Droitwich Spa Model Boat Club Safety Rules

Updated 15th December 2019

The payment of your membership fee confirms your willingness to accept and observe these rules.

1.   Any type of model boat may be sailed at our regular club venues (County Hall and Lakeside) with the exception of those powered by internal combustion engines (which are prohibited by local bye-laws) and by rocket or jet engines (which are prohibited by our insurers). Steam-powered boats are permitted, but our insurers recommend that steam boat installations should be checked and tested annually.  If you plan to buy or build a steam boat, or have one that you wish to sail, please ask the committee for information about what tests are needed.

2.   Boats must be sailed at all times with due regard for personal safety and for the safety of other members’ boats.  At County Hall:  Fast electric boats should be sailed at high speed only after about 11.30 am (by which time the pool is usually relatively free of other boats).  At all other times fast electric boats must temper their speed in line with the number and type of boats on the pool. At Lakeside: Fast electrics may be used at any time but must be kept well away from the rest of the fleet. There are three pools available at Lakeside. If there are lots of yachts on the middle sized pool fast boats can move to the large lake and vice-versa. The small pool is available for small boats at all times. Club organised  racing of yachts and club 500 boats is confined to Lakeside.

3.   Owners of large boats are required to provide adequate and safe means of launching and retrieving them e.g. by means of trolleys, frames, belt loops etc.  When launching boats at Lakeside, members must wear an approved life jacket or buoyancy aid (these can be borrowed from the activity centre).
This also applies when members are in the water launching or retrieving boats.

4.   Most members use 2.4 GHz radio gear, but the use of 40 MHz or 27 MHz gear is also permitted. 
A peg-board is usually provided for 40 MHz and 27 MHz users. Please attach a peg with your name on it to the appropriate place on the board before you switch on, and remove it when you switch off. At sites without a frequency peg-board, check with other operators that your frequency is clear before switching on your transmitter.

5.   All telescopic transmitter aerials must have some sort of eye protection on their ends.  A plastic ‘practice’ golf ball or a sphere of foam rubber is ideal for this purpose. 

6.   Every care must be taken to avoid our activities inconveniencing members of the public. In particular, don’t obstruct pedestrian routes with models, tool boxes, launching trolleys, unattended chairs etc.  At all times be polite to members of the public and responsive to any reasonable request from them.

7.   Keep your boat away from wildlife; its right to be on the water is much greater than yours.

8.   You are advised not to sail on your own; a minimum of two people should be present. In this way, if someone gets into difficulty (for example, they might be taken ill or might fall into the water while launching or retrieving a boat) there will be someone present to offer or summon help.  Note that when sailing at Lakeside our agreement with Worcester University stipulates that a minimum of 2 people must be present.

9.   Don’t take chances when attempting to retrieve a stranded boat.  Summon help from others; a rescue boat, line or telescopic pole may be available.  Your boat may be valuable but it is worthless compared with your life.

10.  Security is an increasingly important issue for our site owners, so always wear your club badge in a clearly visible way, and ensure that your car has a DSMBC car sticker clearly displayed on its windscreen.  Lost badges or stickers will be replaced on request.

11.  Flying model aircraft is not an activity consistent with the aims of the DSMBC as described in the club constitution, and is therefore not supported or insured by the club at any site.  If you wish to fly a model aircraft you must seek the permission of the site owner, and you must have third party insurance cover separate from that provided by the DSMBC.  We recommend that you join the BMFA (British Model Flying Association) which provides suitable insurance cover and comprehensive operational guidance for its members.

12.  If you observe any club member failing to comply with any of the above rules, you have an obligation to bring non-compliance to their attention.  Please do this in a friendly and supportive way.  If non-compliance continues please notify any committee member.

   The payment of your membership fee confirms your willingness to accept and observe these rules.