steadyEddie said..
Hi all

I'm due an antifoul & have contacted a few of the marinas around Sydney harbour. They generally respond with "we'll call you in a few days" but I'm yet to have a response.

Is there a trick to getting service out of these guys? Can any forum members recommend a reliable marina that is keen for business?

I'm moored in Woodford Bay, 23ft sail vessel.

Many thanks!

I had Gladesville Marina do my boat last December, It needed a thorough clean in 3 months and another 3 months later. I am going to call them to seek an explanation but you might wish to avoid them.

I use endeavour marine aswell

Hi all

Similar experience around Sydney. Have requested quotes on varying jobs, antifouling, seacock replacement, rigging and every time I had to chase them up a number of times just to get a quote back if at all. The customer service has been appalling and I know a lot of people who are leaving Sydney to get their work done, both North and South (as mentioned above).

Seems there is just too much business (with a lot coming from the big end of town including the Maxi fleet) who pay top dollar and the Shipwrights have turned a blind eye to the leisure craft work. If you can actually get a yard to communicate with you it's the shortest phone call possible as they are too busy to talk and the general answer is "Sorry, busy for about the next three months, give me a call back then".

I did get a return call from one yard (a month later) who wanted my job only to find out from someone else that the yard was empty and they needed the work.

Yes I understand that money is very important to their business but so too is customer service and loyal return customers...especially when things slow up!

Cammeray Marina have looked after my last three boats well.

Sad as it is, last year proved the above sentiment about the non caring attitude of almost all tradies on the Harbour.
I can second Noakes' and Gladesville's utterly obnoxious nature. Besides them l could draw up a fair list of electricians, riggers, s/s fabricators as well.

I am well into my sixties but still, l climb my mast at least twice a year.
One does not have to be a monkey for we are the top apes already, one needs strong will and perseverance and one's mate on the winches.

Perseverantia vincit omnia!

Huh - I've mostly had the opposite experience lately.

I asked around 3 different riggers for some basic quotes. One came back straight away (at too high a price), another came back with something more reasonable and we spoke back and forth that afternoon for a while and the third I didn't hear from. We are just in the end of the quiet period

In any case, antifouling wise, (also replying that day to an email) I go to Woolwich Dock. I've used them in the past and they're maybe a little higher cost, but not by a lot. Here's why though;

1. They let me DIY over a weekend, which is great when you still work a Mon-Fri job. First time I went there, I ended up using some of their yard labour as well, at a decent rate, particularly as it wasn't planned. A lot of places will categorically NOT let you DIY due to insurance issues. I think these days, it's only Woolwich Dock or Noakes who do.
2. It's properly up on the hard, as in, can drive a van full of tools right beside the boat and work. Much easier than stepping over rails at a slipway.
3. They've always treated me as a proper customer, even though I've got a beat up old yacht and they're more used to working on Wild Oats XI there. The guys get a bit of a giggle deliberately using the big lift to put my boat in and out, but they're never nasty about it - more like, wow, why can't they all be this easy.

Last year I left it a bit late and was trying to book my weekend work at the most popular time of year (ie, in the break between Winter and Spring racing seasons). This year, I was a bit smarter and booked in a month or two ago, giving a couple of dates that would suit, so it was all easy.

Cost wise, it's about $1000 to be pulled out on a Friday and popped back in on the Monday. Yours would probably be a bit cheaper if it's 4 foot shorter. When I've looked around at places like Balmain Marine Centre and such, I think I ended up with a cost of about $7-800, but that's on a slip instead. The ease of working on the hard is well worth it in my opinion.

Balmain Marine Centre is pretty dodgy.

also, since some time last year Noakes no longer allow DIY...

fishmonkey said..
Balmain Marine Centre is pretty dodgy.

also, since some time last year Noakes no longer allow DIY...

Interesting to know about Noakes - thanks!

I've used both Cammeray Marina & Clontarf Marina, Kel at Cammeray is cheap and cheerful, but Clontarf is more professional, slick marina & have a coffee.