No Free tows from R.N.L.I. ?

MystyBlue2 said:
That is absolutely fine, I dont expect priority because i donate! That is your assumption. My bug bare and probably 1000's of others too is the fact of I've been a loyal donator to the lifeboats, never missed a lifeboat day since sub 10year old, Been nothing but respectful and the one time i might be up the creek with no paddle they can then say "Sorry we cant help, Emergency only, Find an alternative" but no mention about the Illegals needing a tow in?

How do they seek priority over any one of us in need?

Seems the typical scenario, look after others before our own. Anybody with half a braincell knows that is wrong and NO OTHER country would be like that!
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How on earth do you manage to turn a rnli towing thread into racism? In case your too thick to get it, illegals do not get a towing service from the RNLI. They, the same as every other person in a boat, get helped to safety when in a precarious situation, or something goes wrong.


And in truth, even if your engine ran out of fuel and the RNLI did come out and refuse you a tow because you were not in IMMINENT danger, and instead called a local fishing boat to bring you in, so what? You have no right to a tow, donations or not.

What sort of snowflake are you? You went to sea, something went wrong, and you got home safely, but YOUR mistake cost you a few quid?

Who cares? Suck it up and don't be so dumb next time. Its really nothing to get your knickers in a twist about.
 
Just maybe if the RNLI is seen as following a course that is considered as less that good or needed or even maybe caring, then other associations, like the Private Lifeguards and Lifesaving Clubs etc could step further into the field saving lives at Sea or Afloat.

From my personal experience these Clubs /Associations are not Top Heavy so do not get involved in Politics or crowd following into Causes so guess that they are really the way forward into saving lives at sea ?

Less Bean Counters more experienced Seapersons involved

Might also ask, following a Call out by the CG, can the CG prevent the RNLI or any other organisation acting in what they see as best efforts in the sittuation ? So prevention of a sittuation can go ahead !
 
I've only just come to this, and have skimmed through it.

Firstly, Illegals. Fifty people (worth remembering that these are human beings with the loves, fears and aspirations we all share) mid-Channel in a boat suitable for 10 in inshore waters? That counts as distress in my book. Also worth mentioning that they are pretty much all victims of traffickers who've lied to them and exploited them, which is why so many want to come to the HK, where "the streets are paved with gold and they give you money and a house as soon as you arrive" That exploitation is aided and abetted by a certain nation which is a safe haven, but is only too pleased to pass the problem on to someone else,

Second, Distress. Define distress. My breakdown on a fine day is an incident, but there's a haze on the horizon and the cirrus overhead is lowering to the west. Up to now, I'd call the CG and tell 'em what's going on while I find my NUC shapes and try to sort it out. If they task a lifeboat, that's their decision. Now, with the certainty of a big bill, I'm likely to wait. Now the wind's got up, the tide's turned, visibility's poor and I've run all my batteries down trying to start the engine. OK, Jissel can sail, but today, I'm on a little 15 foot fishing boat, and I'm in serious bother and can't call any more as I drift out through Hurst Narrows with wind over tide.

Someone said that if they stop giving tows, they might start donating. I take the opposite view. If they're going to stop doing it, that's an accountant's decision and it will cost lives. If they're going down that road, I'll be reconsidering my offshore membership. No, it isn't a breakdown service subscription, and I don't regard a tow as a right because I've paid out all these years, but I've supported them precisely because of that sort of attitude - better to give a tow in good weather than to end up looking for bodies.
 
MystyBlue2 said:
That is absolutely fine, I dont expect priority because i donate! That is your assumption. My bug bare and probably 1000's of others too is the fact of I've been a loyal donator to the lifeboats, never missed a lifeboat day since sub 10year old, Been nothing but respectful and the one time i might be up the creek with no paddle they can then say "Sorry we cant help, Emergency only, Find an alternative"
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The RNLI is not a breakdown service. If you are in distress they will help. If you are not, why should they? Do you expect an NHS ambulance to take you to work if you miss your bus on the grounds thatyou have paid taxes over the years?
 
Stemar said:
Someone said that if they stop giving tows, they might start donating. I take the opposite view. If they're going to stop doing it, that's an accountant's decision and it will cost lives. If they're going down that road, I'll be reconsidering my offshore membership. No, it isn't a breakdown service subscription, and I don't regard a tow as a right because I've paid out all these years, but I've supported them precisely because of that sort of attitude - better to give a tow in good weather than to end up looking for bodies.
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It's not due to accountants or financial concerns. It's because lifeboats have got involved in towing things they perhaps shouldn't have; lifeboats have been damaged (putting them off service until they are fixed), and crew injured, seriously in some cases.

It is also to do with the way the RNLI is authorised to operate. Because our primary role is lifesaving, rather than marine salvage, we don't have to display towing shapes or lights, or be subject to a whole load of other rules and regulations.

Also, bear in mind that if we're engaged in a three hour tow on a hot summer's afternoon, then we're not available for our primary lifesaving role. This is especially true of inshore lifeboats. I've often had to drop a tow and abandon the casualty vessel while we go and rescue some swimmer close to the beach. But leaving a boat either anchored or drifting, to return to them later, isn't always possible.

Your average yottie isn't going to notice much change, to be honest. If there's any urgency, or any question of the situation deteriorating, then a lifeboat will be tasked.

Talk to the CG (by mobile phone if you prefer), tell them your situation, and what assistance you require. They aren't going to send out a commercial tow without your prior agreement.
 
Capt Popeye said:
Just maybe if the RNLI is seen as following a course that is considered as less that good or needed or even maybe caring, then other associations, like the Private Lifeguards and Lifesaving Clubs etc could step further into the field saving lives at Sea or Afloat.

From my personal experience these Clubs /Associations are not Top Heavy so do not get involved in Politics or crowd following into Causes so guess that they are really the way forward into saving lives at sea ?

Less Bean Counters more experienced Seapersons involved

Might also ask, following a Call out by the CG, can the CG prevent the RNLI or any other organisation acting in what they see as best efforts in the sittuation ? So prevention of a sittuation can go ahead !
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Once a lifeboat has been tasked, and that tasking accepted, then all the decisions from then on are down to the helm/coxswain in command.

As I said earlier, it all depends on the circumstances. We do try to be helpful, and if we can, we'll tow people to somewhere (within reason) that's going to be most convenient for them .
 
I've refrained from signing up to Sea Start previously on the basis that with tools and spares onboard, there are going to be limited circumstances where they can fix something that I can't. But as the boat gets older, this could become more likely, and I don't fancy swimming in March to free off a fouled propellor, as an example, so I've signed up for this season. It's not megabucks.

I'm also an RNLI supporter, and I wouldn't expect any different level of service if I was in distress.

If the CoastGuard get a Pan Pan where there isn't immediate danger, they will generally ask if you are a Sea Start member or if another vessel can assist before tasking the RNLI. It's not the decision of the boater as to whether the RNLI get tasked or not.
 
MystyBlue2 said:
And I'm a human being and so is every body else from here that is in trouble! But hey its fine though we will just drift to Norway or Ireland.

Why are we putting ILLEGALS (People smugglers) infront of our own LEGAL citizens that are in need!

KEYWORD - ILLEGAL

If you have heard plenty of sad stories about them being lost at sea and how hard life is at sea, keep your ears open, Theres going to be plenty more where they came from now.
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They are not illegal until they have claimed asylum and then been refused.
 
Gary Fox said:
How do you mean, quote: 'If this means a few twats get rounded up then so be it.' Unquote. ??
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A Twat.
The chap who purchased a small cabin crusier from a boat yard on the Medway and set off for the South coast with a can of fuel for the outboard and what was alleged to be road atlas.
The plan was to keep turning right, what could go wrong ? , have followed that plan several times myself when going to Ramsgate etc.
He ran out off fuel after going round the Isle of Sheppey (possibly twice)and had to rescued by Sheerness RNLI.(possibly twice)

A Twat. ?
Out on little trip ,, two or three boats from our club, ebb tide and brisk easterly.
All monitoring CH 74 for Garrison Point. VTS.
A ship has spotted a small boat wandering all over the channel and the small boat appears to have come to halt.
Sheerness traffic control request to other craft to try and keep an eye out for the little boat and report.
Next transmission, the boat is under way again and still heading out.
We spot the boat in the main channel and another ship bearing down on it ,
Nip over to warn them to basically get out of the way.
The boat is packed to the gunnels with folks, pretty certain Granny is somewhere in there , the little Honda outboard is thrashing away to move the boat.
We carried on past them, but listened out on 00 just in case. As we heard no more we assumed they got back safely.
We later learnt the engine had over heated, the chap waited until it could be started again and carried on. :)

Have no problem at all with he RNLI sheparding them back to dry land and giving them the benefit of a little chat .:)
 
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oldgit said:
A Twat.
The chap who purchased a small cabin crusier from a boat yard on the Medway and set off for the South coast with a can of fuel for the outboard and what was alleged to be road atles.
The plan was to keep turning right, what could go wrong ? , have followed that plan several times myself when going to Ramsgate etc.
He ran out off fuel after going round the Isle of Sheppey (possibly twice)and had to rescued by Sheerness RNLI.(possibly twice)
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Not quite.

Yes he had a road atlas, and yes was planning to navigate by keeping the land on his right.

However it was quite a misty day, and he accidentally entered the Swale. He realised he had gone wrong once he could see land on both sides.

He carried on until it all got a bit shallow and complicated, at which point he called Thames CG (RIP) for advice, as a result of which he was escorted to Queenborough by Sheerness ILB.

So although he did circumnavigate the Isle of Sheppey, it was only once, and most of that was with the lifeboat.
 
Well after a trip to the local lifeboat station today to clear the air on all of this, I spoke to the lifeboat helmsman about all this carry on, He said and i quote,

" Well nothings changed. We've always been a lifesaving service over a recovery service HOWEVER, if you experience engine failure, regardless if ther is other vessels that can aid a tow, We will try to tow you in aslong as it is safe for us to do so, As it is our responsibility to make sure your safe and not leave you out there. If we where as stubborn as some are making out over the forum, We would be leaving navigational hazards all over the sea which would cause further accidents and urgency calls turning into mayday calls resulting in more than necessary deaths at sea, Which is defeating the object of who we are and what we do"

He then continued, "As far as an agreement between cox and vessel skipper, That could be to agree whether the cox wants to claim salvage of the vessel as it is maritime law and that has always been the case, We would never claim salvage as it doesn't look good for the RNLI and this would prevent people making a call due to fear of losing there boats! As well as other things ofcourse such as safety briefing, Nature of the tow etc etc..."

He Then stated "Some nosey bugger has been bored and decided to delve into paperwork and regulations, Found this information (That has always been there) And decided to start a thread and cause mass panic and arguments for no good reason. YES we are a lifesaving service BUT we will NEVER refuse a tow to a vessel that is in need regardless of circumstances".

Up here in the North East of England we aren't fortunate enough to have "Sea start" up here, That only covers south coast and isle of Wight. I rang them personally and i was told this, And there is no such thing as a similar company like Sea Start up here! We're on our own.

The local lifeboat station and crew are totally happy to tow a vessel that is in ANY form of distress even a knackered engine, Loss of steerage etc. Obviously they would prefer if we could exhaust other options before calling them out but they are still 100% happy to perform a tow on any vessel at any time.

So folks, I've come to the conclusion that somebody has had nowt better to do than cause unnecessary agro, Arguments and started a pointless thread.

No need to worry about a thing, NOTHING HAS CHANGED AND WE WILL STILL BE TOWED BY THE RNLI IF THE UNFORTUNATE OCCASION ARISES!
 
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MystyBlue2 said:
No need to worry about a thing, NOTHING HAS CHANGED AND WE WILL STILL BE TOWED BY THE RNLI IF THE UNFORTUNATE OCCASION ARISES!
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Just like Juan TwoThree said way up there ^^^ then. Though perhaps the CG will now be more inclined to ask someone else to tow you, even if you have receipts for your most recent RNLI donations.
 
MystyBlue2 said:
He then continued, "As far as an agreement between cox and vessel skipper, That is to agree whether the cox wants to claim salvage of the vessel as it is maritime law and that has always been the case, We would never claim salvage as it doesn't look good for the RNLI and this would prevent people making a call due to fear of losing there boats!"

He Then stated "Some nosey bugger has been bored and decided to delve into paperwork and regulations, Found this information (That has always been there) And decided to start a thread and cause mass panic and arguments for no good reason. YES we are a lifesaving service BUT we will NEVER refuse a tow to a vessel that is in need regardless of circumstances".
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This is nothing to do with whether or not the lifeboat crew will claim salvage. And neither is it a troublemaker dusting off some old long-forgotten document.

The helm you spoke to needs to get onto the RNLI crew intranet site, and read document 1026, which is the updated Maritime Towing Policy, issued on 16th March 2021.
 
Juan Twothree said:
This is nothing to do with whether or not the lifeboat crew will claim salvage. And neither is it a troublemaker dusting off some old long-forgotten document.

The helm you spoke to needs to get onto the RNLI crew intranet site, and read document 1026, which is the updated Maritime Towing Policy, issued on 16th March 2021.
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Im sorry, But as the helmsman I'm pretty sure he has been informed and read all of the new changes and has put the information into simple terms for the public. His words, "This is nothing new and they will still tow a boat in need to save any navigational hazards to other marine traffic"

As the helmsman, I think i will believe and take his word for it.
 
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