Motorboats and RIBS

According to the recent members’ survey, motor-boating is already the Club’s most popular boating activity. The SVYC is very well placed for motor-boating, with direct access to the water at any state of the tide. Over the past 25 years, the number of motorboats has grown considerably to the point where those moored in Seagrove Bay almost meet those off the Club slipway. In many ways, the Club has been slow to embrace this growth but the time has come!

Michael BJ Bryn-Jones is the Captain of motorboats. BJ is a passionate motor-boater and fisherman who joined the Club in 1998. Since then, he has visited all points of the Island in his motorboat and carried out various sorties across to the mainland. He’s increased the numbers of harbours, moorings and pontoons with motor-boat access and he’s willing to share some of his secret spots to drop the hook and hang out via a planned database which will have notes and observations to help us all maximise our enjoyment on the water. He clearly teaches well as all three of his children have been Club RIB drivers.

BJ has introduced “RIB Guides”. RIB Guides are available to give you or your family members greater confidence in using your RIB, or for a pick up, drop off, or a designated driver after a lunch. You should check your insurance covers them driving your boat and do your own due diligence on their capabilities. The contract is directly between the members and the RIB Guide. You can see contact details for the RIB guides at https://www.svyc.org.uk/motorboats/rib-guides.

BJ is keen to innovate our motorboat courses with the training team as several of us, the Commodore included, could probably benefit from a refresher course – given our Level 2 certificates often date back decades. We are also looking at creating a short training for those family members who don’t normally drive the RIB, should they find themselves having to rescue the person who normally does drive the RIB. BJ is working with Nick, our boatman, on longer launch hours. Additionally, our collective strength in numbers could result in better and cheaper access to services and facilities such as fuel and insurance which, as individual boat owners, we would find difficult to exploit.

About Boatfolk

A boating business with 11 marinas in beautiful locations across the UK, boatfolk is often recognised by its popular south coast locations including Haslar Marina, Deacons Marina and East Cowes Marina. However boatfolk is about more than just marinas, they also have a range of on-site services to make things even simpler. These include their boatpoint brokerage to help boaters find their dream boat, boatcare for routine maintenance or emergency repairs, and Beyonder, a boating subscription service for those who want an alternative to ownership.

On top of this, boatfolk marinas are home to some great restaurants, most notably The Lightship at Haslar Marina, located on board the iconic green lightship in Portsmouth Harbour. Celebrate with family and friends or simply sit-back with a sundowner on The Lightships floating jetty bar. Exclusive to SVYC members, enjoy free short stay berthing at Haslar Marina (on production of the SVYC membership card) when dining at The Lightship. To find out more and book a table, visit www.thelightshiphaslar.co.uk

See Members Benefits page for 10% discount for Boatfolk services offered to SVYC members only.

To discover more about boatfolk, visit www.boatfolk.co.uk

Insurance for Ribs at SVYC

Swinging moorings are perceived to be at greater risk and therefore we are limited in the number of insurers who are willing to take on insurance for members with Ribs on SVYC moorings. Below is a list of those that will be able to help SVYC members:

Admiral Marine
www.admiralyacht.com
Tel. 01722 416106

Porthcawl Insurance
www.porthcawl-insurance.co.uk
Tel. 01656 784 866

Noble Marine
www.noblemarine.co.uk
Tel 01636 707606

Yachtline Insurance Solutions
www.Yachtline.co.uk
Tel. 0207 403 3884

Bishop Skinner Marine
www.bishopskinner.com
Tel. 0204 579 2080

Other useful contacts

Insurance brokers

Bishops Insurance Brokers
www.bishopsinsurance.co.uk
Tel. 01983 521 311

Breakdown/Recovery

Sea Start
www.seastart.co.uk
01489 557 364