RCR

[helen g]

Yearly membership is due . Only used it once in 10 years . So this year thinking of just having the retainer cover as funds are low. Just wondering what cover people have on here.

 

We use the boat at weekends say twice a month .

 

Then couple of full weeks a year.

[LoneWolf]

none.

If it's something i cant fix myself then i would rather arrange for an engineer myself than be stuck with having to rely on the RCR appointed contractors

[Guest]

Yearly membership is due . Only used it once in 10 years . So this year thinking of just having the retainer cover as funds are low. Just wondering what cover people have on here.

 

We use the boat at weekends say twice a month .

 

Then couple of full weeks a year.

We have over three years of boating gradually reduced from silver to retainer to no cover this year.

 

We have broken down a couple of times since having retainer to no cover and both times I fixed it myself.

 

We did use them once and the time we did it was an rcr bod not a subcontractor who came and they were very good.

 

I do know another boater on here who had a bad experience of them sending an agent though.

[rgreg]

This year I increased from Retainer to Bronze because I decided the parts cover was worth the relatively small additional fee. However, I have not used it this year (thankfully). Having been helped out brilliantly by RCR previously when a fuel filter bracket failed (requiring welding) I would be very reluctant to withdraw membership, although would consider going back to Retainer level in future years.

[alan_fincher]

I have given up membership, because it has cost me an awful lot over several years, but I have never called them.

 

It has become progressively more and more expensive, whilst they add things I don't want, (alleged parts cover - read the small print!), but give lower discounts to those who seldom or never claim.

The fact that several people started reporting less than satisfactory results when they did call them was what finally convinced me it had become a rip off.

 

IMO a lot of people call them for all manner of relatively trivial things, and those of us who don't are overly subsiding those who do.

 

Same reason I will not have AA/RAC/Green Flag etc membership.

[Pykebird]

When I took my boat up to the peak district I took out gold cover as the engine was un tried and it would also cover me on my friends boat.I did call them out twice, once when the thermostat stuck on and then when a throttle cable snapped.

The thermostat I replaced myself at a later date, but we were in the middle of nowhere when the cable went, so that was handy.

I no longer have cover as not really travelling and have the numbers of the guys on the marina who will always come out for the promise of a couple of beers!!.

But when I venture up to wales next year I will probably take some sort of cover out just to be safe.

[Arthur Marshall]

I've got bronze cover, which covers replacement bits (some of them anyway). Last year the clutch failed (old Lister gubbins) and they gave me £1000 towards the repair costs. This year the starter died on the T&M and the engineer came out, hoiked it off, took it somewhere or other and brought me another one the next day for the excess of £50. I reckon that covers my subs for the rest of my boating life...

I think it depends on what boat you've got, how old and reliable it and the engine bits are, and how good you are at fixing stuff yourself. Twenty years ago I would have done the starter myself (in fact I did) but age means I am no longer flexible enough to do much down in the engine hole. I'm a bit astonished that they charge the same for a fifty year old tub like mine as for a modern one, but it certainly gives me peace of mind. And yes, some of the engineers aren't that experienced, but some of them are terrific. And the ones that are baffled by ancient stuff don't seem worried about phoning more experienced engineers for advice.

[homer2911]

I've got bronze cover, which covers replacement bits (some of them anyway). Last year the clutch failed (old Lister gubbins) and they gave me £1000 towards the repair costs. This year the starter died on the T&M and the engineer came out, hoiked it off, took it somewhere or other and brought me another one the next day for the excess of £50. I reckon that covers my subs for the rest of my boating life...

I think it depends on what boat you've got, how old and reliable it and the engine bits are, and how good you are at fixing stuff yourself. Twenty years ago I would have done the starter myself (in fact I did) but age means I am no longer flexible enough to do much down in the engine hole. I'm a bit astonished that they charge the same for a fifty year old tub like mine as for a modern one, but it certainly gives me peace of mind. And yes, some of the engineers aren't that experienced, but some of them are terrific. And the ones that are baffled by ancient stuff don't seem worried about phoning more experienced engineers for advice.

I have Silver cover - can't remember off-hand how this differs from Bronze. As AM says, it all depends on your circumstances. If you never go far, or are fit and able to fix most things, fine. I've had two breakdowns this summer - a gearbox cable snapped- fixed that myself, always carry a spare. Second was a prm oil seal, which I didn't have the foggiest how to diagnose or fix, and which RCR fixed in a jiffy. I'm no longer young, and 'er indoors has a few medical issues, so for us RCR cover gives peace of mind

[Dalesman]

Mine comes free with my boat insurance (Navigators & General)

[eightpot]

Did have silver cover, but binned it a couple of years back. If the oily bits do go pop! then, I've got a useful set of tools and failing that a pair of mooring pins and a mobile phone.

 

The way i see it, is I'm 300 quid up (and counting).

[hvdb]

We have retainer cover, it came with the boat and we renewed it each year.

We are not good at fixing things ourselves (apart from very simple things) and it gives us peace of mind.

In July a gearbox cable snapped,we phoned them and within an hour they came. They put in a new one and we were on our way again.

The engineers were friendly, one was very experienced, the other one an apprentice.

 

Helen

 

[Naughty Cal]

We did have Gold cover in the first year of owning our boat but then gradually reduced it. Our N&G insurance policy included retainer cover a couple of years ago but we have since changed to a full coastal policy which doesnt include it. It has cost us a fair bit over five years for cover that we have not needed and if you read the small print didnt cover at least half of our cruising range.

 

We know our engine, drive and boat pretty well now and can fix most things should they go wrong. If all else fails we can get towed to a suitable yard and make our own choice of engineer to work on the boat who we know is experienced with the type of boat and engine we have.

[Kae]

We have retainer cover and needed it once this year in 130 hours of running. Something I couldn't have fixed myself as I didn't have the requisite tools or bonding agent, so was well worth the £40 call out fee to have the engine running again on the second day of our two week holiday!

[Captain Fizz]

Luckily I am still fit enough to dangle upside down in the engine space and fix stuff myself.

We tend to carry all the usual spares such as cables/belts/filters so are fairly self sufficient.

Friends of ours swear by their silver over though, horses for courses.

[alan_fincher]

I've got bronze cover, which covers replacement bits (some of them anyway). Last year the clutch failed (old Lister gubbins) and they gave me £1000 towards the repair costs. This year the starter died on the T&M and the engineer came out, hoiked it off, took it somewhere or other and brought me another one the next day for the excess of £50. I reckon that covers my subs for the rest of my boating life...

I think it depends on what boat you've got, how old and reliable it and the engine bits are, and how good you are at fixing stuff yourself. Twenty years ago I would have done the starter myself (in fact I did) but age means I am no longer flexible enough to do much down in the engine hole. I'm a bit astonished that they charge the same for a fifty year old tub like mine as for a modern one, but it certainly gives me peace of mind. And yes, some of the engineers aren't that experienced, but some of them are terrific. And the ones that are baffled by ancient stuff don't seem worried about phoning more experienced engineers for advice.

 

And there I think you have adequately nailed the problem, and why RCR's pricing and discount structure heavily benefits some to the disadvantage of others.

 

Whenever they hand you, (or anybody else) something worth a four figure sum, but will still keep you on cover at the same price, they are not actually being altruistic! People like me, (and many others), are paying to repair your boat, whilst not actually making claims on our own.

 

Same as when I had AA or RAC membership. My mother in law was proudly telling us how she had had them out for the fifth time that year, because she was trying to exist with a duff battery, or no jack, but ultimately those who don't run their life that way can end up subsidising those that do.

 

Not a criticism of you at all - good luck to you, but I believe RCR need to adjust their charging to make it far more expensive for those that claim, and far cheaper for those trying to use it as a last resort insurance policy. This works quite well, because if you know the cover will suddenly get far more expensive if you start calling them, it focusses the mind on trying to stay self-sufficient, and in fact RCR don't need to have a lot of extra resource on standby because once in a blue moon someone like me might finally throw in the towel on self-help, and call them instead.

[dor]

My problem with RCR is the very small no-claims discount that they give. Many people look after their boats and very rarely break down. Others however haven't got a clue and call out RCR for very trivial matters, obviously subsidised by the former type.

 

I don't have a problem with people who don't understand engines, not everybody does, but they shouldn't be subsidised so much by the ones who service their engines regularly, carry spare cables, alternator belts etc and know how to diagnose and fix the majority of problems that can occur.

 

People who don't claim for five years or more should get say a 50% NCB, not the 15% maximum that they currently get.

[Boat&Bikes]

I reckon RCR offer a fantastic service for a very reasonable charge.For those above that use them but complain well your not forced to be a member are you? Like most things in life that you pay into such as taxes and insurances you will have winners and losers.

 

Ian.

[Guest]

I reckon RCR offer a fantastic service for a very reasonable charge.For those above that use them but complain well your not forced to be a member are you? Like most things in life that you pay into such as taxes and insurances you will have winners and losers.

 

Ian.

 

Alan and Dor make a valid point though about some members subsidising others.

 

We once broke down as members with a flat starter battery - did we call them out? no we didn't but I bet there are some that would, I knew the battery was playing up prior to it going completely belly up so I just bit the bullet and sourced a new one.

 

We were to a degree very lucky that we were close to the car at the time so it was just a case of nipping to the local chandlers - I would however wager there would have been some straight on the phone stating 'my boat won't start' even if the car had been nearby or they were moored near a chandlers.

[Bugsworth Tippler]

I concur with previous thread. Was Silver member but have upgraded to Gold after they sourced a rather obscure alternator and fitted it while I was cruising in the middle of nowhere (well deepest Cheshire, anyway). I feel that I have had good value from my membership and, more importantly, we like the reassurance that help is at hand if we breakdown. There are some that will be taking advantage of their membership/insurance policy but that's life. I don't think I've claimed on my home insurance for years and just don't think about those that repeatedly do with bogus claims. Honesty is an old-fashioned virtue I suggest.

 

Edited to add that I am concurring with 'last but one' thread (ianali).

Edited September 3, 2013 by Bugsworth Tippler

[WJM]

Gold - and have never called them out, ever. But well worth the peace of mind. I don't have the time or the patience to create, launch and attend an impromptu canal-side crash-course in boat repairs!

[haggis]

I have 2 gold memberships in my name :-) One for a trip boat in Scotland beacuse not all the drivers are able to cope with an engine problem if something goes wrong, and one for a shared boat (in England) for much the same reason. Having RCR membership gives peace of mind and although we have hardly used them it is good to know that they are there.

[GeoffS]

^{I have been a member of RCR for 5 years now, starting at Gold level and for the last 3 at Bronze level and not had to call them out. Some weeks ago I broke down and did make a first call out to them. The breakdown turned out to be a cracked rail that fixes the engine to the mounts and was deemed not covered. However they were extremely helpful in trying to find a contractor to make the repair. After a day of phone calls, which included them suggesting mobile welders, I decided that, despite their helpfullness I would be better off contacting an engineer I had used before myself as they were just being a middleman with limited information about the work that actually needed to be done.}

 

^{During the conversation with RCR I enquired about the recovery service as it was becoming clear that it would be useful to have the boat at a boatyard. I was told that the 2 hour limit on towing was from when the towing vessel left home not when I would be collected. Given that this could likely be leaving from a boatyard then I decided it was unlikely to ever fit into a 2 hour service. I was in Berkahamsted and to get to either Winkwell or Cowroast and back could not be done in 2 hours!}

 

^{I have concluded that I won't renew next year. The cost of the repair would have been covered by all the membership fees I have paid and if you have some contacts for various types of work that it is better and quicker to use them.}

Edited September 3, 2013 by GeoffS

[Guest]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread is that there is an (expensive) option of joining RCR when you are actually broken down. That might suite some people on here.

 

There are however conditions-

 

If I breakdown and I am not a member can I join?

You can still join but you will have to join at the minimum of the silver level and there is a one off call out charge of £50 for joining on a breakdown. Membership is normally activated 72 hours from when an application is received, so it is cheaper to join RCR before you breakdown.

[Tony Brooks]

FWIW - If anyone should not need RCR cover it is probably me and a few others on here. However this year we ventured far further north than we have ever been before and for far longer. Not being familiar with the area I was happy to take out Retained membership (and before any one who knows my past involvement with RCR asks I did not get a special deal).

 

It so happened that we suffered an alternator failure but I was able to locate a local Starter & Alternator specialist (in Burton, great company) and was happy to sort it myself. However if this had happened on a remote section of the Bridgewater, Mac, or T&M I would have called them out, even if it was just to bring me an alternator. Mine also is not so common being a Paris-Rhone (Valeo) but I was able to get a larger output one that charges at 14.5 volts rather than the 14.2 so am well pleased.

 

I consider the RCR fee was well spent but will not renew when we revert to local cruising.

[KevMc]

 

And there I think you have adequately nailed the problem, and why RCR's pricing and discount structure heavily benefits some to the disadvantage of others.

 

Whenever they hand you, (or anybody else) something worth a four figure sum, but will still keep you on cover at the same price, they are not actually being altruistic! People like me, (and many others), are paying to repair your boat, whilst not actually making claims on our own.

 

 

But isn't that the nature of insurance anyway? You get lots of people to pay in and only pay out to the unlucky few. RCR offer a flat rate service regardless of type/age of boat, frequency of use etc - compare that with buildings insurance and you get loaded for living by water incase the river floods, living in the middle of nowhere but could be a flood plain, living in an area of subsidence etc... all in all if you are mechanically adept you probably won't see RCR as good value but if you are as dangerous with a spanner in your hand as I am then it's good for peace of mind.