
Local company helps Rhyl RNLI crew weather the storm.
The station at Rhyl in North Wales, has always been able to instantly know the weather conditions due to a weather station being installed when the boathouse was built in 2000.
After 17 years of sterling and constant operation, the crew noticed the display was not showing the wind speed and direction. The external monitoring gauges were taken down, and it was found that the ravages of time, sand and salt water had taken their toll.
Vector instruments were contacted with a view to the crew funding the repairs, but when Vector staff checked the equipment, the manager told us that the company would replace the parts free to the crew. This was duly done, and within two weeks the station was back up and running.
The equipment has been an ever-present part of the station, as the displays can be seen in the crew room, the shop, and in the boat hall, so crews going out on call can instantly get a grasp of the wind speed and direction and air temperature. It is now a vital part of crew training and pre-launch briefings.
Martin Jones, Rhyl RNLI coxswain says ' We would like to thank Vector Instruments managers and staff for their generosity and assistance. The equipment is very valuable when the crews are preparing for going out to sea'
The attached photos show the display as shown in the crew room, and the mast installation after repair and re-fitting by RNLI contractors.
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