Correspondence About Fiji Boatyard

Created by doina. Last modified on 2007-11-12 14:09:50
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Countries: Fiji

October 2007

It seemed such a nice oasis in this remote corner of Viti Levu: Vuda Point Marina. But after we had completed a haulout we got disappointed with the virtually hidden extra charges and the way the management reacted to that.

We had researched the prices for a short haul-out and one month storage on the marina website. Also asked confirmation of the prices by email. Nowhere was mentioned that we would be charged separately for the props on the hardstand so we did not expect those extra costs until we got to sign the haul out contract (which is interpretable in more than one way on the point of additional prop prices) on the actual day of the haul out. In our 20+ year's sailing experience we have never come across such fees. A bit of a fait accompli, with everything already arranged for the haulout. Very crafty. The weekly/monthly price breaks only turned out to apply to the first 4 props ($98 per month), for any additional prop there is a daily fee of $3, which for 2 for a month would amount to $180; twice the price of the 4 props for one month. Although cheaper, the marina will not allow you to rent 2 sets of 4 for the monthly price, should you wish to use more than 4 props.

We splashed a few days earlier, then got charged the weekly fees for the props instead of the monthly fee which would have been in sync with the period paid for on the hard. More prop fees for less user time, while the marina could rent them out to the next customer.

Since the price for a berth in the water was 2/3 the price of what we had paid up for on the hard (excl the prop rental), we thought it would be ok to use the remains of our time in a water berth instead. No such thing, we would get charged for that again. Paying for being in 2 spots at the same time in the same marina. All in all the bill was about 10% more than expected.

No consideration whatsoever from the marina office for our arguments. Just the remarks: "You chose to get your boat hauled here, it's not our problem", "You signed the contract, didn't you" and "It's only Fiji dollars". Yes we did choose to get our boat hauled here, but based on incomplete or insufficiently supplied information. And no, we did not choose to be treated so disrespectful by the marina management. The management said that we also could have read the rates in the envelope with marina info upon our arrival. Unfortunately that envelope was not given to us at that time, only after the dispute. Even then, separate fees to be paid for props on the hard is not mentioned in their price sheet.

The only aspect where the marina showed some consideration was in letting us stay in the water berth for the remainder of the time we had already paid for to be on the hard. How generous. A treat from our own pocket (with leftover change to their advantage).

Hope you fare better. Merel Elsinga, S/Y Sifar

Noonsite contacted Vuda Point Marina for their comments and received the following reply:

Firstly thank you for asking for "our side of the story". I have attached a copy of the Haul Out form which is completed and signed prior to haul out by the boat owner or their nominated crew member in this instance by Merel Elsina of S/Y Sifar.

As you can see the form clearly shows the breakdown of related costs and asks the signee to "read both pages very carefully'! The form also states that “signing of the form acknowledges acceptance of all terms and conditions of this contract.” I would also like to mention that there were other yacht owners present when this client was discussing the "unfair costs" and when she left the office they informed us that props were not a standard cost at marinas they had visited but they had also visited a lot of marinas where props were a separate charge. If they believed it was not a justified cost why wasn't it queried at the time of signing prior to the haul out.

I can't see how much clearer we need to make our form as it would clearly be seen and interpreted as such. Nowhere does it say props are included with hardstand. Our rates sheet also states clearly that props and cradle are at a separate charge. Average boats use up to 4 props when hauled out and in some cases more than 4 has been used, we have stated this also in our haul out form. I would think interpretation of this would be clear however one read it as the client was insisting she had intrepreted it another way, what I couldn't understand.

However, they are still customers who have spent money in our marina and as a sign of goodwill, the marina offered them 3 nights of free berthing to make up for what they had paid for on the hardstand as they relaunched earlier.

We take exception to being referred to "as very crafty" and "its only Fiji dollars" was not meant the way it has been interpreted and in reference to the contract I was asking for confirmation that that was her signature. This couple also believed that they should have been given the night prior to the haul out free as they were doing us a favor! I don't believe they would get a night free in a hotel prior to picking up a tour the next day!

At this time of the year we have a lot of yachts in the marina carrying out maintenance before storage etc and I might add the majority of these are return yachts who have been utilising our marina for many years and do not like to be "treated disrespectfully" to the extent that other yacht owners avoided coming into the office until Ms Merel had made her point.

Dear Ms. Cornell,

Thank you for forwarding Vuda Point's reply.

The important fact that remains is that the additional rates for props were not mentioned in the email correspondence we had with the marina office in which we asked them about the haul out costs and short term storage on the hard. Nor are these rates mentioned on their web site. Even more important, the separate rates for props are not mentioned at all in the marina price list every customer is supposed to receive from the marina office upon first arrival.

So the first time we got confronted with those prices was upon signing the haulout contract, half an hour before the actual haul out, when you are all set to go. $98 for 4 props for a month. The sentence about additional props to us was so incredible, that we thought that there must have been a monthly break for the additional 2 props as well. So you would think that 6 props would come to (98 + 47) about $150. But the total for the props for using them 25 days was $238.

Since prices for berths in the water are cheaper than on the hard, we thought that the nights we spent in a water berth (including the one the night before the haul out) would be included in our monthly fees, since we had not used up a full month for which we had prepaid. After all, if you have booked a hotel room for a month and you spend part of that time in a cheaper room, certainly you would not get charged for 2 rooms at the same time.

Kind regards, Merel Elsinga