RNLI Maroons

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
The real tradition that I want to support is the RNLI tradition of saving life.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is a whole new argument there! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Yes pagers work, but they do not get the whole community up and running. If it is a case of dangers to peoples hands they could go back to the old charge in the wooden box thing. This is where the mechanic would light it like a firework and run away!

 

[williamshugh]

I'd rather my donations went to saving lives than playing with fireworks. Pagers obviously work for calling the crew and surely 5 blasts on the horn is the way to warn other boats to keep out of the way.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Joe is there anything you will not argue against on the forum currently. I don't know if you have noticed this, but every post lately has been to condemn another posters view. To the point now I never know if you are serious or just looking for a rise /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Joe_Cole]

It's called debate, dear boy. All I am doing is expressing my views, which you now appear to be condemming. Pots, kettles, black?

I think you must be upset because I have disagreed with you on a few occasions recently. It's only because I think you have been talking b*****ks. Don't get uptight about it. If you don't like it then either stop talking b*****ks, or you may press the "ignore this user" button. Makes no difference to me.

 

[ccscott49]

Boring arent you!!

Dangerous equipment, simply to satify peoples wish to have a bit of excitement!!

You'll Be for banning fairs next!

Tee hee

 

[Joe_Cole]

Woof! woof! Snarl! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Cobra25]

Due to people pressure the maroons are being used again, after all, those who have people close to them want to know if they have been called out as do most people in their home port.

 

[kengill]

I don't think that the powers that be have considered the effect on the local communities that withdrawing the use of maroons will have. A local community cares for its lifeboats and their crews and is always interested in when they are being deployed.

A secondary question is at what time is it determined that a pager has failed? how long must a crew wait for someone whose pager has failed, battery gone dead, in a poor transmission area etc but who would have been called by a maroon.

Has there been a true national cost benefit exercise carried out to determine the real cost of stopping the use. has anyone given any thought to the blokes who will be put out of a job who make the maroons.... Is this just a "jobsworth" gone mad?

Ken

 

[Joe_Cole]

I wonder if RNLI had to contend with such creative resistance to change when they stopped using sails and oars and started using engines? Engines would be unreliable, diesel too expensive, propellors got fouled, sailmakers put out of work..........

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Come on Joe, that is apples and oranges, the maroons going up on a windy cold winters night is a long tradition. Communities who have half the village running to boat house want to know when their boys are going to sea.

In the middle of the night I was always amazed by the locals who turned up, many of whom stayed around to prepare food and hot drinks for the launchers and crew upon their return.

The lifeboat started as a community answer to shipwrecks and fishermen in peril, and although the outlook of the RNLI has changed somewhat (not always for the better IMHO) the boats still belong to the community. Ask people from an RNLI town about the lifeboat, even if they themselves have never gone further than the beach or local swimming baths, they will all say 'our' lifeboat.

There are a couple of boats now that have been brought on station after the RNLI removed their vessels. Communities feel that strongly about their boats. The maroons are just too important to take away. Yes today, we could have a horn or a bell, but it is just not the same.

The guns are part of life and long may they remain.

 

[Joe_Cole]

Nostalgic sentimentality!
The things are fun, but also expensive and dangerous. If they are likely to injure lifeboat crew it's irresponsible to keep them. Modern technology has also made them redundant. Time to move on.

 

[yachtbits]

Caister Coxwain Died Launching Maroon 1991

Benny Reid, In the course of setting off the maroon he was fatally injured when it exploded in his chest.

 

[Rabbie]

Why not use a siren instead?.

 

[ex-Gladys]

...because in many places that is a flood warning.....