FAQ

The Pioner is the strongest and most robust small workboat on the market, making them safe and reliable. They are also virtually maintenance free. There are a range of models to suit any need from pond row boats up to the Multi, at 5.3m long with its unique bow door giving easy access for loading of up to 1.16Te of payload, with even wheeled equipment being easily loaded. The Multi makes an ideal safety boat, workboat or a fun versatile leisure boat. Most of our boat / engine packages are virtually new offering the latest in design and reliability (although if you are intending putting the boat to serious intensive use we may be able to offer a more pre-used looking, but equally reliable unit!!) We provide these boats with a range of Yamaha outboard engines, giving market leading reliability, easy use and safe control of these fast and versatile boats.

The RIB is a well-established and popular boat, often being designed to operate at speed or in big seas. However, for most applications where these are not the only criteria, the Pioner offers a boat which will be more practical, reliable and invariably safer.  The Pioner is far more robust and resistant to knocks or puncture.  Each model in the range has significantly larger usable deck space than equivalent similar sized boats available, with many in the range also offering remarkable stability – see the ‘Steady’ range.  Both the space and stability make for easier access and safer personnel or equipment movement around the boat and the Multi, the largest in the fleet, is the optimum for safety boat and work boat use. It needs virtually no maintenance.

The Multi is a safe and unique boat. It has a bow door giving access for endless applications: safety boat recovery, recovery or safe manual overboarding of equipment in open water or loading/ unloading at the shore, wheeled access such as wheelchairs or work equipment, access for livestock, allows a clear view for the helmsman to approach in water items such as casualties, divers, markers etc. It has a carrying capacity of 1160kg, this is more than any other boat of its size. Its has a working deckspace designed for maximum easy accessible and useful area. It is robust, fast and safe and can carry up to 8 persons. It can be Coded for most waters. At less than 1.4Te with engine and trailer it is versatile to access most waters. (See spec for more details)

You can tow the Pioner boats, even the Multi on its trailer with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 1350Kg is suitable for most large vehicles and in most situations.

The road trailer we provide with the Multi is braked. With braked trailers, the recommendation is that the trailer weight is no more than approximately 80% to 85% of the tow vehicle weight, hence a tow vehicle of anything over approx. 1700Kg would be suitable. Your vehicle will have this information either on the ‘Manufacturer’s plate’ or in the handbook. It will show: the GVW / GVM – the Gross Vehicle Weight (in Kg) being the maximum weight of vehicle on its own; and the GTW/GTM – the Gross Train Weight, the maximum weight of your tow vehicle with trailer attached. The weight of the trailer is again the maximum allowable loaded weight of the trailer, the trailer GVW, in this case 1350Kg as stated on the trailer Manufacturer’s plate, and cannot be considered less than this trailer GVW even if the trailer is not loaded. This will confirm if the tow vehicle is suitable to tow the trailer legally on the road, however further regulations apply once the GTW exceeds 3500Kg/3.5Te.

GTW less than 3.5Te: If the Gross Train Weight (GTW, the maximum weight of the fully loaded car (whether loaded or not) plus the maximum loaded weight of the trailer (whether loaded or not) is less than 3.5Te then no tachograph or Operators license is required. GTW more than 3.5Te but less than 7.5Te: A tacho and Operators license is required UNLESS the boat is to be used by the driver at his work and is within 100Km of his base, or is not for commercial use, or another exemption applies.

The use of boats is governed by the Merchant Shipping Regulations and the associated guidelines published by the Marine and Coastguard Agency. Additionally, local bylaws apply for many harbours and sheltered and inland waterways. In brief this usually means that for boats with less than 12 passengers working on inland and sheltered waters, local bylaws and guidelines will apply to which the standard non Coded workboat will usually comply. We can review the local regulations along with your working requirements to ensure we deliver a fully compliant boat.  These waters are referred to as category A to D.  Boats in tidal waters not categorised as A to D even if near-shore and sheltered, will require to be coded for working ‘at sea’ as discussed on FAQ 8.

For working ‘at Sea’, the boat will need to be coded to suit the specific sea ‘Area Category’ where the work is to be carried out and the necessity to work through the hours of darkness or outside ‘favourable’ weather conditions. Work in specific areas such as harbours may also have to comply with bylaws administered by the Harbour Authority. The ‘Area Categories’ range from Code 6, allowing the boat to work 3 miles from its departure point in good weather and in daylight, through to’ Area Category’ 0 for open sea unrestricted service. Pioner Multi workboats can be Coded to Area Category 3, and when coded as such are not restricted to favourable weather and daylight, however this is usually with an offshore distance/ distance from departure point restriction.

The term ‘Coded’ normally refers to a boat set up and certified as compliant with the MCA codes, primarily for work ‘at sea’ or as a passenger boat.  For workboats on inland waterways a lesser specification is required, reflecting the conditions and reduced risks.  These requirements are usually focused on safety equipment to be carried onboard and crew qualifications required.  We can check and advise on requirements for your waters.

For our smaller row boats, you wont need any more than common sense!  However, for the larger boats with powerful engines there is an inherent safety risk in the use of the boats, so a range of qualifications and experience will be required to reflect the location and conditions.  We can advise the training requirements for your specific case.  For most situations, the RYA Powerboat level 2 or equivalent is suitable qualification to skipper one of our workboats.

You will be required to insure the boat throughout the time you have it on hire, including any road haulage by yourselves.   Prior to any hire boat leaving our site, or our agents site, a Certificate of Insurance must be received by our office clearly demonstrating the boat and trailer are insured for the intended use, loss or damage and cover for a minimum of £3m Public Liability and Employers Liability.