Yank on the Cut

The swapping moorings with other boats you refer to is done in marinas with local authority approved residential moorings to avoid residents being required to pay full council tax. By moving berths it shows the marina is in paramount control of the berth, the berths thus forming a composite hereditament attracting business rates rather than council tax, saving boaters about £1000 a year. The rules are set by the VOA and enforced by the local authority. Marinas without residential planning permission may still require the boats to similarly move in order to 'muddy the waters'.

Yes residential at Mercia is with full local authority planning approval.

The site has proved invaluable as well as entertaining over the years. I'm happy to donate.

They are indeed required by CRT for 'new' marinas, they are used when the marina is being filled so the canal is not drained (not sure if used during stillage test) and neither CRT nor contractors building a marina can explain how they would be deployed in an emergency.

Very innovative. How do build costs compare?

It could well be from Mercia Marina when you moored here briefly, giving us the pleasure of seeing your steam powered boat. We would have cancelled the FOB shortly after you left.

Its worth checking the insulation as the older ones used a very thin 3M material which was not attached properly and left a lot of gaps and cold bridges

Sorry to hear you are selling up. I remember you from when I moored in Blomfield Road. Your Bill of Sale document would be fine, but always add detail, such as dates payments are to be made, where the boat is to be delivered and when, what happens if delivery is delayed, boat sold 'as is' or 'as seen', etc. As was suggested, make sure the money is cleared and cannot be removed from your account. There are some shady people around

Same happened to me many years ago when the yard man forgot to turn off the slipway winch resulting in the hawser snapping.

Good question. We obtained the postcode first by registering the boat with the Post Office.

For many years I paid council tax to the City of Westminster when living aboard my boat on a BW leisure mooring in Blomfield Road, Little Venice. I paid it for a number of reasons, including to obtain a resident's parking permit and proof of residency (as well as because I thought I should). Westminster staff were bemused but happy to take the money. I doubt it bestowed upon me any additional rights with BW as the argument is that the boat is your home, wherever you should be moored, rather than the mooring.

Its a great area although recently the planners seem to be allowing the immediate surroundings of the Langley Mill Basin to become a fast food hotspot. Try Basilia instead, a great deli/cafe. The Erewash itself offers easy mooring and few locks, with excellent views across open countryside. The adjoining abandoned canals make for great walks.