RYA leads call for immediate access to marinas
- Thread starter Concerto
- Start date
nicho
RIP
Thing is, would we be allowed to travel to the marinas, in my case 150 miles?
MikeB.
Well-Known Member
Notice the quote at the bottom from Dean Smith (ex MDL)
“Over the course of the next few weeks, British Marine will be holding webinars to discuss the subject and we will continue with our idea sharing so that we find the safest and fastest way back to work.”
As MDL and most other Marinas have furloughed most of their staff it will take a good couple of weeks to get them all back to work, having arranged refresher Health and Safety training, adapting some areas for social distancing etc etc
“Over the course of the next few weeks, British Marine will be holding webinars to discuss the subject and we will continue with our idea sharing so that we find the safest and fastest way back to work.”
As MDL and most other Marinas have furloughed most of their staff it will take a good couple of weeks to get them all back to work, having arranged refresher Health and Safety training, adapting some areas for social distancing etc etc
lw395
Well-Known Member
If you're not allowed to travel 150 miles to shut yourself away in your holiday home, which must be safer than going to a marina, I very much doubt it.
I reckon it's some way down the list of things to be allowed.
bdh198
Well-Known Member
The RYA aren’t asking for access to marinas for owners to “shut themselves away” but for “limited and controlled access” for maintenance and inspection. If you own a second home 150 miles away from where you live and you were genuinely concerned about the safety or security of the property it would be perfectly reasonable for you to travel to it and not be in breach of any regulations provided your visit was only for that purpose (and of course, that assumes there is no one else living closer who could do the inspection for you).
lw395
Well-Known Member
Well the politicians who got shamed in the press for daring to go and check their holiday homes might like to know that it was OK after all....
The point is, people visiting their boats will be much more in contact with others than someone staying in their holiday home could be.
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
Really, what is your source for this (btw most = >50%)?
MikeB.
Well-Known Member
"Our Marinas are operating with core staff only" News update from Mike Glanville Managing Director on MDL website. Head Office is closed. Our local MDL marinas are operating with one member of staff on duty all day and evening 7 days a week - normally 2 dock masters (07:00 to 19:00,) 2 assistant managers and a manager on rota. I'd say that qualifies as most >50%
bdh198
Well-Known Member
Absolutely! It’s really not a good look if you’re a politician. However, it’s not unlawful, and it wouldn’t be unlawful to go and check on your boat if you were genuinely concerned it might be at risk, but the marinas being shut make it impossible.
I don’t agree there will be a risk of coming into contact with people that could not be quite easily mitigated. It’s no more risky than walking down the street to the shops, and it’s certainly a lot less risky than going to the local supermarket.
Rappey
Well-Known Member
Certainly a tricky one. I can walk 40m from my front door, get in my dingy and im then on my boat without seeing anyone or touching anything other than my dingy .
Most others are not so lucky and one rule has to fit all ?
Most others are not so lucky and one rule has to fit all ?
Aja
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure that reasoning would stand up if something were to go wrong during your visit. Especially where the second home is in a rural area.
Donald
Blue Sunray
Well-Known Member
1) MDL is not most marinas, and your local ones are an even lower proportion of the whole.
2} MDL HO staff AIUI are working from home
The hyperbole and 'fake news' that this situation has brought out in so many areas really doesn't help.
matt1
Well-Known Member
I'd agree if the RYA were campaigning for the marine industry to resume some activity (although I think their remit is individuals rather than industry?). It's in everyone's interest that there is a marine industry to come back to. I personally think its entirely reasonable that a marina could move an owners boat to the lift out dock, lift and antifoul it for them safely and in line with social distancing. I don't see a problem with that and it would be generating revenue and tax.
However to conflate going to the supermarket with leisure boating is just wrong. One is an essential need and the other an entirely discretionary leisure pastime for (let's face it) a significantly dwindling minority. I don't buy the whole "essential maintenance" argument either. When did you hear of a boat sinking in a marina or on a mooring in a public area, normally patrolled by harbour authorities? Polishing your topsides ain't essential (much as I would like to right now!)
My sister works in the NHS in Devon and claims very few cases there. At one level she would support a regional unlocking in areas of low infection, but the problem is everyone would pile in to Devon in order to live a free / unlocked lifestyle. I'm afraid I see sailing the same. Opening Marina's for owners to "check" on their boats or perform "essential maintenance" just won't be enforceable (where do you draw the line) but will generate significantly more driven journeys and some degree of increased social interaction. If I were the government I would say boating was a long way down the priorities I'm afraid. The optics of unlocking us (as I & others have said) would make it even harder to enforce other areas of society. I say all of the above as a complete boat nut who has spent the last 40 years preoccupied by Sailing. Trust me, nobody could want to go Sailing more than I do right now ;-)
However to conflate going to the supermarket with leisure boating is just wrong. One is an essential need and the other an entirely discretionary leisure pastime for (let's face it) a significantly dwindling minority. I don't buy the whole "essential maintenance" argument either. When did you hear of a boat sinking in a marina or on a mooring in a public area, normally patrolled by harbour authorities? Polishing your topsides ain't essential (much as I would like to right now!)
My sister works in the NHS in Devon and claims very few cases there. At one level she would support a regional unlocking in areas of low infection, but the problem is everyone would pile in to Devon in order to live a free / unlocked lifestyle. I'm afraid I see sailing the same. Opening Marina's for owners to "check" on their boats or perform "essential maintenance" just won't be enforceable (where do you draw the line) but will generate significantly more driven journeys and some degree of increased social interaction. If I were the government I would say boating was a long way down the priorities I'm afraid. The optics of unlocking us (as I & others have said) would make it even harder to enforce other areas of society. I say all of the above as a complete boat nut who has spent the last 40 years preoccupied by Sailing. Trust me, nobody could want to go Sailing more than I do right now ;-)
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Given that the owners of privately owned aircraft can visit them to maintain/checks and carry out 'test' fights if deemed necessary it doesn't seem unreasonable to extend that principle to boats given I would have thought they were at greater risk of coming to harm while not used than light aircraft.
This is going back a bit - a member of this forums motor boat sank in its berth at Port Solent marina on account of the seacocks failing as a result of electrolysis. The insurance company refused to pay citing the relevant exclusion clause in the policy and the marina mortgage company promptly asked for their money back as the boat was effectively a write off. Had that member not had assistance from other members of that forum to find an alternative route to claim off his insurance then he would have had to sell his house to meet the money demanded from him.
This is going back a bit - a member of this forums motor boat sank in its berth at Port Solent marina on account of the seacocks failing as a result of electrolysis. The insurance company refused to pay citing the relevant exclusion clause in the policy and the marina mortgage company promptly asked for their money back as the boat was effectively a write off. Had that member not had assistance from other members of that forum to find an alternative route to claim off his insurance then he would have had to sell his house to meet the money demanded from him.
lw395
Well-Known Member
I expect it would seem quite unreasonable to the Daily Mail reader cooped up in his gardenless dwelling with 2.4 bickering children.
I think this thread is misrepresenting what the RYA actually said, but coming across as a bunch of privileged people who believe they should be given exceptional freedom at this time seems very foolish to me. I could legally probably drag my canoe to the water and go for a paddle, but I don't want that image in the media. Bear in mind that the media (in its widest sense) has very little else to do at the moment than look for easy point scoring against anyone the don't like.
dom
Well-Known Member
Motor_Sailor
Well-Known Member
Spot on.
And strangely, most boats seem to be able to get through the winter without their owners giving them a second thought, but now after only six weeks of perfect weather, they all need checking on a daily basis. I wonder why?
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
All perfectly understandable but;
(a) that suggests that the whole government response to this is or should be governed by hypothetical Daily Mail headlines
(b) has there been any adverse coverage about cyclists with £10k bicycles being able to enjoy their sport or the owners of light aircraft being able to go out on jollies while mere mortals are trapped inside save for a trip to the supermarket?
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
This is the longest that I haven't been aboard in over 20 years and in fairness to others the restrictions were imposed just as many would be looking to carry out maintenance following their winter hibernation.
mjcoon
Well-Known Member
I recollect many years ago I missed the last train that actually stopped at my home town. I caught the next one, prepared to get off at a bigger town and taxi-ing the rest of the way. The ticket inspector checked my ticket on the train, noted this and said he would come back. When he returned he said the train would do a request stop. But the station would be locked, so further explained how I could climb out. Of course breaking out of a train station is not the same as breaking into a marina!
