The Boat Specialist provides practical boating knowledge to support LCBA’s advice, events, facilities work and member guidance. This role should help LCBA give sensible, safe and experience-based boating information without pretending to replace professional surveyors, engineers, legal advisers or CRT.

What is expected of the person in the role:

• Provide practical boating advice to the committee.
• Support new boaters with general guidance on safe and considerate canal life.
• Help review boating-related information published by LCBA.
• Advise on boat safety topics, where competent to do so.
• Support the Events Manager with events involving practical boating demonstrations, boating advice, boat safety topics or facilities discussions.
• Support the Content Creator by checking boating-related website or social media content for accuracy before publication where needed.
• Advise the Lancaster Services Facilities Committee on practical boater needs.
• Help identify risks linked to water, mooring, access, services, sanitation, waste and winter conditions.
• Signpost members to qualified professionals where specialist advice is needed.
• Avoid giving advice beyond their competence.
• Work with the Safeguarding and Welfare Officer where boating problems create welfare risks, such as heating, power, water, toilet facilities or access issues.
• Attend any relevant training courses needed to fulfil the requirements of the position. 
• Maintain a good standing in the community and represent LCBA in accordance with all internal policies.

Reports to: 

• The Chair 
• The full LCBA Committee.

Deputised by: 

• The Head of Communications and Liaison may deputise on CRT or external liaison connected to boating matters.
• For technical or safety matters, the committee should appoint a second experienced boater or external adviser rather than relying on non-specialist cover.
• The Events Manager may provide practical event feedback where boating issues arise at events, but should not give technical boating advice unless competent to do so.
• The Content Creator should not deputise for the Boat Specialist, but may pause publication and request a fact-check where boating content may need technical accuracy.

Deputises for:

• The Lancaster Services Facilities Committee lead where the matter involves practical boating needs, facilities, services, access, water, sanitation, pump-out, Elsan, mooring conditions, winter boating or safety considerations.
• The Events Manager where an event involves practical boating knowledge, boating demonstrations, boat safety advice, facilities advice or technical boating information.
• The Content Creator by checking boating-related content for accuracy before publication in a supportive role. 
• The Boat Specialist should not deputise for the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising Officer, Membership Secretary, Safeguarding and Welfare Officer or Head of Communications and Liaison except where practical boating knowledge is needed.