Most boat owners will recognise the feeling. You’ve just driven home after a weekend on the water, and somewhere around the motorway services you start wondering whether you tied the fenders on properly, whether the bilge pump is working as it should, and whether that slightly odd sound from the engine was actually significant or just the usual collection of boat noises.
For owners who leave their boats on moorings in Falmouth Harbour – whether for a few weeks or the whole season – that particular background anxiety is a familiar companion. Falmouth Water Taxi’s concierge check service is designed to address it practically.
What a Visual Check Involves
The service offers visual checks from the water at various levels of frequency and detail. The basic check (£15.00) is a quick inspection confirming the vessel is afloat, upright, and in good order. You get three photos – port, starboard, and stern – along with confirmation that lines, fenders, and covers look secure, and a note of any obvious damage, leaks, or alarms.
That might sound simple, but for an owner 200 miles away, a photograph of your boat sitting quietly on its mooring with everything in order is a genuinely reassuring thing to receive. And if something isn’t right, you find out quickly rather than arriving for a weekend and discovering a problem that’s been developing for two weeks.
Weekly and Seasonal Options
The Weekly Peace of Mind package (£45.00 per month) provides weekly updates for a month, following the same check format as the basic inspection. For owners who leave their boats through the sailing season, the Full Season Check (£350.00) covers the period from 1 April to 31 October with weekly updates throughout.
Each check confirms the vessel is afloat and upright, that lines, fenders, and covers appear secure, and that there are no visible signs of damage or alarms. If a problem is spotted, you receive a written report, a short description, and photo evidence – enough to understand what’s happened and act accordingly.
Post-Storm Checks
The Post-Storm Check (£20.00) is a priority visual inspection following bad weather. Falmouth Harbour can be exposed in certain conditions, and owners who aren’t local to the area have limited ways to confirm their vessel came through a storm without damage. This service provides that confirmation promptly – working hours only, with a call-out fee for out-of-hours requests.
Launch Day and Haul-Out Services
For owners who store their boats ashore over winter, Falmouth Water Taxi can also meet the vessel when it’s craned in at the start of the season, escort it to its mooring, and photograph it once it’s secure. The same service runs in reverse at haul-out – confirming everything has gone smoothly and providing a record of the boat’s condition at the end of the season.
A Straightforward Bit of Peace of Mind
The terms are clear: these are visual checks only, with no boarding or physical adjustments. If a problem is found, you get the report and the photos, and then it’s over to you to arrange whatever comes next. But for the significant number of boat owners who can’t easily get to Falmouth between visits, having someone who can simply confirm that the boat is still floating and secure is worth quite a lot.
Checks cover any vessel within Falmouth Harbour; out-of-harbour quotes are available on request. Payment is required in advance by card or bank transfer. To find out more or arrange a check, get in touch via falmouth-watertaxi.co.uk.
