It’s good to know that there’s several sectors finding an increased demand for their services. For instance, boat transport is not always something that owners can do themselves, especially the movement of large boats. What might look small on water is normally huge on the road.

There is nothing more important than checking your lifejacket works but amazingly you will find elsewhere (pg4) in this issue about how many lifejackets failed a free check in Dun Laoghaire this summer. As with all safety and emergency equipment, servicing your lifejacket is most important. Whatever type of lifejacket you use, it will need basic maintenance to keep it working properly.

Whitten Road Haulage, with over 30 years of experience, feel that one aspect that sometimes overlooked is the ‘escort vehicle’ which alerts other road users and pedestrians of the imminent ‘abnormal load’. Tommy Lyndon says; “the escort vehicle, along with the occupants, should be equipped with 2-way radio systems, hazard warning and first-aid equipment”. They should also be in possession of awareness of legislation in various jurisdictions, which varies, and when an Abnormal Load Permit is required.

“In Ireland, the Abnormal Load Permit system is independently administered by each Local Authority and, accordingly, each journey will require separate application to each of the Council areas through which it is proposed to travel. Each application requires a different form, requesting different amounts of information, with different lead-in times and, of course, a fee in each case”, says Tommy.

Nigel Sands from Sands Marine would agree – he knows of two customers who bought boats in the UK which were put on the wrong trailer, the gauges weren’t working, and the trailer bent. To add insult to injury, the boat didn’t get a proper Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI), and, as the local dealer, he got the call to sort it out. So buying abroad isn’t necessarily a money-saving exercise as the above would seem to show: for example, un-tested engines can be put into boats but the problem doesn’t become visible until the boat is far away from the seller. Dealing locally means you get the after-sales service that’s so crucial to a happy sailor.