stay in touch with what our customers need in terms of service / products and look forward to some 'friendly' exchanges in the future...

Jon Eads

MDL

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[TheBoatman]

Welcome aboard Jon.

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