Lifeboats

[Tony Wilding]

lack of use and proper maintenance was the most common reason they would not start, fuel tanks and filters never drained or cleaned, essential equipment sadly neglected,

[Ivan Cloherty]

Must say that all the ships I sailed on the lifeboats were well maintained, the gear/stores/pyrotechnics etc regularily checked and updated. The engines well maintained and those with Flemming gear kept free. Must have been the era and men I sailed post war, also Cold war and Suez '56 periods when ABC warfare was also on our minds. Also the motor boat was used as our Liberty boat in many places on many ships whilst waiting for a berth to go and collect the mail when the agent's boats were always out of order.

After a number of years as a UK supt went to work for a Swiss shipowner, first month in the job stopped two ships sailing because I was appalled at the state of the safety equipment and structure of the lifeboats, cost a lot of money to put right, how I kept my job I don't know, but I did. Things were that unsatisfactory I wrote a report and lodged it with a lawyer to be opened in the event of any untoward occurence to the named vessels

As an observation whilst a Supt in UK had to convert a couple of Scandinavian flagged ships to Red Ensign (1970's) must say I was also surprised at the state of the life saving equipment, davits, emergency firepump pipe routeing (through the engine room), other things too numerous to mention.

Even on ill found Red Ensign ships our safety equipment standards (from my experience) were far superior to any other flag ship I surveyed during on/off surveys-flag changes.

[Calvin Kent]

I recall in port on one boat the mate had me step the masts and rig the sails in the lifeboats as they stank of mildew. Alas it was too late as the act of raising the gaff shredded the sails, they were totally rotted. After a brief but futile attempt at repair that was akin to making a patchwork quilt out of overcooked lasagne all was hurriedly stowed and, I assume, forgotten about as I cannot remember any new sails arriving before I paid off several months later.

Regards
Calvin

[Peter Trodden]

I took my L/Boat Ticket Aug,'57. Salthouse Dock,Liverpool. Had to have one before sitting my EDH. I remember a lovely sunny day rowing arond the Dock.
ttfn.Peter.scan0004.jpg

[j.sabourn]

You could always tell a ship by the state of its boats. Very apt. John sabourn

[Bob Hollis]

John, one other very important piece of equipment was the orange cotton rope to be towed. I used to wonder about this until I saw a TV program and the aircrew said the first thing they spotted was this rope and not the boat..

[j.sabourn]

Most specialized vessel put more reliance now on semi rigid inflatables and liferafts. Liferafts are sealed units and have to be serviced evey 12 months or so, so one assumes they are all ok. Re other craft with outboards which are water cooled they are usually in the water every day up to a force 6 for exercise purposes, and if not due to extreme weather, always seen the muffs on and water passed through and the engines run. The british seamen I have seen serving on such vessels are very aware of the reliance of such LSA equipment. However on taken over such vessels from alien countrys, usually a lot of maintainance has to be carried out to get upto par. John Sabourn.

[j.sabourn]

Thats a new one on me Bob. Your talking about lifeboat equipment arent you ? Thinking back however 2 bouyant heaving lines were part of boat equipment and think they were orange so that may have been their purpose. We never stop learning, all those years and find out now their possible use. Thanks Cheers John Sabourn

[Ivan Cloherty]

John, one other very important piece of equipment was the orange cotton rope to be towed. I used to wonder about this until I saw a TV program and the aircrew said the first thing they spotted was this rope and not the boat..

Bob, one of the first things I did as Supt (1960's), when I got authority from the owners was to paint the insides of all lifeboats orange as a priority, the outside was secondary, also got permission to paint all Monkey Island decks orange. It took months and months of talking to achieve this because orange paint was more expensive than black or brown the normal internals of a boat and of course the black deck paint. Managed to get the paint manufacturers to give the fleet a big discount on this orange paint which made it more competative with the bog standard colours used. What set me off on that course of action so many years ago was reading a sea story which mentioned orange flares and how that colour stood out amongst others, as we all know that when the sea is very angry it is either nearly all white or all black.

[Bob Hollis]

....... Thinking back however 2 bouyant heaving lines were part of boat equipment and think they were orange so that may have been their purpose.......

I am John. I always thought it would be easier to spot the boat but apparently this is not the case. Yes I forgot there were two.

Regards, Bob