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Plans for a rigging training course
There are currently no recognised training courses for riggers in the UK and anyone can set themselves up with a man and a van. That’s the finding from AllSpars that is now sitting down with British Marine to develop a course that could start as early as September.
“Whenever we take on a new member of staff, they don’t know what it entails,” said AllSpars MD Andy Postle. “We’re trying to start a movement that will benefit everyone.
“A lot of people don’t use trained banksmen and as a result, riggers struggle to charge the same amount of money as a marine electrician for example.”
He added: “Stepping on a boat and knowing how to repair people’s furling gear for example, tuning a mast. It all comes from training and experience.
“We’re keen to establish the difference between us and a man and van.”
And Mr Postle pointed out that some riggers will make up a set of rigging to the lowest price possible with customers of smaller boats in particular very price driven.
And this is the same for sections of the OEM market.
“Products are designed to a price some OEMs want to pay,” said so-director Dave Barden. “They end up smaller, lighter and minimalistic.
“Some of the boatbuilders pit manufacturers off against each other who then have to minimalise the material and the price.
“In the refit market, customers are usually amenable to a difference in cost in order to get a quality product, especially on yachts 35ft and upwards.
“There are some manufacturers that have their own rigging screws for example that need to be replaced at the year eight or nine inspection because they’ve seized. It’s indicative of the price.”