Collidge & Partners join forces with RCR.

One of the UK’s best known Insurance underwriting agents, who’ve specialised in the marine sector for over 25 years, Collidge & Partners, have teamed up with River Canal Rescue to offer a unique breakdown service which is now on offer to their clients. The new membership is now available to both new and existing clients and means that their customers now have access to competitively priced breakdown cover for their boat.

The service, full details of which are available on Collidge and Partners website, was first discussed just under a year ago when Chris Collidge asked RCR’s MD Stephanie Horton to come up with a package to replace Collidge &; Partners existing breakdown recovery product. The brief was simple, Chris wanted something akin to the RAC’s coverage for the motorist. He also stipulated the service was to be 24/7 and it had to be competitively priced. The result is C&P’s new Inland Waterways Breakdown Cover. 

With cover now being offered and it’s popularity evident Chris Collidge commented that he “welcomes the arrangement with RCR and is more than happy to be associated with the company [RCR]” which he describes as “complimenting his own insurance business.”

As for RCR, Stephanie states “ It’s great to finally get Collidge & Partners on board, as one of the most successful inland waterways brokers we worked with them to put together a very unique membership package. This package includes the elements that C&P championed as being a top priority to their customers, and also provided them with the benefit of knowing that they have RCR cover and access to a dependable service 24/7” She added that RCR are also “the approved repairers for Navigators and General policies and as such also handle claims for Collidge and Partners; so their customers will now experience a seamless and first class service no matter what happens...we are here to help”.

For full details of the breakdown cover on offer from C&P visit www.collidgeandpartners.co.uk and click on the link to the ‘Inland Waterways Breakdown Cover’ where you will find full details and the opportunity to download the application form. Prices start from £65 which provides cover for a maximum of 3 callouts per year.

For full details of River Canal Rescue’s range of breakdown services, and their unique Canal Contracting company, visit www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

RCR Engine Maintenance & Boat Electrical Courses (RYA accredited)

Changes have been made to two of RCR’s well-known and ever popular maintenance courses for the 2013 season. This year the electrical courses will be run by Howard Williams, and the Maintenance course by Keith Duffy. These courses were previously presented by Tony Brookes who is now retired.

Keith Duffy has also joined as a course tutor specialising in mechanical engineering. Keith maybe a familiar face to those who’ve used River Canal Rescue’s services in the past as he used to work for RCR and was one of their first employees. A former RAF trained aircraft engineer with 43 years engineering experience and blue water sailor, Keith has now retired but enjoys teaching other people how to maintain and problem solve their own mechanical problems.  He can still be found on the waterways helping boaters and also supports RCR junior engineers in their roles.

 Howard Williams was apprenticed as an electrical technician and is now an Approved Electrician and British Marine Electrical Association Marine Electrical Technician. He has a personal interest in boats and hired on many occasions before buying his first boat in 2000. Howard carries out electrical work on and around boats on a day to day basis. This includes all types of work from emergency call out to rectify faults to full wiring of new boats from scratch. Howard like to keep up to date on new developments and as a result he’s confident that he will be able to offer those attending the course an informative, educational; but most importantly an enjoyable: time, and looks forward to meeting new learners." 

 Stephanie Horton, RCR’s MD said, “The new format of the courses has taken the excellent content of our previous courses, and the RYA requirements but added in more practical and hands on activities, we have looked at the key elements that boaters want to achieve from the course and condensed it to ensure that everyone comes away with real skills that they can put in to action on their own boat”.

Details of the courses can be foudn on the RCR webpages www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

RCR Sponser the IWA Festival Awards

Waterways Festival Awards

River Canal Rescue is urging people to enter this year’s Waterways Festival Awards which are presented during the 19-21 July get-together at Cassiobury Park, near Watford.

Described as the biggest waterway event alongside Crick – the annual Festival attracts thousands of visitors and hundreds of canal boat owners with their craft. 

The waterways breakdown and rescue firm sponsors three Awards; the AP Herbert, Robert Aikman and newly re-named River Canal Rescue trophies, recognising the longest journey in a qualifying period, most enterprising continuous journey and most enterprising non-continuous journey. 

As well as the trophies, award-winners receive free RCR membership, and a Free Service for the longest Journey.  Deadline for entries by post or email is 8 July or for those handing in their forms at the Grand Union canal Festival site, 18 July.  

To find out more visit www.waterways.org.uk or email enquiries@rivercanalrescue.co.uk