Our Highfield Patrol 600 is powered by a Honda 100hp Outboard, and has been provided by Highfield UK. It is serviced every winter by our friends at Cam Marine, who are professional marine engineers and ensure the boat is in top condition all the time.
The boat is mainly used for our powerboat courses, bu occasionally gets used for some skippered charter and taster sessions when available.
To be able to take passengers, the boat is required to be ‘coded’ by the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency). We have achieved coding to allow the boat to be used up to 20 nautical miles from a safe haven during the day (Category 4) and 3 nautical miles from a safe haven at night (Category 3 restricted). To achieve coding we have to meet stringent safety and professional standards and we get regularly inspected by an MCA surveyor to ensure we maintain this standard. Specific safety equipment is externally inspected each year according to MCA guidance.
Equipment installed on the boat include a VHF radio, Chartplotter, navigation lights and main and secondary anchors.
Safety equipment we carry includes the following (and some smaller items not mentioned!):
Liferaft, Lifejackets for all (+2 spare), Thermal Protective Aids, 2 Fire extinguishers, Flares, First aid kits, Searchlight, Emergency ladder, Throwline, Tool kit and spares, Operating documents (including charts, tide tables, licenses etc).
We are also inspected by the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) every year as part of our RYA Recognised Training Centre status. They inspect the equipment as above, but also our procedures and documentation on running courses.