A certain Thames based Sea School and lack of communication?

[oldgit]

My mates attempts to purchase a decent boat are about as successful as his attempts to gain a bit of experience in driving one.Having coughed up his deposit on the 250.00 odd quid required to book his day on the Thames he duly presented himself on a rainy cold Friday morning in order to learn a bit about boat steering,starting and stopping and mebbe a lock or four.
Having made very very clear he was buying a 30ft flybridge cruiser and needed some experience in order to use it safely on the river.
Must have had two calls a day from him saying how keen he was for Friday to appear.
Having arrived at the skool after the two hour drive from Milton Keynes he was ushered round the side of the hut and presented with



an inflatable with outboard motor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

He has since contacted another outfit just round the corner who actually have a boat.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Tell your mate he can come down to Sunbury any time he likes and play around with my boat . He can stand on the coach roof and steer if he likes /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Its not a big boat but if its practice he needs its better than a rib .
He can even stay on her the night after hes got me pissed in the pub /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Bit cheaper than £250 but then i aint a real teacher .

 

[oldgit]

Thanks for the offer. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifWill of course mention it to him in morning.We are off to have a look at a couple of boats including a 30 DS.

 

[boatone]

This is crazy....who did he book with?
Several of us told you tp point him at Bisham Abbey ...they have a small cruiser and a narrow boat and a days Inland Waterways Helmsmans course shouldnt have cost more than about £160 squids.

I'll go out with him on his own boat if he prefers.

 

[theforeman]

looks like a case for naming and shaming ! where`s gludywhen you really need him ?

 

[oldgit]

Will find out in morning who he booked with,but can confirm that he was most adamant that he needed hands on experience with a suitable boat when chatting to the young lady who took his telephone booking and yes I did tell him about the recommendations from this forum.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

Did he get his deposit back?

Not fit for the purpose sounds about right.

 

[oldgit]

Deposit was was returned but not with good grace.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Being as charitable as possible, and its a strain, maybe they had PB1 in mind, or something about rescuing dinghies that have capsized.

If he take's up SeasprayIII's offer let me know, the pub bit sounds good and I;m about 3 boats away.

 

[oldgit]

Will let you know.

 

[Nat]

I did some of mine with John Forsythe based in Limehouse basin. boat was a 44'Gobbi. at the time I had a 2655 bayliner so it was a great learning curve for me & prompted me to move up to a larger craft. I would definatly recomend.....Nat

 

[Renegade_Master]

Hi Fred what did he book? sounds like a Power Boat level 2 only . Probably cos he told em the boat would only be 30ft they picked the PB2 thinkng he only needed a 10m loa ICC.

Power boat level 2 is meant for open sports boats or cuddy cabin at best. The Day Skipper Practical is what he needs.IMHO

Oh and are they a recognised RYA teaching establishment?