Continuos Cruising

[dmr]

Wow. Just wow.

 

Thanks Dave for your sensible answer to what I asked. I understand a lot better now. I think I will be fine, there is a few hundred miles of canal I can travel along so I don't think there will be a problem other than with the neighbours it seems. Do the canals make everyone crazy?

 

Today we passed under the A34 bypass, Thats when you realise the whole world is insane, those living on the canals are the only sane ones left.

 

............Dave

[Ange]

Definitely the internet rather than the canals!

 

When we first moved aboard and started cc'ing I wasn't sure what to say when I had the lockside conversation that involved "so where is your mooring then?" I was sure, from reading posts on here that I was going to be interrogated as to my movements and maybe lynched if they didn't conform! I at the least expected the cold shoulder.

 

Nothing's been further from the truth - the reaction is either of envy because they want to do the same or disbelief because they couldn't do it 12 months of the year. I've encountered no hostility whatsoever.

 

You can get a skewed view of what people think by just reading the forum - there's a lot of people who lurk or are guests who keep their view to themselves - it's only the views of a few that you hear.

[dmr]

Wow. Just wow.

 

Thanks Dave for your sensible answer to what I asked. I understand a lot better now. I think I will be fine, there is a few hundred miles of canal I can travel along so I don't think there will be a problem other than with the neighbours it seems. Do the canals make everyone crazy?

 

and whilst talking about sanity.........

You don't need to spend a fortune getting a brand new boat built to your specification, just go and look at some secondhand ones and buy the one that you like best (and hopefully designed by someone who knows much more about living on boats than you do).

Don't read those naughty canal magazines....go and look at the boats on the cut!

 

................Dave

[Maffi]

Wow. Just wow.

 

Thanks Dave for your sensible answer to what I asked. I understand a lot better now. I think I will be fine, there is a few hundred miles of canal I can travel along so I don't think there will be a problem other than with the neighbours it seems. Do the canals make everyone crazy?

Now I am surprised at you Bartleby. Given that you asked the question one can reasonably assume that you didn't know the answer. Dave has given you an answer that suits you so you see it as a 'sensible answer'. You don't know if he is right or wrong, but look at it this way if I come into your house and you say "Don't put your feet up on the chairs! You would expect me not to put my feet up on the chairs. If I do put my feet up on the chairs you will be miffed that I didn't obey 'your' rules in 'your' house.

 

BW/CRT currently own/run/manage the canal. They have to ensure the system works so they lay down a set of 'rules', in 'their' house. Why would you be any less likely to obey the rules laid down (by the 'householder'), when someone you dont know from Adam tells you what you want to hear.

 

I assume you have read the rules. Anyone with a secondary education can understand them. If at any time you believe that CRT cant legally appply the rules then take £50K out of your bank account and challenge the CRT in court. I am guessing Dave will not be there with his hand in his pocket offering more cash for the fighting fund (no disrespect meant to any one just a different way of looking at it).

[blodger]

I mostly agree with Maffi but think that Dave summed things up very succinctly regarding a changing situation regarding mooring restrictions/charges and the usefulness/legality of guidelines and what a boater is licensed to do.

 

My conclusions are

 

If I was not informed by this forum I would not be aware of what lay ahead or is happening regarding.

 

Boating and moving a boat has become spectacularly more expensive with the red diesel tax changes and the hike in petrol/diesel price to leave and join the boat where you temporarily leave it on the network if you are CCing/Weekending.

 

I will hang on to the boat I have for as long as I can until I can no longer afford/ start to breech any new regulations/enforcement.

 

I would not entertain buying a boat now if I did not already have one; It's becoming too problematic

[mrsmelly]

I am always suspicious of the type of question posed here. Mainly thats because I am a suspicious person. I would ask initially if the 'newbie' is maybe working for CRT and asking to get a consensus of opinion from which they can maybe form some rules that everyone can live by, bit far fetched I know.

 

And then at the other end of the spectrum I think a genuine Continuous Cruiser wouldn't need to ask this question.

 

So that leaves the other sorts of continuous, the Moorer and the Avoider. Both are bridge hoppers. That is a choice they make and I will not say they can't.

 

You simply cannot be a CCer on one canal. They whole point of being allowed to CC is to see the system. The SYSTEM is 2,000 miles long. I'm kinda guessing that it would be difficult to see those 2,000 miles by only travelling 50 of them. So I think the OP is not going to be a continuous cruiser. Agreed?

 

Now with regards moving, the OP mentioned 10 miles. I think this is a lot. When I am out and about I travel as long as it takes to give me a tank of hot water, fully charged batteries and a pub. Depending how fast you travel this can be done in an hour or so actually moving maybe 2 miles. If you move every 14 days in the same direction you will only be 52 miles away from where you first started a year later. 52 miles is NOT an unreasonable distance to travel to work for what will be a relatively short period of time (I once worked for three years driving 90 miles each way to work). Then next year when you renew your licence you can about face and go back. Although this is not strictly following the rules you will probably get away with it. You will of course be an Avoider preferring to stay relatively close to work but not wanting to get a ticket! Travelling 20/25 miles in each direction is what we call here bridge hopping. On the GU they may call that something else.

 

Remember of course that working and children at school are not good reasons under the CC 'rules' to stay in one area. At the end of the day we all do what we can get away with.

 

If you can avoid being a CCer the rules are different. Of course if you have a marina mooring the CC rules don't apply to you. You dont have to stay in the marina but it would make a useful base during the winter when towpaths are often very muddy and driving snow puts you off moving. During the summertime you can travel as much or as little as you like and they can't stop you providing you don't hog the visitor moorings.

 

Enjoy!

 

Very good and sensible post. Greenie for Mafflet.

You simply cannot cc on one canal.

Tim

Edited May 13, 2013 by mrsmelly

[carlt]

 

I thought the paragraph further down the guidance made it reasonably clear.

 

 

What constitutes a „neighbourhood‟ will vary from area to area – on a rural waterway a village or hamlet may

be a neighbourhood and on an urban waterway a suburb or district within a town or city may be a

neighbourhood. A sensible and pragmatic judgement needs to be made.

Just my interpretation, I will be interested to see what others think.

 

It is no clearer than the sentence further down that says:

 

 

This Guidance does not have the force of law but seeks to interpret the law

Emphasising the fact that CRT recognise that it is just "Guidance" and not necessarily enforceable.

[Lady Muck]

You simply cannot cc on one canal.

 

 

You can, according to CRT, they have said that you *can* cc with a river only license on the Lee and Stort. Is this about 'satisfying the board' or satisfying some stranger on the internet?

[BruceinSanity]

Having sorted the CC bit (ha!) I'm more worried about the OP's level of experience.

• Have you ever actually cruised in a canal boat?
• In the winter?
• Are you on your own and if not, what does your partner think of the idea?
• Will your relationship stand the two of you being confined to a small railway carraiage for months at a time?

 

I don't know if Beryl McD is doing her sessions about living aboard at Crick this year; if so I'd strongly advise going along to one.

 

If not, at least get the book from the RBOA about Living Aboard.

 

BS, you may well have done all this, in which case I apologise, but others in your position may read this topic now or later and my points can't be made too often, IMHO.

[mrsmelly]

You simply cannot cc on one canal.

 

 

You can, according to CRT, they have said that you *can* cc with a river only license on the Lee and Stort. Is this about 'satisfying the board' or satisfying some stranger on the internet?

I disagree. the word " Continuous " alone says it all for me. I dont believe cc ing rules were devised for people to extract the urine re boating costs, they are there to allow bone fide cruisers to do so. I at present am working in one place and its an area I could easily take the pee as I am on the junction of many different routes but I pay marina dues and go out as often as possible ( tomorrow again ) and retain my mooring. If I pack up work and go cruising which I have done on many ocasions in the last twenty odd years then I dont pay for a mooring as I move around the country like many others genuinely do.

Boat ownership is not meant to be a cheap cop out option, boating costs money to do it correctly.

If someone needs to live in one area for work/school or any other reason then they should have a mooring.

 

Tim

[jenlyn]

 

 

You simply cannot cc on one canal.

Tim

Thats just a silly statement with no merit. Continuous means exactly what it says, there is no "how far".

[carlt]

If someone needs to live in one area for work/school or any other reason then they should have a mooring.

 

Tim

Sorry but this is not the case.

 

If you work and allow yourself a one hour commute then you have hundreds of miles of waterways to continuously cruise whilst holding down a job.

 

And, as LM says, CRT have even made allowances for "isolated" waterways, recognising that some people just don't want to live in one place but would also like to work to pay their way.

 

The political and economic system provides enough obstacles to finding work without this myth preventing people from living the lifestyle of their choice and having a job at the same time.

Edited May 13, 2013 by carlt

[mrsmelly]

Thats just a silly statement with no merit. Continuous means exactly what it says, there is no "how far".

Your opinion. I generaly find thats the opinion of people who err funnily enough move up and down in one area and are trying to change the long standing rules to suit themselves to avoid some boating costs. I know many many genuine cc ers all over the country ( having boated nearly all of it several times ) they dont need to ask what the cc ing rules are and funnily enough like myself have never had any kind of patrol notice affixed to their boats.

 

Tim

 

Sorry but this is not the case.

 

If you work and allow yourself a one hour commute then you have hundreds of miles of waterways to continuously cruise whilst holding down a job.

 

And, as LM says, CRT have even made allowances for "isolated" waterways, recognising that some people just don't want to live in one place but would also like to work to pay their way.

 

The political and economic system provides enough obstacles to finding work without this myth preventing people from living the lifestyle of their choice and having a job at the same time.

 

That I completely agree with BUT the vast majority of the cost dodgers do NOT move over large areas they simply bridge hop in a very small area as you and I both know.

 

Tim

[blodger]

I disagree. the word " Continuous " alone says it all for me. I dont believe cc ing rules were devised for people to extract the urine re boating costs, they are there to allow bone fide cruisers to do so. I at present am working in one place and its an area I could easily take the pee as I am on the junction of many different routes but I pay marina dues and go out as often as possible ( tomorrow again ) and retain my mooring. If I pack up work and go cruising which I have done on many ocasions in the last twenty odd years then I dont pay for a mooring as I move around the country like many others genuinely do.

Boat ownership is not meant to be a cheap cop out option, boating costs money to do it correctly.

If someone needs to live in one area for work/school or any other reason then they should have a mooring.

 

Tim

 

Should is different to must.

Your opinion is examplary but not fact

[jenlyn]

Your opinion. I generaly find thats the opinion of people who err funnily enough move up and down in one area and are trying to change the long standing rules to suit themselves to avoid some boating costs. I know many many genuine cc ers all over the country ( having boated nearly all of it several times ) they dont need to ask what the cc ing rules are and funnily enough like myself have never had any kind of patrol notice affixed to their boats.

 

Tim

Perhaps you need to get out more, not everything you read on the internet is true ;-).

With regards to your "suits" remark, I have two, an Armani and a Hugo Boss.

[mrsmelly]

Perhaps you need to get out more, not everything you read on the internet is true ;-).

With regards to your "suits" remark, I have two, an Armani and a Hugo Boss.

As usual when the ( arguement ) sorry discussion is lost resort to the good old pathetic spelling gambit

 

Tim

[matty40s]

Grand Union, starts in London and ends in BIrmingham or the River Trent, even a fat boat can get most of the way. I see no reason why this does not fit in with the guidelines.

[jenlyn]

As usual when the ( arguement ) sorry discussion is lost resort to the good old pathetic spelling gambit

 

Tim

I was merely following your lead and attempting to broaden the debate ;-)

[alan_fincher]

You simply cannot cc on one canal.

Tim

Once again you clearly know more than those actually running the canals.

 

If CRT have been prepared to put in the public domain that a sensible continuous movement around less that 30 miles of water is perfectly acceptable as "compliant", I'm happy to go with their definition, and ignore yours.

 

CRT have had the common sense to review their interpretation of the relevant legislation, whilst you continue to live in some old world that revolves around what you think the legislation ought to say, rather than what it actually does.

 

Staying on one 30 mile river would never be my preference, whilst I have good enough health to move around all over the system, but it is not our right to prescribe to others that they are doing anything wrong, when they are not.

[carlt]

That I completely agree with BUT the vast majority of the cost dodgers do NOT move over large areas they simply bridge hop in a very small area as you and I both know.

this was covered by the Davies case and, as such, should be enforceable but, as this thread is about ccing and not overstaying or bridge hopping, it is wrong to say that it is impossible to live an itinerant lifestyle and hold down a job whilst staying within both the letter and spirit of the law.

[mrsmelly]

I was merely following your lead and attempting to broaden the debate ;-)

Ok Cool How should I spell " Suit " anyway

 

Tim

[jenlyn]

Ok Cool How should I spell " Suit " anyway

 

Tim

"Suits you sir, suits you" lol

[mrsmelly]

Once again you clearly know more than those actually running the canals.

 

If CRT have been prepared to put in the public domain that a sensible continuous movement around less that 30 miles of water is perfectly acceptable as "compliant", I'm happy to go with their definition, and ignore yours.

 

CRT have had the common sense to review their interpretation of the relevant legislation, whilst you continue to live in some old world that revolves around what you think the legislation ought to say, rather than what it actually does.

 

Staying on one 30 mile river would never be my preference, whilst I have good enough health to move around all over the system, but it is not our right to prescribe to others that they are doing anything wrong, when they are not.

Yes I agree i do live in the GOOD old past sometimes as it was better as standards were higher as was technology, another subject we are rapidly going backwards in. In 1969 we had supersonic air travel in 2013 we aint. Mobile fones used to retain their signal and now they drop off at any point. We used to have tellys that even though sometimes fuzzy were watchable now we have digital that simply are crap and stop working just for the hell of it or pixilate etc etc etc

The list is endless

 

Tim

[carlt]

The list is endless

 

Tim

Indeed...You missed out the one that goes "Once upon a time we could cycle where we wanted without being killed by drivers distracted by mobile phones and Sat Navs or avoiding pedestrians oblivious to our bells because they are in their own little iPod world."....Oh, hang on....

[RLWP]

"Suits you sir, suits you" lol

 

A common misquote

 

"Suit you sir, suit you"

 

Strange, but true

 

Richard

 

MORE: Bartleby Scribbler; gender female; avatar Chairman Mao?

 

 

My troll detector is going off

Edited May 13, 2013 by RLWP