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wow! Thank you all for the quick feedback. Even if its not quite what i wanted to hear...... but expected ....... My boats 57ft long, 12ft wide, air draft 7ft 8', draft 2ft so I guess the safe ways out. I do see the daylight/ tides being the biggest limiting factor. Of course weather is top but that can be bad any time of year in the UK as Naughty Cal can vouch for. My boat has navigation lights but no doubt you will tell me they are only valid for rivers. I will contact Daryl and see what he has to say. Scholar Gypsy - I had already read yours. Thanks for sharing that. Very informative. Thanks to all for your comments. No doubt I will have many more questions over the coming months!

Hi, This is new to me so be gentle! I've read a lot of the threads on here and on other sites with regard to crossing the Wash in canal boats and found them very informative. Although there were a couple of questions which I have not been able to find answers to so I emailed the following to a port authority and was surprised, particularly after reading as much as I have, what the response was. Also shown below; My email; Hello, I am considering cruising my wide beam Ledgard bridge boat from York on the river Ouse down to Boston and across the Wash to the Great Ouse and onto Cambridge in January/ February 2017. Not an ideal time of year I know but we cant choose when we are made redundant. I have read many detailed blogs about the crossing which are most informative but what I havent been able to find is any information on how much it costs for a pilot to accompany me for the crossing and whether it is considered do able at that time of year with the shortage of daylight? Response; Pilotage is not required as navigation is fairly straightforward provided good quality navigation equipment and charts are available, and more importantly up to date. For us pilotage is only compulsory from the No.1 buoy to Kings Lynn. if over 35m long. The rest of the open Wash and upstream of Kings Lynn is outside of pilotage area. Our website has up to date chart extracts and full details of all navigation aids in our area, plus a guide for small craft users. We are aware of people who offer their services to assist leisure users with navigation , but these are not licensed pilots. I get it from a legal perspective but can anybody answer my questions? Thanks in anticipation.