Winter storms at Dunstaffnage

[pzazz]

Not a surprise after years of damage at Dunstaffnage, but my insurers have this year withdrawn marina benefits reduction in premium - time for an attentuating floating breakwater or a change of scenery?

Anyone else having premiums loaded?

[Orla]

Thats a shame, its one of the best places to be based in on the West coast.
We spent a summer and winter there and loved it and the people....
Were insured with pants, they have never blinked an eye in the past.
I hope the nasty pictures ive posted on here of bad weather and upside down pontoons hasn't contributed to this decision!!!!
A very expensive problem to solve.

[Arghiro]

Nice & calm just across the Falls. It's where I delivered my first boat to when I sold her.

[Silkie]

Anyone else having premiums loaded?

Not yet but thanks for the reminder - I've just realised I haven't told my insurer I've lifted out there for the winter.

[stevepick]

My premium hasn't been loaded this year because we are not going back. We kept our boat there from 2007, last year she was damaged in the "september storm", when a neighbouring boat was blown onto us for several hours. The fact that the whole marina moved ashore 2 or 3 meters during that event says it all ( the marina anchor chains were being replaced at the time). 30 odd boats were damaged last year in that one event , so no surprise insurance companies are taking a dim view. The marina has needed investment in a breakwater pontoon/swell dissipation to handle the occasional ( but damaging) intense northerly for a long time, but management has been slow to get this done. I note in Reeds marina guide this year that a breakwater pontoon is mentioned, I will believe it when I see it working. Its annoying, its a great base, and when Tim ran the yard it was an excellent place.

[mm5aho]

My premium hasn't been loaded this year because we are not going back. We kept our boat there from 2007, last year she was damaged in the "september storm", when a neighbouring boat was blown onto us for several hours. The fact that the whole marina moved ashore 2 or 3 meters during that event says it all ( the marina anchor chains were being replaced at the time). 30 odd boats were damaged last year in that one event , so no surprise insurance companies are taking a dim view. The marina has needed investment in a breakwater pontoon/swell dissipation to handle the occasional ( but damaging) intense northerly for a long time, but management has been slow to get this done. I note in Reeds marina guide this year that a breakwater pontoon is mentioned, I will believe it when I see it working. Its annoying, its a great base, and when Tim ran the yard it was an excellent place.

+1

Not going back this year.

[Orla]

Sometimes marinas are not all about facility's and locations, it can also be about the people who work there.
The marinas we visit the most are the ones where we like the staff, Dunstaffange used to be one of those, but not any more.
Kip Marina have been good to us, and when we want to haul out, or do renovations, or just somewhere safe for the winter, while we are in this area that's where we go and it's by no means the best of location for us, we would prefer to be a lot further north.
It's the staff that bring us back each time.

Great shame really

[Orla]

Off coarse I'm talking from a live aboard point of view, may be a different for others

[cpedw]

Bob is the only person there that I recognise these days, apart from Silkie but he is in a different category.

He has kept Blue Shift free from any misfortune so far this winter. Or somebody has.

My insurance renewal just happened without any fiscal shock - for winter at Dunstaffnage and summer mooring at Connel, where boats have been known to go walkabout recently. Though rumour has it that the pair that wandered off last winter were not insured so perhaps they didn't affect premiums?

Derek

[Orla]

Bob is still there at the moment, and I'm sure if anybody is keeping an eye on the boats it will be him.
He's the only good guy left now...........

I think Joe is still working, though cant confirm it, (Tims daughter).

[Silkie]

Sadly, Bob's services do not seem currently to be so highly valued by the marina as they once were. However, he is the type who will take action if he sees a boat in trouble regardless of whether he is being paid or not.

[Orla]

Sadly, Bob's services do not seem currently to be so highly valued by the marina as they once were. However, he is the type who will take action if he sees a boat in trouble regardless of whether he is being paid or not.

Aye, you can't beat a Merry Monster

[cpedw]

Sadly, Bob's services do not seem currently to be so highly valued by the marina as they once were.

Are you trying to break it to us gently that he's been "let go" by Dunstaffnage? That's a(nother) disaster!

Derek

[Silkie]

I really don't know what his situation is at the moment - nor does he AFAIK. Only time will tell I imagine.

[Nick]

.
This thread has been retitled and had some posts removed that made comments about Dunstaffange Marina that were either legally questionable or apparently motivated by malice. I've also locked the thread. I'm not prepared to let this forum be used to settle grudges and end up getting sued as a result.

It appears that marina staff did try to log on to reply but had difficulties with the sytem, so I have offered Neil the right of reply and will be publishing a statement from the marina here when I receive it.