MEPitt

I have got a mooring in Devizes! I am considering using the public slipway in the town to get my cruiser into the water, has anyone used it? Any problems, things to watch out for etc? Also I have to traverse the Caen Hill locks to get down to the marina so any advice there would be appreciated.

If the CRT look for a patsy or not, decide to go after a somebody else on dodgy legal ground that is the fault of CRT. Anything that goes wrong legally can cost money in all walks of life not just boating, thats just a fact of life and I am going into boating with my eyes wide open. I do my research and try to cover all bases and all eventualities based on advice, if I get stung I can only blame myself or the persons doing the stinging.

Reading things like this does put the CRT in a bad light to me and does make me nervous to deal with them. My impression was the money paid for a boat licence was for the upkeep and improvement of the inland waterways for all rather than fund spurious legal cases against boaters that have done nothing wrong and that only lines the pockets of lawyers.

Its not going to stop me wanting to boat, its something I grew up around and many members of my family going back have been on the cut. Now I am in the postion to try and get out there even as a leisure boater (to start with) I am going to go for it. But it makes me wary and I do like to do things properly, however its hard to do the proper thing when the goalposts seem to shift.

Ahh but my Dads mooring is in the West Midlands on the Grand Union, I live in Bristol so I want the boat on the K&A.

This bit confuses me: (ii)the applicant for the relevant consent satisfies the Board that the vessel to which the application relates will be used bona fide for navigation throughout the period for which the consent is valid without remaining continuously in any one place for more than 14 days or such longer period as is reasonable in the circumstances. What is the definition of 'one place'? I see that the CRT state you need to move 15-20 miles and not go back and forth between 2 places but move to many places but this is stipulated in Section 17? Surely if you get refused a licence on these grounds that you have moved less than 15 miles as long as you have kept moving between places every 14 days you have a case in court that there is no wrongdoing on your part and CRT cant refuse a licence?

I have been reading about the CRT (and its transition from being BW) and also listening to what boaters say, to be honest they are the biggest single issue that puts me off boating with all the hassle they seem to be creating. I dont want to tangle with them, they dont seem to have a consistant approach across the network and there appears to be contradiction in their T&Cs.

I meant Bridge Hopper! Bridge jumping sounds like trying to get mooring on the K&A has got too much for me and Ive decided to end it all!

The boat I am buying off my dad is up in the Midlands, I think some of you know that from me knocking around the forums. I am having real issues finding a mooring on the K&A, Ive been assured one will come up in time but its a waiting game. I was up the weekend to see the boat, it needs work and the issue is that my dad is not visiting it that often because of his health, things have already gone missing and I think the sooner the boad gets down here the better so I can look after it and start refurbing. My question is as my Dad has a home mooring if I bought the boat down and its still in his name would I be considered a bridge jumper if I go up and down the K&A until I find myself a home mooring? I dont want to incur the wrath of CRT or other boaters, would this be considered taking the pee? Of course I wouldnt overstay of vistor moorings and as soon as I have a suitable mooring I would navigate the boat to there.

So looking forward to winter on my boat, im going to look like something out of Ice Station Zebra!

Ohh never thought of that! Good idea! To be honest I might not do it as Ill just hang around in the fore cabin and avoid the walk in freezer that will be the aft cabin but if I really want to start using that cabin in the winter its a top plan.

My tuppance worth spending this weekend on the 27ft GRP craft Im buying. It has a small woodburning stove in the fore cabin, my dad has spent a lot of time on this boat (although failing health has meant he has not been a true liveaboard) and has never had problems heating the cabin with the wee stove (it is bloody tiny!). Ive been on board when its cold and the stove burning away and its been very cosy! In comparison the aft cabin was unbearably cold!

I am considering bidding on a CRT long term mooring. Ive read through the guidelines and the T&Cs etc and I cant find the deatils about if I wanted to quid the mooring before the 3 years are up? How much notice would I have to give? Is there any penality for quitting early? etc etc

I hope so, the mooring situation is now stressing me

Yes I looked at Gloucester and Sharpness, it just not where I want to be.

Are we keeping you awake Murflynn? Seriously though thanks for all the advice and the differing points of view. I think it is safe to moor on the river even with the risk of flooding if you are not daft and take precautions but still I am going to err on the side of caution because it is a unknown quantity to me mooring on rivers. Once I get established on the K&A I can form my own opinion of flood risk and river moorings

I really want the piece of mind of having my mooring sorted before I head the boat down, I thought I was in no rush but on the rumblings from Dad today I think he wants it down sooner rather than later. Im not keen on leaving it visitor moorings for any length of time as Ill be zipping back and forth from Bristol, also when I hit the K&A I don't want enforcement officers on my back whilst Im trying to find a home mooring etc.

I first heard the term Dolphin used down in Devonport (I think) and I really thought of the squeaky kind before I realised what it really meant!

Thanks again for more information, I cant check Hilperton this weekend as Im in Birmingham but I will try and get over there in time. I sent an email to Saltford but no reply as yet, Im ok with the idea of pontoons, I suspect they are like what Ive seen in the marine business with them attached to dolphins secured to the bed. Unfortunately Portavon and Bath have both got back to me to inform they are full

I know theres a marina at Hilperton and one at Caen Hill, are there anymore little ones dotted around there I could contact?

Food for thought here. I am used to Midlands canals on a narrowboat, I knew handling a river crusier would be different but I didnt consider the perils of tidal rivers and the risk of flooding. I am up in Brum the weekend to go over the boat with my Dad and have a good drive, Ill ask him about his experience of rivers. My plan is to use the boat as a leisure craft for the moment, I have my place in Bristol and that wont change for a while. I will consider living aboard later when I have got used to being on the boat for extended periods of time. I dont want my boat to be too far out of Bristol, I want to get the use out of it. I like the stretch between Bristol/Bath as there is a good cycle route and I like to clock up the miles on my road bike. But I am considering further along like Trowbridge and Devizes, whats the flooding like there?

Hello! I will be bringing a 27ft cruiser down to Kennet and Avon. I am looking at mooring options between Bristol and Bath. Any recommendations or contacts?

Thanks for the advice, I was tempted to try and navigate it but as I work full time (ironically for a shipbuilders!) it will be difficult to get the time off and unfortunately my Dad has failing health so is not capable of such a journey. I am still looking at moorings locally as well and trying to get more research on what I need to do.

Hello all, I am a forum newbie! I have bought my dads old Dawncraft 27 with a centre cockpit. Problem: It lies in Knowle in the West Midlands, I live in Bristol. So the obvious solution is to get a bloke with a trailer and transport it down to the Kennet and Avon. Ive been online and asked for some quotes but there dont seem to be many companies out there and I have a feeling they will be pricey. So anybody had experience of any transporters or have any contacts that could take this job on? Cheers, Mark