Lady M

I'm afraid you have completely misinterpreted 'my reasoning', Ian. As you now say, all holiday costs have increased, and this is the underlying reason why there are fewer moving boats around. For those on lower and/or fixed incomes, the impact has been greater. That doesn't mean we are tired of boating, not even after many years in some cases, just that we have to budget more carefully.

The original question was 'why are there fewer boats about?' Several of us have given you a response based on long term boat ownership used recreationally and, in some cases at least, their pensioner status. Please consider why you are arguing with us.

It used to be almost cheaper to go away on the boat than stay at home in the house!

Boat diesel for a start, with the addition of a duty charge for propulsion. Also, as Arthur says, gas and coal - and beer!

Of course, for those of us who have owned their boats for a longer time, the cost of taking the boat out has increased significantly. For us, it used to be almost pennies per day now it is £'s per hour. My boat would sell for the same number of £'s that it cost. (Yes, of course, inflation will have had an effect but I don't worry about depreciation.)

It just doesn't sound to me as if there is any intention of bona fide navigation here. More practically, has the OP actually done any boating at all? Even without locks to operate, boating can be quite physically strenuous. If they are not fit enough to move the boat every few days, how will they cope with full toilet cassettes, bags of shopping on muddy towpaths, pulling ropes and hammering in stakes, etc.

Most home moorers do pay more to CRT. Their mooring fees would be lower if this did not happen.

Unfortunately, instead of discontinuing the scheme, the government decided that charging the extra duty on boat propulsion was a green initiative.

The underlying issue is that the intentions of a poorly worded law are being misused on a scale that adversely impacts home moorers and is increasing. Surcharging may make some think twice. This is the same approach as charging extra for widebeam boat licences.

It wasn't great when CRT took over.

Not all boats can be date identified.

The problem with this approach and the current surcharging arrangement, as I see it, is that it doesn't take any account of CCers and others who use a winter mooring for several months of the year.

What, including bona fide home moorers? I wonder how much it would cost CRT to collect and process all those £20 payments. Doesn't adding a surcharge to the licence achieve a similar, if smaller, outcome? Perhaps all the boaters would move onto a different navigation authority's water.

Yes, but when they move water is consumed and sometimes the infrastructure is broken. It is a really difficult situation based on a bad law.

Why can't they see the difference between 'I have to move after 14 days' and 'I can stay here for up to 14 days if I so wish'.