Marine Saga continues: Taylors Boatyard Chester has conceded to release the vessel taken from our unhappy couple. The couple are now making arrangements to have their boat craned out at Telfords Warehouse and taken to another boatyard where they have no choice but to strip off all the steel plates and begin the job all over again with professionals. The couple have just released the following statement:
"There is no website in existence we know of that is is either the
intention of generating revenue, or targeting any "long standing
boatyard" connected with this matter. The name of the boatyard indeed was a HIGHLY REPUTABLE boatyard who's name the present occupiers are utilising to their own ends. Furthermore, the name JP Marine itself exists in other countries, the legitimate owners of which would no doubt be very unhappy their reputation is being tarnished in the same way. The operators JP Marine UK Ltd are not long established, and if you do your homework, you too will discover this limited comany has changed it's name very recently. This limited company also does not put its OWN NAME
to the "work" they perform. They use the name of this most reputable historic boatyard on their own website and their high-vis jackets, and the
signage outside. I challenge anyone to find the real company name
(you'll find it in very small print on ONE PIECE OF COMMUNICATION if you look very hard.. Now, does that sound like an honest way to go about business?"
Thank you to everyone on Canal World Discussion Forum for raising the profile of this case, despite obvious censorship practices (there are clearly many unregulated 'industry professionals' using this forum and nepotism is rife among users and moderators). Despite this, here is the most valuable response we have received on this matter, obviously from a professional:
"Our advice to anyone contracting services in the marine industry or
seeking advice from any forum is simple: At this point in time ANYONE
can self-appoint themselves as a "marine surveyor" or a "marine
engineer" or indeed even a "boatyard" or "boatbuilder". Do your
homework. Ask for testimonials. Ask to see PROOF of current membership
of accredited organisations before you let them near your boat. Ensure
your contract with them has timelines for completion of any work and
include this wording in your contract "time is of the essence". Above all, ensure your surveyor is independent from the boatyard to avoid a massive conflict of interest"
Any
reputable boatyard or boat repairer will be happy to provide all of the
above, If they refuse, don't touch them with the proverbial barge pole."
