A boatie’s best insurance

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard members Anna Meissner and Steve Russell. Photos: Ryan Wood.

It's been a successful morning for the local Coastguard, who held their MayDay fundraising event down beside the new tidal stairs on the waterfront.

One of the biggest drives today was for new members, to help keep the vital volunteer service afloat.

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard unit manager Steve Russell says people don't often realise the Coastguard receives no government funding.

'There are around 10,000 boats in the Bay of Plenty, so it's a vital service,” he says. 'All it costs is $100 to join – not much more than a tank of gas. And it means if you need rescuing, you don't get billed.”

The joining fee is also tax deductible, so it can work out to be almost nothing at all. It's among the most affordable of insurance schemes for boaties.

'I've handed out at least 15 new membership forms already,” says Steve. 'Part of today is also about letting people know what we do, because you don't always get the chance to see.”

He says it's been a busy morning with people checking out their rescue boat and the amphibious Sealegs vehicle, which can be driven on land, before the wheeled ‘legs' fold up ready to head straight into the sea.

The fundraising aspect has also done well, and Steve says in the future they hope to upgrade at least one of their rescue vessels.

'People have been very generous. Every little bit helps.”

Sealegs, for travelling on land.

Sealegs, in sea mode.

Inside the rescue boat.

You may also like....

1 comment

They do a great job

Posted on 21-05-2017 16:13 | By Border Patrol

We are coastguard members and every time we go out on the water it's great to know they are on the job. Their fees are reasonable and having them available to us offers peace of mind.Thanks guys!


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.