Has the RNLI lost the plot?

[Niander]

It does seem to be cash rich!
where does it it get all the cash?
Everything else in the UK is austerity...sorry except the overseas fund for some weird reason?...

 

[prv]

It does seem to be cash rich!
where does it it get all the cash?
Everything else in the UK is austerity...sorry except the overseas fund for some weird reason?...

Charity donations, a bit of merchandise sales, and seemingly a lot of bequests. It doesn't seem uncommon for a boat to be named after someone whose will entirely paid for it.

Not sure why you're comparing it to government funded stuff, when it's not a government organisation.

Pete

 

[Sybarite]

It does seem to be cash rich!
where does it it get all the cash?
Everything else in the UK is austerity...sorry except the overseas fund for some weird reason?...

I expect when the 2016 accounts come out that total reserves will be in excess of £800m.

 

[Angele]

I expect when the 2016 accounts come out that total reserves will be in excess of £800m.

Let's hope so. :encouragement:

 

[eddystone]

Why all the resentment towards the RNLI?

+1; can you imagine what it would be like if they were part of the MCA

 

[Iminei]

It does seem to be cash rich!
where does it it get all the cash?
Everything else in the UK is austerity...sorry except the overseas fund for some weird reason?...

A couple of years ago a businessman left the RNLI 2 vintage Ferraris http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-34516519

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

There was me thinking that investment in bricks and mortar was always a good idea. Especially when its a posh boat house and slipway in a place where planning permission would knacker anyone else?

 

[Plum]

Here on Loch Ness we have the only inshore Rescue rib based on fresh water in the UK.
Loch Ness can get quite nasty and messy and the boat with its volunteer crew performs a very needed service.
It is based on a little purpose built jetty and ramp just north of Drumnadrochit next to a small harbour facility for visiting yachts and hire cruisers.
For the pat six months some heavy construction work over seen by Nutalls has been taking place.
Clearly the construction of a big wall to moor against.However as it developed an adjustable ramp appeared followed by the beginnings of a substantial building.
Clearly its for the Inshore RIB but at what cost?- certainly well into the millions!
What a total waste of money!

The RNLI and the other volunteer rescue services in the UK do an outstanding job. The people who do all the fund raising are amazing. The crew should have the best and safest boats possible and should have the best kit and changing-rooms/training-rooms/launching facilities/boathouses possible. We are vey lucky to have them! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-31609252 http://www.thehighlandtimes.com/news/2015/02/27/rnli-launches-appeal-for-new-lifeboat-station/

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[kylemccann]

I may be wrong but there is a fresh water rescue boat manned by volunteers on Loch Lomond who I'm sure aren't supported by the RNLI.

Donald

You are correct, Loch Lomond rescue boat which is located in Luss

 

[ffiill]

To me its just overkill.
When I first saw this construction begin I actually thought this was a facility for The Lord of the Glens cruise ship which plies the Great Glen and west coast such was the massive nature of the build.

 

[dogleg]

To me its just overkill.
When I first saw this construction begin I actually thought this was a facility for The Lord of the Glens cruise ship which plies the Great Glen and west coast such was the massive nature of the build.

Loch Ness is due to receive an Atlantic 85 ILB later this year, a larger boat to the current A75.The new boathouse will I assume contain the 85 and launching equipment, a training room, gear storage, drying room for wet suits etc plus showers. New bh's and large shoreworks are usually designed to last for 50+ years.

 

[Sybarite]

To me its just overkill.
When I first saw this construction begin I actually thought this was a facility for The Lord of the Glens cruise ship which plies the Great Glen and west coast such was the massive nature of the build.

The St David's boat shed cost £10m (last year they announced £11m)

To repeat an exercise that I did last year here is what you could get for the same price as the one boat shed :

£10,000k (Last year they said £11m) = €11,600k

http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-9035JMW-sel0.htm €536k 22 Properties like this.
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-9005MLB-sel0.htm €637k 18
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-8571JMW-sel0.htm €1495k 8
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-8282PJP-sel0.htm €1233k 9
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-8531CTM-sel0.htm €1400k 8
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-8063HNL-sel0.htm €1393k 8
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-8054JMW-sel0.htm €599k 19
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-7715NMC-sel0.htm €1233k 9
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-8617JMW-sel0.htm €1495k 8
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-9002CHG-sel1.htm €695k 17
http://www.maisons-et-chateaux.com/fiche-9023HNL-sel1.htm €490k 24

 

[Iminei]

Lovely properties, all of them. But where would they put the boat, & how long would the slipway need to be to reach the sea? In somewhere like St Davids they have probably spent 80% before the floor slab is poured.

 

[jordanbasset]

The RNLI have the money, they are spedning it on improving services, do not see what the fuss is about. Would people prefer they kept money in the Bank?

 

[JumbleDuck]

The RNLI have the money, they are spedning it on improving services, do not see what the fuss is about. Would people prefer they kept money in the Bank?

They could open more lifeboat stations. I'm not saying they should, but it's an option.

 

[Bru]

They could open more lifeboat stations. I'm not saying they should, but it's an option.

I suspect it isn't quite that simple as just opening more stations

Sure, financially RNLI could probably afford to do so (and I say probably advisedly, they may appear to be floating in cash but a lot of their money is tied up in assets, ring fenced legacies, investments and future proofing etc) but there's much more than just money to consider

Firstly there has to be a suitable site for a new lifeboat station

Secondly there has to be a pool of suitable volunteer crew and support staff available in the immediate area

Thirdly, and the grubby little secret I suspect, there has to be enough activity to generate a decent number of genuine shouts per annum. A volunteer crew who only get called out a few times a year is going to lost interest so too many stations would be bad for morale

I would like to see the RNLI make grants and training available to independents though. I happen to think they can, as an organisation, be a bit too precious about wanting to be the only lifeboat organisation

 

[jonjo]

The RNLI have the money, they are spedning it on improving services, do not see what the fuss is about. Would people prefer they kept money in the Bank?

This obscenely rich charity could provide its commercial Bay Watch service free of charge to our threadbare local authorities so they could then spend more on care of the elderly.

There would be other benefits such as saving lives e.g. the 5 who drowned at Camber Sands last year.

The RLNI needs to be exposed for what it has become, it is now little more than the Rich Gits free nautical breakdown service that is managed by overpaid executives whose new specialism is upsetting volunteer crew leading to the closure of lifeboat stations.

Our national priorities are screwed up and the RNLI is a prime example.

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

The RLNI needs to be exposed for what it has become, it is now little more than the Rich Gits free nautical breakdown service that is managed by overpaid executives whose new specialism is upsetting volunteer crew leading to the closure of lifeboat stations.

Thats really quite offensive.
Half the med-evacs from Eigg are by RNLI. You obviously havent been on the wrong end of a fisherman either.
"little more than a rich gits free breakdown services"? Go hang your head in shame.

 

[jonjo]

Thats really quite offensive.

I find it criminally offensive that the RNLI kept £800 million in the bank while trying to pressurise an impoverished District Council into paying for its commercial Bay Watch service. Result 5 drowned at Camber Sands.

The RNLI should be taken into State control, a charity that claims to be "The charity that saves lives at sea" which in actuality prefers to count its huge bank balance rather than saving lives, is not fit to be called a charity.

The £800 million could be put to far better uses. Instead of offering a free towing service to broken down £1 million Sunseeker gin palaces, how many nurses could be employed if the Government sequestrated the RNLI's dosh?

 

[ianj99]

The RNLI and the other volunteer rescue services in the UK do an outstanding job. The people who do all the fund raising are amazing. The crew should have the best and safest boats possible and should have the best kit and changing-rooms/training-rooms/launching facilities/boathouses possible. We are vey lucky to have them! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-31609252 http://www.thehighlandtimes.com/news/2015/02/27/rnli-launches-appeal-for-new-lifeboat-station/
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

+ 1. Its better that they are cash rich than having to close stations due to lack of support. Its a pity they don't run the air-sea rescue and coastguard services as well.