Rambling Boater

Yes but as there is no exact legal definition of the parameters for bona fide navigation, C&RT have had to make their own parameters up. So any warning letter has to refer to their interpretation of the law i.e their guidance. TBH, I can't believe we are still going on about this after many years. It seems to go around in circles. So I think I'll call it a day here. It is probably true though, that if people didn't take the P, (all types of boater), we wouldn't be having the conversation. Except that everyone's view of what a P taker differs. So I guess the discussion will go on and on with the same posters 😞 I do have to say though that in my experience, I see very little of what I would call P taking outside built up areas. Most live aboards tend to moor up out of the way of honeypot sites and keep themselves pretty much to themselves. Many have home moorings, so how do people know they are CC'ers or not when they go on a cruise? I've rarely seen any arguments between CC'ers/live aboards and other types of boater either. So perhaps Arthur has been very unlucky when he's been travelling. Having said that, I was told by a chap in a rather nice looking boat once that he didn't like live aboards. At least he did it face to face.

I think they did some last year, but you may have a point.

Perhaps heavier boats should pay less because they reduce the amount of dredging required by displacing more water into the centre channel. 😉

I'm not really convinced that the navigation (2000 miles of it) is overcrowded. Obviously some inner cities are, but natural order seems to regulate it due to the limited amount of moorings. Over many years of CC'ing around the country, I've not really seen more boats on the cut itself, other than maybe in some cities. In fact, I think I'm seeing less and less boats on the move outside cities. Maybe the failures in the infrastructure are putting boat owners off cruising? Although new boats are being made, most of them spend the majority of their time in a marina. New marinas pop up almost on a yearly basis. So can't see a problem there. The idea that the cities could be overrun by people buying boats purely to get around the city like cars isn't that realistic either. So not sure about the analogy. I think it's fair to say most inner cities do have many liveaboards who probably could not afford a flat. As many of them do important jobs in the cities, why make life difficult for them?

I think it's a shame we still live in a world where so many people think that financial wealth is the most important measure of an individuals usefulness in society. Surely it should be more about what we can offer in time to eachother? Don't forget that it's often those who struggle to afford accommodation who DO the important things we all need for basic survival. COVID should have made people realise that.

Allan, when you say an extra £400m has been 'offered' to C&RT over 10 years from 2027, is that actually going to happen still? If so, it seems public tax will still be contributed to the inland waterways, but to a lesser degree. Is that correct?

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/original/43877-foxton-locks-sign.pdf?v=4300aa This is for Foxton, but not sure if there is a similar pdf for Watford. With any staircase, if I'm going up I check that all of the pounds above are 'up' (are full) except obviously the bottom one you are entering which must be empty. If I'm going down, I check that all of the pounds are 'down' (empty) except the top one you are entering which must be full. Well thats how I remember it. From Wiki ; "The locks are equipped with side pounds, with white paddles emptying a lock into a side pound, and red paddles filling the next lock downstream from the pound. This saves water compared to the more common riser staircases, since changing the direction of traffic does not require emptying/filling almost all the locks'

To be fair, what's history got to do with it now? On another thread I mentioned they are turning vinyl albums into clocks. Good job a few people are keeping a bit of history back for the kids to be amused in the future. It might be all they will have left when it goes tits up, especially electric valves. 😕

Did you read my reply? Do you know how much energy and pollution is caused by the manufacture of 'renewable power souces' and how long they last? Seen many used solar panels dumped on the cut in recent years. Where are they going to go? Not seen any dumped records yet (if i do, I'll grab 'em).

NOooooo Mind you, at our age, with dodgy ears, hi fiddelity is a bit pointless really. Yep, copy all of your vinyl to MP3 and then chuck the viynl into land fill. Along with the player! BTW, yes, Close to the Edge is a brilliant album. 😉

Of course I care. This is stuff I bought in the 70s, so I can I either listen to it, burn it, or stick it in land fill. As for the new trend in selling vinyl, maybe you have a point. So what about all of the energy used from point to source with an MP3 track being played over the internet? Do you realise how much energy these internet servers use? To be fair, I've seen, and even bought clocks made from old vinyls. Where do you think that will end up? Aplogies for using the energy equivalent to boiling a kettle for replying to your post. 😉

Funny you should mention wow and flutter. Actualy, it's not bad and the stylus cartridge is very good quality. The point is that I can now listen to all of my old albums, on a boat, without it jogging the stylus and with great analogue sound. What's the point of having a record collection if you don't listen to it? Ok, perhaps it's a financial investment, then again, can you take the profits with you, or the vinyl. 😕 Anyway, that was my thinking. Just listening to Supertramps first album before they sold out. Not sure why I bought it now. Hmm, maybe it wasn't such a good idea getting that one. If you had to take just one album to a desert island, which would it be?

I'm not sure if he used ladders (well not physical ones). But yes, that's a good point. Alternatively, it's how many close escapes you've had after falling in! I've had three so far. Let's hope I live a cats life.

We both have a common friend Arthur. He told me over 12 years ago that it would all end, and enjoy it while it lasts. Yet, we are both still here. Don't give up. (and yes, I'm always happy to pay my way if I can, and if the money is used to benefit boaters).

No, I'm not closing my eyes to the problem Arthur. Didn't I say 'taking the Micky'. I'm not sure if you read through threads either. Sorry. This problem has come about due to a government funding cut which I believe is very short sighted, particularly as some of them would probably like to retire to the cut like you. Ok, well , maybe a super yacht in the Carribean sea perhaps! All these labels, yet we might not be able to navigate anywhere soon. Maybe not a problem for some.

When I decided to live on a boat many years ago, I had to go through a material world purge. The funny thing is that one of the few things I kept (stored in someone elses house!) was my quite small vinyl collection. Now I've decided to regress back to the analogue route and bought one of new Audio Technica Sound Burgers (other compact decks available). It's brilliant. It works for many hours on rechageable batteries. I just use an audio cable to plug it into my stereo, but the new fangled Sound Burger has Bluetooth. That also works well if you prefer your sound waves chopped up. 😉 Analogue vs Digital war Grrr

No hope at all, unless we ALL keep trying. And trust me, I've been told I'm very trying. FTFY

Yes Allan, but don't you (maybe us too) believe that the 'general' tax payer SHOULD contribute as they have done for many years to the same degree? The point being that those who enjoy the inland waterways SHOULD ALL contribute. Not just boaters. As it happens, far more money comes from wayleave charges and investments anyway. No, sorry, but I think this is an attack on boaters using divide and conquer. They tried it with wide beams and now CC'ers. Who's next? Of course the purse is big enough to fix the paddles, locks and even a bit more dredging. It's just that for some reason the PTB dont want to. Don't you think it strange that about a third of the locks on the South Oxford are only working due to one remaining paddle? How easy wouid it be to justify shutting the navigation down? I wonder what your view is on C&RT using the HS2 budget to keep the navigation open?

I beg to differ. I'm not sure you understand the problem which is that our government has cut the funding to C&RT. Have you read this thread through before making your assumptions about someone's 'understanding'? It doesn't look like it. C&RT need to lobby the government again to get the money from the millions of tax payers who enjoy the waterways each year, and now will no longer contribute through taxation. Now our government has axed part of the HS2 project it's the ideal time!

The problem is that too many people still believe the stuff these organisations churn out through their communications departments. It's not so much about lack of funds, it's about how the existing funds are being used. As I said before, I don't actually mind paying more IF the locks and paddles get fixed.

If they wanted to genuinely understand what our issues are, they'd go out and chat to random boaters. Not just send out a proforma loaded to get the answer which suits their agenda (which I think was always to hammer CC'ers in this case). As I said, the extra l money they hope to raise from CC'ers is a tiny amount compared with their total income. C&RT should be asking the government why they don't take it out of the HS2 pot seeing as millions of tax payers benefit from the inland waterways. Anyway I don't think 25% is a good return, but it seems that people are less and less trusting of organisations these days. I wonder how many will vote at the next election?

Yes, maybe both questionnaires AND talk to boaters face to face then?

Surely it should do. Perhaps that's where everything has gone wrong? 😞

I do think that rather than do on line surveys it would be better for C&RT management to go out and chat to different types of boaters. The problem with being at a desk.all day long is that it's very difficult to gauge how people really feel in the real world.

Which is why I don't understand why the OP title implies that we shouldn't pay fuel boats in cash. I think it's misleading and unfair to the fuel boat businesses.