What’s going on at Mercury ?

ST840

ST840

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Having taken the plunge and commutes our boating future to Mercury’s on the Hamble just last week, today I get an email from MDL stating that the boat lift and storage ashore is going to cease from the end of September. The hoist is being closed and all boats wanting to go ashore for maintenance now have to travel to Hamble point. Ok, so that’s not a great distance by boat, just ten minutes up river. But once the boat is tied up and ready to lift, how do I get back to my car ? Are MDL going to taxi me back ? I doubt it.
This is such a bad idea for all at Mercury’s I feel. What’s going on with the place, what are the plans ? Anybody know ?
Apparently they have been investing in the marinas leisure side !!
Well, apart from a new pontoon floor in a limited area I don’t see much investment.
What’s behind this hairbrained idea ?
 
I seem to recall that MDL Mercury used to run a minibus service to the village (20 min walk) for their berth holders so they could get to and from the village more easily. I'm pretty sure this was running last year so it might be worth making an enquiry before making any assumptions.
 
Hambleite said:
I seem to recall that MDL Mercury used to run a minibus service to the village (20 min walk) for their berth holders so they could get to and from the village more easily. I'm pretty sure this was running last year so it might be worth making an enquiry before making any assumptions.
Click to expand...
I’m not making assumptions, I’m asking a question! Hamble village is mid way between Mercury’s and Hamble point so what’s the use in that ? It’s inconvenient is what it is.
but what’s the reason behind it ? Why take this service away ? The lift and store I mean.
 
I think I read somewhere last year that MDL wanted to develop their Mercury site to include holiday accommodation so, perhaps, this may be the reason. I suggest you just ask the marina staff.
 
Closing the lift - Basic economics I'd imagine - why have the costs of running and maintaining 2 lifts when one will 'probably' do. It also frees up marina space for other more commercially attractive activities. Also, this would free up a lot of winter storage space that could also be used for other ventures. Maybe they're trying to close out Mercury in order to fee up parts of the site.

I know Hamble is on the end of peninsula but you can get an Uber or other taxis. Ubers turn up within 7 minutes and I'd be surprised if it was more than £5.

So, motor down to Hamble Point and have the taxi wait for you or even better still - motor down to Hamble Point, go to the Ketch Rigger (marina bar), get a pint, a wine, a coffee or whatever and start relaxing....

Old lift out - £350 ish
New lift out £360 ish
 
Tarlach Too said:
Having taken the plunge and commutes our boating future to Mercury’s on the Hamble just last week, today I get an email from MDL stating that the boat lift and storage ashore is going to cease from the end of September. The hoist is being closed and all boats wanting to go ashore for maintenance now have to travel to Hamble point. Ok, so that’s not a great distance by boat, just ten minutes up river. But once the boat is tied up and ready to lift, how do I get back to my car ? Are MDL going to taxi me back ? I doubt it.
This is such a bad idea for all at Mercury’s I feel. What’s going on with the place, what are the plans ? Anybody know ?
Apparently they have been investing in the marinas leisure side !!
Well, apart from a new pontoon floor in a limited area I don’t see much investment.
What’s behind this hairbrained idea ?
Click to expand...
The best Marina on the Hamble , I was working there yesterday .
Sadly the bean counters know that car parking and boat storage make no money , as with all big companies these days there is absolutely no loyalty when it comes to making money , Swanwick in the days of the Moody family was a real nice place , now it’s just a commercial entity , I was even told that once by the manager there , I hate the place .
You will find its being developed , housing etc , even the berth holders won’t be guaranteed parking , certainly not where you Park now , look at the plans , drop off area and park your car well away .
How the likes of myself will be able to work on boats and attend breakdowns I’ve no idea , possibly not in the future , no parking means no service so anyone looking at berthing at Mercury in the future Need to factor a lot in before paying your berthing fees.
Already in some marinas it’s getting impossible to find parking when attending boats .
How berth holders will get a slot at Hamble point over the winter I don’t know as it will be serving 3 marinas soon .

I also had a call about work at HYS but that’s another story.

How boat owners put up with this I do not know , Ocean Village is also a joke some days , it must be a nightmare at a summer weekend .

Glad I’m the age I am and no longer a boat owner for now.
 
Tarlach Too said:
Having taken the plunge and commutes our boating future to Mercury’s on the Hamble just last week, today I get an email from MDL stating that the boat lift and storage ashore is going to cease from the end of September. The hoist is being closed and all boats wanting to go ashore for maintenance now have to travel to Hamble point. Ok, so that’s not a great distance by boat, just ten minutes up river. But once the boat is tied up and ready to lift, how do I get back to my car ? Are MDL going to taxi me back ? I doubt it.
This is such a bad idea for all at Mercury’s I feel. What’s going on with the place, what are the plans ? Anybody know ?
Apparently they have been investing in the marinas leisure side !!
Well, apart from a new pontoon floor in a limited area I don’t see much investment.
What’s behind this hairbrained idea ?
Click to expand...
Call me , I will drive down from stoke and pick you up. ffs what do you do when you take your boat some where.
 
volvopaul said:
The best Marina on the Hamble , I was working there yesterday .
Sadly the bean counters know that car parking and boat storage make no money , as with all big companies these days there is absolutely no loyalty when it comes to making money , Swanwick in the days of the Moody family was a real nice place , now it’s just a commercial entity , I was even told that once by the manager there , I hate the place .
You will find its being developed , housing etc , even the berth holders won’t be guaranteed parking , certainly not where you Park now , look at the plans , drop off area and park your car well away .
How the likes of myself will be able to work on boats and attend breakdowns I’ve no idea , possibly not in the future , no parking means no service so anyone looking at berthing at Mercury in the future Need to factor a lot in before paying your berthing fees.
Already in some marinas it’s getting impossible to find parking when attending boats .
How berth holders will get a slot at Hamble point over the winter I don’t know as it will be serving 3 marinas soon .

I also had a call about work at HYS but that’s another story.

How boat owners put up with this I do not know , Ocean Village is also a joke some days , it must be a nightmare at a summer weekend .

Glad I’m the age I am and no longer a boat owner for now.
Click to expand...

Swap to an Alvis Stalwart Paul, at least you can get alongside.
 
The days of the guy in the cloth cap always ready for a chat and a smoke are long gone it’s hard economics and they know if you have a boat you have to keep it and maintain it that is till they kill the goose that lays the golden egg and they will just develope the land and forget about pesky yacht owners.
 
Tarlach Too said:
Having taken the plunge and commutes our boating future to Mercury’s on the Hamble just last week, today I get an email from MDL stating that the boat lift and storage ashore is going to cease from the end of September. The hoist is being closed and all boats wanting to go ashore for maintenance now have to travel to Hamble point. Ok, so that’s not a great distance by boat, just ten minutes up river. But once the boat is tied up and ready to lift, how do I get back to my car ? Are MDL going to taxi me back ? I doubt it.
This is such a bad idea for all at Mercury’s I feel. What’s going on with the place, what are the plans ? Anybody know ?
Apparently they have been investing in the marinas leisure side !!
Well, apart from a new pontoon floor in a limited area I don’t see much investment.
What’s behind this hairbrained idea ?
Click to expand...

MDL see Mercury as a real development opportunity but at the moment are a bit lost at sea...(excuse the pun). Local council highlighted it as a possible development area a few years back and got MDL excited.... plans drawn up for hundreds of houses around but got rejected in favour of development along the Bursledon road towards & opposite the Tesco so local council no longer interested... but MDL still see the place as a possible opportunity (which it really is!). Knock down the old sheds and build a hotel, have facilities shared with the marina...how nice would that be!

The fact MDL have now bought & invested in the campsite beside Mercury, & building a load of expensive holiday homes for an eye watering £400k a piece (and they are on wheels!) seems to point to a demise of a total flatten and rebuild, but a gradual aim to make into a tidier marina / holiday park leisure location... but still the hotel is a possibility. Just the fact Badnam Creek deemed a area of natural beauty hindering planning...

But having been around Mercury since 1970 I have not seen a lot of changes...probably why I love it. But I have got to say the place is feeling more alive than ever, actually it is reminding me of what it was like in the 80's... the Gaff Rigger has been a real boom. Its a great place to eat now.

As for the boat lift.. I have never got my boat lifted at Mercury as seen too many boats fall over in the car park over the years! I have always used Hamble Point, always had better boat yard facilities and vitally they use cradles! Take you boat there and call Andy in the Hamble water taxi and he will pick you up drop you back to Mercury... simple. MDL have spent a load of money resurfacing Hamble Point boat storage areas so
its great. I even have a spot I am put every year, the team at Hamble Point are great.

If you have taken the plunge to keep your boat at Mercury, fear not. It IS the best marina on the Hamble for the discerning boater..!!
 
Little Grebe said:
We came out for a fortnight or so at Mercury about three years ago and they were using substantial cradles back then rather than timber shoring which seemed to be the method used in the pictures of boats having fallen over.
Click to expand...

Indeed, that's true, they bought some cradles a few years ago after they had 4 boats fall over, but cradles for yachts only.. this is the mobo forum.. sorry ;-)

Hamble Point they have cradles for Mobo's (unless you are over 50ft or so)
 
Firefly625 said:
MDL see Mercury as a real development opportunity but at the moment are a bit lost at sea...(excuse the pun). Local council highlighted it as a possible development area a few years back and got MDL excited.... plans drawn up for hundreds of houses around but got rejected in favour of development along the Bursledon road towards & opposite the Tesco so local council no longer interested... but MDL still see the place as a possible opportunity (which it really is!). Knock down the old sheds and build a hotel, have facilities shared with the marina...how nice would that be!

The fact MDL have now bought & invested in the campsite beside Mercury, & building a load of expensive holiday homes for an eye watering £400k a piece (and they are on wheels!) seems to point to a demise of a total flatten and rebuild, but a gradual aim to make into a tidier marina / holiday park leisure location... but still the hotel is a possibility. Just the fact Badnam Creek deemed a area of natural beauty hindering planning...

But having been around Mercury since 1970 I have not seen a lot of changes...probably why I love it. But I have got to say the place is feeling more alive than ever, actually it is reminding me of what it was like in the 80's... the Gaff Rigger has been a real boom. Its a great place to eat now.

As for the boat lift.. I have never got my boat lifted at Mercury as seen too many boats fall over in the car park over the years! I have always used Hamble Point, always had better boat yard facilities and vitally they use cradles! Take you boat there and call Andy in the Hamble water taxi and he will pick you up drop you back to Mercury... simple. MDL have spent a load of money resurfacing Hamble Point boat storage areas so
its great. I even have a spot I am put every year, the team at Hamble Point are great.

If you have taken the plunge to keep your boat at Mercury, fear not. It IS the best marina on the Hamble for the discerning boater..!!
Click to expand...
That’s real good to know . I agree the place could do with a spruce up but feared another OV type place was on the cards. I did get to speak to the office staff over the weekend and they confirmed that nothing is planned and no planning permission granted. At least for another 5 years we should still enjoy peace and tranquility at Mercury’s. Long may it continue after that also.
 
Tarlach Too said:
That’s real good to know . I agree the place could do with a spruce up but feared another OV type place was on the cards. I did get to speak to the office staff over the weekend and they confirmed that nothing is planned and no planning permission granted. At least for another 5 years we should still enjoy peace and tranquility at Mercury’s. Long may it continue after that also.
Click to expand...

Gaff Rigger have eyes on the old F4 chandlery.. with the year they have had nothing going to happen for a while.. but maybe next year. Just imagine coffee shop/pizza restaurant.. downstairs with seating spilling out overlooking marina. With the bar and table service meals upstairs… perfect. Hope that happens..!

and get toilet facilities nuked & rebuilt.. then it really will be perfect! ;-)
 
Firefly625 said:
MDL see Mercury as a real development opportunity but at the moment are a bit lost at sea...(excuse the pun). Local council highlighted it as a possible development area a few years back and got MDL excited.... plans drawn up for hundreds of houses around but got rejected in favour of development along the Bursledon road towards & opposite the Tesco so local council no longer interested... but MDL still see the place as a possible opportunity (which it really is!). Knock down the old sheds and build a hotel, have facilities shared with the marina...how nice would that be!

The fact MDL have now bought & invested in the campsite beside Mercury, & building a load of expensive holiday homes for an eye watering £400k a piece (and they are on wheels!) seems to point to a demise of a total flatten and rebuild, but a gradual aim to make into a tidier marina / holiday park leisure location... but still the hotel is a possibility. Just the fact Badnam Creek deemed a area of natural beauty hindering planning...

But having been around Mercury since 1970 I have not seen a lot of changes...probably why I love it. But I have got to say the place is feeling more alive than ever, actually it is reminding me of what it was like in the 80's... the Gaff Rigger has been a real boom. Its a great place to eat now.

As for the boat lift.. I have never got my boat lifted at Mercury as seen too many boats fall over in the car park over the years! I have always used Hamble Point, always had better boat yard facilities and vitally they use cradles! Take you boat there and call Andy in the Hamble water taxi and he will pick you up drop you back to Mercury... simple. MDL have spent a load of money resurfacing Hamble Point boat storage areas so
its great. I even have a spot I am put every year, the team at Hamble Point are great.

If you have taken the plunge to keep your boat at Mercury, fear not. It IS the best marina on the Hamble for the discerning boater..!!
Click to expand...

We are permanently back at Mercury after a decent spell there a few years ago and , and we don't plan to go anywhere, great place and some development if done with care would be no bad thing at all
 
Interesting local insight James, we have been to gaff rigger twice, once just after it opened. The place was awful and the staff rude, we left. Then more recently, Sunday of August bank holiday, kitchen wasn’t serving anything Hot other than an average looking roast. £9 for a sandwich which was fresh but not worth 9 quid. At least the staff were polite which was a major improvement. I want it to be good but not sure I can convince Mrs zippy to give it a third chance.

it’s still a beautiful tranquil spot...

Watch this space for more MDL leisure parks and less marinas, it feels like that’s the way the want to go.
 
MDL is owned by the Yattendon Group plc. The idea MDL originally sparked for Mercury was for a hotel, but they then manipulated that into ~ 80 houses and flats. This has gone down like a lead balloon in Hamble, and presently the whole idea has been thrown out.

The big problem for Hamble is there are several other developments trying to get approval, and MDL are biding their time and waiting to play a game of precedent at other sites. A side tactic is to overprice everything and move the boat storage so they can 'show' use as a marina is (conveniently) reducing.

The M27 Jn 7 to 8 is already completely saturated and yet the Eastleigh planners want more and more houses built. I for one will oppose any more as there simply is not the road space.

It would be better to see MDL's monopoly position on all three Hamble marinas being broken up.

They show their contempt for boater's on the Hamble with their current near monopoly on fuel afloat unless you want the treck up to Swanwick by charging ~ £1.27 / litre 60:40 compared with £0.95 in Cowes.
 
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