RNLI Sea Check

[Guest]

I work as a Sea Check advisor and reading Bill McF's post in here has got me thinking. There have been references to the Sea Check service and I pose the following question in the hope that you lot out there can give me some help! Since it's inception the RNLI have tried to come up with ways to get people of all boating colours to use the service, but there is now a significant tailoff in people requesting the service. How do we get all boating types to use this free and (i must say) very friendly service? The wealth of knowledge that is available to all is vast to say the least. And as one poster said the RNLI would like to stop being thought of as a marine AA service. Your comments would be welcome.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Why not print flyers and put on all boats in marina/ on the hard explaining and offering the service.

 

[Guest]

Perhaps get the safety check recognised by licensing authorities and insurance companies .Then it could be as an add on to the standard safety cert ,mind you could the RNLI cope with a big increase in requests for the check.
Mick

 

[claymore]

I think thats a solid suggestion. The scheme ran in the Fleetwood area and seems to have tailed off (not before there was a flurry of activity with people trying to borrow in-date flares to comply!)
Perhaps people are reluctant to get involved because they feel their boat probably isn't up to scratch equipment wise and the check would confirm this and prompt a round of conscience pricking and deliberation over spending. Perhaps people don't have all the safety equipment simply because they cannot afford it and therefore wander around hoping it will never happen?
Its very easy to get into the compulsory/regulatory argument here isn't it?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Maybe there are two sorts of yachtie. Those who've done most of the good safety things and wnat their efforts confirmed by a Sea Check. And those who haven't and don't want to be told. So you've usd up the first type, and the second type are reluctant to come forward.

BTW, I've booked mine, and I can see the shopping list now. Dan buoy, reflective tape, EPIRB, sort out that gas locker, grab bag, more chain on the kedge, sea anchor, bosun's chair you can't fall out of, etc.

 

[steve_cronin]

tHey did that a couple of years back on the Hamble.

 

[JerryHawkins]

I think many prople may view it as an "Official Inspection" and they will be "in trouble" if their boat doesn't come "up to scratch". I had a Sea Check last year and my wife and I spent a very enjoyable hour chatting over a mug of coffee with the adviser, who, after all is also just another small boat sailer like you or me.

The discussion was more about "have you thought about what would happen if this... or that... happened" rather than "you should have one of these... or those... fitted".

Well worth it.

Regards,

Jerry

 

[ParaHandy]

If there is a licensing link to Sea Check which gets you closer to the government and its legislative programme, then I think you should avoid that. Of necessity, you would then be funded by government. Some time ago, the station treasurer at Exmouth, Jack Stapely, when asked why the RNLI avoided government support replied "We feel service would deteriorate if it was government funded". The then government "quietly" agreed with that.

The Sea Check service stands quite happily on its own two feet. Please, view this as a long term policy. With careful PR, correctly positioned, good illustration of the benefit, you will eventually succeed. Safety is always going to be difficult to "sell" but the RNLI message has such strength and resonance in the UK that you have a huge advantage. You are one of the very few UK institutions which have survived intact for 175 years, so a few years is nothing. Success does not need to be instant.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Yes it is . Apart from introducing compulsory checks every x years via a government controlled body , there is another way and that is if the insurance companies insist on it or would that way only lead to people not insuring their boats ? Another problem of course it could end up like the car MOT test in that it's only proven certified on the day of testing.

 

[tony_brighton]

Seems like an excellent idea - haven't seen it at Haslar yet.

 

[Guest]

No need for them to enforce it. Just discount your premium if you get it..

 

[rogerroger]

Indeed - about 50% of mine was on procedural stuff as well as equipment.

e.g.

"I see you have a crank handle to manually start your engine"

"Yup"

"Ever tired it while safely tied up?"

"Er, ...no"

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Can I have the check done in the Ireland(Donegal)?

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I can see from the cross section that you think just as we do and have come up with all the same questions and answers we have. I would say that the biggest point we have to try to get over is that it is not a "test", you dont have to "comply" we do not expect to find every last up-to-date safety gismo on board, in fact I'm always a little disappointed if it is, because it normally means I have to rush my cuppa and chat because theres nothing to talk about<s> Anyway thanks folks

 

[brian_neale]

I had a chat with a couple of people on the RNLI stand about this at Southampton. Two comments to make:

- why not have a printed list of recommendations available, rather than only do it via a personal visit? I do have copies of various lists (e.g. that from RYA) as a starting point for fitting out a new boat, but would welcome other input. In any case, how can I have a not-yet-existing boat inspected?
- I would feel embarrassed about dragging someone out to look at my boat. After all, if they are small boat sailors too, maybe they would prefer to be out sailing themselves? In any case, I feel that I would not come out of the session too well, my current boat being only 16' overall and limited in terms of what it can carry as safety equipment.

One man's views, as you did ask!

 

[tonyleigh]

This exists - originally in "Lifeboat" or "Offshore" - indeed we have re-printed it twice in a Club magazine so members can do precisely this. Perhaps RNLI could be persuaded to post it on their site?

 

[charles_reed]

Why not in Gelves, while we're about it?

In fact sea-check is a very useful benchmark to confirm that you've thought of everything

 

[charles_reed]

ORC Regs

I find this a very good starting point - if you comply in every way with that you'll be far more seaworthy than any EC Code will ever make a boat.

Incidentally about 85% of boats will fail - which is what makes Sea-Check such a valuable stochastic model.

 

[charles_reed]

As the saying goes

The most important one is the nut holding the steering wheel.

Surely the insurance is on the skipper for the boat.