Sea Check.

[Guest]

I have just booked one. Will this be a worthwhile experience?

 

[rogerroger]

I'm glad I had one. Very nice chap, it's not a test and it's for your benefit.

Be prepared to spend a bit of cash afterwards though! - I bought a second horse shoe life ring, an emergency VHF antenna, loads of spare batteries and other bits and bobs after mine.

You get loads of freebies too!



Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Joe_Cole]

I can't speak highly enough about it.

Good old RNLI; we are lucky to have them.

Joe Cole

 

[Guest]

Why not fit out your boat to the ORC Special Regulations?

 

[Jeremy_W]

Unless the "Sea Checker" is a pompous fault-finder [rare] it will be an excellent experience. Think of it as an extended conversation about how you can, within your budget, best improve the safety of your yacht. I've been through the process as the crew of an immaculately-prepared yacht [skipper ex-RN] and it was fascinating. A great example of proactive thinking by the RNLI.

Just remember not to stick the certificate where it will act as a magnet to the light-fingered fraternity by advertising how much expensive moveable safety gear you carry.

 

[Shorn100]

I found mine to be a great help with lots of useful tips.
Best of all it's a completely free service. There's no pass or fail and you won't be stopped from using your boat if it hasn't got all the equipment it should have to be 'safe'. It's more of a friendly chat rather than an official inspection.
In my case, the adviser came up with cheap alternatives to expensive chandlery gear.
It's well worth having. I'd recommend everybody to have one.
If you want one, telephone the RNLI on their freephone number 0800 328 0600.
Shorn

 

[MarkR]

Ditto to all the posts (except the ORC dig) - mine was a great reassurance, did cost a bit at the chandlery, but best of all was a good chance to confirm or otherwise my assumptions and to point out the "obvious" stuff I had missed in the migration from dinghy to keel boat sailing.


Mark

 

[Guest]

Remember the RNLI SEAcheck invitation:
Invite us aboard YOUR boat before we invite you aboard OURS!

 

[tome]

Nice one Cornishman!

 

[rogerroger]

Re: Sea Check - cheapies

Yes, mine actually had a ring binder where he kept all the really cheap deals from brochures etc.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Guest]

It's a great service but you could maybe get even more out of it if you check over your boat with the ORC Special Regulations prior to the sea check.

This highlights dozens of typical safety failings, such as slack lifelines, no spare batteries and bulbs for flashlights, number and type of buckets etc.

The vast part of the ORC stuff is not about spending money. Then use the Sea Check to pick up any items you missed.

Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org

 

[Chris_Stannard]

As one who is a Sea Check advisor may I say it was gratifying to see all of your nice comments. We are all volunteers and although we are supposed to get expenses many like me regard it as a part of our conribution to the RNLI and do not bother.

As I see it the benefits are:

You get to sail more safely
The RNLI gets fewer calls
We get the satisfaction of putting back a little into sailing which we love, and with luck you give us a beer.

Many thanks



Chris Stannard

 

[Guest]

What a difference between the replies to this posting on Seacheck compared to the negative vibrations emanating from the "other" Forum.
Thank you RNLI. I will be having my boat sea checked very soon.