RNLI Figures

[Guest]

From the latest RNLI figures it appears that from 962 launches to "Yachts with auxiliary engines" 261 where to yachts with "machinery failure" and 252 where to boats "stranded".
As a Sea Check advisor I'm somewhat concerned that over half of our shouts are to do with these 2 areas.
Whats the problem?
Can we improve the situation (lessen) these numbers?

I would appreciate some genuine feed back on this topic.

1).On "Strandings" is this down to bad navigation?
2).On "Machinery Failure" is this down to knowing not how their engine works and carrying out bad maintenance? If the engine doesn't start first time does the skipper immediately shout for help?
Your genuine replies would be welcome and I will pass on any relivant info to the powers-that-be in the Kremlin<s> (RNLI HQ)
Thanks in advance
Peter

 

[graham]

Re strandings I dont think its possible to make general comments.

Re machinery failure,I think the fantastic service provided by the RNLI gives some people a false sense of security

.Eg . if the RNLI was not available for towing in boats with broken down engines would this encourage people to look after their engines more and give consideration to carrying an auxilliary?.

Very often a boat costing tens of thousands is left disabled when a small outboard costing a few hundred would get them in.

I remember being aboard a motorboat when we heard a MayDay for an angling boat.Being close by we got their ahead of the lifeboat to find them not in distress but unable to start the main engine, drinking tea and still fishing.A 5 hp outboard was hanging off the back.When I asked why they didnt use the outboard they said it would not push them back against the tide.(The tide was changing in less than two hours.)

In my opinion a small minority of clowns are giving the whole boating community a bad name.Do you know what percentage of lifeboat shouts are multiple shouts to the same vessels??

 

[kingfisher]

Strandings

Most of the reports I read on the interventions of the KNRM (Dutch rescue service) on strandings, I find rather a waste of the KNRM's precious time.

I was always tought that if you strand, you just make the best of, drop an anchor, use sailbags to buffer the hull from any stones, and wait for the tide.

Ok, sometimes it is necesary to call in the KNRM. I mean, first of all, you let them know that you ran aground anyway. And if they decide that they prefer to get you off, that's fine by me. Or if there's a spell of bad weather coming.

But most of the reports are incidents in fine weather, in sheltered waters.

If you run aground, it's your own fault, so cary the consequences. But than the missus starts to complain, and the office will still be there, so waiting untill 0220 am for the next high tide is not an option anymore. So let's call the emergency service.

Do motorists call 911 if they run out of gas ?


Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[pandroid]

I fear that the process may be partly to blame. If people get into trouble (i.e. broken down engine, aground) then the first thing they do is tell the CG, sometimes only to put down a marker. The CG response is often to send out the lifeboat - in case.

I heard one recently, where a guy had gone aground on the Gunfleet - risky in a blow, but not really in light airs - which it was (tide coming in an' all). The CG sent out (without asking) the Walton lifeboat. Five mins later, the Harwich Pilot boat arrived and pulled the guy off. Lifeboat returned to base before he was halfway there. Does that count as a shout?

 

[dickh]

I agree that the lifeboat appears to be called out unneccesarily sometimes and the CG seems to initiate it. This sunday we heard a call to the CG from a 40' yacht aground on the Deben bar on a falling tide and asking for a tow; the CG sent Harwich ILB, a local fishing boat was already on it's way and advised CG but returned when told ILB was on its way. I'm not sure wether the ILB was launched especially for this or wether he was in the area, but the fishing boat would easily have pulled the boat off without involving the ILB. (I know, he's pulled me off the same bar this year!)
(PS the Deben bar is very shallow and narrow this year and constantly shifting and lots of locals have gone aground - its not always bad pilotage)
The same fishing boat put a new beacon on the knolls last weekend to assist in getting in; it only lasted 2 days before being demolished by a motor boat which went aground...

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Like you, as a Sea Check advisor, I am concerned at the number of strandings and machinery failures. In most casses with an auxilary engine people forget that their primary means of propulsion is the sails. But I guess the number of peolple who go around with their main up to stop the boat rolling too much and the engine going full chat is an indication that many have forgotten this.

As to stranding, you may have seen many people go on about passage planning. It is a failure of passage planning when you go aground. So why do people complain when the authorities try to make sure we all do it/

Chris Stannard

 

[peterb]

Passage planning?

It may not always be a failure in passage planning that puts you aground. Of recent years the shallow bits are much less well charted than they used to be. In theory many harbour authorities have taken over responsibility for survey from the Hydrographer. In practice, though, they seem to be only surveying the channels that are commercially used.

As an example, I reckon that Sunk Sand in the Thames Estuary has (in places, at least) about a metre less water than shown on the chart. And this on a route that is frequently used by small craft going from the Blackwater towards North Foreland. Most of us avoid the problem by careful use of echo-sounder, but how does passage planning help with chart inaccuracies?

 

[Cornishman]

Re: Strandings

Always carry a football in the locker. In the event of going aground have a game while waiting for the tide and if anyone asks - you meant to do it that way. Alternatively scrub her bottom.

 

[Gunfleet]

What do you call the 'knolls' on Deben Bar, Dick? By the way I went up there for my yearly white knuckle ride in August and it sounded from ch 16 as if someone was getting stuck on every tide!

 

[Guest]

Graham, I dont know how many shouts are to the same boat. The problem is there are a lot of boats out there with the same name. Sometimes a local boat can be identified but when you look into it there is often a good reason why he's called the L/Boat out more than once. i.e local fishing boat with gear round his prop, next time its a blown turbocharger.

 

[Guest]

Chris, in the same mag there is an artical about SOLAS V and passage planning. Its worth reading because it should finally put peoples fears to rest about this subject. I certainly dont have a problem with the requirements, bin doing it for years anyway!!!
regards
Peter

 

[Mirelle]

As one of those locals...

I touched the bar this year for the first time in many years. It does look as if the northern swatch is deepening a bit, so we might see a breakthrough shortly.

 

[kgi]

I sometimes think that some of the boat manufacturers ought to hear from you guys, because some of the engine spaces are so tight that unless you are double jointed you cannot get to half of the engine,.....just a thought......keith

 

[Viking]

I'm not sure how the RNLI count their 'shouts'. A friend of mine (very experienced)while racing (local fun club race) went aground on a falling tide. He knew he was in no real danger, calm sea, sun shinning. But has he was in full view of passing boats, he throught he would call the CG and advise them that all was well and he would sit it out incase they recieved any messages about him. He put the his feet up and relaxed. I went a check on him and he was OK. When he finally met us in the marina. His only complaint was that he had been woken three times by the arrival of two different inshore lifeboats from two different stations and the third time by the coastguard helicopter. Does that count as a 'shout' or three 'shouts' when one was not asked for?
They all explained that they throught it would be a good idea to check on him, thats OK but how does it effect their numbers??

 

[dickh]

John, the knolls is the name for the sandbanks just off from the Felixstowe Ferry side. - where the name comes from I don't know. It has got very narrow about halfway between the Bar Buoy and the ferry itself and this is where the beacon was put, but only lasted 2 days... Yes, someone seems to get stuck almost every tide, as I said most locals have also gone aground this year. I went down at e very low spring tide early in the year as SWMBO does Coastal Erosion at a local school and even small fishing craft, 15'/20' long were aground. People have also been seen wading across!
You could probably have another 2 or 3 buoys/beacons in the entrance but as it is constantly shifting it is not really practical. It is only safe to com in or out about 2½ hrs either side of high water whereas last year I coul easily get out at LWS(1.6m draught).

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Of more serious concern are the number of sailing boats that are rescued because of engine failure. The engine is supposed to be an auxillary means of propulsion but it seems that for far too many the sails are an unwelcome complication. Time is an additional constraint and when it looks like the boat can't get back to the Marina in time the best thing to do is to yell for the RNLI's obliging taxi service.

I've said this before but nearly every day you see boats motoring from East to West in the Solent because the wind is on the nose and an equal number motoring from West to East because the wind is from the stern. Why those involved continue with the pretense that they are "raggies" is beyond me. They would be more comfortable with a motor cruiser and doubtless their other halves would be delighted.

I don't think it would be unreasonable for the RNLI to make a fair and reasonable charge for towing vessels into port where there had been an engine failure and the rescue was one of "convenience" rather than a genuine emergency.

Regards



Fred



Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

 

[Guest]

Not sure about this one, but I will ask. I'm pretty sure that someone from the RNLI is probably watching this thread? but can't be certain.
peter

 

[Guest]

Re:Updated Charts

A Sea Check advisor was surprised to see my recently updated charts, as the RNLI estimate that only a tiny percentage of boat owners correct their charts.

However, I regularly use an electronic plotter and the charts stored within its voluminous locker have not been updated. Could the use of out of date charts be a significant factor in some of the stranding incidents? If so, the incidence of incidents may be about to increase -as more people use the fit and forget electronic plotters.

 

[Mirelle]

strandings are more serious now

A lightly built fin keeled boat is in serious danger if she goes aground on an offshore bank; the keel may be wrenched off or punched through the hull, as may the rudder. Older long keeled boats, perhaps not even made of plastic, are better able to put up with it.

Which is a good reason for not buying such a silly boat in the first place.

Since my first two cruisers had no engine at all, and the third one had a Stuart Turner, I simply cannot see "engine failure" as any reason for involving the lifeboat.

 

[kgi]

And you will have noticed they don't even take the sail covers off!!!!!!!!!!