blodger

Yes we are in trouble. What I mean is they will follow what is said on here just as they will be taking note and comfort from the meaningless poll results on "Narrowboatworld" with regards to overstaying fines

In some ways we are I hope through this forum. BLHA, Boat Licence Holders' Association appeals to me. If it end up too wide of licence holders then I begin to loose interest.

Unfortunately, I think you are right. There would have to be a membership fee to endeavour to cover the associations basic costs so that fundraising was for canal use rather than expenses/core costs. Servicing a free membership could be inordinately expensive if it takes off

Dean. It seems if you took this poll to narrowboatworld you could get a massive affirmative vote

I think the common bond of licence holding is important. Affiliate membership for others would be my recommendation

Anyone can open the narrowboatworld web page and vote. Why is it portrayed as a boater's vote?

I am presuming you are meaning that along with fundraising willbe seats at decision making within CaRT or at least equivalence to NABO?

I am not after free membership. The OP says why not NABO. I am just thinking that NABO has an opportunity to recruit if it wants to and, an incentive might help Even if CaRT deigns only to communicate with them regarding boaty things they need to do something to be more attractive to the majority of boaters!

Perhaps the ball is in Nabo's court; If they want to increase membership and be more representative and, if they have been following the connected threads on here, they could offer discounted membership to CWDF contributors for a limited period?

Worth saving the 25.00 membership fee for the first overstaying fine then methinks

And it is incumbent that CaRT now advise what changes they plan re-consultation/liaison in lieu of the previous lacking channels

I too see merit in a subscription membership but only if the membership elected the trustees of the charity from its membership with the trustees employing the management. If that means the canals become a linear nature reserve rather than a navigation so be it. That is democracy. Maintaining the navigation could however be the primary constitutional aim and objective. Regardless. changing to a membership base would mean virtually starting again as changing your constitution is not easy with the charity commission.

It excludes possibly more than hirers but I sincerely think CaRT sees boaters as the licence payers and the rest as part of the 10m

Perhaps in the context of dialogue with CaRT a boater to them is someone who is paying a licence fee

And there you are back to the fact that existing organisations do not fully represent the variety of boaters or sufficiently for many to be inclined to join them in the hope of improving them. CaRT are happy with the way things are and can carry on regardless. I do not see anything wrong with another subset of boaters, those that are internet savvy using CWDF, interfering as they have and gaining acceptance rather than being shrugged off.

The ones you can top up are usually cheaper and it means you can test indivisual cells with a hydrometer. To stop gassing in the sealed ones thay have added other metals to the lead which in my view diminish their performance and longevity. Even sealed batteries need to breath and as a result loose electolyte which you cannot replace. Sealed are often called no or low maintenance. Get into conversation with other boaters and listen to some of their advice and take it with a pinch of salt; Everyone has their preference based upon their experience.

One thing that the economic recession brings home to nearly everyone is the necessity to make the most of what one has. Throwing more money at problems or into services is currently not an option. I do not see a boater's organisation's top priority would be raising money for the waterways. CaRT as a charity has that within its remit. Even then I would not see it as its top priority. In changing to CaRT from BW there should have been a major management overhaul not carrying on with the same old fudge. IMHO CaRT needs to manage its resources better and in that it needs the support of those that use what it is charitably offering.

Did you miss the smiley. It's deadly serious humour

It has not missed you that that organisation does not exist hence this endeavour then?