Skippers Guide

MDL Introduces Freedom Berthing For Boat & Yacht Owners

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Well done!

MDL Marinas have done it again!

Yes they have added a new dimension to Berthing – Freedom Berthing

Richard from The Skippers Guide, asked Mike Gates what is Freedom Berthing?

Area Manager for the Thames & Medway Region, Mike Gates explains –
“We really want to encourage our berth holders to venture out on cruises in the knowledge that they will be able to look forward to an excellent standard of service at other MDL Marinas too. Good news travels fast and this is a really flexible scheme that adds real value for our current and future berth holders. Freedom Berthing is an extension to the popular Club Outlook scheme which has already been available to annual berth holders for sometime. The scheme allows annual berth holders to enjoy unlimited free visitor nights at other MDL Marinas in the UK. ”

So, we asked current berth holders what they think of Freedom Berthing ?

Paul and Jane at Chatham who own a sports cruiser at MDL Chatham Maritime Marina said
“We are thrilled with this new scheme and are already planning cruises to other MDL Marinas. The biggest difficulty is choosing whether to visit the South Coast or head further up the East Coast first!”

Richard from the Skippers Guide wanted to ask, which MDL Marinas can I go and visit under the Freedom Berthing Scheme?

There are three zones to the scheme which basically depends on where you choose to have your home berth:

Zone 1 Covers the Hamble River in the Solent where MDL has three marinas (Hamble Point Marina, Port Hamble Marina & Mercury Yacht Harbour). For any boat that is based in these marinas, then the freedom berthing scheme will be available in all the marinas from the other two zones (see below).

Zone 2 Is called South Coast Central and covers boats that are based in the MDL Marinas at Cobbs Quay Marina, Hythe Marina Village, Ocean Village Marina, Shamrock Quay, Saxon Wharf, Sparkes Marina & Northney Marina. Boats that are here are allowed unlimited visitor nights in Zone 2 & 3 Marinas & an additional 30 visitor nights in a Zone 1 Marina.

Zone 3 Covers a wider area and is called East to West & Thames. MDL Marinas in this area include Woolverstone Marina, Chatham Maritime Marina, Torquay Marina, Brixham Marina, Queen Annes Battery, Penton Hook Marina, Windsor Marina and Bray Marina. For boats that are based in these MDL Marinas, unlimited visitor nights are available in all other Zone 3 Marinas. Plus, these boats have an additional 30 visitor nights that can be taken in Zone 1 & 2 Marinas.

So what does this mean for MDL Marinas customers Mike?
The scheme offers greater value for money to its annual berth holders. For short trips within the zones, boats can in effect move between marinas at no extra charge, thus allowing for greater enjoyment of a wider area and more enjoyment out of your boat. For the more adventurous, there is scope within the terms of the scheme to cruise to other regions and incur minimal or no extra berthing charges.

What do we think at the Skippers Guide?

Fantastic guys! The Freedom Berthing scheme will not tie you up in knots! You have really pushed the boat out with this initiative. It will promote more MDL Marinas customers (sailing yacht and motor boat enthusiasts) to go out cruising. It is such a simple but effective scheme and we have no doubt of how successful this will be for your customers. The ability to use the scheme between say Chatham Maritime Marina and those MDL Marinas on the Thames (Penton Hook, Windsor & Bray) must be a great attraction especially if planned as part of an extended cruise or a weekend jaunt in order to see more of an area. Equally, for boats based on the Hamble River, the options to cruise to other MDL Marinas are extensive and given that there are MDL Marinas in other regions, the scope for cruising without excessive berthing charges must be a real bonus. Also your customers will benefit from an across the board standard of excellent personal service and marina facilities that MDL deliver.

Well Done MDL Marinas.

For additional information then go to www.freedomberthing.co.uk

Marina Developments Limited,
Outlook House,
Hamble Point Marina,
School Lane,
Hamble,
SOUTHAMPTON,
Hampshire,
SO31 4NB

Head Office Tel: (023) 80457155
Head Office Fax: (023) 80457154

www.mdlmarinas.co.uk

Winterising Your Boat Or Yacht

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The Skippers Guide gives some useful tips on preparing your boat or yacht for cold winter weather.

In the winter months around the UK, messing about on the river, boating and yachts are probably best kept for warmer times. At the Skipper’s Guide we know it is tempting to lock up and go..

If you want to return to your pride and joy in the spring then some basic precautions to protect against the colder weather should pay dividends and allow you to get going again quickly and without any big repair bills. The Skippers Guide spoke to the local Boatshedkent broker and here is what we came up with.

‘I know what its like, just when it starts to get cold, the last thing you really want to do is some work or jobs. Put it off until March/April I always hear! However, these are important issues and I think a bit of time and effort now can get you afloat quicker at the beginning of the season. Here are a list of Skippers Guide issues and reminders that you might like to check if your boat is out of the water this year:

1. Ensure the raw water cooling system is drained down and the impellor is removed. This will reduce the risk of the cooling hoses splitting and will prolong the life of the impellor.

2. Try to ensure that the fuel tanks are filled especially diesels as this will reduce the risk of water contamination and fuelbugs.

3. Fresh water systems and tanks should be drained down to reduce the risk of freezing waters splitting the tanks and pipework.

4. If the batteries are being left on the boat and being trickle charged make sure the levels are topped up so that the batteries dont dry out and buckle the plates. If possible take the batteries off the boat and keep them in the garage this Winter where they can be checked more easily.

5. If possible fit an inexpensive tube heater in the engine bay and in the accommodation space which will help prevent freezing. If electricity is not available an old blanket can be used to wrap around the engine to keep the temperature up.

6. If possible change the oil before the vessel is laid up. This will prevent contaminates in the oil such as moisture being left on the internal engine parts thus reducing the risk of corrosion and wear.

7. Cushions should ideally be taken home but if this is not possible lift them enough to ensure that condensation cannot gather underneath and air can circulate more freely.

8. If using condensation traps place them in areas where, if they overfill, they will not damage upholstery or internal linings.

9. Try to ensure that the canopy is well supported so water cannot gather and stretch or rip the materal. You can use Vaseline on canopy clips and lip balm on zips which will prevent the clips from corroding and reduce the risk of zips seizing.

10. Try to ensure that bilges are left dry. This will reduce the risk of freezing water damaging your boat.

11. Remove sails. Over the Winter months they never get time to dry and algae will start to build up attacking the stitching and causing corrosion in the eyes.

12. Secure the rigging with shock cord or bungee reducing the movement from the wind and thus reducing wear in the rigging.

It’s not an exhaustive list but at the Skipper’s Guide we think it is a good start.

Thanks to Boatshedkent for these helpful tips.