Purchasing Boats and Moorings at Thistleworth Marine
It is strongly recommended that you speak to company officers before completing a purchase
Thistleworth Marine Limited owns the land adjacent to the moorings and has held a licence from the Port of London Authority (PLA) for the riverworks since the company was formed in 1974.
There are some important differences between buying a boat/mooring on Thistleworth Marine and buying a house; the main difference being that a specified number of shares in Thistleworth Marine Limited (TML), allocated based upon a boat's dimensions, also changes hands.
The ownership of the shares guarantees the purchaser the right to vote at the AGM on company business and to attend directors’ and general meetings.
On purchasing a boat and mooring the purchaser should usually, therefore, receive three benefits:
a. The boat
b. A mooring agreement with TML giving you the right to moor that boat
c. The appropriate number of shares
There is one important qualification to (c) in that THE SHARES ARE ONLY TRANSFERRED AFTER TML HAS BEEN PAID A LEVY EQUIVALENT TO 2.5% OF THE TOTAL SALE PRICE (payable by the vendor) and all outstanding bills are settled.
The purchaser is also advised that as bank loans are seldom if ever given for the purchase of shares, it is usually advisable to treat the whole (shares, mooring, boat) as a single purchase.
The mooring agreement includes the schedule of charges for each boat including their share of the PLA charges.
The charge for mains water and communal electricity is currently included in the above, but boat owners are expected to pay TML for bottled gas, electricity consumed and are responsible for their council tax.
Occasionally a mooring comes up for sale with either no boat or with a boat that needs to be replaced. In these cases, purchasers should be aware that there are additional constraints imposed by the PLA and by TML as to the type and dimensions of new boats that may be moored.
Further information on buying, selling, or changing boats is available from any of the directors, treasurer or company secretary of TML.
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Find below a useful document contain guidelines for changes to boats at TML
Introduction
At TML vessels are moored in close proximity. This means that changes in one vessel or mooring often has an impact on those nearby. Views, privacy, light, access and even the profile of the river bed can be affected by such alterations . We encourage all residents to be mindful of the impact of any changes upon their neighbours. In that spirit we have attempted to write a set of guidelines that reflect current practice. They are not comprehensive and require the application of common sense.
Minor alterations.
Replacing or improving the current structure. Small external additions such as railings. fences, storage containers etc
Please be careful to alert immediate neighbours of any changes that may affect them in unforeseen ways. Check that they have no objections. As a matter of courtesy please inform the next meeting that you have done that and of your planned work. Considerations may include,
Ø Privacy – proximity with adjacent craft and/or overlooking.
Ø Loss of light or overshadowing.
Ø Loss of views, especially where any craft could lose its only beneficial outlook.
Ø Loss of amenity - not impeding a crafts free and safe navigation on and off the mooring where this already exists.
Ø Health and Safety – will the new craft or alterations give cause for concern, for example spread of fire, noxious fumes etc.
Ø Noise/pollution. For example, new heating installation has been installed where the flue expels directly over a pontoon or adjacent craft.
Major alterations
Works that may change the trim of a boat, the overall profile or significantly alter the appearance of the Marina as a whole. Any structural alterations such as roof height, door arrangements, porches etc.
Large structural alterations should be posted on the board for a month before attending a meeting to seek approval. Plans and detailed dimensions should also be copied to all residents and any non-resident boat owners. Any objections received should be brought to the meeting.
If this process is followed with some sensitivity to the needs of others and willingness to compromise very often the meeting will grant approval on a show of hands. Contentious decisions i.e. those with objections that cannot be resolved will normally be put to a vote of Directors. The test that has previously been applied in such cases is whether or not the objections are considered ‘reasonable’ - if they are, the proposal is rejected. In the rare case of an equally split vote (2/2, for and against) the Chair may use his/her casting vote. There is a TML tradition and presumption that the Chair preserves the status quo (i.e. votes against the proposal) although this does not rule out later approval
New boats
Vessels new to the marina require the permission of the Port of London Authority as well as the Directors before coming on to the mooring. Full dimensions as well as insurance paperwork will need to be provided.
The process is as follows.
- Formally lodge the proposal as an agenda item for the next meeting via the Chair.
- Provide the meeting with detailed plans and photographs where possible, including the distance of the craft from the adjacent boats, together with a consideration of impact upon neighbours (if you have already consulted this helps).
- If the meeting grants 'approval in principle' it will ask the Secretary to formally request permission from the PLA (a copy of the plans will be needed).
- Following the meeting the proposed plans should be put on the community noticeboard for a minimum of a month to allow viewing and discussion (during this time it would be unwise to assume that it will automatically get approval).
- At the subsequent meeting, should the PLA approval have been received and no objections lodged, the formal proposal may be voted upon to approve the craft.
- If there are objections or if the proposal requires a lot of further discussion, the matter may be held over to another meeting. Again the test that is used is whether the objections are deemed ‘reasonable’.
Note: It can take several months of discussion and amendment of a proposal before a decision is made. It may also take time for the PLA to respond.