News updates.

You may have noticed that we've added two new news items to this blog covering the new project with Adverc and the increased levels of interest in our maintenance courses (if you've not seen them look below this post). But we would also like to hear from you the customer if you have an interesting story or recent incident that others might like to hear about.

It's easy to let us know about these, all you need to do is visit the testimonials page of our website which you can access from here.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Adverc and RCR hit the ground running!

River Canal Rescue has teamed up with Adverc, the Wolverhampton based battery management systems developer and manufacturer. The two businesses are collaborating to enable RCR to develop and expand the range of services offered to its customers. This joint initiative will increase the level of service available to RCR's customers by implementing permanent solutions to battery management problems.

Until now RCR engineers and contractors, attending electrical breakdowns involving a battery management systems, would generally bypass any battery management systems and effect a safe but temporary repair which will get the member up and running again. However now RCR envisage that by working with Adverc they will increase the engineers knowledge of the management systems and as such allow them to diagnose and resolve some of the more typical faults encountered. To enable this to happen Adverc will be running a training program for the RCR engineers and each one will be supplied with testing equipment. RCR will also be adding the Adverc specialists engineers their list of current contractors so that if the issue cannot be resolved it can be easily and quickly passed to a local Adverc specialist or pass these details on to the customer.

As a result of gaining this additional training on systems of this type, RCR will be looking to add information on dealing with battery management systems onto its courses, both the diesel engine course and, quite obviously the electrics course. The latter course will involve a demonstration of the Adverc system to delegates".

Michael Stimson of Towergate Mardon has been the first RCR member to benefit from this agreement. After a plethora of long standing and ongoing battery related problems, his narrow-boat ‘Spirit' was subjected to full scrutiny by two of our engineers, Guy Taylor (Adverc BM) and Jay Forman (RCR) as a test case.

Although much work has to be done on his boat, Michael can now be reassured that his battery problems will become a thing of the past. Michael's narrow boat was a good example of what not to do in getting the best from his battery system and electrics, which reflected a combination of bad practice and lack of knowledge not uncommon throughout the inland waterways.

Adverc BM and RCR, together, will jointly provide the necessary expertise to deal with most problems on a narrowboat, in addition to providing advice on avoiding some of the pitfalls that can ruin the pleasure for the enthusiast on the inland waterways.

For more information visit,

www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

www.adverc.co.uk/

Press Release: RCR courses filling up fast

Press Release: Courses filling up fast

The popularity of the RCR training courses would seem to be as strong as ever with places almost completely filled well into February 2010, and chances are this trend will continue throughout the coming year. As a result of feedback from previous courses and requests from members they will be adding electrical maintenance courses to the wide range of subjects already covered.

New locations are also being added to the 2009 itinerary. As a result of running a very successful course at the St Pancreas Cruising Club in central London, RCR have announced that this venue will be a permanent addition to their list of venues. Over the coming year and beyond it will provide easy access for our members, and those wishing to take part in any courses with a location in the capital.

It's not only the classroom based courses that have proved popular. With around 20 people per session, and 10 classes being held on the IWA Festival site over August bank holiday weekend, over 200 people attended. With these sessions proving so popular RCR will be continuing to run these events throughout the 2010 season at various events. It's thought that the recent squeeze on individual finances has made training on all aspects of boat maintenance increasingly popular as DIY is an ideal way for boat owners to reduce boat running costs.

For more information on River Canal Rescues courses visit their website at, www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

A testimonial by a tested member!

In late May we received a call, or should we say 'calls' from a very unlucky member who, over the next few days, had a number of problems - all of which we were able to help out with. The following report is by Jean Jones which we hope you will find interesting.

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My name is Jean Jones and I would like to submit the following testimonial:

We joined RCR hoping we would never have to call them, but better safe than sorry!

Two days into our holiday the fan belt broke, we called [RCR] and Stephanie sent Shaun to our rescue. It turned out to be caused by a seized alternator, after 'popping off' to get the new part it was quickly and efficiently installed.

Off we go again, next day the second belt snapped, this time the water pump had seized, again Stephanie sent Shaun and again he replaced the item quickly and efficiently.

We could not believe how friendly and efficient the whole organisation could be. Have the RAC/AA ever offered to bring you supplies when on a call out or to let your family know you have broken down?

Off we go again.

Botterham staircase lock...when my husband went to the upper lock to release the water, the fender caught on something and the boat was in danger of sinking. Trying to get free a six inch hole was ripped in the fuel tank and 30 gallons of fuel disappeared down the canal.

Other boaters helped us to pull the boat out of the lock and I again called Stephanie (by this time on first name terms) She told me not to worry. She organised everything, called the British Waterway team, the Environmental Health and sent Shaun to help us. Everyone was fantastic.

We thought our holiday was over, but Shaun would not let that happen. He climbed into the canal (up to his armpits) syphoned off the remaining 20 galls of fuel into jerry cans brought by BW, sealed the hole with a bed pillow in a black bag (you could say he went the extra

fathom to help us). After this he placed the jerrycan under our floor boards and rigged up the engine so we could drive the boat.

Stephanie organized Industrial Boats in Brewood to crane the boat out and weld a patch. (Not just a quick patch but a really professional job, they even 'blacked' the area)

On the last part of the journey to the boat yard the engine started surging, we thought 'oh no, not more trouble'. The boatyard fitter could not come for 24hours. We were worried by this time that we would not get back to our moorings in time to get to work. Stephanie said

'don't worry we will take you back by car if necessary'.

RCR to the rescue again Jay came out to replace the fuel feed diverted by Shaun, cleared all the filters and we sailed home with no more problems.

We can not praise RCR, Stephanie, Shaun and Jay enough.

Thank You, Thank you.

Jean Jones

RCR and Waterways Mail Team Up.

Just recently the name 'Waterways Mail' has been heard more and more as the company have established a unique postal service aim specifically at the boating community. Waterways Mail allows subscribers to have their post sent on to any post office but now RCR can also be used as a collection point as well.

Mail is delivered to Waterways Mail and they will then send it on to wherever the customer wishes. The destination of the mail can reflect the boaters movements as one text or email can amend the destination to keep up with the boats movements.

Stephanie Horton, RCR's MD said, “Waterways Mail is an innovative service that compliments our wide ranging rescue and repair services. Both businesses exist to provide the boating community with many of the services landlubbers take for granted.”

River Canal Rescue are the first company to sign up to be a collection point for users, and anyone interested in making use of the mail service can also collect an application form from RCR's offices. RCR are also hoping to develop the relationship with waterways mail and offer the services of their engineers who are out on the waterway daily to deliver urgent mail directly to boaters, where the pick up destination might result in delays.

For more information visit the River Canal Rescue website at www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk

or Waterways Mail at www.waterwaysmail.co.uk

Recent Reports.

We were sorry to read that an RCR member has posted, on a blog, a report of a recent incident in which they felt that we had fallen short of the high standards we set for ourselves.

In the report the boat owners, who suffered a tiller problem in a lock, called us to ask for our assistance. Despite the fact that we don't cover the repair of damage blow the waterline we did do our best to try and assist the boater in question. Sadly their call came on a day, and in an area in which the normally resident engineer was off sick. As a result someone had to travel into the area resulting in a slower than normal service.

Suffice it so say that the boat owner in question did manage to have the problems sorted out and we are obviously unhappy that they felt that the service we offered fell short of our normally high standards. We've looked into what happened on that day and can assure all our customers that we will address any shortcomings should we find any. We'd also like to remind customers of the limits we have as a canal side rescue organisation - one reason why we are unable to address problems of this type in situ.

We have received an email from the boat owner and hope to be able to address their complaints directly. However, as a business which deals with something like 2000 callouts per year, on very rare occasions problems do occur. Sadly this was one such occasion.

If your stuck for ideas what to give this fathers day, and you have a keen boating dad in the family, why not give him a River Canal Rescue voucher?

It may sound unusual but whether the dad in question is keen on DIY, or if he’s none too interested but would like the reassurance of having someone to call upon should things go wrong when on the boat, there is an RCR voucher for you to give him.

By giving a course voucher the holder can redeem it against any of the wide range of courses on offer from RCR at various locations around the UK. From beginners courses to engine maintenance and even boat electrics, all of these essential areas of the boat are covered by the courses on offer. There is even a maintenance courses that can be carried out on your own boat. All of these can all be paid for with one of the RCR course vouchers.

If the lucky dad isn’t keen on attending a course, but would like the reassurance of knowing that should something go wrong he has the backup of a national breakdown and rescue service, membership vouchers are also available. RCR’s Gold membership voucher can be redeemed against the top level of membership for RCR members.

As if that wasn’t enough RCR are also offering an engine service voucher which does exactly what it says. It covers the cost of having an engine service carried out on your boat. So, regardless what type of cover or skills you want to gain, there should be an RCR voucher you can give this fathers day.

For full details about course dates, membership advantages and what’s included in an engine service, and how to purchase your RCR vouchers, visit www.rivercanalrescue.co.uk or call 0871 2008021.