Paul Freeman

Hi all, got a clear statement from CaRT: " You can launch from anywhere that it is safe to do so. ". Sorted. cheers, Paul

Hi Tom & Bex, that mkes sense. I'll do some exploring and see where has the right combination of access and bank conditions. cheers paul

So registration is not required. Easy. I thought it odd that I could buy the licence without proving I'd got insurance. Can't remember mention of it in the application process. I'm getting it though. I've managed to put it on & off its trailer on my own. Need to take the outboard off to do it, though it needs to come off for transport anyway, so the trailer is better balanced. Now just need to get a better understanding of launch-from-somewhere-other-than-a-slipway. Have submitted a question to the CaRT. It would be a shame if the only place on the Glos & Sharp canal I could launch from was Saul Marina at £20 a time. - Paul

Thanks for the tips. I'm practicing manhandling it in the garden and it looks like the key thing is to practice... I've bought myself a 30 day Explorer licence, I've found that I don't need a BSS, I've requested some insurance quotes, but I've not found anything definite about "registering" it, as mentioned by Alan. Can anyone point me in the right direction ? And are there rules about where you can launch, or is it the case that as long as you can get it to the water's edge safely, you can launch it anywhere ? thanks

Hi all, I've just bought a very nice 12' GRP with outboard (pictured) and I'm struggling to find the rules and typical practice relating to launching it. I live near the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and know it reasonably well through walking, cycling etc., and I can see car parks and other access points along it where I could probably manhandle it into the water (I'd class it as "portable" in the official terminology), but am I restricted to only launching this thing at a slipway ? thanks for any help, Paul