AMATEUR sailors have been advised to ensure their boats are properly equipped before setting out after a broken-down cabin cruiser was towed in by Minehead’s volunteer lifeboat crew at the weekend.

The station’s Atlantic 85 was launched after the boat’s owner told coastguards his engine had failed when about a mile and a half east of Watchet harbour in a moderate sea.

The lifeboat was alongside in minutes and the vessel’s owner then managed to restart his engine, but almost immediately fouled the propeller on the anchor line.

Crew member Jake Sanderson entered the water and managed to cut the rope away and the decision was then taken to tow the cruiser in to Watchet harbour.

Helmsman Andrew Escott said Friday evening’s towing operation went smoothly.

“We got him into the outer harbour and then he said he would be OK to get to his berth by himself. But as soon as he started up his engine he boat began heading straight for the harbour wall because the steering had failed, so we took him in tow again and got him into the marina.

“Then we discovered he didn’t even have a mooring line to make himself fast so we had to lend him one of our ropes.

“Having something to moor the boat up with is a pretty fundamental requirement on any trip to sea. We can only stress how important it is to make sure every boat is fully equipped before it is taken out, particularly in the Bristol Channel where weather and tidal conditions can change so rapidly.”