Ventura Harbor Boat Yard (my nightmare)

[Anon]

I've been on the hard here for almost a week and a half. I'm doing the work myself. I have never felt so unwelcome and such a burden as I do here. I can't work on my boat here without the workers going by all day long and yelling remarks at me as they pass in their golf cart like its some type of game. I'm at my wits end and wish I could just walk away. I've kept to my self the whole time and have not gotten into any confrontations with anyone here. I don't understand why they are after me or what their motivation is. I'm in the worst situation right now and am so frustrated. At this point, I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. But, at the end....I know I'll be the one sailing off into the sunset holding my head and finger high in the air....knowing I'll never come back here again

 

[Steve Dion]

You are taking away work from them.

Anon:I think you are probably taking work away from them. If the yard was full of boats and plenty of work on their plate, they would not even know that you are there. Chances are there is very little work so if they cannot bill out hours, they don't make any money!What do you think?Next time you may want to a find a "friendly" DIY yard.

 

[higgs]

Where is this yard?

I want to be sure to avoid getting anywhere near it.

 

[abe]

Steve I suspect you are right...I am in the town.

just below Ventura. However, there are not that many boat yards so you just can't get up and shop around. That said, those people should just f...off. I don't see angry mechanics harrasing me when I change the oil in my car. Maybe if they didn't charge sooooo much, we would give them more work.Anon, my suggestion is you talk to them..smile and be friendly. Tell them you don't have much money and that is why you have to do the work yourself...tell them you are unemployed. Maybe they might be a little nicer. You may want to buy them lunch one day or give them a six pack. Best way to deal with an enemy is make them your friends.abe

 

[abe]

Higg, I don't think you have anything to worry ...

..about. Ventura is the left coast just south of santa barbara..north of l.a.Funny thing, some of those workers are probably illegal. Which gives me plan B for Anon..if the nice way doesn't work, tell them you are going to call migra(immigration)abe

 

[Tony Z]

What happenened to the customer is always correct?

I would say something to the managment. After all, you are paying to be there. If they can't control customer relations then don't go back and slam them wherever you can. This site is a good start.I take the advise of sailors here and do not use places that have been given a poor report in my area. Hang in there.

 

[Dan]

DIY and contractor-friendly yards

At my yard, the work is so backed up that there are horror stories about people needing work done in May who miss the entire sailing season because the yard didn't get around to it. The saying here is "they may be slow, but they sure are expensive!"Yet, they have a "no contractors" rule. I could understand that if they were scraping around for work, but they are far from it. At least we're allowed to work on our own boats, and we don't get harrassed. Far from it, actually. They are happy to answer technical questions when asked. One guy even climbed onto my boat and helped me with my winch.I wish there was a listing that rated the degree to which boat yards allowed DIY and contractor work. Or at least a website, or discussion board.

 

[Ctskip]

Hang tough

and don't pay any attention to the rude people. They are trying to get you to react. Don't. Just keep your head into your work and soon you'll be the one sailing away. Should you fall into their trap, they will see it as justification for further hassassment. They are there every day and you are not. They have the capabilities of making your tunnel much longer. Just keep your head low and fly beneath the radar and just concider the source and feel good knowing you are the one that will be leaving and never returning. Once you are gone, then you can have a face to face confrontation with management. Maybe even take several pictures of these rude people and keep a log book with the remarks being said. Kinda like an insurance policy. First and formost is your safety along with the safety of your vessel. Keep your insurance policy active. You never know. Proceed slowly and confidently. It's ok to let them see you take their picture. They know what you are doing and hopefully they will back off. Just be vigilant in your quest to exit as quickly as possible. Payback is best served cold. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[BobW]

You're in the wrong boat yard in Ventura.....

I keep my boat in Ventura harbor, and I always use Anchors Way Boat Yard, on the other side of the harbor. They are always friendly, helpful and professional. They hauled my boat 3 times for the price of one, and were properly embarrassed when the third haul (for a wierd clicking noise when the prop shaft was turning) unveiled a loose prop shaft zinc caused by a missing washer. Sorry you're stuck in the other boat yard. I sympathize with your frustration, and will certainly understand your rude departing gesture if I happen to be transiting the harbor when you leave, but please don't condemn all of Ventura.I'm not sure if this is the difference, but the boat-yard you're in does most or all the commercial work - fishing boats, etc.Maybe a gentle word with the manager would help... although you might be best just finishing your work and getting out of there.Cheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

 

[Anchor Down]

My Bad Eyesight, Maybe

Bob,Your post was very encouraging, and offered Anon more than any of the others, but please explain how he was "condemn[ing] all of Ventura." I just don't see it in his orig. post.Jeff

 

[BobW]

Bad wording, sorry

What I was trying to convey was:Please don't let one bad experience sour you on all of Ventura Harbor, the city or southern California as a whole.I certainly wasn't accusing 'anon' of condemning Ventura as a whole, although I admit that the way I wrote it may have come across that way.Having been accused of being overly verbose at times, I was trying for brevity.... didn't work. ;DCheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

 

[Anon]

Condemn Ventura?

Did I mention my wife's loaner key for the bathroom was stolen when she was taking a shower and then was brought to tears by the harbor master when he started yelling at her because she asked if he could let her in the bathroom (and no, he never did let her in).  BTW, thank you for all your posts. I have decided to just bite my tongue and just finish my boat

 

[Jeff]

Try Channel Islands

I grew up in Peirpont beach and had a trailer boat in dry storage in Ventura. I never used the yards in Ventura, always went to Channel Islands harbor with good, fast results and straightforward answers.It may be too late, but I'd take my money elsewhere. They're CHARGING you for the hard storage, that's income and you're a paying customer being harrassed?? I'd be livid.

 

[s sauer]

Yard Work

Keep polite relations with the problem persons; finish your work; leave and pay the bill with a short note saying why you won't be back.Anything else is a waste of your time and effort and might result in more problems when you are not at the boat.

 

[tcbro]

They own the travel lift......

and that puts them in the driver's seat. You are at their mercy. If you tick them off they may not be able to fit you into their "put-in" schedule causing you to have to stay there longer than you should and possibly charging you for the extra time. Control yourself for now and deal with it when you are in the water and no longer at their mercy.Toms/v Orion's Child

 

[SEADANCE]

CtSkip said, "They are there every day and you are not." This is the part that is scary and true. Please be careful...especially your sweet wife, lock everything up and check your boat everyday if you can. Good Luck.~B/Seadance