Iain_S

In my example, when the boat is used, it is for bona fide navigation, and that takes place throughout the period of the licence. Admittedly not continuous usage, but for how long is a gap in navigation permitted? The 1995 Act says 14 days. I would suggest that my example is more "bona fide navigation" than can be accomplished by any liveaboard boater who has a job requiring a physical presence!

The legal requirement is to not remain in one place for longer than 14 days. Someone who, for example, boats at weekends while navigating from London to Ripon cannot make use of a home mooring, and would be compliant with the 1995 Act. I would not class that as "continuous cruising", although others may differ.

My understanding of the original; concession was that those who wanted to move around the system, and were therefore unable to make use of a fixed home mooring were allowed to do so. Thar is quite possible while not living permanently on the boat. There is, in law, no such thing as a "continuous cruiser", only a "boat without a home mooring".

We currently have a portable panel on Kelpie. It’s a bit of a faff, to be honest. One has to be really careful putting it on the roof, lest one scratch the paint, so I have a tarpaulin with magnets on it which gets put on the roof first for protection. I do find that I’m constantly adjusting the thing to achieve maximum ( but fairly low!) output. Plans are afoot to improve things a bit, but the other half is not keen on the roof getting cluttered up with panels, so current thinking is semi flexible stick on CIGS panels. I also need to get a round tuit …

It can dissipate. We had a Perkins generator which wouldn't fire up because there was no residual magnetism in the field coils. Cured by firing it up with a battery on the field connections at the regulator. Have to be very careful with this, as it's very easy to blow the regulator. Easiest to use a separate battery from the generator's start battery.

W.C. Fields "I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol, and wild women. The other half I wasted."

They've got several. 45' or 50', I think, maybe 55'. Beam is about 11'.

Metric sockets and spanners. The gearbox filler is 18mm, which is usually omitted from spanner and socket sets. I carry extra 17mm and 19mm spanners. Also a 25mm for engine mounts. A good quality adjustable comes in handy as well. Tools accumulate as needed. I didn't used to have a socket set on board, but added it after the nut on the gearbox output flange came loose. Similarly, a small vice, drills, cable crimper, etc got added when I found a need for them Oh, yes, forgot the oil filter wrench!

If the 12 are paying passengers, then the boat comes under MCA rules. They don't specify maximum crew numbers, which is governed by stability tests for maximum number on board. One of our local charities has been known to have 12 passengers in wheel chairs, 12 carers, counted as "crew", plus a boat operating crew of skipper plus 2 or 3. The skipper does not hold a Boatmaster licence, just an IWA Inland Waters Helmsman's Certificate. The MCA are happy with this arrangement.

If it's the bottom towpath side gate, no, it hasn't. Centre line to back bollard on towpath side is our usual method for working that lock. Works perfectly going down; occasionally gets boat on the wrong side for steerer going up.

Even someone living on their boat could to be said to be interrupting their cruise as soon as they moor for longer than overnight. Living, or not, on the boat is irrelevant.

I'd have thought it would be perfectly possible to cruise around the canal system while having a permanent address on the bank, and not living on the boat. Cruise for a few days, moor up for a week or so and return to home address, return to the boat and carry on with the journey. Even just boating at week ends while on a progressive journey would comply with both the letter and spirit of the legislation, in my opinion.

FTFY