RNLI Lifeguards

If the diaphragm on my 45 year old bilge pump had given up the ghost then the water would soon be lapping up around the bottom of the engine. I would have been bailing with a bucket until help arrived.

I've bailed with a bucket with water halfway up the engine. There is actually still quite a lot of boat afloat at that point. We got into Helford, hoisted all the bedding up the rigging, and went to the pub. Admittedly that was a skin-fitting we could plug rather than your awkward hole.

Pete
 
I've bailed with a bucket with water halfway up the engine. There is actually still quite a lot of boat afloat at that point. We got into Helford, hoisted all the bedding up the rigging, and went to the pub. Admittedly that was a skin-fitting we could plug rather than your awkward hole.

Pete
My last defense has always been that I would un do the raw water suction for the engine and use that as an emergency bilge pump. I still havent got round to putting a Y, a valve and a separate strum box in, but I will do one of these days.
Stu
 
My last defense has always been that I would un do the raw water suction for the engine and use that as an emergency bilge pump. I still havent got round to putting a Y, a valve and a separate strum box in, but I will do one of these days.
Stu

Does that really work? The capacity of my raw water pump isn't that great; I'd imagine it is in gallons per minute, not gallons per second. I think I can beat it with a bucket - but it can carry on for longer!

I've just done a Google, and it seems that on my Volvo 2003, the raw water pump shifts 4.5 gallons per minute, or thereabouts. So, I'd suggest that the raw water pump wouldn't make a very efficient bilge-pump.

The old adage that the best way of shifting water is a desperate man with a bucket seems to hold good!
 
you northerners

Being in trouble in the Kyles of Bute with O2 mobile and duff flares could dampen your hopes of help.

you guys really crack me up with how hard it is up there - how self reliant you have to be.

Never miss an opportunity to imply that us Southerners are softies who don't know we were born

17 of us lived in a shoe box.....

the cost of houses down here is so high - -

shoe boxes....

luxury


Just you wait until keep turning left gets stuck into a bit of Scottish history -

Perfidious Albion isn't in it.

Every time, I mean every time us English have had some trouble with the French

there are the Scots - dirk in hand - stabbing us in the back

Bit of a drift from RNLI patrolling beaches - but thats the beauty of Scuttlebutt

Dylan
 
Does that really work? The capacity of my raw water pump isn't that great

I'd tend to agree. Looking at the modest amount of water that comes out of my exhaust, I'd want to see more than that going over the side in an emergency bailing situation. That plus the risk of sucking something up and putting the engine out of commission means that the famed raw-water pump technique isn't really on my radar.

I should really get round to buying the spare diaphragm for my manual pump that I've been meaning to carry (Force 4 had sold out last time I went). But in extremis I do have two good buckets on board.

Pete
 
Disgusted of Maldon

I was an Offshore member until about five years ago ; I resigned after having a written reply from RNLI regarding the costs of the new Poole HQ (£25m) and the new building at Harwich (£5m). I queried why the HQ had to be so extravagant and on the waterfront - wouldn't a standard factory unit on an industrial estate do the same job at a fraction of the cost. The response talked about future values - are they now a property company ?
I'm full of admiration for the guys at the sharp end, but I'm equally convinced that those higher up the payscales are career empire-builders.
 
Does that really work? The capacity of my raw water pump isn't that great; I'd imagine it is in gallons per minute, not gallons per second. I think I can beat it with a bucket - but it can carry on for longer!

I've just done a Google, and it seems that on my Volvo 2003, the raw water pump shifts 4.5 gallons per minute, or thereabouts. So, I'd suggest that the raw water pump wouldn't make a very efficient bilge-pump.

The old adage that the best way of shifting water is a desperate man with a bucket seems to hold good!
Hey, with my heart as it is I wont last long! Note I did say last defense! I wouldnt stand there saying "Oh Dear! its pointless doing that, it only shifts 4.5 galls per minute!" Id have the feckker off and it would be pumping its little heart out, I would also point out that my MD22 pumps a bit more than that!
Stu
 
I'd tend to agree. Looking at the modest amount of water that comes out of my exhaust, I'd want to see more than that going over the side in an emergency bailing situation. That plus the risk of sucking something up and putting the engine out of commission means that the famed raw-water pump technique isn't really on my radar.

I should really get round to buying the spare diaphragm for my manual pump that I've been meaning to carry (Force 4 had sold out last time I went). But in extremis I do have two good buckets on board.

Pete
See my other posts, read and absorb! last defense!! strum box!!
If we are going down I would be doing everything!!
Stu
 
You mean they get paid?

I think the RNLI should be more open about the position of the lifeguards, I believe they are paid and the RNLI are paid for providing the service by the local council. I have looked at the RNLI website and this isn't obvious. Looking at this thread and elsewhere on the web it is clear many believe the lifeguards are volunteers and their costs come from donations to the institution. I am not against the RNLI providing the lifeguard service, but I do think there are dangers if people are under misconceptions about what is being done with their money.
 
I think the RNLI should be more open about the position of the lifeguards, I believe they are paid and the RNLI are paid for providing the service by the local council. I have looked at the RNLI website and this isn't obvious.

Many are paid; some are volunteers. The RNLI website does explain the 5 grades of pay for Lifeguards here. The actual rates of pay are detailed in the Terms and Conditions document which, strangely, has been removed from their website.
 
Reading some of the replies here I am not sure that is the case. If the costs are being met the local council or whoever rather than RNLI funds then I suspect most people would be a lot happier.

Very possibly, but over this the RNLI do seem to want to have it both ways, I cannot see on the website a clear statement as to the funding of the lifeguards, there is however a breakdown of lifeguard equipment costs. Somebody will probably point me to a document somewhere on the site and fair enough but it isn't that easy to find. I did find this on the BBC Dorset site,

"Bournemouth Borough Council is funding the new year-round operation. RNLI lifeguards normally operate on beaches only until autumn."


So at least some money is from the council.
 
Somewhere in published RNLI documentation - and I have seen it - it is stated the local councils pay lifeguard wages (or contribution equal to, etc.) and RNLI provide kit / training / support etc.
In fact, earlier this year a council tried to avoid doing this and still expected lifeguard cover from RNLI - that didn't work.

I also think they can't just appear on a beach but are invited by local authority.

Agreed - more info = more transparency = more support.


(Declaration of interest - RNLI ILB helm!)
 
On the pumping aspect, PBO did a hand bilge pump test a while back and included the bucket wielded by a crew. Working from the cabin, and with the occasional misses, the pumps outperformed the bucket even before he got tired, which was pretty quickly. Not too much adrenalin involved, but..
It seems increasingly obvious that charities are commercial organisations, with lots of career possibilities. They even are competing in disaster zones, which sounds distastful.
If the Charities Commission started looking a bit closer at how much money is going to the cause, as opposed to the running of the outfit and made it better than the 5% currently regulated, things would be a lot better.
The RNLI does a great job, it could be better focused
A
 
If the Charities Commission started looking a bit closer at how much money is going to the cause, as opposed to the running of the outfit and made it better than the 5% currently regulated, things would be a lot better.

I know someone who worked for A Very Famous Charity Indeed. They boast about how little they spend on admin and how much on projects in the field: they fail to mention that these projects are back-charged a huge amount for admin while in the field. Spending a fiver locally on a spare part for a van, for example, incurred a thirty pound (sic!) admin charge in the UK.

I've tried to avoid their shops ever since.
 
Quite, and a letter to the DT from an auditer of another Well Known One told how little went to the cause. Some one filled me in about the four footed 'horse similar' one in the south. Nice business..
The really good ones don't advertise on TV and are staffed by volunteers.
A
 
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