CC in the winter period

[Scooby]

I am a new CC, i know the rules about this but obviously the canals get closed for repair work, so if i am unable to travel very far during the winter stoppages do BW take a more relaxed approach to us not moving over this period, and when it comes to march i can then carry on my touring of the network...

 

Sry in advance cos i know its a big can of worms i have opened here..

[blackrose]

I am a new CC, i know the rules about this but obviously the canals get closed for repair work, so if i am unable to travel very far during the winter stoppages do BW take a more relaxed approach to us not moving over this period, and when it comes to march i can then carry on my touring of the network...

 

Sry in advance cos i know its a big can of worms i have opened here..

 

Its not a big can of worms and its been covered many times before on the forum.

If there are lock stoppages and you can't move, then you can't move. Its as simple as that. BW are not that unreasonable. They don't expect you to crane your boat out so that you can continue your journey, but they might suggest you turn around and go back the other way for a while.

[wrigglefingers]

Its not a big can of worms and its been covered many times before on the forum.

If there are lock stoppages and you can't move, then you can't move. Its as simple as that. BW are not that unreasonable. They don't expect you to crane your boat out so that you can continue your journey, but they might suggest you turn around and go back the other way for a while.

It's not a big can of worms, if you meet up with a stoppage simply ask the patrol person what they would like you to do, moor up, turn around etc, failing that ring the local BW office and ask for advice. Contrary to the belief of many on here it's not illegal to CC.

[carlt]

It's not a big can of worms, if you meet up with a stoppage simply ask the patrol person what they would like you to do, moor up, turn around etc, failing that ring the local BW office and ask for advice. Contrary to the belief of many on here it's not illegal to CC.

It used to be that simple but, in latter years, if you can't proceed, due to winter stoppages, you are expected to take, and pay for, a winter mooring.

[cotswoldsman]

I am a new CC, i know the rules about this but obviously the canals get closed for repair work, so if i am unable to travel very far during the winter stoppages do BW take a more relaxed approach to us not moving over this period, and when it comes to march i can then carry on my touring of the network...

 

Sry in advance cos i know its a big can of worms i have opened here..

 

This will be my 4 th winter CCing and BW take the view that as long as you are not taking the P**s thats ok. In other words don't just head for the nearest closed lock and moore up. All the closure notices advice where you can turn before the closure, but to restrict yourself to maybe 20 miles of canal seems to be ok but you are still expected to move every 14 days otherwise they can hit you for winter moorings.

[mayalld]

It used to be that simple but, in latter years, if you can't proceed, due to winter stoppages, you are expected to take, and pay for, a winter mooring.

 

Whilst I am an ardent supporter of CCers playing by the rules, I am very fair in my intransigence.

 

• If a canal is closed, the CCer cannot be expected to continue past the stoppage.
  
• He can, and should, continue to CC in the section of canal that is available to him
  
• If the canal is actually iced up, that too is a resonable reason to delay movement.
  
• The CCer should try to plan his navigating so as to avoid being trapped in an isolated short section of the network by a stoppage, and where possible should make use of the Christmas window to move to another part of the network.
  

[Morphyous]

Whilst I am an ardent supporter of CCers playing by the rules, I am very fair in my intransigence.

 

 

[*]He can, and should, continue to CC in the section of canal that is available to him

Surely ccing is about moving around and seeing new scenery and places of interest,

wandering aimlessly back and forth on a stetch of canal because you've got to keep moving

seems a little harsh.

[Naughty Cal]

Surely ccing is about moving around and seeing new scenery and places of interest,

wandering aimlessly back and forth on a stetch of canal because you've got to keep moving

seems a little harsh.

 

As does sticking to the same piece of towpath, after all CCing is about moving around and seeing new scenery

[tomsk]

I am a new CC, i know the rules about this but obviously the canals get closed for repair work, so if i am unable to travel very far during the winter stoppages do BW take a more relaxed approach to us not moving over this period, and when it comes to march i can then carry on my touring of the network...

 

Sry in advance cos i know its a big can of worms i have opened here..

 

 

If your stuck, your stuck!! BW have got bigger problems than worrying about such trivial matters. That said, do it on purpose and The Wrath of CW will smite you with Great Vengence

[Morphyous]

As does sticking to the same piece of towpath, after all CCing is about moving around and seeing new scenery

They're not seeing new scenary because they are being forced to move back and forth along a stretch of canal

that they've already seen , so it would seem better, if they wished, to moor up in the same place until

the works are completed.

[cotswoldsman]

They're not seeing new scenary because they are being forced to move back and forth along a stretch of canal

that they've already seen , so it would seem better, if they wished, to moor up in the same place until

the works are completed.

 

Then get winter moorings.

[Lady Muck]

They're not seeing new scenary because they are being forced to move back and forth along a stretch of canal

that they've already seen , so it would seem better, if they wished, to moor up in the same place until

the works are completed.

 

Surely it depends on how big the space is between stoppages? I don't think anyone bothers to move (or is hassled to move) when we're talking about a few miles of canal. Lets face it, there's not going to be any visitors to complain about overstayers is there?

[cotswoldsman]

If your stuck, your stuck!! BW have got bigger problems than worrying about such trivial matters. That said, do it on purpose and The Wrath of CW will smite you with Great Vengence

 

Don't understand the comment about CW surely if you are a CCer you should be able to find enough canal to keep you moving for 3 months. If not then you are taking the p**s and should take winter moorings and pay.

[tomsk]

Don't understand the comment about CW surely if you are a CCer you should be able to find enough canal to keep you moving for 3 months. If not then you are taking the p**s and should take winter moorings and pay.

 

 

I think you missed the bit about not doing it on purpose.

[cotswoldsman]

Surely it depends on how big the space is between stoppages? I don't think anyone bothers to move (or is hassled to move) when we're talking about a few miles of canal. Lets face it, there's not going to be any visitors to complain about overstayers is there?

 

There is plenty of canal on available where you can keep moving every 14 days during the winter. A lot of people try and use the closures as an excuse not to pay for winter moorings doing BW out of valuable income.

[steelaway]

If your stuck, your stuck!! BW have got bigger problems than worrying about such trivial matters. That said, do it on purpose and The Wrath of CW will smite you with Great Vengence

 

 

And get medieval on your ar*e ?

[David Schweizer]

It used to be that simple but, in latter years, if you can't proceed, due to winter stoppages, you are expected to take, and pay for, a winter mooring.

That may be what a Regional Office might try to tell you, but it is illegal. Just threaten them with the Unfair Contract Terms Act and they will go away (if they have any sense). Just like they went away when they were threatened with the Act after they tried to impose the non issuing of a future cruising licences onto boaters who overstayed on moorings.

 

If BW really thought that they could impose a compulsory mooring upon a Continuous Cruiser who's passage was prevented because of the closure of the canal, they would need to seek a Court Ruling before doing so. I rather suspect that any Judge worth his salt, would take the virew that BW had created the problem and could not impose penalties upon the boater for something that was not the boater's fault.

[mayalld]

Surely ccing is about moving around and seeing new scenery and places of interest,

wandering aimlessly back and forth on a stetch of canal because you've got to keep moving

seems a little harsh.

 

So, plan your journey to ensure you don't get trapped in a short section.

[Naughty Cal]

So, plan your journey to ensure you don't get trapped in a short section.

 

That would mean they have to cruise though

[tomsk]

There is plenty of canal on available where you can keep moving every 14 days during the winter. A lot of people try and use the closures as an excuse not to pay for winter moorings doing BW out of valuable income.

 

 

Noted, again I refer you to the bit about not doing it on purpose. Conversely, if there is an emergency stoppage due to lack of preventative maintenance, could BW be accused of hindering your right to travel the waterways as per your CC status?

[Naughty Cal]

Noted, again I refer you to the bit about not doing it on purpose. Conversely, if there is an emergency stoppage due to lack of preventative maintenance, could BW be accused of hindering your right to travel the waterways as per your CC status?

 

In most places you could just turn around and cruise in the opposite direction.

[tomsk]

In most places you could just turn around and cruise in the opposite direction.

 

 

Granted, but your CC status and licence shouldnt allow BW to restrict you to a route defined by them in the same way as you should not restrict your cruising to a small part of the system. You may not wish to turn around for all sorts of reasons.

[cotswoldsman]

That may be what a Regional Office might try to tell you, but it is illegal. Just threaten them with the Unfair Contract Terms Act and they will go away (if they have any sense). Just like they went away when they were threatened with the Act after they tried to impose the non issuing of a future cruising licences onto boaters who overstayed on moorings.

 

If BW really thought that they could impose a compulsory mooring upon a Continuous Cruiser who's passage was prevented because of the closure of the canal, they would need to seek a Court Ruling before doing so. I rather suspect that any Judge worth his salt, would take the virew that BW had created the problem and could not impose penalties upon the boater for something that was not the boater's fault.

 

I just don't understand all this having to revert to court etc. If you are a CCer then you should be able to find enough canal to move every 14 during the two months before Xmas and the same for the three months after Xmas. It is the boaters fault in my view if he can not plan his winter cruising to avoid stoppages.

 

 

Granted, but your CC status and licence shouldnt allow BW to restrict you to a route defined by them in the same way as you should not restrict your cruising to a small part of the system. You may not wish to turn around for all sorts of reasons.

 

BW have no choice but make repairs. Can't think of any reasons why a genuine CCer may not wish to turn around, by definition a CCer wants to cruise.

[David Schweizer]

Noted, again I refer you to the bit about not doing it on purpose. Conversely, if there is an emergency stoppage due to lack of preventative maintenance, could BW be accused of hindering your right to travel the waterways as per your CC status?

It is unlikely that you couild level any Legal challenge against BW in such circumstances, as it would be considered to be unforseen, but at the same time BW could not force you to take a winter mooring on the basis of an unforseen stoppage.

 

 

I just don't understand all this having to revert to court etc. If you are a CCer then you should be able to find enough canal to move every 14 during the two months before Xmas and the same for the three months after Xmas. It is the boaters fault in my view if he can not plan his winter cruising to avoid stoppages.

 

BW have no choice but make repairs. Can't think of any reasons why a genuine CCer may not wish to turn around, by definition a CCer wants to cruise.

I presume that you are a Continuous Cruiser, and have never been presented with any difficulties moving around the system in the Winter. Having armed yourself with the national programme of proposed works, how do you cope with the extended over running, or late starting of maintenance projects?

Edited October 14, 2009 by David Schweizer

[tomsk]

I just don't understand all this having to revert to court etc. If you are a CCer then you should be able to find enough canal to move every 14 during the two months before Xmas and the same for the three months after Xmas. It is the boaters fault in my view if he can not plan his winter cruising to avoid stoppages.

 

 

 

 

BW have no choice but make repairs. Can't think of any reasons why a genuine CCer may not wish to turn around, by definition a CCer wants to cruise.

 

 

David makes my point far more elequently than I, and I have had enough pointless arguing for one life, so you take your position and I'll take mine. I KNOW which one is the correct one, there are two sides to every contract. (BTW I'm not a CC'er)