upholder amble
upholder amble
I would not normally respond to postings on this site about my boat, but it seems to be getting out of hand and the allegation that are being made are far from the truth.
The facts are as follows,
I was asked by the cousin (or cosun ) of the broken down vessel about 15.30pm which was the time was I going back to the Harbour and could I tow the boat back that had broken down.
After a discussion on the VHF another charter boat out of Amble offered a tow but he was about 3 miles away.
The Cousin’s boat is a 23 foot Salmon drift net boat and was half a mile south of the broken down vessel, there was another 20 foot pleasure boat fishing in the same area as my self.
As the disabled boat was a 33ft kingfisher salmon/potting boat weighing in at around 9 tons and the other two boats of around 20ft they would have made hard going of towing a vessel of this size.
As I was only half a mile from the broken down vessel to save the other charter vessel making a detour I took the Tow.
As far as this fellow complaining about his trip being cut short it is completely untrue and when I took the tow we would have been heading back to port anyway.
The total distance the vessel was towed was just over a mile and by the time I towed the vessel the 200yards up the river to his berth from were we normally land and returned to the steps were we drop off
The time was exactly 16.22pm.
I have no regrets about towing the broken down vessel in and as far as this bloke saying his trip has been cut short he was 20 minutes late getting off the boat.
I would also point out that as long as it does not interfere the running of my vessel i.e. time at sea, and it does not put my passengers at risk and most important of all the weather conditions are suitable I and most other Skipper would offer assistance, but without any doubt if at any time I thought myself or my vessel was not up to the task I would call the Coastguard who would in turn page the RNLI.
As far as me ripping him off, the last time this fellow was on my boat was 2009. He’s even on my website catch report for 2009
Amble Boat Charter - latest catches he’s the one in the centre holding up two codlings next to the girl. (soon to be removed)
He might have paid £25 on his last trip, but this could have been a shortened trip due to weather or tidal restrictions of the harbour or an early finish due to the weather, something that I have always done.
I have tried to keep the charter rate as low as possible and I have increased the charter rate by £2 midweek and £5 at the weekend this year after many years of charging £30 a trip.
Most normal people ask how much the trip costs before they book, not turn up and expect to pay 2009 prices and then moan about the price of the trip after they have gone.
If he feels aggrieved I will gladly reinbersed the £1 for the ¼ of an hour he feels his trip was cut short by helping someone out.
He also states that he has been ripped of by being charged £32 and he can get a trip for £20 and £25.
For an 8 hour trip out of Amble all the boats are around the £30 mark.
I think you can get a trip for around £25 but they are 6 hour trips and the boats run two trips a day.
He says he is going to fish out of Craster (lucky Doug). Just for the record many years ago, Douggie had a problem with his boat and I had him under tow until the sons could tow him back to Craster with the
Thomas “H”. I wonder if he would be complaining about his trip being cut short when he could have been
on board under tow.
At the end of the day we spend a lot of money on safety gear and surveys to comply with MCA codes of practice and anybody can break down there is no warning of a prop shaft shearing.
Nobody is immune from breaking down I have even been on an RNLI Lifeboat that has temporarily broken down.
You never Know You might Need Help From Someone yourself One DAY!