Training vs Experience

[donutsina911]

Originally Posted by codprawn

The RNLI is getting TOO business orientated these days. I was shocked to discover that many of the crews don't have any other boating experience and are "trained" - it USED to be people who hadd the sea in their blood for generations that were picked!!!

as for being business orientated by training raw recruits - what's the problem with this - do you expect every crew member to be a decendant of Nelson or the first sea lord?! Jesus, codders, whilst having a nautical background and knowing an area of the coast intimately can be a big help, I would think first class training and bollocks the size of watermelons would be far more relevant than whether or not the sea is in your blood - my old boy is an admiral but I still cant tie knots or work out secondary port tides and certainly dont think I have the balls to do the work of the rnli (and for free)

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I was shocked to discover that many of the crews don't have any other boating experience and are "trained" - it USED to be people who hadd the sea in their blood for generations that were picked!!!

One of the most competent and experienced skippers I've ever been to sea with used to be a hairdresser. And some of the most appaling, dangerous and inconsiderate behaviour I've witnessed at sea has been from "professional" mariners, probably from sea-faring families over many generations I would guess. Being President of the United States of America is in George W Bush's family history, but it doesn't necessarily make him good at it.

[DGR]

Originally Posted by codprawn

The RNLI is getting TOO business orientated these days. I was shocked to discover that many of the crews don't have any other boating experience and are "trained" - it USED to be people who hadd the sea in their blood for generations that were picked!!!

I suspect that it is simply that there aren't as many 'professional' seafaring folk around as there used to be (probably doesn't include places like the Solent etc). In our harbour, there are 8 full time people working commercially in/from the harbour - not enough to man the lifeboat.

If you volunteer for the RNLI - I don't think that they 'pick' you - they say thank you very much, and then try to prepare you to be the best that you can. Nowt wrong with that......is there?

D...

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by donutsina911

as for being business orientated by training raw recruits - what's the problem with this - do you expect every crew member to be a decendant of Nelson or the first sea lord?! Jesus, codders, whilst having a nautical background and knowing an area of the coast intimately can be a big help, I would think first class training and bollocks the size of watermelons would be far more relevant than whether or not the sea is in your blood - my old boy is an admiral but I still cant tie knots or work out secondary port tides and certainly dont think I have the balls to do the work of the rnli (and for free)

Training can NEVER be a sustitute for experience - I now have my level 2 and will shortly be doing the advanced - I wouldn't even pretend to be as competant as some of the lifeboat men I know who have been doing their stuff for the last 20 years!!!

As to local knowledge why do they have pilots on large ships that take over from the Captain who will have far more skill at handling his own ship???

Some of the worlds top mountain climbers have NO formal training - I think I would rather be with them than someone who has just completed some mountain leader course!!!

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Training can NEVER be a sustitute for experience - I now have my level 2 and will shortly be doing the advanced - I wouldn't even pretend to be as competant as some of the lifeboat men I know who have been doing their stuff for the last 20 years!!!

As to local knowledge why do they have pilots on large ships that take over from the Captain who will have far more skill at handling his own ship???

Some of the worlds top mountain climbers have NO formal training - I think I would rather be with them than someone who has just completed some mountain leader course!!!

let me pass you a shovel so you can dig deeper!!!!

[codprawn]

I TOTALLY agree with Jon Brooks - I have donated money to the RNLI most of my life and will continue to do so.

As to passing me a shovel - if everyone here thinks that training is more important than experience it is a very sad refelction on the way the world is going.

[DGR]

Deleted it - I was just repeating what others have said......(until it got quoted!!)

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by DGR

If I was at risk of drowning, and someone less competant than Lord Nelson saved me......sounds good to me!!

But the danger is someone with little REAL experience may not be able to save you!!!

[hard1]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I TOTALLY agree with Jon Brooks - I have donated money to the RNLI most of my life and will continue to do so.

As to passing me a shovel - if everyone here thinks that training is more important than experience it is a very sad refelction on the way the world is going.

Hark at yourself! There's literally thousands of experienced workforce of all descriptions on the scrapheap unable to find a job because youngsters with the ink hardly dry on their "training certificates" are getting all the work out there!

Their only crime is that they're over bloody 50! (Indeed, some people I know are barely in their '40's. You have been warned)

Don't get me started re: experience vs training....grrrrrr.....

[DGR]

Codders,

I understand what you are saying - but in some places, sometimes those people with years of experience DON'T EXIST. Read my earlier post. Or should we consider disbanding a valuable rescue service because we've run out of salty old sea dogs? What if the experienced ones don't want to be in the RNLI? Conscription for the oldies?

You are assuming that it is a decision that someone has made - it MAY have been forced upon them (the RNLI)!! In which case - they are doing the best they can with people who are prepared to sacrifice everything to help people out!!

I don't want to get into the experience vs qualification argument yet again - 'cos I agree with RichardB - but what is the alternative?

D...