Paladine
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Posts posted by Paladine
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The malaise doesn't just affect the canals. Here on the Broads budget cuts are biting. These photos are of very popular EA mooring. There are two paths, one alongside the mooring and another 3 metres inland, which is a public footpath the responsibility of the Norfolk County Council. The overgrown space in between the two paths used to be mowed regularly by a local parish councillor, with a ride-on mower, and visitors would sit out with their chairs and sun brollies, on what was almost a lawn. Then the PC decided it couldn't afford to insure him, so the mowing stopped and the result is clear to see. But last weekend a couple of boaters with hedge trimmers made a start on clearance. I used one of these https://www.expressmowers.co.uk/product/stihl-hsa56-battery-hedge-trimmer-bundle/ which is very effective against mugwort stems and similar woody weeds.
These days, it's pretty pointless trying to get the powers-that-be to do anything other than the bare minimum. The Broads Authority is just as bad as the EA and CaRT in that respect. It shouldn't be the case, but I think it falls to the boaters, who seem to have more respect for their environment than do those who are actually responsible for it, to step up and if we just cleared/cleaned a space wherever we stop, I'm sure the difference it would make would be immense.
And this is the public footpath a couple of hundred yards further on, again at the back of an EA mooring.It's overgrown with burdock (which can grow to 8ft tall), the seedheads of which are extremely problematic for dogs. Half an hours work with a pruning saw (the stems can be a couple of inches in diameter) produced the result shown. And yes I have sent a photo to the County Council.
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1 minute ago, Momac said:
Its not possible without further detail (which you probably do not wish to discuss) to judge whether any other insurer would act differently regarding the 50% . But no doubt you think it is not reasonable.
Good luck with your claim.
Even if I wished to discuss it, I would have to provide great detail, photos and a copy of the repairer's invoice in order to explain what's happened, and there would be some who agreed with me and some who didn't. But it gives you some idea of their mind-set when they initially told me the event wasn't covered. Had I not been prepared to fight them, they would simply have dismissed my claim, out-of-hand. Unethical is a word some might use to describe them.
Thank you for your good wishes.
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On 03/05/2023 at 15:09, Jak said:
Haven Knox-Johnston £187. Policy looks good, though I’ve never needed to claim so far. And no need for a survey for a few more years on my 1989 boat.
On 03/05/2023 at 16:11, Bob Chamberlain said:Haven Knox-Johnston Really good to deal with
On 03/05/2023 at 16:48, Guest said:Have you claimed from them though?
Most, if not all insurance companies are 'really good to deal with' when they are taking your premium off you.
It's that time of year again, so I was looking for ideas and found this thread. I've been with Haven Knox-Johnston for the last 3 years, after Saga put me with them when Saga stopped insuring boats.
No, they don't ask for a survey (at least, they've never asked me for one). Yes, they are cheaper than most others. BUT, when I submtted a claim to them last September, their opening gambit was, 'You're not covered for that event'.
Several emails, and an official complaint, later, they agreed I was covered, but since then they have been putting me through the wringer, trying to knock the settlement figure down to 50% of the claim. I have submitted one complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service already, and am about to submit another.
Caveat Emptor
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While not canal related, I am aware that some members hire boats on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, or take their own boats to visit, or may even keep a boat there, so this may be of interest to them. The Broads Hire Boat Federation (BHBF) have sent an objection to the DfT, under S31 of the Harbours Act 1964, to the level of tolls imposed by the Broads Authority for the 2023/24 season. The grounds for objection can be seen in the attached notice. The tolls went up by 13% over the previous year.
A group of private owners have collectively sent a similar objection. They have a FB group, with over 1,300 registered members, the Broads Reform Action Group (BRAG), where further information may be found https://www.facebook.com/groups/1402368430170302
May I ask any members who have been, or may be, affected by the tolls increase, either through paying a toll themselves directly, or through increased hire costs, to write to Paul.Sharpe@dft[.]gov[.]uk to give their support for either or both of the objections. (Please remove the square brackets from the email address.)
Thank you.
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9 minutes ago, MtB said:
Yeah that's the Avon I meant! (Not the K&A Avon.)
P.S. How many River Avons are there anyway?
Eight, apparently 😉
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Every time the Wiki entry is corrected 'someone' changes it again. For example, the Broads Authority does not receive a "National Park Grant", it receives a grant from the Secretary of State by virtue of s.15 of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988.
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No, they WANT to introduce a charge at Reedham, but they lease the quay from Broadland District Council and BDC don't think a charge would be lawful and have told the Broads Authority to provide legal evidence that it would be. The present lease, which expired in 2002 and has been 'held over' since then, says that there can be no charge imposed for the first 24hrs. The latest from BDC, as of today, is that they don't agree to a charge being imposed.
9 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said:They have also introduced mooring charges at Reedham Staithe.
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Be aware, particularly if you want to eat in the pubs, that, like everything else, mooring costs are going up. For example, the Swan Inn at Horning charges £10 between 11am and 5pm and £20 from 5pm onwards and overnight (not refunded against food), and at Ranworth Staithe, a popular spot for boating visitors as it has the Malsters pub, St Helen's church tower and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre, and was previously a free mooring, the Broads Authority has imposed a mooring charge of £5 (10am - 5pm) and £10 overnight.
Please ignore the bit on the photo that says 'Broads National Park'. The Broads is NOT a national park, and never will be. It's just that we have a delusional Chief Executive.
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33 minutes ago, robtheplod said:
is the charger at fault? do you have any other devices you can test?
^^^ What he said. I had the same problem. Turned out the charging cable had developed a fault - probably an internal break in the wire. New cable and several years later, still going strong.
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59 minutes ago, David Mack said:
But until you get a critical mass of charge points pure electric boating (as opposed to hybrids) will only ever be a niche activity e.g. for day hire boats.
Quite right. There have been fully electric day boats for hire on the Broads for years. But when it comes to the weekly hire boats, there are only a very small handful (fewer than half a dozen) available. The best of these will give an estimated cruising time of up to 5 hours, but that will be very dependent on cruising speed and tidal conditions. When the battery runs down, the generator kicks in! They do have solar panels fitted, but, on a day like today, overcast and raining, probably worse than useless. So, in practical terms, it's necessary to find an overnight mooring with a vacant charging post available - which rules out many, many popular rural 24hr moorings, and, of course, the 'wild' moorings and mudweighting.
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5 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:
The BA have been installing electricity points at a much higher rate than ether SRT or EA for years. https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/facilities/electric-boat-charging-points
As one who sails on the Broads all year round, I know from experience that they aren't installing any new charging posts. a) they can't afford to and b) all the easy locations have been installed. At the height of the season, you'd be very lucky to find a vacant connection. For electric vessels to be anywhere near viable on the Broads there would have to be a charging point for every 24hr mooring space. It ain't ever gonna happen.
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40 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
I'm not talking about 'electric charging bollards' I'm refering to the huge infrastructure in the North East, (hydrogen generation and bunkering) Manchester /Cheshire (feeding Hydrogen into the gas mains system) and Oxforshire (Ammonia synthesis) to name just a few.
I'm sure with a little research you could find all the details - and maybe even more.
Your opening post was Broads-specific. As I only do my boating on the Broads and you wish the discussion to be about commercial shipping, I'll leave you to it.
As I said at the outset - click bait.
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If anyone wants to read the document behind all this, you'll find it here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/815664/clean-maritime-plan.pdf
As I said earlier, it's directed towards commercial shipping.
Nothing to see here, Please move along. 😉
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Just now, Alan de Enfield said:
I did indeed, and since that date there has been a lot of the planned new infrastructure approved (and even started building)
Not on the Broads it ain't.
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34 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
Yes they do and their plans are published with time tables :
3 key dates
2025 - all boat built must be capable of being converted to zero emission propulsion
2035 -only zero emission propulsion boats can be built
2050 - only boats with zero emission proulsion systems can be used on UK waters (Inland and coastal)
Just one extract from the document :
By 2025 we expect that: All vessels operating in UK waters are maximising the use of energy efficiency options. All new vessels being ordered for use in UK waters are being designed with zero emission propulsion capability. Zero emission commercial vessels are in operation in UK waters.
The fact that both inland and costal waters are included is mentioned several times in the document.
You posted that 2 years ago. Reading up on it, it seems to be aimed at commercial vessels rather than leisure boats. In any case, it's an expectation rather than a commitment.
Some (very few) Broads hire boats are being built with electric motors for propulsion (and diesel generators to boil the kettle). The public charging infrastructure provided by the Broads No-Authority at some of their 24hr public moorings is totally insufficient to support such a change. Many of the more popular moorings are so remote that the cost of providing charging facilities would be prohibitive.
It is often said the the CEO would like to see all powered vessels removed from the Broads. If that happened the Broads tourism industry would simply die. Boat tolls provides him with over half his income. Turkeys voting for Christmas spring to mind.
"The government has pledged to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, but similar plans have not yet been set out for boats that use fossil fuels."
That's from the EDP article.
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Click bait. The Broads Authority has no plans to phase out such craft - because it doesn't have the powers, and HMG hasn't any such plans, either. It's just more stupid sensationalism by the EDP, a publication not even worthy of wrapping your fish and chips in.
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The first-time hirer who hit my moored 30' boat with his 44' boat, knocking Mrs P off her feet and causing her injury, damaging my boat, then making off from the scene without stopping was given a written warning! There was full video evidence, as well. I was told 'It was not in the public interest to prosecute him'. The very name 'Broads Authority' is a joke.
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1 hour ago, Arthur Marshall said:So many boats out this week I've not even been able to get the trombone out for fear of disturbing folk.
1 hour ago, Neil2 said:I do hope that's not a euphemism.
No, a trombone has a slide, as euphemism has valves. 😄
(Yeah, I do know there are valve trombones)
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Each of the four UK nations have got their own rules. I'm commenting on the rules for England as they stand, not as they may be in the future. There is much speculation in the media about the direction in which we may be heading, but it is just that - speculation. No confirmation from HMG yet.
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33 minutes ago, David Mack said:
If you can employ the boatyard where you moor to do any necessary preparatory work, then it is not essential for you to travel to fulfil the legal obligation.
One could also say that, if one can pay to have all one's shopping delivered (or even get it delivered for free), as one can with all the supermarkets, businesses that have an on-line shop as well as a physical shop, etc., it is not essential for the vast majority of the population to go to Tesco, Waitrose etc., but that activity hasn't been prohibited, or even questioned.
The legislation (enforceable) only says, "No person...may leave or be outside of the place where they are living without reasonable excuse." It sets no limit on the distance that may be travelled, nor does it require the travel to be essential.
The guidance (unenforceable) says, "...If you need to travel you should stay local – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live..."
I was offering the OP a possible answer to his problem. It would be for him to decide whether, in his particular circumstances, that answer is appropriate or not. Since he has now revealed he would have a 4.5 hr drive to get to his boat, I wouldn't say it was appropriate, but it might be for someone living closer to their boat, facing the same situation
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I would have thought that attending your boat to ensure it complies with the BSS would come under the exemption for leaving home "to fulfil a legal obligation".
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13 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:
But as been previously mentioned Marinas are not 'public spaces' so how can you justify visiting a "private outdoor place to winterise your boat", hardly :
a) Public space
b) Recreational activity
I wasn't particularly trying to justify going to a marina to winterise a boat. I was pointing out that the guidance you quoted was so full of flaws as to be unreliable.
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4 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:
Maybe this will help focus the mind :
People in England now face £200 on-the-spot fines for leaving their house without a ‘reasonable excuse’.
New laws to enforce the month-long lockdown include the power for police to impose the penalties across the land.
Under the law, in force until December 2, no person may “leave or be outside” the place they are living without an excuse set out in law.
The place where you are living includes your home, garden, passages, stairways, garages and outhouses.
But it doesn’t include second homes or holiday homes, and the law has an exemption for people who are homeless. Protests are also not allowed.
If the fine is paid within 14 days, it halves to £100. For repeat offenders it doubles each time, up to £6,400.
Police don’t need to prove you broke the law to give you a fine - only to suspect you did so. That means you could find yourself fighting a fine in court.
If you do go down this route, you’d have to prove you had one of the following reasonable excuses.
And if you lose a fight in court, you’d get not just a higher fine, but also a criminal record.
So it’s important you know the law. Here’s the list of reasonable excuses in full:
- If it is ‘reasonable necessary’ to “buy goods or obtain services from” businesses that remain open - either for yourself, household members, or a “vulnerable person” or their household member.
- To withdraw or deposit money in a bank or building society or similar business.
- To “take exercise outside”, either alone, with members of your household or support/childcare bubble, or with one person from another household. Under this exemption, there must just be two of you in total - though kids under 5 don’t count towards the limit.
- To attend a place of worship (though they’re only staying open for private prayer).
- To attend a Remembrance Sunday event.
- To visit estate or letting agents or show homes; view properties to buy or rent; prepare a property to move, buy, rent or sell; or move house.
- To visit someone in your support bubble or childcare bubble. A childcare bubble is when two households join together for informal childcare for a child under 13.
- To pick up takeaway food or drink.
- To visit a waste disposal or recycling centre.
- To attend work, education or training, or provide voluntary or charitable series, if it’s not reasonable to do so from home.
- To provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person.
- To provide emergency assistance to any person.
- To fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions.
- To access social services, DWP services, victim of crime services, and asylum and immigration services and interviews.
- If you’re an elite athlete, to continue training or competition.
- To seek medical assistance, including to donate blood, attend medical trials or take Covid tests or a vaccine.
- To avoid injury or illness or escape risk of harm.
- To be with a mother giving birth, at her request.
- To visit a household, close family member or friend who is being treated in hospital, a hospice or care home (local rules on visits permitting).
- To attend a support group, including for domestic abuse victims, addicts and LGBT people, or provide or receive respite care.
- To visit a household, close family member or friend you reasonably believe is dying.
- To attend a funeral or wake, or burial ground or garden of remembrance, though there are limits on the numbers who can attend.
- To attend a marriage or civil partnership, but again there are strict limits on numbers.
- To allow children with separated parents to move between those two parents’ homes.
- There are also certain exemptions for children in care and those preparing to be adopted.
- To visit a vet.
- To walk or otherwise exercise your pet.
- To return home if you were on holiday before the lockdown came into force.
- To visit a close family or friend in prison.
I read this site a lot, but, as I am based on the Broads, rarely post. But I can't let this pass without comment. It is incorrect in so many ways, being someone's loose interpretation of guidance from who knows whom. I won't list the inaccuracies, but urge members to read the regulations for themselves. They're written in plain English and are simpler to understand than some of the convoluted guidance that's doing the rounds.
Just two particularly important points from the quoted guidance:
1. "Police don’t need to prove you broke the law to give you a fine - only to suspect you did so." Totally wrong - the regulations say:
"21.—(1) An authorised person may issue a fixed penalty notice to anyone that the authorised person reasonably believes—
(a) has committed an offence under these Regulations, and
(b) is aged 18 or over.""Reasonably believes" is a far stronger requirement than "suspect".
2. The guidance totally ignores a very important (to boaters) exemption, "to visit a public outdoor place for the purposes of open air recreation". A public waterway is considered to be "a public outdoor place", and all forms of boating, from paddleboarding to motor boating, are considered to be "recreation".
C&RT seemed surprised that less than 50% of boaters are 'happy'.
in General Boating
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The free 24hr moorings provided by the Broads Authority are looked after much better. The rangers mow the grass, check the mooring posts etc, but of course that cost comes out of the tolls, which increase alarmingly each year. So much so that the Broads Hire Boat Federation have submitted an appeal to the Secretary of State. The moorings I mentioned previously are EA moorings, provided at no cost to boaters. There are two of them at this location, quite close together, very popular, and have recently had the piling and quayheading refurbished, so I and a few others are keen to see them kept in a decent condition, even if it means working up a bit of a sweat. There are quite a few 'wild' or 'trespass' moorings, which are just bankside, with no facilities whatsoever, and the land owner hasn't put up No Mooring signs. There are kept usable simply by being used, otherwise they become overgrown with reed and weed. So all is not lost...yet!