Zozza
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Posts posted by Zozza
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Sadly I can related very well to what Zozza is saying.
I wouldn't, we have our moments as well. I am trying to minimise them but they do still lurk in dark corners waiting for their chance to jump out.
I think a key thing with Zozzas example and one I keep trying to bash in my mob is 'communicate'. I find if you do that it does minimise the niggles and bitching. If we don't then we do deserve the odd serve I get.
Yeah I guess if a client asked for 7mm chain, but you only had 6 or 8mm and just decided without asking them to give them 8mm, then yeah, the customer would be pissed. But, I doubt you be sending them short terse texts such as " that 7mm chain I promised for today, not gonna happen. Monday" with no, "sorry something came up blah blah blah, sorry about that".
You did a good turn for me in regards that bit of gear that brings chain up and down, and It will not be forgotten. That's what I call customer service. As it happens, looks like the improved thickness of my wallet may allow me to be back to see you for that gear - but maybe the RC8-6, even if it is a few hundy more
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Ok, so on the recommendation of a few on couple threads on Crew.org, I got some Acrylic windows cut by the business recommended. I left specific instructions, including requesting "medium tint" - I typed it on a note. The business confirmed they understood my note. All good so far.
So, the windows are cut, and I see that they were done in "Dark Tint".
I inquired as to why I didn't get the tint I asked for, and was told you can only have Light or Dark tint.
Would it have not been reasonable for the outfit to phone me and advise that my instructions ask for medium tint, but they only have light and dark?
Anyway, they offered to redo them in light tint with no extra charge - and rightly so (dark tint is just too dark and I didn't ask for dark tint), and I was told they have to get that light tint sheet of acrylic in, and they'd be ready today.
So, 3:30 today , and no contact. So I sent a text off asking how its going with my windows? I got a short terse text response back "Not going to happen today. Monday".
So, I sent a reply, "Ok, but you did tell me today".
I get text back to that saying: "things change quick in my industry and nothing was guaranteed, they will be done next week".
Now, I personally don't really mind about waiting a few more days. But - it is the response that gets up my goat. When are business in NZ, especially those having to do anything with the Marine industry, whom in my experience have some of the worst customer service (KM and his mob excepted!) going to realise that you just cannot treat customers this way...?
Their first mistake is not advising me they don't have the tint I want, and just deciding for themselves to do it in dark.
Their offer to redo them at no charge (if they tried to charge me I would have blown my stack) was good, but is to be expected.
But, telling me they're gonna be ready, then it having to be me - the customer - having to contact them to ask how the windows I had been advised would be ready, are going - it's bullsh#t. And then the terse text responses.
In the end I texted him and advised a more courteous response rather than "not going to happen today" would have been more appropriate.
No response to that.
Now, I am only a couple hundred dollar customer, so he probably thinks - "ah f**k him" - but word gets round, people talk, and you are probably judged as a business on how you treat your lowest profit customers compared to your biggest. i.e it shouldn't matter one iota how much money you as a customer are providing - general courtesy and conduct should be the same to all customers.
Rant over.
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'Tonga Bill'.
Bill Tehoko, known also as Tonga Bill, was my age and my best friend among the yachts in the anchorage here. He had little advice to give about my predicament other than to lend a sympathetic ear and advise me not to worry and “do what you feel and it'll work out just fine.”
Bill and his new French bride Nicole, that he found on the neighboring island of Reunion, lived aboard Mata Moana, a little 18-foot plywood and fiberglass sailboat he built himself on his home island in Tonga. The year before, he sailed it alone across the Pacific and Indian Ocean. He was the only modern Tongan voyager I ever heard of but I wasn't surprised he was here on his tiny boat, since his Polynesian ancestors were the greatest seafaring people in the world a thousand years ago. The truly surprising thing is that there are not more Polynesians sailing the seas. Bill supported himself working as an artist, doing carvings and sculpture and making jewelry from whatever was at hand. Nicole and Bill often came aboard Atom for dinner with me and Dolores, where there was more room to stretch out than on their little boat.
One of the many humorous stories Bill told was about a Swedish Navy boat that invited him aboard for dinner in some remote Pacific port. The captain was impressed by Bill's voyages alone in his small craft and asked him to speak of his experiences to his officers. At dinner, the curly-haired, dark-skinned Tongan said in a straight face, “Did you know, captain, that I am part Swedish?” With that he had everyone's attention. After noting the raised eyebrows, he continued, “Yes, my grandfather ate the first Swedish sailor to land in Tonga.” Bill said the Swedes didn't know whether to laugh or throw him overboard.
Bill's four-horsepower outboard motor was even less reliable than Atom's inboard motor, so we decided to build a sculling oar for each of our boats. This way we could at least maneuver our boats in and out of calm harbors if the engine was not working. Bill picked out two planks of African hardwood at the lumber shop that we shaped with handsaw and plane into 14-foot oars. For a finishing touch, Bill carved an auspicious Tongan motif along the blade of my oar. After practicing the twisting figure-eight sculling motion with an oarlock on Atom's transom, I was able to propel the boat across the harbor at about one knot; not fast, but dependable when the wind went too calm to sail.
Bill and Nicole were preparing to depart in Mata Moana for a voyage up the Red Sea to France, a hard trip even in a much larger boat and I worried to myself about their fate. On the morning of their departure, Dolores and I escorted them out of the harbor with Atom. With blustery trade winds astern we sailed side-by-side several miles out to sea, gliding over the waves like two wandering albatross. The twin jibs set out from Mata Moana's tiny mast contrasted starkly with the empty sea ahead. The contrast grew even sharper as we waved farewell and turned Atom back to Grand Bay. The next time I looked back they were a spot on the horizon and then they were gone.
Ten years later, when I met them on Reunion Island during my second circumnavigation, I found out that they had encountered a storm off Madagascar, had taken some damage to their boat and diverted to the Seychelles where they lived for several happy years before returning to live on Reunion Island.
Words and pic courtesy of the free online e-book 'Across Islands and Oceans' by James Baldwin.
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Ah booger,
Hope I didn't put anyone crook here, but resene can tint it to a darker colour, not lighter. So, not any colour, but darker colour.
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Ten Litre buckets going at $60 a piece. Expect to pay $170 retail.
Whats more the fella selling this will ship free.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1399541376
I was gonna put this in classifieds, but I am not the seller - I purchased some, and I reckon a few of you fellow yachties might be interested in it as it is such a good price, and glad to let you all know about a good deal.
I know of a few that have used this stuff on their boat decks instead of Kiwigrip, with good results. I'm pretty sure Resene will tint it to any colour you want.
Cheers
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A friend in CHCH has been trying the Magnets and so far there have been no Birds. I would not have believed it if I had just heard someone say try magnets. But it has been 6 months now I think and the boat has been bird free. I let her know of the post here and see if she will give more of the story.
These?
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The MS35 has a 15min working time, 30min tack time but does take a few days to fully cure. I would expect it isn't that much difference than the silicone. The MS has a higher 'glue' type content and as I can't rebate I'm glued to the outside hence the more stick for me the better.
I will be interested in seeing the end result - make sure to post pics when they are in, or will have a look myself next time I am over your way.
As an addendum to my previous post - I can get six tinted, radiused / rounded, acrylic windows in the 10mm thickness I want for significantly less than the cost of ONE alum or ss portlight. Unbelievable. It really is the way to go if you are on a budget.
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Well I did the windows on my mates boat used all the materials said , looks good , but the caulking product I don't know , the Dow 795 , you can't paint it , it's soft , and once the window is in , days later you can move it in the opening , where's MS is harder , sticks well to the window and is paint able And the Dow we had a leek in one corner that baffled us as the was no sign of anything , the glass was treated first many times with there product , rubbed the stuff in many times around the perimeter , the rebates sealed , I thought it would be better ,
I "think" (I am far, far, far x 100 from an 'expert') that the Dow 795 can take days, if not a few weeks to fully 'set' in cold weather. That may explain why you could move it days later?
I am planning on using Dow 795 to bed new acrylic windows - after looking at prices of new alum or ss ports! Sheesh! I can get a new windlass from KM for the cost of 4-6 fancy port lights!!!
I will get the fancy ports when I can afford it - for now acrylic glued to the cabins sides with no frames will have to do. And the Dow 795 should be easy to remove when I do decide to go fancy - I have no idea about IT's MS35 - other than sounding liking a Mexican Gang, I am sure it is good stuff, though like KM the fast set time does worry me a bit, even though IT says no to worry.
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I spent some time at Riverside Drive Marina, Whangarei when I had my previous boat a couple years ago, and I still must be on their mailing list.
Received the interesting email today as per below:
"Good Afternoon,
By now most of you will be aware of the new NRC marine bio-security charge to all mooring licensees (includes marina berths, swing moorings & pile moorings). The invoices for this charge have recently be sent out.
Northland marinas (Whangaroa, Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, Whangarei & Riverside) are disputing this NRC marine bio-security charge.
The marinas are currently seeking legal assessment of the marine bio-security charge & will not pay these until it has been obtained.
The Navigation Safety Bylaw charges are not being disputed by the marinas & will be paid without delay.
If you have any questions, please give me a call."
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Thanks Dtwo. I don't mind that it may cost a bit more - I have put everything I own into this boat the last two years, so a wee bit more to get diagrams and labelling all done as you suggested is neither here nor there....I'm going to be just as broke at launch time.
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I've also advertised these in the Caravan / RV Solar panel section of Trademe - so if you want 'em you best go and hit that "buy now' before one of those RV'ers do.
These are a steal at the price I am offering- and I would rather them go to a crew.org member ....but in the end $ talks.
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I am selling a pair of brand new / never used GOFLEX solar panels.
Surplus to requirements. Cost you $400 each if you buy them from the supplier - I am selling mine for $250 each - but you gotta buy the pair. So $500 in total - saving you $300 bucks.
These are top quality when ti comes to flexible. Have a textured finish so good on decks and cabin-tops, and come ready backed with "peel & stick" VHB.
Full details here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1388157481&ed=true
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Thanks for this. Do you know Boatowner's mechanical and electrical manual
Book by Nigel Calder
No problem Kevin.
The Calder book is highly recommended as "THE" Boat Electrics book, by the fella giving the video tutorial.
It's on my list to purchase.
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In case anyone out there is / was like me, and just "pretended" to know what the f#ck people were talking about when it comes to marine electrical, then I highly recommend these 6 one hour videos. This guy has that rare talent of making stuff I thought to be horrendously complicated (one tends to avoid learning stuff that seems like black magic) sound logical and almost straightforward. Plus he has a good sense of humour. Trust me, I am not one for sitting down and watching anything this long in such a short space of time, except maybe binge watching Breaking Bad. So, he must be good - and he is,
Here is the first hour vid, and you know what to do to watch the rest of them on the youtube: -
With nothing much to do this weekend but lie in bed and recover from the flu, I did a 6 hour watch online yesterday and today of a basic marine electrical course.
I now have gone from knowing nothing (well I knew what + and - meant, but not much more) to knowing a little bit. I.E I now know I need thicker gauge wire for some applications depending on run and the power needed to run the gadget, I know I need fuses in the right places, I know what a short is. I know how something as simple as a bolt can cause a short. I know to never allow welding wire on my boat....etc etc etc. A ton of stuff I learnt indeed. Most of what I learnt you seasoned fellas would laugh and say 'You didn't know that"?
No, I didn't.
Never needed to.
Anyway, this has made me realise, that when a marine electrician does finally wire my boat I will now know the basic questions to ask without sounding like a complete know nothing idiot. Whether that means I now know enough to circumvent allowing a "Cowboy" Electrician working on my boat? Not sure - hence this post.
I want to deal with a marine electrician that not only knows what he is doing, but follows all the standards to a T, does not deviate EVER from the safety standards for "Time saving" and "cost savings" purposes, and doesn't mind answering questions.
My first boat (now sold for my new-to-me but still old slightly bigger boat) was wired up north and being new to this electric stuff, I just picked the local outfit and assumed they knew what they were doing,. Im now in Auckland with my new / old boat, and this time I want to make sure what is done is done right and is going to last and not have me worrying.
Whom do you fellas reccomend out there as the best mix of attitude and competency?
Cheers.
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a 23 ft wharram cat [similar to the one that crossed the tasman recently] was and perhaps still is the smallest cat to circumnavigate,, smaller boat , smaller problems particularly when sailing solo.
21 foot, a Wharram Tiki named "Cooking Fat" is the small cat that circumnavigated
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Mate, thanks Scottie for the heads up.
That being the case, I might just use this frameless method.... -
I need to remove my cabin ports and replace the acrylic, and at the same time I need to do something about the aluminium frames as the are looking old and tired. Rather that parting about what I suspect would be big $$ to get the aluminium frames replaced new, I am wondering if getting them blasted by a professional outfit would have them looking like new?
Anyone ever had this done themselves? And if so, how did it all turn out?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
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Have the annual ownership fees at Bayswater just gone up? I'm sure a 12m berth was $4500'ish a year ago and now it's $5500.
I'm on a 12m berth at BW, the guy we bought our boat off was paying $600/month, I said to the owner I would pay $450 max or leave, he dropped his price.
That's the way! Well done you sir.
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Be aware there is a push on to get marinas off leases and other similar such contracts. The powers that be want everyone renting.
There are less and less marina operators these days with many places now either monopolies or like Auckland pretty much a duopoly. They have all also realised they have huge power if they work together to remove our options. Hence the recent raft of cost increases and dumbarse regulations.
Well, they better get used to have empty berths then.
And, I think we have talked about this before, but as far as I am aware, colluding togehter to do price fixing is against the law. I'd like to see these pr*cks go down the gurgler if someone with the legal clout would take them on.
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Here is a 13.5m at Gulf Harbour for $400pm ! (albeit till Dec only, but still...)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/marina-berths/auction-1363590956.htm#qna
again - berth owner renting privately. Its the only way to go.
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This http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/marina-berths/auction-1362068426.htm
versus this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/marina-berths/auction-1346764380.htm
is what I am getting at. Sure they are different marinas, but $130 a month savings is nothing to be sneezed at.
There will be more examples if a trainspotter feels like doing some research.
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You would be a fool to be coned into paying the over inflated prices ,there is so many empty
100% agree - never seen so many on my trademe as I have at the moment.
The prices being asked by Marinas diretly, are quite idiotic and these marina managers are going to get a rude awakening when their berths stay empty.
Anyone that pays in the vicinity of $770 odd direct to a marina for a 10-12 metre berth has rocks in their head. You can find some private owners willing to rent at $200 odd less per month than marinas are asking for if you are prepared to shop around.
Customer Service - Boat Related
in MarineTalk
Posted
I hope you have not paid him anything? That is just nuts. Double the quote with no explanation? WTF.
I am pissed about the "attitude" I got,
But, I'd be blowing like Mt Krakatoa if I was in your position with this rigger.