Dear Islander,
I think we will all welcome the new laws on speeding in ports and it will be interesting to see if the fishing boats and tugs etc. throttle back!
The fines in the past have been laughable but a couple of 1,500 Euro multas might sharpen them up.
Having been rocked around on my mooring in the Real Club Nautico I’m convinced that the fishermen raced in and out on purpose taking great pleasure in spilling my Gin n Tonic or rolling me out of my bunk!
I’d be interested to hear from those moored next to their route if there’s any change.
As you’ll see from the letters page we’ve had another example of an alleged ´rip off´ for an annual lift out, clean, antifoul etc. and small paint patches touch up including the old trick of perfectly good zincs being replaced at an exorbitant price.
I’ve spoken to Capt David Morgan who wrote in and it’s a case of a Spaniard ´ripping off´ another Spaniard in this case- he tells me that the bill for around 34,000 Euros was way, way over the top and in his opinion should have been less than 10,000.
Also on the letters page, as predicted we’re not flavour of the month as regards PIMEM and the Chamber of Commerce are concerned.
Publish and be damned!
The hoary old subject of bad and late payment for work done on boats has again been the topic of discussion recently.
One nice story I heard was that a local company was called to change the engine oil and was promised payment on completion of the job- in fact the skipper assured the company that there are, "no worries- the boss will be on board and wants to go out" or words to that effect.
On the Wednesday the service company turned up on time and duly emptied the engines.
Whilst this is happening the skipper informs him that he’ll be paid on Friday.
Without further ado our man jumps in his van and says to the skipper that he’ll be back on Friday to fill the oil and collect the money.
On returning to his office he took a call from the fuming owner who said that he’s got the money right now. Our hero returns to the boat, finishes the job and charges him for the second call out!
Owners, skippers, agents etc please don’t call in anyone unless you’ve got the money to pay for a job on the agreed terms!
Regards,
John Rule