Solent rescue new boat?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by InlandAlex

Sorry Poly, I’ll try to tone it down a bit in future.

please don’t the internet will be very dull if people stop the wild speculation!

But the question still stands. Wasn’t there a chap on here who was with Solent Rescue and documented the manufactur of the boat to us all?

I seem to recall you are correct and there was some information posted here about it’s build. The search tool should find it if you have the patience to sift out all the irrelevant post about silent rescues!

[willk]

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/as-promi...880-75286.html

http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/solent-r...-ii-75905.html

[Tim M]

GAFIRS did the same. Fundraised for years to replace their 1980s Searider. Eventually got a good deal on a massive Halmatic hull. Fitted it all out in-house (not convinced that’s a great way to go). Eventually got it on the water and discovered it was far too big and and thirsty for what they actually do. Within three years they ordered a smaller Delta and sold the other one for a massive loss. This has all the hallmarks of being similar. Bit of a shame given the donations made in good faith, many of which were ultimately wasted because of a few committee member’s egos wanting to drive a big fast boat.

[GuyC]

I'd be surprised if their current Delta is much smaller that their previous Halmatic.

[willk]

They did mention wanting to go shore launched rather than mooring based. That said, I know a cabin environment is VERY different to an open boat for close ops and requires much better communication between crew when approaching a casualty. I don't know if the Gemini has external helm controls? The other factor often not considered is nausea - loitering around in a cabin boat in any kind of chop can be extremely uncomfortable when an open boat might seem fine.

[Pikey Dave]

Just leave it to the RNLI. Not a fault free organisation by any means, but they have the experience, expertise & critical mass to provide a world class service.

[SixtyNorth]

Originally Posted by willk

The other factor often not considered is nausea - loitering around in a cabin boat in any kind of chop can be extremely uncomfortable when an open boat might seem fine.

I fully agree with that. Having spent a lot of time hanging around in daughter craft in the North Sea, as well as open RIBs, I generally preferred the open boats, unless the weather was very cold or wet. A small cabin on a small boat is not the most comfortable place to spend long periods.

[Fender]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Just leave it to the RNLI. Not a fault free organisation by any means, but they have the experience, expertise & critical mass to provide a world class service.

Maybe.......

The story goes, a Redfunnel hydrofoil runs over a boat outside Cowes on its route across the Solent, think it might have been this one??https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/...fCowesJune1989 Not 100% sure, I heard it was a small fishing boat the hydrofoil ran over - either way this happened in the mid / late 80's.
Nasty, nasty incident/s and no local 'emergency' resources in Cowes to respond ( and pick up the bits ) - not good!
After this 'Cowes' asks the RNLI for a station to cover the immediate area ( think nearest RNLI was Bembridge / Yarmouth ), putting aside the above accidents Cowes is reputedly the busiest yachting capital of the world and the RNLI said........................no.

So. 'Cowes' took it upon themselves to provide emergency cover and 'Cowes independent lifeboat' was born, and I would suggest many lives have been saved over the years Think Chris Greenham was involved since the services conception COWES INSHORE LIFEBOAT LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEER CREWS | Northwood Village Isle of Wight

The RNLI did eventually see the need in 2008 and adsorbed the independent station into their portfolio. That still leaves 10/11 independent lifeboat stations in and around the Solent - all doing a amazing job and unaided financially by RNLI.

There's a strong possibility if you are in the doo-doo on the south coast and Solent coastguard task assets to you it won't be the RNLI

[Lee argyle]

https://www.islandecho.co.uk/new-lif...rous-donation/

[InlandAlex]

I’m really not trying to be judgemental, but it would seem that they:

A: spent all the money from the fundraising campaign for a new boat,
B: sold that boat losing quite a lot of money,
C: got a new boat for free?

Though I am very happy for them that they got generously donated a new boat, it does seem a bit of a waste of money.

Also, in their press release, Solent Rescue say they were “urgently looking for a new boat” this implies that they were refusing to use the old(new?) one!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Just leave it to the RNLI. Not a fault free organisation by any means, but they have the experience, expertise & critical mass to provide a world class service.

And when they waste £100k it’s a drop in the ocean to them so nobody notices!

[InlandAlex]

Once broker and mooring fees are factored in, it’ll be more than £100k!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Poly

And when they waste £100k it’s a drop in the ocean to them so nobody notices!

Probably, but you can’t argue that they don’t have the resources. I’m willing to bet when the sh1t really hits the fan, it won’t be some well intended hobbyists in a second hand 2004 Arctic that gets the call, it’ll be the boys with the Severns/Shannons & Tamars. The case in point raises questions about the competence of the small outfits to provide a reliable service.
As to why there are a dozen or so independents operating in the Solent? Maybe that says more about the quality of the “clients” rather than RNLI policy. The RNLI is an (inter)national organisation & has to be seen to cover every corner of its patch equally, not be just another “Solentcentric” organisation. You could argue that resources need to be concentrated in the more remote, lesser populated areas, where there’s less chance of a passing vessel rendering assistance, rather than the overcrowded hotspots.
All IMO obviously [emoji6]

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Poly

And when they waste £100k it’s a drop in the ocean to them so nobody notices!

To be fair in this example they'd simply move the resource where it was more useful.

[JamesF]

I don't think it's been mentioned yet, but the boat they're replacing the big one with is the ex- (as of today) Sidmouth Lifeboat, not a D-Class.



Pride of Sidmouth is more like a B-Class, but better in some ways. Halmatic Arctic 24 with two 150hp Optimaxes. Faster than the Atlantic 85, deeper V, better crew layout (1-1-2 instead of 1-2-1). Lacks the Atlantics' open transom, so may not drain quite as quickly, but I can't remember what draining arrangement it has.


Lovely 12-cylinder howl as it heads for the horizon!


The new Sidmouth Lifeboat — an almost identical Arctic 24 — arrived today.




Edit: Pikey Dave sort of mentioned it, but in a rather condescending way.

[Ferryman]

I spend most of my boating life around the Solent and most other people are great but you do have to wonder sometimes - last year someone drove a speed boat into the Red Funnel car ferry and argued that they were the stand on vessel.
The court took them seriously and at that point I lost interest and have no idea what happened.
This has nothing to do with independent lifeboats that are a complete waste of money but it annoys me when people can’t use steering wheels!

[Simonh66]

Originally Posted by Ferryman

I spend most of my boating life around the Solent and most other people are great but you do have to wonder sometimes - last year someone drove a speed boat into the Red Funnel car ferry and argued that they were the stand on vessel.
The court took them seriously and at that point I lost interest and have no idea what happened.
This has nothing to do with independent lifeboats that are a complete waste of money but it annoys me when people can’t use steering wheels!

And people still regularly hit the Bramble Bank!

[Simonh66]

Originally Posted by JamesF

I don't think it's been mentioned yet, but the boat they're replacing the big one with is the ex- (as of today) Sidmouth Lifeboat, not a D-Class.



Pride of Sidmouth is more like a B-Class, but better in some ways. Halmatic Arctic 24 with two 150hp Optimaxes. Faster than the Atlantic 85, deeper V, better crew layout (1-1-2 instead of 1-2-1). Lacks the Atlantics' open transom, so may not drain quite as quickly, but I can't remember what draining arrangement it has.


Lovely 12-cylinder howl as it heads for the horizon!


The new Sidmouth Lifeboat — an almost identical Arctic 24 — arrived today.




Edit: Pikey Dave sort of mentioned it, but in a rather condescending way.

Actually I posted a link about it a couple of days ago

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by JamesF

I don't think it's been mentioned yet

Yes it has, keep up

Originally Posted by JamesF

Edit: Pikey Dave sort of mentioned it, but in a rather condescending way.

It’s old news, hence the condescending oblique reference [emoji6]

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Simonh66

And people still regularly hit the Bramble Bank!

And oil tankers. He probably hadn’t seen it[emoji849]
Roland Wilson: Cowes Week yacht crash skipper guilty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24670515