Kings Marine Newsletter - Autumn 2007
The nights are drawing in, and getting distinctly chilly, although there have been some very pleasant boating days in late September and early October. It's was so warm the first week of October that the chaps in the yard were working in shirtsleeves.
Winterisation Time Is Upon Us
Let us not be fooled however. The nights are getting colder and Jack Frost likes nothing more than an ill-prepared marine engine upon which to work his quiet damage. We're now booking for winterisation services through to mid November. For any pre-booking for a Gold Winterise made before the end of October, we'll hold our 2003 all-inclusive prices.
Top 5 Marine Breakdowns - How to Avoid Them
After many years of servicing marine engines and the boats around them, these are what we consider to be the most common problems we have encountered. A straw poll of our customers indicated that the real reasons were not as expected. Some of them are easy top avoid, others are not quite so easy. With a little forethought none of them should cause a drama. Click for the top 5 breakdowns page.
The Earls Court Boat Show is back
From 1st to 9th Dec 2007. Promising to put the Show back in Boat Show.I'm looking forward to seeing what the new organisers make of the show. There was always a fun 'buzz' the the old Earls Court Boat Show, with crowded aisles and a lot of 'show' in the central arena. On leaving the show, you were a very short distance from Knightsbridge and the West End. You could make a day of it, finishing with a west-end show or restaurant. Very pleasant.
Keep your eye on the show's web site at http://www.earlscourtboatshow.com/
Cheap diesel will be available until 1st November 2008
The chancellor has seen fit to delay the new levy on marine diesel for more than a year. Following on from the news that the UK is to loose the derogation on marine diesel the implementation deadlines were a worry for many UK boat owners. The inland revenue has now issue guidelines that indicate the tax on diesel will be increased in November 2008. If you were were relying on cheaper diesel for next summer's boating, you can now breath a sigh of relief.
There are all sort of discussions going on around how the new tax regime is to be monitored. Red diesel dye will remain detectable in boat tanks for some years to come. To demand all tanks are replaced is clearly ludicrous. No firm ideas have yet been voiced about how it will be policed. Watch the RYA web site for more information on the implementation of the new tax. See www.rya.org.uk
Thames Lock Closures 2007/2008.
As is usual this time of year, the Environment Agency furnish us with a list of lock closures for this winter. They start from the 1st November and run through to the 7th March 2008. Locally to us here in Chertsey, the closures are:
- Old Windsor - For lock gate re-sheet - 7 January 2008 to 7 March 2008
- Shepperton - Lock gate anchor gates - 4 February 2008 to 22 February 2008
- Molesey - For lock gate re-sheet - 5 November 2007 to 30 November 2007
- Teddington - Various alternative closures of launch and barge lock.
Passage through Teddington will be available at all times.
If you're booking any service work with us and coming by water, please bear in mind these dates.
For more information have a look at the Environment Agency's web site here.
And finally...
The Environment: Help the fish. Emergency hotline
If you see fish floating in the river, either dead or in obvious distress there is a hotline number you can call at the Environment Agency. They will then investigate the reason for the problem, be it due to oil pollution or run-off from contaminated land for example. There are also techniques that can be used to re-oxigenate the water even whilst the pollution is still present.
Call the Thames Region of the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506
Also.. don't forget our current offers...
Clearance inflatable Yam dinghies, ideal as tenders.
Yamaha's last inflatables from their 2007 end of season sale. The complete range of Yam by Zodiac inflatable boats with either slated or hard floor boats is available with 25% off. These are built to last by Zodiac in Western Europe and are remarkably light weight too. The old Yam 380 was 90Kg, the new Yam by Zodiac 380s is 52Kg, and its just as hard wearing.
Yamaha Inboard Diesel 275Hp - 25% off too
The smoothest shifting outdrive you will ever come across. Two left in the UK warehouse that need to be moved. Interested in re-engineing with the best for the price of just an engine from other manufacturers?
See our special offers page for pricing details on the Yam by Zodiac inflatable boats and the Yamaha Hydra Drive 275Hp inboard.
As usual, if you have any marine power questions, please feel free to give us a call. We have a team of fully trained technicians for Yamaha, Mercruiser, Volvo, Yanmar and we provide service for Mercury too.
Rod King and the team at Kings Marine.