Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 18/05/14 in all areas

  1. Thanks for quoting him junior - I would never have had to read that pile of vitriole otherwise! I'll leave further comment until later - I've had a few drinks so now is not the best time for a measured response. Suffice to say that this man's ability to twist any innocent hoping to be funny comment into something spiteful (including misinterpreting my smileys to the point where I've been worried about using them) has been breathtaking. I feel very sorry for him. No doubt there will be a vitriolic response accusing me of playing the victim as he did the last time I threw my hands up and wondered why he was taking my posts the wrong way. C'est la vie. PS it'd be really great if you folks didn't quote his response - I've blocked him because his nastiness lost me sleep and came close to making me leave the forum. It's right that he has his say but I don't want to read it. Thank you
    4 points
  2. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  3. All that's needed to avoid divorce is to spend a little less time on a certain discussion forum. No need to sell the boat.
    3 points
  4. How often does it happen that CRT revokes a licence because they have made a mistake and the licence holder has actually been cruising the system? Rather than promoting fear, uncertainty and doubt, boaters should be supporting CRT's attempts to deal those who are deliberately breaking the rules.
    3 points
  5. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  6. This really looks to me like a call for solidarity based on a pretence that if we don't all rally to the defence of the OP that the CaRT stormtroopers will be kicking down our doors next. Like it or not there are some visitor mooring spots where there a weekly scramble for space at weekends and ruling that locally moored boats should not use them leaves them leaves space for who? It makes no sense whatever and I don't believe it. I accept that CaRT do try to reforge their powers to suit individual cases and often operate in a grey area but I do not think there is any sensible motive to extend this past what CaRT see as "problem" boats. CaRT really must have powers to manage the waterways and I do not believe they have the powers they need to do so. We so, so need a new act with clarity for all so that we have a clear vision of what waterways are for in the 21st century and a plain view of what is needed to achieve that and where the lines not to be crossed exist. Much is made of the problems on the Western K&A, well I keep my boat there and I can tell you the problems are not as bad as is portrayed. They were mind, worse if anything. There were 48 hour mooring which were full with boats that moved only for services, they lived there. There were lengths of good mooring where some even went so far as to paint the boat name on the concrete! Spaces reserved by the roof cargo left behind or "gone for water" signs. It was bad, large areas had effectively been pre empted by selfish people who felt the canal to be theirs and the cruising boater to be interlopers. It has changed solely because of the pressure brought to bear culminating in the new plan. This is why I support what some see as "Draconian" action by CaRT and whilst I would certainly not say I completely trust them I do trust them to not behave in a way that is actually underpants on the head I am Napoleon insane.
    2 points
  7. OK. Is this where your bluff and blustering bully tactics kick-in? I am not saying as you will see if you read my post correctly what is correct I said "if" it is so. It was reported elsewhere that the dropping of the RMP was the issue with the other members and of course as per the OP links etc. it has been suggested that it is your fault through your attuitude that has made them resign. I don't know which is the case or if it is due to other reasons but you may wish to throw a little more light on it. All I was saying was that if they have resigned over RMP then the organisation may be better off without them and get some others with a wider vision but as usual you throw your toys about looking for something that is not there. Nice (but failed) attempt to change the subject with your comments on my membership of the IWA. I guess time will be the telling of what the future holds for the ACC and its "council"
    1 point
  8. In my view all of this is just ridiculous paranoia. If you are operating within the letter and spirit of the rules, ie undertaking bona fide navigation, you have nothing to worry about. On the other hand If your objective is to really stay in one place moving as little as you can get away with then you are at risk - and rightly so.
    1 point
  9. I must admit this intrigues me. Elsan points are used almost exclusively by cassette users, and are only ever blocked by self pump out users. Richard
    1 point
  10. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  11. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  12. Both the fear of consequences and a reputation for probity is something heavily relied on by the authority. It has to be remembered that even for the impecunious defending themselves, there is a massive cost in terms of life itself, with years being taken up in fending off the behemoth. And even those with an individual, differing interpretation [of either the law or the guidance] must stop to wonder whether or not the authority are best placed to interpret their own law. They might even naively believe that the authority will always act with honesty, in the interests of the waterways. Problem is, even an individual's success at court usually helps no one other than that individual. Even the rare court findings against the authority have little impact on how the authority conducts itself – they will continue to act as they please, confidently self-assured that such precedent determination against their interpretation of the law - at the highest levels - will not be brought to bear on them by the next person. By way of example, despite the High Court ruling that BW/CaRT could not demand boat licences on the tidal Brent – together with condemnation for serving s.8 notices without warning, and despite the Appeal Court ruling that s.8’s were invalid there where no unlawful mooring could be established – a recent arrival below the Thames Locks, investigating noises on his roof, found the new local Enforcement Officer clambering over it, fixing a s.8 to his boat. So – an offence in boarding the boat illegally; violating the 1983 Act on notice procedures; and ignoring the Court rulings that such notices were illegal anyway – and this, in the wake of a year’s worth of CaRT correspondence to all boaters in the relevant stretch, confirming that pleasure boats do indeed need no licence there, if they don’t travel above the Gauging Locks. It’s not as though this was an inadvertent mistake on the part of a rookie [which would open another topic, on the need for effective training in the law such officers are empowered to enforce]; on being queried over the power to section 8 pleasure boats on the tidal section, the office [presumably] went to the legal department for an answer, and came back with a clause from the 1965 Byelaws, supposedly adequate to overturn the Appeal Court ruling! If [as I am told] this boater genuinely intends to move off up the Thames anyway in a month [once finishing touches to his fit-out are done], then it will all be a storm in a teacup and ‘only’ a waste of public money – but it illustrates that, contrary to the beliefs and even experiences of most, the authority will indeed act against the law if it chooses, and spout entirely spurious legal justifications if challenged by the presumably ignorant. I agree that the vast majority of boaters 'playing the game' with considerate boating will never confront such behaviour, but it does happen, and it is not scare-mongering to put people on alert. it is doubtful whether it would ever affect you, but it is just plain silly to believe in the essential benevolence of salaried managerial bureaucrats.
    1 point
  13. They do, they send an automated reply and then fail to follow it up. I have been treated this way by the London Office, Ms Ash, and the Wigan office. This sends a clear message to me that CaRT do not place customer service high on their list and as the holding emails promise a reply within X days which they fail to keep they can not be trusted. In fact why should I be expected to move to a complaints procedure. Just like the main thrust of this thread CaRT and others seem happy to make boaters responsible for ensuring the CaRT procedures etc. are working and fit for purpose. It also seems CaRT treat the Freedom of Information Act, even when backed up with judgments against them, with disdain so how will they handle Data Protection requests? Whether accidentally or deliberately BW then CaRT have engendered a degree of fear in some of their rule abiding customers and apparently do nothing to counter it. Whatever the law may actually say or mean CaRT interprets it into rules and then behaves as their rules are the law it appears to me. Unfortunate any assurances given by others in this thread are worth;less UNLESS backed up by CaRT. I do not see why I should be happy with assurances that CaRT are "too busy" or have other things to rather than pursue me over erroneous data possibly provided by a checker or other official who may have a hidden agenda or viewpoint. The fact that CaRT seem very happy negotiate with special interest groups of boaters but do not communicate with the majority of their customers is another thing that encourages mistrust. They must up their game, I would have thought a simple B&W A5 newsletter explaining their thinking and actions sent out with license reminders would not be overly expensive and would reach all legal boaters.
    1 point
  14. How about an extended summer cruise of a few months? You could do the Midland and southern canals. Then you would know if you are pining for something that didn't exist, have a mooring in the wrong place, are through with boating, are looking for another mooring, or some other thing If nothing else, it would be a great send off for TDH Richard
    1 point
  15. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  16. Yes but its the sensitive, delicate and worrying types, yer know, like the Karl Pilkingtons of this world that these fearsome announcements must have all a'tremble.
    1 point
  17. I think there is a lot of paranoia going on here. You can apply to CRT to find out where your boat has been spotted. Two sightings in the same place with the boat facing in opposite directions is not enough to trigger anything happening even if you haven't been sighted elsewhere. CRT do not have the resources to check every bit of towpath so its qute possible in some areas not to get checked for a few weeks. CRT will be going for the obvious offenders such as those moored on VM way past the allowed length of stay, not a boat on the towpath spotted twice facing in different directions 15 days apart. Certain areas are checked far more frequently than others so I guess that if your first and last night were in one of those areas then there would be X days in between when you were not sighted in that area. If you are really worried then you can always keep a cruising blog with nice dated pictures of the boat in different locations so we can all share in your adventures. ETA Looks like the OP has succeeded in his aim to spark fear and distrust with CRT enforcement regime
    1 point
  18. Blimey. You're keen. he hasn't gone yet and probably will not do so for some months. If and when he does, he will be missed. Not tempted by that French peniche then, Martin?
    1 point
  19. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  20. Oh, I'm at a loss for words.
    1 point
  21. Athy that's rude. To Magne R, I see what you mean, if I'd paid out the cost of hiring I'd expect a reasonable well painted boat. Hiring isn't cheap. Bumps and scrapes are inevitable. Rust no. Anybody ever got a flake of loose paint and rust under a fingernail, ouchy ouchy ouch. If it was somebody else's boat or mine I'd just accept it as a boat and how it is. Oh and welcome to the forum, some of us are quite friendly.
    1 point
  22. Local means local -- if you're struggling to understand it, go and buy a Dictionary -- you might even get one locally.
    1 point
  23. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  24. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  25. Well my Usual Mooring is just under 2 mile inland,and Yep,I do a bit of sea cruising,and ofcourse it performs best in open areas,Absolutely right Junior. But at the moment for instance, I'm @ Arundel on the River Arun, Approximately 6 miles inland, (nearer 8 by River) and that has been the readings I've given earlier in this thread (by the way Sol 0.5,,,WG 0.9 at the moment). Before I was at Wateringbury on the Upper River Medway some 20 Miles well inland, Before going to Rainham on the Lower River Medway, I have to say it seems to have performed equally as well on all the Canals, Rivers, & Estuaries that I've been lucky enough to have explored over the years as well. It's like anything els,solar works best in the sun,wind works best in the wind. I'm not trying to sell WGs, just saying they work for me,and my style of Cruising.
    1 point
  26. My view is, If or how long it will take to get your money back,isn't the way to think about it. It's about having as many different ways of producing power as possible,and then managing that harvest effectively so you don't waste an amp. But that's just my view. My wind generator regularly gives an average of approximately 15 / 25a into the Batteries over a 24hr period. Obviously a lot more in the Autumn and Winter. Now I know that doesn't sound a lot, But my little Solar installation probably only gives an ave of 8 / 15a into the Batteries,over a 8 / 10 hr period. But Collectively, I get an ave of approximately 25 /40 amp into my Batteries in a 24 Hour period that goes a long way to meet the power requirements of my Fridge,Water Pump and lights at a guess.
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.