If I were an RNLI donor I would not be happy.

S

Sybarite

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Dec 2002
Messages
27,780
Location
France
Visit site
I have often criticised the RNLI compared with the French SNSM. Please note I do not criticise the crews or the volunteers.

Now here is a comparison of two boats :

The new Shannon Class due for delivery in Spring next year

http://rnli.org/newlifeboatappeal/s...m_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Take-a-video-tour


and its nearest equivalent in France :

Vedette Classe 1 (VC1)

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichie...nt_parAudierne_et_Loctudy_P1050878.JPG_-1.JPG


Dimensions in metres : SHANNON 13.6 x 4.54 x 0.75 -x- VC1 14.6 x 4.60 x 1.35

Speed in knots : SHANNON 25 -x- VC1 22

Range in nm : SHANNON 250 -x- VC1 360 (@ 18kts)

Engines : SHANNON 2 x 510 hp -x- VC1 2 x 500 hp

Transmission : SHANNON water jets -x- VC1 shafts

COST : SHANNON £ 1 500 000 -x- VC1 £ 534 000 (€670 000)

The main differences appear to be the water jets on the Shannon compared with a bulbous bow on the VC1 which apparently greatly improves the performance.

Why should the budgets be so totally different for similar sized boats ? In fact the French boat is bigger, has a greater range but costs a third of the RNLI boat.

Could the two organizations not get together to jointly develop boats with all the synergy that that would entail?
 
Last edited:
luckilly for the rnli the designer was "in house" so presumably the cost quoted did not include design fees.
perhaps the snsm dont get the same level of support from the french that the rnli enjoy from the british.
i'd have thought stainless davits and push-pit would have looked better!
 
Unfortunately the RNLI wants to be a rescue super power and (tries) to keep everything in house. I understand that this removes the 'unreliable' outside contractor, but...

It is top heavy with managers, office staff, etc. If you are ever on the inside the amount of money wasted is incredible.

Someone once said if the RNLI wanted a dog they would take a cat and redesign it into one.

A lot of people forget the mostly volunteer crews when they see stuff like this.

PW
 
I was shocked by the RNLI's approach to donations, I had a DD to them every November, they wrote to me to inform me that the DD was going to be increased by something like 8%, I phoned to ask why can't it stay as it was, after all it's for charity! it's not a bloody utility bill, I was informed that all DD's were being increased, so if you don't check your bank records they're helping themselves to your money. I'm sure they are relying on apathy of donators. I now give the money direct to my local station, not sure if it makes any difference though!

as others have said I have nothing but respect for the crews, but the waste is unbelievable.
 
Last edited:
I'm a supporter of the RNLI, give regularly and hope never to need their services.

But there is no doubt that they are so awash with money that everything is gold-plated.

We used to have a lifeboat charity shop run by the women in the village. It got a bit dowdy so they asked Poole if it could be repainted. their husbands would do it one weekend (for nothing, of course) if the RNLI would pay for the paint.

Instead the RNLI sent an inspector up from Poole and he came up with a mega costing - more than the shop earns in a year.

They were so disgusted by the waste that it is now an Air Ambulance shop, run by the same women
 
More children die slowly in hospices than mariners, leisure sailors or day-trippers die quickly at sea - so why don't you all cancel your RNLI direct debits and give the money to your local children's hospice instead...

...or any other on-the-ground charity of your choice?
 
This summer I was fortunate to have a tour of a SNSM station and boat, even purchased one of their jackets and very warm it is too, to my surprise there was an English couple selling Cornish Cream Teas, there were really Devon Cream Teas as the jam was on the top, but I am being pedant, and I had a chat with them.

It turns out that the funding of SNSM is nowhere near as large as the RNLI and I strongly suspect that they live within their means. The chap had arranged for the crew of this station to visit Poole and see the operation there and the crew were impressed by the facilities.
 
Just a thought

... Season coming to a close. Boats coming out. Anchor threads on hold until spring.

Ah yes, let's knock the RNLI.

How many detractors bobbing in a life jacket?

Give it a rest chaps. It's their money to spend how they will. We don't have to contribute.

Steve (offshore member)
 
I'm sorry but we supporters have the right to criticise how it is run.

Obviously, in the final analysis, we can withdraw our donations. But if we think it is going wrong in certain areas, we should say so. Who else is there to hold their management to account?
 
King Penguin said:
French rescue services is gov. funded and they often charge salvage, I believe.
Click to expand...
"Budget financing of the lifeboat is essentially based on trust and generosity of private donors (71% of resources in 2011). This trust is built through careful management and rendering detailed account of the actions implemented by the association."

[Source http://www.snsm.org/page/transparence-financiere with Google translation]

I think its on a par with RNLI.

I am an Offshore Member.
 
King Penguin said:
French rescue services is gov. funded and they often charge salvage, I believe.
Click to expand...

They save your life 'for free' though, its just the boat they can charge for.

Never understood why the RNLI don't do similar. Why should some prat who doesn't service his engine, or hasn't put enough fuel onboard for a jaunt, get a gratis tow?
 
Sailfree said:
Iirc on TV South Today the price of the new boat was £2,500,000
Click to expand...

I think you will find that includes the entire launch & recover system with submersible caterpillar turntable trailer & tractor.

The main difference between the two boats is shafts vs jets & a bulbous bow
Click to expand...

What bollix is that? The two boats are designed for two completely different functions. The French boat SIMPLY COULD NOT do what the Shannon is designed to do, it just would not be fit for purpose.

The Shannon is designed for shallow water use with beach launch & recovery cos many of our most dangerous stretches of coastline are sandbank infested & without sheltered deep water harbours. In addition, the jets offer extreme manouverability for close to shore & casualty working. Many UK rescues happen close inshoer &/or in shallow water.

The extra 7 kts is around 35% extra speed, which will reduce response times significantly & can easily make the difference between rescueing a living casualty & recovering a dead body. The density of stations around the UK coast generally means that the extra range is not needed.

So, French boats presumably meet French needs & the Shannon meets ours.

I am a Shoreline member & have been for 30 years & I have had letters asking me to increase my DD, but there has never been a problem if I have said, "I'm sorry I cannot do that at present", they have NEVER increased my DD without my permission.
 
Last edited:
Sailfree said:
Iirc on TV South Today the price of the new boat was £2,500,000
Click to expand...

If it is £2.5M that seems OK compared to the prices people pay for the large Sealine/Fairline boats.

After all the RNLI boat has to go out in all weathers and be able to self right should it be unfortunate enough to be knocked over. Not only that but the engines have to start again. I suspect building a boat to do that alone is rather expensive let alone all the other features it has such as being able to launch / recover from a beach.

I have no doubt there is a lot of waste in the organistation but we are not forced to donate if we feel strongly re that. In any case as far as I can tell the money goes to jobs in the UK so that has to be a good thing.
 
What the OP misses is that this is the RNLI's latedt design, the equivalent froggie one will also cast 1.5M and is not even designed for carriage launch. Many of the Froggie boats are only available half the time as they dont have carriage lauch and the boats are only available when the lock gates on the marina are open
 
Sophie19 said:
... Season coming to a close. Boats coming out. Anchor threads on hold until spring.

Ah yes, let's knock the RNLI.

How many detractors bobbing in a life jacket?

Give it a rest chaps. It's their money to spend how they will. We don't have to contribute.

Steve (offshore member)
Click to expand...

I have to say this is rather over defensive.

None of this is about the frontline operations and local leadership, for which it is clear the overwhelming majority of forumites have nothing but admiration.

It most certainly is not their money. It is given to the institution to be used for charitable purposes. The management have a legal and moral duty to spend that money to the best possible effect, which in my view does not include paying so far over the odds for equipment or building "iconic" headquarters designed by celebrity architects. And as for higher management "compensation".......
 
Searush said:
I think you will find that includes the entire launch & recover system with submersible caterpillar turntable trailer & tractor.

The Shannon is designed for shallow water use with beach launch & recovery In addition, the jets offer extreme manouverability for close to shore & casualty working. Many UK rescues happen close inshoer &/or in shallow water.

The extra 7 kts is around 35% extra speed, which will reduce response times significantly & can easily make the difference between rescueing a living casualty & recovering a dead body. The density of stations around the UK coast generally means that the extra range is not needed.

So, French boats presumably meet French needs & the Shannon meets ours. .
Click to expand...

£1 000 000 for a trailer? you got to be kidding.
i take point about horses for courses but its a glorified jet ski and i would have thought it should be a bit cheaper than that.
still that pales into insignificance when you see where the gravy boat really leads:

from the 2011 accounts


The following number of employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000:
2011

Number
£60,000–£69,999 20
£70,000–£79,999 14
£80,000–£89,999 3
£90,000–£99,999 1
£100,000–£109,999 1
£110,000–£119,999 2
£120,000–£129,999 2
£130,000–£139,999 1
Total 44
Seven (2010: eight) employees who received emoluments in excess of £60,000 are members of the defined contribution scheme
and received employer contributions of £82,393 (2010: £88,714) in total. The remaining 35 (2010: 36) employees are members of the
defined benefit pension scheme.

thats a cool £3 700 000

still, thats ok cos' they make savings by not paying the crews
 
Last edited:
viago said:
£1 000 000 for a trailer? you got to be kidding.
i take point about horses for courses but its a glorified jet ski and i would have thought it should be a bit cheaper than that.
still that pales into insignificance when you see where the gravy boat really leads:

from the 2011 accounts


The following number of employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000:
2011

Number
£60,000–£69,999 20
£70,000–£79,999 14
£80,000–£89,999 3
£90,000–£99,999 1
£100,000–£109,999 1
£110,000–£119,999 2
£120,000–£129,999 2
£130,000–£139,999 1
Total 44
Seven (2010: eight) employees who received emoluments in excess of £60,000 are members of the defined contribution scheme
and received employer contributions of £82,393 (2010: £88,714) in total. The remaining 35 (2010: 36) employees are members of the
defined benefit pension scheme.

still, thats ok cos' they make savings by not paying the crews
Click to expand...

You wouldn't want them to, it would change the whole ethos of the RNLI, and not for the better in my opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top