It is not all roses

[barryd]

Our big problem here is there are no caps on ins payouts which lets solicitors go after any monies they thiink they can gain from any persons.
A few accidents on waterways here have tightened the antics up a bit, has not stopped it mind you, esp in the hire boat brigade.
We do have river boat patrols here but very few, I did see a boat being stopped and pulled in only once in over seven years, not for booze but the fact no life jackets were worn on deck, and no fire ex or blankets etc, I had birthed behind and earwigged until the river agency boat sailed off again.

Its not UK law to wear life jackets either Trev. Last time I wore one was when I rowed the Caledonian canal when I was 22. My arse hurt so much half way up Loch Ness I took it off and sat on it. Never worn one since unless forced to do so on a hire craft.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Not talking about inland waterways here, of which I have pretty much zero knowledge, but it was always my understanding (from the handful of times I sailed back and forth across the channel as crew on a friend's yacht) that - other than perhaps commercial freight - almost anyone can take to the seas in 'leisure craft' without any kind of license, or knowledge of what they were doing, or even the right safety equipment (life jackets, distress flairs etc.).

There was no legislation, as there is with road vehicles, to prevent this. Has that situation now changed?

 

[Robmac]

Not talking about inland waterways here, of which I have pretty much zero knowledge, but it was always my understanding (from the handful of times I sailed back and forth across the channel as crew on a friend's yacht) that - other than perhaps commercial freight - almost anyone can take to the seas in 'leisure craft' without any kind of license, or knowledge of what they were doing, or even the right safety equipment (life jackets, distress flairs etc.).

There was no legislation, as there is with road vehicles, to prevent this. Has that situation now changed?

I think it is still the same at sea Marie.

Inland you need a license, insurance and a boat safety certificate.

 

[TeamRienza]

The vast majority of boating deaths that happen with alcohol as a factor are people falling overboard, particularly when getting onboard from a harbour wall, transferring from a tender to a boat on a mooring or moving from boat to boat in a moored trot of boats.

With regard to licensing, the RYA (governing body of boating) have always lobbied for free access without test, but a voluntary scheme of certification across power in its various forms and sail. This sits nicely with the great British attitude of not being told what to do or carry ID etc. Thus anyone can go afloat without training or ability. Wether that is a good idea or not is open to debate.

Davy

 

[barryd]

I think it is still the same at sea Marie.

Inland you need a license, insurance and a boat safety certificate.

I've never quite understood that. Anyone can just be a gin palace captain in any boat at sea or they can set off round the world in a topper if they wish. I suppose on a river you are more likely to come into close contact with other boats and the public.

I'm not sure I've ever been out in a boat you can sleep on sober to be honest. Least not for long.

 

[Robmac]

I've never quite understood that. Anyone can just be a gin palace captain in any boat at sea or they can set off round the world in a topper if they wish. I suppose on a river you are more likely to come into close contact with other boats and the public.

I'm not sure I've ever been out in a boat you can sleep on sober to be honest. Least not for long.

I shared a mooring with a Policeman and his wife on the river once Barry, he was taking a break to de-stress after working on the Soham murders.

We got absolutely larraped well into the early hours and the next morning we were both still completely pissed. Didn't stop him from setting off down river again at about 6 in the morning though. We met up again the following evening and did it all again.

 

[Tonybvi]

I did the RYA day skipper then Offshore Yacht Master certification as I found that more and more yacht rental companies were wanting this certification before you could charter a boat from them. Armed with these certificates meant that I could charter sailing boats worth hundreds of thousands of pounds with my pals on the west coast of Scotland with not a great level of competence amongst us. However we only needed to call out the lifeboats once in all our years of sailing and alcohol was NOT involved in that incident!!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I did the RYA day skipper then Offshore Yacht Master certification as I found that more and more yacht rental companies were wanting this certification before you could charter a boat from them. Armed with these certificates meant that I could charter sailing boats worth hundreds of thousands of pounds with my pals on the west coast of Scotland with not a great level of competence amongst us. However we only needed to call out the lifeboats once in all our years of sailing and alcohol was NOT involved in that incident!!

That was my only reservation when I hired that boat, I did not want some poor bugger with a family risking their life/lives to save my stupid arse.

 

[Tonybvi]

Actually the RNLI had to be called out due to a maintenance (or lack of) issue by the hire company which resulted in the boat only being saved from sinking by a heavy duty pump being helicoptered out!! No fault can be attributed to any of the poor souls on board (ie the crew)! I can confirm that the RNLI do provide really good instant hot food on their boats though.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Actually the RNLI had to be called out due to a maintenance (or lack of) issue by the hire company which resulted in the boat only being saved from sinking by a heavy duty pump being helicoptered out!! No fault can be attributed to any of the poor souls on board (ie the crew)! I can confirm that the RNLI do provide really good instant hot food on their boats though.

I wasn't referring to you, just the thoughts I had before hiring a boat, we did run aground as it happened but we got pulled of by a local Rib who said he was always having to rescue folk there as the buoys were badly placed.

 

[trevskoda]

Its not UK law to wear life jackets either Trev. Last time I wore one was when I rowed the Caledonian canal when I was 22. My arse hurt so much half way up Loch Ness I took it off and sat on it. Never worn one since unless forced to do so on a hire craft.

 

[n brown]

these things seem a good idea ?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I prefer them with skulls on and button holes.

 

[TeamRienza]

I am always bemused when I see a small rib or tender, or indeed a yacht or large powerboat were the kids and wife are wearing life jackets or buoyancy aids (float coats or Beyoncé jackets as we used to call them in work). The ‘Master’ will frequently not have any flotation worn.

Being the way of the world, I expect that ‘The Master’ does most of the helming (like car driving) and consequently I reckon many wives have not been given much opportunity to practice steering and manoeuvring. Any fool can drive a boat from A to B but docking, close manoeuvres, including man overboard are a bit more tricky. How many of the crew get to practice or simulate these on a regular basis?

Davy

 

[Pudsey Bear]

He'd be fine, full of hot air.

 

[trevskoda]

I pulled a we 15/16 year old girl out at the side of a island berth when she lost her footing and went in, two feet further along and she would have been crushed by the 36ft cruiser, lucky she had long hair because thats what i was able to grab first under the water before I got a grip under her shoulders.

 

[barryd]

Ill have told this before but the best fun we had on the water was when I was in my late teens and early 20s. There were ten of us christened the Tall Tales fishing club. nine Englishmen and a mad French bloke from Toulouse who had a habit (as they do) of literally pissing anywhere. We would all pile over to Ireland for the Mayfly on the Shannon Loughs in a Commer Caravenette and hire a big cruiser also for the fortnight. I was skipper as apparently I knew all about boats.

I dont know how we survived to be honest. In fact I almost didnt. I fell off a harbour wall (pushed I still believe) on Lough Derg at two in the morning and pretty much ripped my little finger off. I think that was the only real drunken boat injury I ever had. Ended up in Limerick hospital for what was left of the night where they stuck it back on.

Every ten years or so at a milestone birthday or funeral these days if any of us meet up the old stories come out again. They were some of the best holidays I ever had.

 

[Robmac]

Nearest I came to drowning was sleepwalking off the end of the jetty in the early hours one February morning (obviously after a skinfull). I woke up underwater and being February the water was a little cold - in other words icy!

I will not wear a life jacket to bed on the boat though!!

 

[barryd]

Nearest I came to drowning was sleepwalking off the end of the jetty in the early hours one February morning (obviously after a skinfull). I woke up underwater and being February the water was a little cold - in other words icy!

I will not wear a life jacket to bed on the boat though!!

Have you ever done the "save the booze" plunge? You must have done. This is where you are sent back to shore to the car, pub, shop or whatever to fetch more booze. On your way back you inevitably fall off the jetty, harbour wall or slip getting on the boat to an early bath. It should be your natural instinct as a true "boaty" and incurable piss head to put the safety of said booze before your own or anyone elses. You must hang onto it at all costs like its a small child or a suitcase of money, more so really. To do it in true style which is always met with huge cheers the first thing that emerges from the water triumphantly above your head before you emerge must be the booze. Come up without it spluttering "Save me" and your toast, nobody will like you. I have an RYA certificate in boat booze retrieval.

 

[Robmac]

Have you ever done the "save the booze" plunge? You must have done. This is where you are sent back to shore to the car, pub, shop or whatever to fetch more booze. On your way back you inevitably fall off the jetty, harbour wall or slip getting on the boat to an early bath. It should be your natural instinct as a true "boaty" and incurable piss head to put the safety of said booze before your own or anyone elses. You must hang onto it at all costs like its a small child or a suitcase of money, more so really. To do it in true style which is always met with huge cheers the first thing that emerges from the water triumphantly above your head before you emerge must be the booze. Come up without it spluttering "Save me" and your toast, nobody will like you. I have an RYA certificate in boat booze retrieval.

I did similar Barry but fishing not boating.

There were 3 of us on a jetty studying a potential spot to catch Barbel, each with a pint in hand when all of a sudden the jetty started giving way. (all big lads!). The ensuing panic and 'every man for himself' attitude kicked in and there were 3 'friends' climbing over and stepping on one another in an effort not to get wet.

Unfortunately for me I was the first one to go down and as the lads trampled over me to safety I got completely submerged. But my mates Ken and Cookie still tell the story of my hand remaining above water with pint intact like some sort of Excalibur of pint glasses!