About Us: Testimonials

What people say about us:

Jonathan and Helen Lewis - owners of Gralian, were interviewed by Classic Boat earlier in this year and this is what they had to say:

'We arrived off the pier at Southwold by sea last June. We had been told we would be met and piloted into Southwold Harbour. Imagine our surprise when we were approached by a motley crew in a RIB looking for all the world like unkempt pirates, one of them even had a missing leg. The RIB drew alongside our sedate and newly acquired, elderly, gentleman’s yacht Gralian at some speed and the largest and blondest of these brigands leapt aboard. What we didn’t know then was that this was the beginning of a relationship which would move us from tears to laughter and joy, from sublime ignorance of the ways of wooden boats to a tentative understanding of their foibles. We came into Harbour Marine Services for a smallish deck job to take six weeks and have emerged, 10 months later, with a boat that has had to be largely rebuilt.

These pirates are now our friends and advisers. They have had to give us bad news on a regular basis but they have done so with a tenderness that has kept us sane. They have used enormous craftsmanship across a range of disciplines to restore Gralian to her former glory. In the process they have patiently passed on a few of their skills to us. Their pirate king, John Buckley, has steered us and our vessel from almost certain shipwreck to a boat that is as fine as one could wish for. She was commissioned by an Ipswich lady for her husband 73 years ago and now, back to her former glory, we will set forth from the East coast on a voyage to the Byzantine'

Vicky Platt – owner of Josephine:

'John gave a budget and clear advice and guidance on how best to do the work and liaised on progress. I find him a pleasure to work with.His yard has a good mature and experienced workforce who have a wide range of skills. They have an outstanding electrician, a very good engine mechanic and other yard members who are knowledgeable, trained and interested in finding a good solution to inevitable non-standard boat problems. They work through what needs to be done in a thorough way and to a good standard.

John communicates well how work is going and what problems there are. He also communicates well with his workers and suppliers to make sure everyone has a clear understanding of what is involved. He ensures the boat is ready given reasonable deadlines (sailors are notorious for setting unreasonable deadlines). Our boat has always been ready when we want to go sailing.

I recommend HMS highly and would always go back to this yard with John at the helm. I have experience of other yards (with other boats I have owned going back around twenty plus years) on the East Coast and the South Coast of the UK and have found them relatively disappointing.'
 

David Worthington – owner of Meredies - a 1937 John Bain Silverleaf:

‘One thing that makes Harbour Marine unique is the quality of design decision - John has a real eye for what is right and what will work.’

Nishini Kampfer, managing director and co-founder of the SS Robin Trust:

'Working with the HMS team has been an absolute pleasure. There were many difficult challenges on the conservation of the SS Robin – delivering a scheme and solution that has never been one before. Each time HMS managed to surpass our expectations – with their commitment to excellent workmanship and their sensitivity towards the historic fabric of the vessel.'

Peter Gilmour - owner of Oysterbelle a 435 Oyster:

'.....I spoke with John Buckley, the owner and manager of Harbour Marine Services (HMS) at Southwold and within a few minutes conversation, I could tell that John knew what he was talking about, had the equipment and expertise within his workforce to undertake the work and was also talking my language when it came to price. Furthermore, John had experience of working on other 435s. Despite popular myth, as a Scotsman I am not miserly, or even prudent as per the Gordon Brown definition, but, I do expect value for money.

Following a tentative courtship by email and telephone with HMS, I committed to having OB moved by road from Cheshire to Suffolk. In retrospect this was not such a large risk after all, as today I believe many people select their lifetime partners using these communication mediums. The adventure of extricating OB from the Northwich boatyard on a low-loader is a story in itself. However, I am confident that the security lights and guttering have long since been reinstated and the local inhabitants’ memories of a gridlocked Cheshire village have also evaporated.

So while I was recovering at home in Scotland, OB was delivered by road to HMS in Southwold without a mark or any damage being caused in transit. Within the day she was tucked up inside the ‘big shed’ and the work began in earnest. The plan that I had agreed with John was simple; a complete survey of the boat, followed by a job sheet with price list that I could then prioritise. This was duly done.The refit work undertaken by John and his team included:

• Stripping and replacing the hull gelcoat below the water line.
• Fitting a new Onan 4Kw generator under the companionway.
• Installing a Seafresh Watermaker behind the port saloon berth.
• Converting the centre water tank to an additional fuel tank.
• Re-plumbing the entire fuel system through a central gallery allowing cross feed between the forward and aft fuel tanks.
• Complete rebuild of the steering gear.
• Additional navigation equipment.
• A top-end engine overhaul.
• A new navigation pod in the cockpit with remote engine controls.
• An electrical re-wire centralising all controls and CBs at the Navigation Station.
• Installing a foolproof battery charging and shore power system.
• A deck wash pump.
• A remote shower head on the aft deck.
• Replacing the teak on the cockpit seat.
• Complete reupholster of the saloon seating and cabin berths.

So, all in all, I managed to keep every trade at John’s disposal employed!

Finally, I agreed with John to fit what I consider to be his ‘trade mark’ feature. A set of ‘goalposts’ custom built to take all the wiring, lights, radar, bimini attachment points and additional aerials that I had inherited as a consequence of the navigation equipment upgrade. I will admit that I was in two minds about fitting this, but after experiencing the benefits of a clear deck and mast combined with ease of access, I am sold on the idea.

All of this work was conducted by a team that I consider dedicated to their specific trade and task. Not once throughout the course of the refit did I even come close to saying to John, "I’m afraid that is not good enough". Another feature of HMS is that they are tolerant of owners that want to be involved and consider those that do actively participate to be an asset rather than a hindrance. I suspect this is because John is confident that each member of his team demonstrates the highest standards of craftsmanship and it allows the owner to see what he is getting for his money.

Over the course of the refit I became very friendly with John and all at HMS and on more than one occasion, having finished work for the day, fell foul of being ‘Broadsided’ by the Adnams ale of that name served in the Harbour Inn that is only a few hundred metres from the HMS yard; another advantage of choosing Southwold!

With the refit completed on schedule I was joined by John and Jill, his wife and my youngest son Andy for the maiden voyage back to Jersey. John considers this to be part of the service following a major overhaul and we had an enjoyable voyage via Cherbourg while shaking down the systems on OB. The shake down was so successful that the only thing found lacking was a frying pan for making breakfast, as I had disposed of the old one during a clear out of the galley.'

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