River Canal Rescue - Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

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River Canal Rescue Services

1.1. Breakdown Service: A suitably qualified mechanic will attend your Breakdown and rectify the problem where possible, so that you can continue your voyage.
1.2. Recovery Service: If the Vessel cannot be repaired at the scene of the Breakdown, we will tow the Vessel safely to your Home Marina (within a maximum of 2 hours cruising), or - failing that - tow the Vessel to the nearest marina (advice and locations will be given by the attending mechanic). The cost of any further repairs to the Vessel will be your responsibility. * Recovery for retainer membership is chargeable at £30 per/hr. *excludes towing on tidal estuaries and rivers.
1.3. Home Start Service: If the Vessel breaks down at your Home Marina Berth, we will attend the Vessel and try to rectify the immediate problem. However, if the problem cannot be rectified, we will provide assistance in arranging the repair of your Vessel at your cost at your Home Marina, or by a suitably qualified person of your choice.
1.4. Crew Relay Service: If the Vessel breaks down while it is more than 10 miles from your Home Marina, and the Vessel cannot be repaired at that time, or be safely towed, we will transport you and your crew to your Home Marina or to a single home address at our cost. If you prefer, we will transport you and your crew to a single hotel or accommodation of your choice. However, the cost of any accommodation for you and your crew is your sole responsibility.
1.5. Annual Inspection: An annual inspection of the engine, electrical system and charging system of the Vessel will be undertaken by us, or by a suitably qualified person nominated by us. Details of any faults or repairs will be given to you, together with advice and assistance on obtaining any necessary repairs. This is undertaken during the September to March period and is dependant on the availability of the RCR personnel. This is an optional service which must be booked by the member each year.
1.6. Loan of Outboard Motor: If the Vessel cannot be repaired at the scene of the Breakdown, your Membership entitles you to the loan of an outboard motor:- where the Vessel is equipped to use outboard motors. The length of the loan differs according to the level of your Membership. The outboards will generally be 8hp motors. Please see T&C 4.10.
1.7. Message Service: RCR Rescue Control Centre provides a message relaying service, during the breakdown the member can request that family or friends be notified of their situation.
1.8. Special Needs: If you have any special requirements please inform the Rescue Control Centre when you phone, (ie. if you are stuck overnight, we can arrange for our mechanic to collect some groceries for you before his arrival). This is to a maximum of £10 and payment must be made to the mechanic on his arrival.

No Claims Bonus

If during the period of membership no call outs were made we will reduce your renewal premium by 5%.

Other Discounts

If you renew on the internet you will automatically receive 5% discount. There are a number of discounts available for Club members (if registered) During the year we run promotions and these may offer additional discounts. The max discount available through single or combined discounts is 25%.

Changing Your Vessel, and Adding Additional Vessels

This membership only covers the vessel specified in the schedule or reported to and accepted by us. So you must tell us as soon as possible, (minimum 48 hours in advance) by phone or in writing about any change of vessel, registration of additional vessels including details of the registration (if applicable), make, name and color of the vessel. Phone: 0871 200 8021

Cover for bronze and silver membership will only apply to the vessels registered, if you do not tell us about any change of vessel, the services will not apply to the new vessel.

Terms & Conditions of Membership

"If you apply for membership by post, fax, phone or the internet then you have the right to change your mind. You can cancel the contract by written notice to us and get a full refund but you lose this right once your membership becomes active. That means you have 72 hours after we accept your application to cancel unless you apply for emergency cover when you will have no right to cancel."

In these terms and conditions we use the following definitions:-
"Breakdown" - Any engine-related, mechanical or electrical breakdown (failures and breakages), which results in your not being able to sail your Vessel;
• Typical breakdowns covered: flat batteries, broken fan belts, cables, ignition problems, fuel issues, alternators, starters, cooling system, split pipes, fouled props, charging issues (starter only)
• running out of fuel will now attract a fuel surcharge
• the attendance cost of a locksmith is not covered but RCR will assist in locating and organising.
• attending a 'domestic breakdown' will attract a charge (£40)
• Damage to the rudder/skeg from hitting underwater obstacles is NOT covered however assistance will be provided to resolve.
• Fouled propellers - where access cannot be gained are excluded
• Bow thrusters are not covered although help with locating assistance will be provided.
• Taking on water or hull breach is covered under our pay on use service, and is not covered under the membership.

"Home Marina/Berth/Registered Moorings" - The place where the Vessel is normally kept; For 'continual cruisers' the winter moorings are classed as registered moorings.
"Member's Handbook" - The handbook issued to every Member of RCR;
"Period of Membership" - The length of time covered by your Membership as set out in the Schedule;
"Schedule" - The Schedule sent in the Membership pack;
"Territorial Limits" - All inland waterways within the borders of England, Wales and Scotland, excluding tidal estuaries (but including the tidal stretch of the River Trent from Newark to Keadby);
"the Vessel" - Any vessel, craft or boat specified in the Schedule (or reported to and accepted by us) at the time of the Breakdown, as long as you have paid the appropriate premium;
"We, us, our" - River Canal Rescue Limited;
"You, your" - The person named as "the Member" in the Schedule or application form.
We will provide National breakdown assistance and recovery services to you within the Territorial Limits on the basis of these Terms and Conditions.
The level of service you can request depends upon the level of Membership you have requested and we have agreed as detailed in the Schedule.
Please note that:-
4.1. You must retain your Membership card and produce this when calling us to a Breakdown.
4.2. We reserve the right to refuse applications for Membership.
4.3. Your membership will commence 72 hours after we accept your application and receive your payment.
4.4. Retainer membership packages have the right to assistance services offered by RCR. Every attendance is charged at a flat rate of £40. The cost of recovery or crew relay is charged at an hourly rate£35.
4.5. The annual engine inspection is provided as part of the gold membership and is also offered as a 'pay on use' service. The cost of this service is £50 if you do not hold a gold membership.
4.6. If you require Emergency Cover (we admit you to Membership immediately), then you must pay an additional £50 premium and apply at the minimum level of a silver membership. This is none refundable.
4.7. If you make more than 1 call-out during a 24 hour period and the call-out is related to the initial problem, this will be logged as a single attendance by us.
4.8. Your membership covers the cost of the callout and an engineer's attendance for two hours, additional time can be allocated based on availability of RCR engineers.
4.9. When a contractor attends on behalf of RCR and the fault is diagnosed as terminal or requires extensive work your membership will cover the callout charge and first hour of labour. A private agreement between you and the contractor will then take over.
4.10. The loan of an outboard motor is subject to availability, a deposit is required and we will charge at our standard rate if the motor is not returned on time, or is damaged in any way.
4.11. Parts delivery and outboard loan is subject to the discretion and availability of RCR staff or contractors.
4.12. There is no minimum call out time, however we aim to assist within 4 hours.
4.13. Winter moorings for 'continual cruisers' will be defined as Registered Moorings.
4.14. We will not provide assistance in connection with any failure of domestic electrical systems, domestic appliances or plumbing on board the Vessel.
4.15. Recovery to marina must be within a maximum of 2hrs journey time and is dependant on the availability of RCR staff.
4.16. Crew relay is restricted to a maximum of two crew relays in any 1 year of membership.
4.17. We are not obliged to answer call outs if the Vessel is on a tidal river. However, if the Vessel is safely moored and accessible then an RCR engineer can attend if Health & Safety issues are satisfied. (RCR does cover the tidal stretch of the River Trent from Newark to Keadby).
4. Please note that our resources are finite. We seek to meet the service needs of Members at all times, but this may not always be possible. We shall not be liable for service failures where we are faced with circumstances outside our reasonable control, including (but not limited to) acts of God, outbreaks of hostilities, civil disturbance, acts of terrorism, flood, snow, fog or other bad weather conditions, vehicle, equipment or systems failures, shortages of fuel or other necessary supplies, default of suppliers, sub-contractors or staff.

General Exclusions

You (and not us) will be responsible for the cost of:-
1.1. Recovery of the Vessel by road.
1.2. Any tolls payable for the transport of the Vessel.
1.3. Taking crew to more than one address after any Breakdown, if you insist on this.
1.4. Recovering the Vessel and crew, if the Vessel could have been repaired within a reasonable period of time at or near to the place of the Breakdown.
1.5. Any parts, components or materials used to repair the Vessel.
1.6 .Any services you request which are not arranged by us.
1.7. If the Vessel breaks down at your Home Marina or within 1 mile of that, unless you have Home Start.
1.8. Any recovery charges apart from recovery to the nearest available marina or, if the Vessel breaks down within 1 mile of your Home Marina, recovery to the Home Marina.
1.9. Any request for service if the Vessel has been used (since you bought it) for private hire, public hire, racing, pace making or in any contest or speed trial or any rigorous reliability testing. Unless RCR have been notified in writing and membership has been accepted.
1.10. Any request for service if the Vessel is out of the water or cannot be reached due to snow, mud, sand or flood.
1.11. Any other breakdown or recovery service you use not nominated by us.
We shall not be responsible for:
2.1. Loss of, or damage to, the Vessel, its contents, or any valuables carried in the Vessel.
2.2. Any consequence of war, invasion, the act of a foreign enemy, hostilities (whether declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, military power, or strike or industrial action.
2.3. Loss damage or injury or any consequential or indirect loss sustained by you while the Vessel is in our care.
2.4. Any damage to the Vessel or otherwise suffered by you after we have recovered the Vessel to the nearest available marina or to your Home Marina.
We reserve the right to levy a reasonable charge if you call us out to repair the same or a similar fault with the Vessel within 7 days of the previous call out, or where advised repairs have not been implemented.
We are not obliged to provide services where repairs are required after an accident.
We can refuse to supply services if in our reasonable opinion the Vessel is in such a condition or position that the health and safety of our staff or sub-contractors is endangered or if the provision of service by us would require us to break the law or if any Member or crew of the Vessel is abusive to us or our staff or sub-contractors.
We can also refuse to supply services to Members if any such Member owes us any monies.
If a Member exceeds the number of call-outs permitted by their level of Membership, then we reserve the right to charge £40 for each subsequent call out.
We reserve the right to change these Terms and Conditions on giving reasonable notice of the changed Terms and Conditions to our Members.

General conditions

We will only provide the cover described in this membership if:

You have met all the terms and conditions in this document of membership.
The information you have given to us is, as far as you know, correct and complete. (Any payment made under this membership will be based on the original information provided by you).
If you have failed to give us complete and accurate information or have not met the terms and conditions, this could lead to assistance being denied or the membership not being valid.
This membership only applies to the member detailed on the application form and cannot be transferred to anyone else, unless specified or agreed in writing with RCR
If your vessel breaks down (whether you need immediate service or not), it is within the members interest to contact RCR 's 24-hour rescue center.
Riverside help or recovery will only be provided if you or a member of your crew stay with the vessel until a rescue vehicle arrives.
If a callout is made which you or anyone acting on your behalf knows is false, fraudulent or exaggerated, cover under this membership will end, and no refund will be made.
You must take all reasonable steps to prevent a breakdown, and your vessel must not be sailed in a dangerous condition or until all recommended repairs have been carried out. If the vessel is deemed as requiring extensive work we will inform you and may restrict cover until completed.
You must keep your vessel properly maintained and serviced.
If you make any alteration to this membership we may charge an administration fee. We do not return premiums where the amount is less than £5.
We may cancel this membership by sending 7 days notice, by recorded delivery, to your last known address.
You may cancel this membership at any time by telling us in writing and sending back your document of membership. If you have not made a claim in the current period of your membership, we will pay you a refund minus an administration fee of £40 and the time you were covered which is based on a day rate.
The vessel must have a current valid insurance certificate.
The vessel must have a current tax disc (where applicable).
The vessel (where applicable) must have a current registration with either the Environment Agency, or British Waterways.
The vessel (where applicable) must have a current Boat Safety Certificate.