Neil Chalmers (l) from Kinghorn and Sam Jones (r) from Tobermory wearing the new lifejackets.

BOAT owners have been urged not to “cut corners” when it comes to maintaining their vessels after it emerged a fifth of all rescue callouts were down to machinery failures.

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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) last night issued detailed figures for the number of rescues it carried out last year.

They reveal how crews across the region launched 601 times to rescue 600 people.

These include a boy who drifted out to see in an inflatable dinghy, three cold anglers who capsized in the River Blackwater and two separate incidents of boats attacked by bee swarms off Harwich.

RNLI bosses say more than 50% of launches last year were to pleasure craft, which, they say, reflects a general increase in the number of leisure craft users.

Michael Oakes, the RNLI’s east deputy divisional inspector, said: “East Anglian lifeboat crews continue to carry out a vital service, rescuing many people who get into trouble at sea.

“However it is a sobering thought that nearly one fifth of our lifeboat launches are down to machinery failure which is why we urge all boat users to ensure their vessels are maintained properly and not to cut corners with safety.

“The RNLI has mechanics at every station to ensure the lifeboats are always in a seaworthy condition.”

Nationally, the RNLI launched 8,905 times making 2011 the second busiest in the charity’s records.

The region’s busiest lifeboat station was Southend-on-Sea, with 110 launches, rescuing 90 people, followed by Harwich, the 22nd busiest in the UK, which launched 82 times and rescued 116 people.

The RNLI is independent of Government and reliant on donations. In East Anglia it will cost a total of £46,500 to replace lifejackets across the region at a cost of between £2,000 and £4,500 for most individual stations. To donate, contact area manager Aimee Menniss on 07767 008335 or e-mail Aimee_Menniss@rnli.org.uk .