Some while ago I took my old safety rail wires into Boatacs in Chalkwell for renewal. I had a surveyor coming and knowing that latest wisdom was for non-plastic covering, got ahead of myself.
Boatacs had the wires made up for the next morning and were fitted same day. This meant I could ‘safely’ continuing to use Whimbrel until she was due to be lifted out for her survey.
Of course this was some time ago now, but thank you Philip Green…
Contact Boatacs at: phil.boatacs@virgin.net for your needs.
Later on while sailing over the early May Bank Holiday our Blakes heater burner pricker assembly fell to bits inside… It had done its job warming the mate’s toes so we weren’t troubled on our weekend cruise.
Upon investigation I was pleasantly surprised to find that the parts for all Blakes heaters, and cookers incidentally, are still available. I alighted on a firm, family run, who were past Blakes employees. This is Taylors Central, based in the depths of the New Forest in Hampshire.
A new burner assembly was purchased … also a new (second hand) stainless steel cover to replace our stupidly chosen brass one which is impossible to keep clean. The Mate has spent many an hour wasting her time and efforts upon it. Now all is sparkling and shiny…
email: mail@taylorscentral.net
Thank you guys…
Finally, I fitted a new Whale Flipper fresh water pump in the galley area not so long ago and it’s ‘failed’. These pumps usually last years, a decade at least, and failure for ones I’ve had to renew is due to bushing/handle wear and tap assembly sealing when put together renewal becomes an attractive and sensible option!
Some time after first fitting it I found wetness around the base – it wasn’t the usual culprit, the operating lever o-seal. Upon removing the pump assembly, I found that the base seal had been incorrectly fitted. I turned it over for it looked okay. This last weekend water was again found to be running out of the base. A problem clearly exists – a crack perhaps.
I went into Marine Store in Maldon and explained about my need for a new pump, which wasn’t in stock, but was elsewhere. Amazingly, the salesman at the desk offered to exchange my duff one for a new one as an exchange. This is even though I’ve not got the receipt!
See: http://boatchandlersguide.com/Maldon/MarineStore-Chandlery-1173.asp
Its not much for them: they’ll not be out f pocket, its just a little effort and here is one happy sailor… My sincere thanks Marine Store. My belief in the general goodness of mankind is fully restored…
Aha, there is more to this: when I got home from a weekend sail there was a message telling me that a rigging screw was in and that the pump wasn’t available but could be ordered. Now I thought I’d ordered one! So I called back leaving a message saying I needed a pump.
I drove to Maldon and was told pump not ordered and that ‘manager’ wasn’t going to do an exchange – now he clearly offered this, which I accepted. He was conspicuous by his absence with staff telling me he hadn’t stated anything about an exchange (I have a witness). I should have walked out. However, knowing it was needed I reordered a pump.
The receipt and label are stowed in my boat file and when, as it will, the pump starts to leak round pump lever, I will take it back: it has a 5 year guarantee…
Moral – always keep receipts even for cheapish items and NEVER trust a marine store operative. I’ll be doing my best to shop elsewhere from now on.