Largs RNLI assists 2 onboard 17-foot motorboat

Largs lifeboat volunteer crew assembled at the station and launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, R A Wilson, to assist.

After a short passage, the casualty vessel was located and the crew discovered that the engine had an issue with the throttle cable. As the boat crew had no secondary means of propulsion, Largs lifeboat Helm, Dave Linton, decided the best option would be to take the vessel and its occupants under tow to Largs Yacht Haven.

On arrival at Largs Yacht Haven, the lifeboat crew were met with members of Largs Coastguard Rescue team who assisted in securing the vessel alongside a pontoon.

With the vessel now safe, Largs lifeboat was released from service and returned to station where it was made ready for its next service call.

Commenting on the rescue, Largs RNLI Helm, David Linton said: "Although the engine of this vessel had been recently serviced, things can and did go wrong. It is advisable to have a secondary means of propulsion that can be used in similar cases to this. Thankfully, this time the weather was warm and sunny, and the vessel was drifting slowly in open water away from danger. On a windier day, a secondary engine would possibly have helped keep the vessel away from shore.'

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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