Links
We do not receive any payment or commission from any of these links. We have linked to these businesses because we believe that they will be of benefit to our customers.
Boat Maintenance Services
We would like to repeat here that we receive no financial gain from any of these companies or tradesman; they are here purely because we feel that they will help you deal with the ups and downs of life on the water.
www.marineteam.co.uk Boat Builder, Carpenter & General Repairs
Sealine repair and maintenance specialists, boat builders, carpenters, gel coat repair and basically all those jobs you are not sure who to ask about! In a word this team of Richard O’Connor and Rob West are “professional”. We’ve never heard anything but praise for their, work ethic, professional finish. Although the website is under development at the moment you will be able to find contact details for them and see the finished site by autumn 2006.
www.sealift2.com Boat lift & Clean
The SeaLift2 is the newest, fastest and most environmentally friendly boat cleaning system yet invented. The special design ensures that everything washed from the boat is collected in a special sump until it can be safely disposed of. Based in the Isle of Wight, this company offers a fast turn around at very competitive prices.
www.coastmarine.co.uk Marine Engine Repairs, Servicing & Surveying
Coast Marine is owned and run by Glenn Perrett, who has a wealth of experience on all the mainstream engines. All there work is left spotlessly clean and the cost is reasonable but best of all they actually call you about the job and the progress rather than leave you to chase them around - and that is worth a fortune to a busy person! The website is still under construction at the moment but email glenn@coastmarine.co.uk and you will recieve a good response. They also sell engines and tenders too at very good prices.
www.steeldevelopments.co.uk Propeller Repairer & Stockist
This company has been providing a sterling service since 1958 and are now the leading propeller repair specialist in the UK. Using the best technology available they can repair some serious damage leaving your propellers perfectly balanced, while restoring full strength, before returning them to you. Excellent service at amazing prices coupled with good customer service will have you saving a fortune. They also have a section on the site dedicated to why you should fit different types of propellers – well worth a read. They also sell propellers.
www.saundersmorganharris.com Surveyors
This team of surveyors are able to deal with all your needs from prepurchase through to damage surveys, weight and tonnage surveys, and commercial coding. They are based on the Hamble but carry out work across the country as well as abroad. Their ability to cover virtually all things to do with surveying, coupled with their ability to go most places, means that there is little they cannot do for you at any location.
Non Website contacts
We know that while on the web we want to source everyone from here; however some of our recommendations do not use websites but can provide great service, at competitive prices. As we like to say a good job for a fair price.
Chris Burgess French Polisher, Deck & Furniture Repairer
Chris Burgess is one of very few skilled repairers of this type out there. We have seen his repair jobs make the problem disappear leaving you with one of those “how did he do that” feelings of complete wonderment. Chris is used by major manufacturers for his reliability and his magicians touch. So if you’ve dropped your sink cover on the galley floor, don’t worry Chris will make that horrible dent/split disappear.
Insurance
It is becoming increasingly popular with Insurance Companies to enquire about RYA qualifications. If you hold an appropriate certificate you will be positively loaded and save money on your premium.
The service at DeNovo Insurance has been excellent for this company for the past 2 years. Their friendly and professional manner makes, dare I say it, doing the insurance almost enjoyable! Dean Shaw from DeNovo consulted Marine Matters to ensure that their discount scheme was meaningful and robust. Discounts agreed apply to insurance premiums through DeNovo when the following qualifications are held:
Day Skipper Shorebased - 2.5%, Day Skipper Practical - 5%, Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased - 7.5%, Coastal Skipper Practical - 10% and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Practical exam - 12%
Maritime Agencies
www.marineleisure.co.uk
The Marine Leisure Association (MLA) is the ONLY Trade Association for Training, Charter & Holidays. This exciting Association was formed to offer the general public better protection, guidance and advice. People are safe in the knowledge that making a booking with an MLA member company will ensure confidence, as all members abide to both the MLA Code of Conduct and the BMF Code of Practice giving you added reassurance.
www.rya.org.uk
The site of our governing body needs no introduction. Any legal or technical advice can be gleaned from here and much, much more.
www.rnli.org.uk
Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboats have saved over 130,000 lives. A good, fast site, where you can do a virtual tour of a Severn class lifeboat, discover how they fund the service and become a member of RNLI Offshore.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency deal with all vessels afloat, including leisure vessels. You can fill out a CG66 and get information on the SOLAS V (Safety Of Life At Sea) regulation, which are legal requirements for mariners. Also the home of HM Coastguard.
The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) is a fantastic aid to mariners. Call them up and they will give you accurate weather and sea state information. For example Portland Coastguard cannot see the race but the NCI station has a perfect view. The site is easy to navigate and staff at the various stations are always helpful. NCI is one of the best things since the berth of the lifeboat. Like the RNLI the NCI relies on donations and sponsorship.
Portsmouth Harbour has a large shipping movement every five minutes between 0600 and 2359 every day, on average. You need to click on this site and find out how to negotiate the entrance to the harbour and how to conduct yourself once inside. QHM will send you FREE local notice to mariners updates to keep you informed of all hazards and events. These are excellent and we recommend them.
Weather
http://www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten/fsavneur.html
This site is brilliant for wind prediction up to a week ahead and will also give you the synoptic charts, which cost you £1.50 from weather fax, for FREE. It is all in German, unless you type topkarten into google and translate the first option that comes up. Click on fax in the top left corner then click Bracknell in the box next to it for synoptic charts. Click on gfs in the top left corner and the info will be in the top centre box again. Scroll down to wind and you will get colour coded wind speeds that we have never known to be wrong. Updates every six hours.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/United_Kingdom.shtml
This link will take you straight to weather buoys around the UK, although you can access weather buoys virtually world wide from the home page. Just click on the buoy number of your choice and you will get a 24-hour history (updates every hour on the hour) of pressure, precipitation, wind speed and direction, wave heights and all sorts. The best weather reports are from those that can see it, so this makes this the next best thing thanks to satellite technology.
This is a great site for local wind and weather conditions. Hover your mouse over an arrow on the map and the name of the location and wind speed will appear in a text box with more information in the right hand panel. If you click the arrow you will then get weather and temperature information in the right hand panel. The map is also colour coded to reflect the beaufort wind scale.
http://www.sotonmet.co.uk/default.shtm
This is a brilliant local site for users of The Solent. You will get real time info on wind, wave heights, temperatures and atmospheric conditions; all easy to read and with graphs indicating the pattern over the day. Also links to other weather areas of prominence in The Solent and information from local Harbour Masters. Great locals site with WAP details for those that need it while on the water.
www.stvincent.ac.uk/Resources/Weather/images.html
If you are into your weather and the satellite images etc this is an interesting site that will indicate the centre of the pressure system etc.
This site allows you to search by postcode or name and gives all wind, temperature and weather info you might want. In our experience this is accurate.
Environmental Issues
There are a few sites here that may or may not interest you, BUT you must understand the requirements of the first one on this list.
http://www.oilbankline.org.uk/index.asp
This was set up by the environment Agency to reduce oil pollution by providing guidance on and facilities for the safe disposal and management of oil. All boat users have a responsibility to the environment, so if this is all you do to help it is still a massive contribution. You can also register for a regular copy of the oil care newsletter on this site.
This is a relatively new inniative by the BMF and the RYA that is highlighting ways that the boating community can look after the environment. The site includes excellent tips on what to do and not to do and a Q&A so you can check how green you are on board. The real benefit of this site is it focuses all the environmental boating issue in one place and gives practical advice about how to improve without spending silly money in the process.
www.solentems.org.uk
The Solent European Marine Sites (SEMS) is one of a number of European marine sites in the UK that are designated as internationally important sites for their habitats and species. SEMS covers the harbours around The Solent
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is responsible for over 50 wildlife reserves representing more than 6000 acres of valuable wildlife habitat.
English Nature is the Government Agency set up by the Environment Protection Act 1990 to champion the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places in England.
Tides
http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/easytide/EasyTide/SelectPort.aspx
This link will take you directly to the UK Hydrographic Offices (UKHO) seven day tide predictions site. This service is FREE.
Charts and Notices to Mariners (NMs)
www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk
Admiralty Leisure is the ideal website for everyone who enjoys spending time around the water. As well as providing product information on the UKHO's popular range of Admiralty Leisure Charts, the site includes news, reviews and Frequently Asked Questions.
www.nmwebsearch.com
Admiralty Charts and Publications can be maintained so that they are completely up to date for safety-critical SOLAS navigational information through the Admiralty Notices to Mariners (NMs) service. The Admiralty Notices to Mariners Online service enables mariners to download NMs directly from the website for FREE. Information on how to make your chart correction is also available here.
https://www.imraycharts.com./corrections/cfm
Imray charts are popular with many leisure craft users because they are cheaper than Admiralty charts, fold away better and are printed on waterproof paper. As with Admiralty charts you can obtain FREE Notice to Mariners information specific to Imray Charts, simply follow the correction link at the top of the page.
Bareboat Charter
www.motorcats.com
With only a PB2 certificate you can bareboat charter these boats on The Solent. Not only will they give you great fun out and about they also have a beach boarding ramp so you can go ashore anywhere without getting your feet wet! To top that you can sleep overnight on board very comfortably with the twin and single berths. This is by far the most cost effective way to boat the Solent while staying out comfortably overnight. Check out the picture gallery on this link to see what you get.
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