The Lulworth Cove "cowboy"

Andre · 30 April 2007, 12:58

< EDIT: 5 July 2012 - Lulworth RIB Rides is now under new ownership and the cowboy has ridden off into the sunset! JK >

We had a fantastic picnic in Lulworth Cove and if you have not been there then worth a visit.

Spotted this operator who in one hour made 3 trips with a full boat load of passengers but no lifejackets for anyone and also could not see that the helmsman was wearing an attached kill cord. I am suprised that people make trips out to sea with so called "cowboy operator's"

fred bolton · 30 April 2007, 13:59

That doesn't happen in Abersoch see this link: http://www.peninsularibs.co.uk/

Andy Moore · 30 April 2007, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

We had a fantastic picnic in Lulworth Cove and if you have not been there then worth a visit.

Spotted this operator who in one hour made 3 trips with a full boat load of passengers but no lifejackets for anyone and also could not see that the helmsman was wearing an attached kill cord. I am suprised that people make trips out to sea with so called "cowboy operator's"

What an idiot.

Nauti Buoy · 30 April 2007, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

We had a fantastic picnic in Lulworth Cove and if you have not been there then worth a visit.

Spotted this operator who in one hour made 3 trips with a full boat load of passengers but no lifejackets for anyone and also could not see that the helmsman was wearing an attached kill cord. I am suprised that people make trips out to sea with so called "cowboy operator's"

Crazy, what planet is he on? for starters no one is wearing life jackets, and in picture 3 even the two small kids up the front have no life jackets on. Also you have to wonder what are their parents thinking about too!!!. I wonder if he has a commercial ticket too!!!

As for not wearing a kill cord......

codprawn · 30 April 2007, 14:41

Whilst it is common practice for passengers in Ribs to wear lifejackets is it a legal requirement? After all it IS law to carry lifejackets but that's about it. How many people wear a lifejacket on a cross channel ferry or on a fishing charter trip? Whilst there is not much need on the cross channel ferry there is far more call on a fishing trip.

As to the kill cord he MAY have one of those new wireless ones.......

John Kennett · 30 April 2007, 14:59

As far as I know it's a licencing requirement to carry lifejackets for all passengers, but there's no statutory requirement for them to be worn.

Depending on the conditions and nature of the trip, whether it's a responsible way to operate or not may be debatable but I'd suggest that it's not best practice. I think that most operators would make the assessment that permitting passengers to ride without life jackets presents an unacceptable risk.

John

Poly · 30 April 2007, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

I am suprised that people make trips out to sea with so called "cowboy operator's"

To be honest joe public won't even know what a kill cord is never mind the importance. If the operator doesn't ask/tell/suggest you need a life jacket I don't think it is reasonable to expect someone who has never been on a 9m rib before to see the need. After all they are not planning to go in the water - especially if they are sight seeing rather than on an extreeme ride.

Not suggesting for a minute that I think its a good idea or that I would have got on his boat... ...but why would his average passengers think anything of it?

Dunc · 30 April 2007, 19:35

As far as I am aware it is a coding requirement for paying passengers on a rib to wear lifejackets. The reason that passengers on fishing trip/traditional coastal cruising boats don't have to wear them is because those boats have rails all round to a specified height, which for those type of boats is a coding requirement.

timw · 30 April 2007, 20:27

Codprawn, your comments give you much credit by not jumping to conclusions from a couple of photographs.

Sadly it's typical of certain self appointed Rib "traffic wardens" who seem take any opportunity to criticize someone or someones operation who is not known to them. Of course they know so much better.

JIY · 30 April 2007, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunc

As far as I am aware it is a coding requirement for paying passengers on a rib to wear lifejackets. The reason that passengers on fishing trip/traditional coastal cruising boats don't have to wear them is because those boats have rails all round to a specified height, which for those type of boats is a coding requirement.

This is not correct. The Practice for Small Vessels Coding (SCV) directs that a lifejacket is carried aboard for every passenger, it does not stipulate that the lifejacket has to be worn.

However, most "seafari" type operators prudently require all passengers to wear lifejackets aboard at all times. We would never carry any passenger that was not wearing one, even for a short, no thrills ride across the marina!

Andre · 30 April 2007, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

Sadly it's typical of certain self appointed Rib "traffic wardens" who seem take any opportunity to criticize someone or someones operation who is not known to them. Of course they know so much better.

I would not call myself a "traffic warden" only think of all those who have heavily invested in running such businesses and ensure they are operated in a very professional manner where safety is a key issue. If one was to take your view then why code ribs and have the necessary qualifications ect.

I had first thought he was taking family and friends but later seeing the runs knew it was a "cowboy" style operation.

Biggles · 30 April 2007, 20:58

Looks like a cowboy to me. He's got a Cowboy hat on !

vince · 30 April 2007, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

I would not call myself a "traffic warden" only think of all those who have heavily invested in running such businesses and ensure they are operated in a very professional manner where safety is a key issue. If one was to take your view then why code ribs and have the necessary qualifications ect.

I had first thought he was taking family and friends but later seeing the runs knew it was a "cowboy" style operation.

Surely if anyone was taking family and friends for a blast, you would make everyone wear some sort of lifejacket? I for one wouldnt be able to handle the guilt if something happened to them. Let alone someone elses kids.....

Nos4r2 · 30 April 2007, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

Sadly it's typical of certain self appointed Rib "traffic wardens" who seem take any opportunity to criticize someone or someones operation who is not known to them. Of course they know so much better.

Having seen this 'operation' first hand I think the so-called 'traffic wardens' are right. No-one on board was wearing a lifejacket last year when I saw it either and they are advertised as fast rib rides...

timw · 30 April 2007, 21:24

You are calling what appears to be a business involving a RIB a "COWBOY OPERATION" on a public forum.

Despite what you might have observed, may I suggest that unless you work for the MCA or similar, you are not qualified to make these inflamatory remarks about someone's business even if common sense and your own experience dictate otherwise.

May I suggest you let others make up their own minds if they feel they can from a handful of rather poor quality photographs.

Dunc · 30 April 2007, 21:24

JIY
Read more carefully mate! I said 'As far as I am aware...' I thought it might be as you stated that they had to be carried but not necessarrily worn and for the record I was not judging anyone. People are free to run their business how they choose. However in my opinion it is a skippers responsibility to ensure his paying passengers are correctly equipped. I wonder if some peoples opinions would alter if an non swimmer not wearing a lifejacket was plunged into 11 degrees centigrade water and drowned. I also wonder what an insurance company would say if this accident occured. I would imagine they would not pay out. Not having read everyones small print on their insurance I am just imagining. Finally I also wonder how bad publicity would affect the rib charter industry as a whole if an accident ended in tragedy because lifejackets were not worn?
Dunc

Jimbo · 30 April 2007, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

Despite what you might have observed, may I suggest that unless you work for the MCA or similar, you are not qualified to make these inflamatory remarks about someone's business even if common sense and your own experience dictate otherwise.

Oooh, so you have to get a bit of paper that proves you can discuss the relative safety merits of a powerboat operation? Just being an experienced water user and powerboat owner isn't enough? It's a shame really, but of course, if you work for the MCA, you must know better than anyone who just owns and drives a boat...

Tim, what qualifies you to call people on this forum traffic wardens? I'd quite like to see proof of your employment within perhaps an HR role, or at a Job Centre, or somewhere similar that means you are suitably equipped to pass judgement and typecast people as being of a traffic warden mindset. Until then, I'm afraid, you are clearly not qualified to pass judgement. Got to have a bit of paper these days.

**grabs tin helmet and ducks**

Nos4r2 · 30 April 2007, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

You are calling what appears to be a business involving a RIB a "COWBOY OPERATION" on a public forum.

Despite what you might have observed, may I suggest that unless you work for the MCA or similar, you are not qualified to make these inflamatory remarks about someone's business even if common sense and your own experience dictate otherwise.

May I suggest you let others make up their own minds if they feel they can from a handful of rather poor quality photographs.

Snobbery, ignorance and the common sense of natural yoghurt-and all in one post!

You're not a pepperami for the Sun are you?

timw · 30 April 2007, 21:38

I simply don't like people passing judgement on somebody's business and possibly livelyhood in a public forum when they simply haven't got all the facts. That's all.

Jimbo · 30 April 2007, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

I simply don't like people passing judgement on somebody's business and possibly livelyhood in a public forum when they simply haven't got all the facts. That's all.

And, to be brutally honest, I don't like you passing judgements on people's personality, and possibly also their business and livelyhood, in a public forum, when you clearly haven't got all the facts. If you don't like it, why not just leave them/us to it?