Attention to Detail

“Success in any endeavor requires single-minded attention to detail and total concentration.” - Willie Sutton



Now I can't quite remember whether lifeboatjohn is back today or tomorrow, so here's a short post to fill in any gap...



Attention to detail on a Lifeboat can make quite a lot of difference. Knowing exactly where an item of equipment is stowed might make the difference between emerging from the survivor's cabin feeling fine, or feeling like a trip to the taffrail is in order. On the other hand, knowing precisely where and how the emergency steering is stowed and rigged might make a rather more fundamental difference.


No one at our station pays more attention to detail than young Turnbull. An example of this is shown in the picture below - a close up of one of our VHF antennae on the Mersey coach roof. Notice the little green stickers. When stowed all the aerials have to lie flat along the coach roof in order to fit the boat in the boathouse. Before launch, the aerials are raised. When the green stickers are in line, the aerial is at the correct rakish tilt. Not vertical, you understand, oh no. Tilting all the antenae forward somewhat serves two very important purposes:

• Presents the antenna vertically when the boat is bow-up under power.


• Looks better in photos

BTW, Willie Sutton, quoted at the top of this post, was a prolific US bank robber. He is also quoted as saying "You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can get with just a kind word". Thanks for reading this week, and welcome back John.