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I have great 'respect ' for the RNLI as well. Lost my 65ft Mfv in some horrible weather -long story but was very glad to see them.

I am definately all for them in everyway. I think the Government should back up the RNLI -its all done with voluntary contributions at the moment but for the service they provide its should be state aided .

Originally Posted by brigham600

BP1. The last line of your post I totally agree with. The lifeboatmen are exactly the people who SHOULD be recognised and name in honours lists instead of some of the usual suspects who cannot even spell RNLI.

Could not agree more, they all know the dangers being mostly having something to do with the sea and yet they still go out whatever the weather!
Respect does not say enough.

Found this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/d...00/2539173.stm

Originally Posted by Greenie

I have great 'respect ' for the RNLI as well. Lost my 65ft Mfv in some horrible weather -long story but was very glad to see them.

I am definately all for them in everyway. I think the Government should back up the RNLI -its all done with voluntary contributions at the moment but for the service they provide its should be state aided .

If you could extract the cash from the government without having the dead hand of pollies on how it was spent I might agree, but the way things actually work you would have cutbacks, and lifeboat statians built in MPs back yards before long if you went down that path.

It isn't broke and it doesn't need fixed. To save myself crossing the street to put money in the can I now do it by direct debit.

Peter

Unfortunately, even the RNLI are 'downgrading' some of their stations. Sunderland and Blyth have now been reduced to inshore stations, whilst I am led to believe, the the Tynemouth Lifeboat's patch has been extended from Hartlepool to Amble!
Where speed makes the difference between life & death, is it a real economy to reduce the cover supplied on a voluntary basis to a voluntary organisation for the benefit of everyone who goes to sea?
It seems like the accountants are running everything!

There are other things other than cost that dictate changes in station eqipment. As you say speed is important, which is why all the new big boats are faster than their predecessors, but for leisure casualties which are the growing side of the business inshore craft are not only often the best but can also be lauched faster and get to the casualty faster. Crewing in some places is also becoming a problem, not through lack of volunteers but through lack of local jobs for the volunteers, once your volunteer has to commute he becomes less effective not matter how good or willing he is.

Without knowing precise details it is not possible to say whether this is simply a more appropriate service or a cost cutting one.

I can say though that in the past ten years the RNLI has made a vast investment in new equipment and facilities and is continually updating the fleet, not the actions of an organisation driven by accountants I would suggest.

Peter

There are other things other than cost that dictate changes in station eqipment. As you say speed is important, which is why all the new big boats are faster than their predecessors, but for leisure casualties which are the growing side of the business inshore craft are not only often the best but can also be lauched faster and get to the casualty faster. Crewing in some places is also becoming a problem, not through lack of volunteers but through lack of local jobs for the volunteers, once your volunteer has to commute he becomes less effective not matter how good or willing he is.

Without knowing precise details it is not possible to say whether this is simply a more appropriate service or a cost cutting one.

I can say though that in the past ten years the RNLI has made a vast investment in new equipment and facilities and is continually updating the fleet, not the actions of an organisation driven by accountants I would suggest.

Peter

Apologies for my stutter, the system seems to have decided my post was so goo you all need to read it twice.

Peter