Bristolfashion

Drum roll .... Cymbal crash! Boom boom!

So, its in feet - but never yards.

Yes, but many boats are made in Europe where they tend to use metres.

I'm not entirely sure that you own a yacht if you think they are measured in yards! Even whoppers are measured in feet - it's often included in the name - Sadler 29, Fisher 34, Oceania 60 etc.

Didn't there used to be a permit of some sort for cycling on the towpath? I've got some dim memory of it. Personally (as a keen cyclist) I'm in favour of the idea - perhaps the cycling organisations / insurers could negotiate a bulk discount and then include it in their membership/policy? I also pay a monthly donation to CRT, perhaps that could include the cycle permit (if at least a certain number of quids). Ahem, I'm a cyclist - I'd very happily pay for a permit AND I already make a monthly donation. It's alright for some! We've got a modest 28 ½', 40 year old yacht in UK waters - salt water bears the hell out of equipment, you need much more gear & safety equipment and the consequences of equipment/maintenance failure are, generally, rather more serious!

If you think canal boating is expensive, wait till you try a yacht! Like most of these things, a "single ticket" might be a quid, but an annual pass on direct debit might only be £25.