Sète's new lifeboat

The RNLI survived two wars, and losing the ashes 32 times, don't think Brexit will be a problem. However it's plain in view of Sybarite's constant exposure of profligacy it's time the RNLI was called to account by the charities commission. Perhaps if we all agreed with him something would happen. Sorry, sarcasm is lowest form of wit.
 
fisherman said:
The RNLI survived two wars, and losing the ashes 32 times, don't think Brexit will be a problem. However it's plain in view of Sybarite's constant exposure of profligacy it's time the RNLI was called to account by the charities commission. Perhaps if we all agreed with him something would happen. Sorry, sarcasm is lowest form of wit.
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I bare the brunt of the criticism but that doesn't faze me.

However some time ago after doing a search I found the following threads on the subject which date back before I had even joined the forum :

pvb
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Anything but the RNLI...
The RNLI is swimming in cash! They have hundreds of millions of pounds in the kitty and can't spend it fast enough. They so rich because they're the first charity that many people think of. Surely there must be some more deserving cases?

How about the Seamen's Hospital Society? See www.seahospital.org.uk for info.

Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?5172-Deserving-charities#IRMLvvlydduCLwXI.99

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Re: funding of RNLI
I have the utmost respect for Lifeboat Crews indeed some of my best friends are Lifeboatmen. I have an equal regard for those lovely people who collect on their behalf. I wouldn't dare print here my opinions of the guys at the top though.

Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?3878-commercial-tow#t5M8DIGeREMhx0bo.99
 
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But airing your concerns on here is next to pointless. The consequences of a radical change in donation habits might be problematic. However, no reason why the RNLI should not be encouraged to expand its area of benefit and pass some money across to other deserving causes, such as the Fishermen's Mission, for instance. The rule of thumb is that a charity should hold one year's turnover in hand, in my experience, but the RNLI has longer term aims and liabilities, so maybe that needs adjusting.
Now, if you want to criticise a charity let's go for the National Trust, and I'm with you 100%.
 
fisherman said:
But airing your concerns on here is next to pointless. The consequences of a radical change in donation habits might be problematic. However, no reason why the RNLI should not be encouraged to expand its area of benefit and pass some money across to other deserving causes, such as the Fishermen's Mission, for instance. The rule of thumb is that a charity should hold one year's turnover in hand, in my experience, but the RNLI has longer term aims and liabilities, so maybe that needs adjusting.
Now, if you want to criticise a charity let's go for the National Trust, and I'm with you 100%.
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Everybody will make his or her own decision on whether or not they will continue to support the RNLI.

I believe that I have helped to clarify their financial situation.
 
Sybarite said:
Everybody will make his or her own decision on whether or not they will continue to support the RNLI.

I believe that I have helped to clarify their financial situation.
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So would you rather they lose donations or spend more wisely? Seems you're trying to get people to reduce their support. You have raised this issue in the past. If people reduce their donations it is unlikely they will redirect them to another maritime charity, just stop donating at all. So if you succeed there are only losers, no winners, whether your case is justified is irrelevant....unless money is going astray in 'other ways'.
 
fisherman said:
So would you rather they lose donations or spend more wisely? Seems you're trying to get people to reduce their support. You have raised this issue in the past. If people reduce their donations it is unlikely they will redirect them to another maritime charity, just stop donating at all. So if you succeed there are only losers, no winners, whether your case is justified is irrelevant....unless money is going astray in 'other ways'.
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Would you prefer your donations to go towards the cost of redundancies?
 
Sybarite said:
Would you prefer your donations to go towards the cost of redundancies?
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I am a charity trustee, we are currently involved in a discussion with someone who thinks we should be told how to spend our money. We also support other charities and make a point of letting them get on with their own business, each application is considered on its own merits. But, being in a small community we do sometimes see personalities being brought into discussion and I am vehement about being objective.
 
Like I said earlier, we dont live in a perfect world and never have.

If the Coastguard call upon the RNLI to assist and their launching trolly breaks, the tractor fails, the lifeboat sinks or the engines fail causing delay-and god forbid death or injury- that is the time to be critical.

If it aint broke, dont fix it.

Critisim is fine if it is constuctive.

Perhaps if the RNLI purchased off the shelf vessels for the all weather boats the savings made would embarass them as the capital built up to even higher levels. As I see it they are spending their money to ensure the job is done. They are at this time in the fortunate position of being rich. When and if this changes no doubt they will change their policies.

I remember Blaster Bates saying once during his show " And then there came a Consulting Engineer. The job was three parts done and he had come to tell us how to do it............"

Such is life-even when doing a good job you will find others with a different opinion on how to achieve the end result.

When I used to tweak hot BMW cars-the old 1800 TI's, 2000 TI's and 2000 TI Lux's fitted with the Solex sidedraught twin choke carbs the German tech adviser was horrified at my method. He insisted it was not as per manual. It was not, but saved two hours labour over the approved workshop manual procedure.

Owners came from all over the South to our dealership at Crown Point to have a tune up. The method achieved exactly the same as the approved manual procedure without removing the carbs and fitting them into the special tool for setting the float hights, and my method of balancing them only required a couple of feet of fuel pipe with a bit of tape as a marker on one end. By placing the taped end into the carb inlet, tape on the edge when centred and the other end in my ear I could balance them by the sound of the hiss. Worked with SU's and Webbers too!

Achieved the required objective, but by a different method.

Whats not to like?
 
I should imagine that just about the most hazardous place to launch a boat-any boat is from a beach with severe swell/waves breaking.

As I posted before, the East Coast has had plenty of beach launched lifeboats, many predating the RNLI-or the " Institute " as it was known. Cromer, Wells and Sheringham were all at times unable to launch due to conditions, but rarely all three at the same time. Even today, beach launching is fraught with danger.

Pre RNLI there were many lifeboat " Companies " with locals buying shares in a boat and enjoying the salvage rewards. Local fishermen and longshoremen mostly made up the shareholders. Horse drawn trollies and oar and sail powered lifeboats were the norm.

Be grateful things have moved on.
 
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jonjo7 said:
The BBC showed evidence last week on prime time TV of an RNLI beach launch going horribly wrong.
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It was 12 years old - and actually showed how well the old Merseys could be turned round in surf.

It also showed exactly why a new, safer method of beach launching was needed, which is delivered by SRS.

In the same way that the footage also showed Whitstable's old A75 overturning, an issue that was addressed by the ballast collectors in the A85s.

Design develops constantly.
 
chanelyacht said:
. Design develops constantly.
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Costs too.

4 or 5 years ago the SRS was priced at £800k, now £1500k. And the Shannon passed from £1.5m to £2.1m in the same period where inflation was virtually flat.

Perhaps that's why they are recruiting a new FD. Either estimating or cost control is out the window.

They should also replace whoever's décision it was to bring the construction in-house.
 
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chanelyacht said:
Having had a career in SAR I have frequently had to do just that...

Now, if you could only view life beyond the blinkers of lowest cost accounting...
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Once you get an idea in your head....

What about "value for money"? What about efficient management? What about common sense?

French 61' CTT. £1.2m. 2x650 hp Scania diesels.
Shannon 44' AWB. £2.1m. 2x650 hp Scania diesels.

Same top speed. French CTT 40% more range....
 
chanelyacht said:
It was 12 years old - and actually showed how well the old Merseys could be turned round in surf.
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The RNLI beach launch crew who ran for their lives to avoid being crushed on the surf line 12 years ago would question your definition of success.

The more interesting issue is the fraudulent editing used by the BBC. Why re-use 12 year old video footage for a cam-on-helmut documentary filmed over months at dozens of RNLI stations around the coast in the past year? I assume the 10,000's of hours of contemporary footage did not capture anything exciting enough that lives up to the BBC's fabricated persona of the RNLI.

Has the BBC engaged in criminal deception to drive up RNLI donations?
 
Thanks fisherman-as I posted earlier criticism is fine if it is constructive.

Apart from Sybarite who wishes the RNLI to be more frugal and is making comparisons based solely on cost, very little of a constructive nature.

Even Sybarite's suggestions might not work. For example, he is comparing size and cost to the new French one. Bigger boats would require a bigger building for the ones housed thus, increasing costs.

At the moment, money or the percieved value for money, is not an issue for the RNLI.

When and if it is, they will adapt or go down the tubes.

They provide a reliable SAR service with little criticism by those unfortunate to need them.

Nuff said, methinks...............................
 
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