Considerate Boater

[c c]

Lesley and I (Ian) have been wondering whether or not to put this on the Forum but decided we really need to ask your opinions as we are not sure what to do and the incident has affected us deeply.

 

An ambulance was about to take a man from his boat to intensive care accompanied by his distraught wife. As our non-towpath mooring was not being used at that particular time we told the wife her boat could moor on it until she knew the outcome or her family could rescue her. A few days later with husband slightly better, she took the boat for pumpout and water and as she went through the nearby lock, apparently told a couple on another boat of her sad story, but relief that she hadn’t had to worry about her boat on our mooring. These two characters obviously thought this was a great idea and rushed ahead to nick the mooring!!

 

So it was on Saturday morning that I wandered up to our mooring to find a chap dressed overall in black, complete with name badge and logo on his black shirt, helping this couple move our equipment and tie up to our mooring. He was telling them they could ignore the BW notice and two of our own that politely ask people not to moor. I first thought he was someone I did not know from BW and I said “Can I help?”. He seemed to know me and informed me and the boaters that BW Property department had told him we did not have a lease, it was not our mooring, anyone could moor there and he had full support of BW. I pointed out that we did indeed have a lease, it was none of his business, he was trespassing on the land we lease from BW and he was required to leave. The couple assumed that this figure of authority was right and therefore I was in the wrong and they got all upset with life at MY unreasonable attitude. I eventually got rid of all three of them and the lady we had invited was at last able to moor up again.

 

Thinking Zorro was an escapee from a Care in the Community project, I checked his name (Steve Vaughan) on the web and was staggered to find him to be the new head honcho of a firm that I have always previously thought to be very sound and friendly, Willow Wren Training.

BUT then I found he was also the founder and promoter of an organisation called CONSIDERATE BOATER !!

You can join for free and get a sticker to display on your boat to advertise to other boaters, how considerate you are which seems to essentially include: Ignoring all No Mooring Signs, trespassing on other peoples property and arguing when asked to leave.

The website bears glowing recommendations from the likes of the IWA and a pile of others plus indeed the full support of BW with a quote from Sally Ash, Head of Boating Development for British Waterways. “BW is fully supportive of the Considerate Boater principles and wishes you well with the campaign”.

 

Obviously it is a good promotion to build a mailing list if you happen to run a boat training business but we have been wondering ever since, just what to do, if anything, about this self-appointed Zorro-of-the-Cut, as he roams the canal righting wrongs, defending the weak-minded and campaigning in this manner to promote his homemade rules, with full BW support.

 

Any suggestions gratefully received…………………

[GSer]

Sounds to me like he may have made a mistake, i'd guess we're all capable of that, if he was being devisive what did he have to gain?

 

paul

[c c]

Sound answer Paul and believe me we have thought about this from every angle but when his mistake was pointed out to him, he became even more forceful and he left having never conceded he might just be mistaken.

[carlt]

As the "Considerate Boater" website is a seriously flawed product of someone with apparent delusions of grandeur it doesn't surprise me that he is wandeing round in a plastic policeman's uniform, sticking his oar in, where he shouldn't.

[dor]

Have you contacted Willow Wren Training to get their opinion? This sounds a bit like some of these self-appointed "mooring wardens" who seem to have a some sort of nod of recognition from BW, then go about moving boats and giving their mates the best spots.

[blodger]

Thinking Zorro was an escapee from a Care in the Community project, I checked his name (Steve Vaughan) on the web and was staggered to find him to be the new head honcho of a firm that I have always previously thought to be very sound and friendly, Willow Wren Training. BUT then I found he was also the founder and promoter of an organisation called CONSIDERATE BOATER !!

Any suggestions gratefully received…………………

Whilst I get your drift those enduring Community Care may resent your expectations of an "escapee from a 'Care in the Community' project" It's off topic!

[magpie patrick]

As the "Considerate Boater" website is a seriously flawed product of someone with apparent delusions of grandeur it doesn't surprise me that he is wandeing round in a plastic policeman's uniform, sticking his oar in, where he shouldn't.

 

I would echo that sentiment. "Considerate Boater" is one person acting as self appointed "this is how all you oiks should behave" officer.

 

When "considerate boater" has to get everything past a committee and an AGM (as I do as chairman of a canal society) "considerate boater" can be regarded as legit, until it's one man and his opinion, and he feels self important enough to make proclamations on his opinion, and not just on a forum.

[Grace and Favour]

I would have to assume that Steve Vaughan did, indeed, make a mistake - -

Supposing it is he from Willow Wren / Considerate boater - then I would have thought that the least he could do is, having checked again with BW (he probably has in order to assuage his feeling of being made to look foolish), apologised to you for the error - and offered a complimentary course in how to be considerate to other boaters.

 

Of course - he may indeed be an ex-internee of your local Care in the Community establishment, (and the founder of Considerate Boater)

[grahoom]

Once thing that occasionally diminishes this enjoyment is the inconsiderate conduct of some, (thankfully a minority), of boaters.

 

We felt this conduct could be put down to either attitude or education. There is probably not much we can do about attitude but we felt we might be able to do something about education, particularly to help newcomers to boating.

 

http://www.considerateboater.com/about.htm

 

maybe a classic case of do as I say not as I do?

[carlt]

and offered a complimentary course in how to be considerate to other boaters.

Bearing in mind his apparent lack of consideration towards the OP, he is, perhaps, not the best person to be offering such courses.

[Grace and Favour]

Bearing in mind his apparent lack of consideration towards the OP, he is, perhaps, not the best person to be offering such courses.

 

Carl - you may have guessed I was indulging in a little irony . . . .

[Athy]

I don't suppose he ever goes inside a narrowboat; he couldn't get his head through the door.

[magpie patrick]

I would have to assume that Steve Vaughan did, indeed, make a mistake - -

Supposing it is he from Willow Wren / Considerate boater - then I would have thought that the least he could do is, having checked again with BW (he probably has in order to assuage his feeling of being made to look foolish), apologised to you for the error - and offered a complimentary course in how to be considerate to other boaters.

 

I'm a bit at a loss as to why anyone from a third party would have knowledge of a lease between Canalchef and BW, or at least, have enough knowledge to be so sure of their ground.

 

He didn't, he thought he knew and was big headed enough to assume he was right.

[Maverick]

Whilst I get your drift those enduring Community Care may resent your expectations of an "escapee from a 'Care in the Community' project" It's off topic!

 

Couldnt agree more I'm sure many of the forum members recieve care in the boating community.

 

Through no fault of their own they do not have the intelligence of their land going counterparts. Their simple way of life and the utterley neglectful way they squander their money by pouring it into a never ending quest to get the perfect boat is shameful but we should not judge them.

 

If there are any boaters out there currently recieving care in the community I urge you to come together to form a union and fight against this deplorable act of .......... well whatever it is a deplorable act off anyway. Form a Brown Bus society now!

[carlt]

Carl - you may have guessed I was indulging in a little irony . . . .

I did hope so.

 

It may be worth noting that "Considerate Boater" is a forum member, though he hasn't visited, since he joined.

 

Perhaps he took a quick look round and thought "and some fell on stony ground".

 

Form a Brown Bus society now!

Presumably the "Brown Bus" has neither cassette nor pump-out?

 

 

Sorry, wrong thread.

[JohnO]

Has anyone contacted Lisa Jarvis's successor, sure they would want to know about this incident?

[Mrs Tawny Owl]

Since BW seem to be supporting him in his aims, maybe you should make them aware of his behaviour, preferably Sally Ash who put her name in support rather than just someone on the phone desk. Though how you get to her I'm not sure.

 

If they are risking their own reputation by supporting something slightly dodgy, then they should really know about it in order to decide if they want to take any action.

 

I'm glad you got it sorted, and I do think you were the considerate boater for helping the lady in distress the way you did.

 

Sue

[carlt]

Has anyone contacted Lisa Jarvis's successor, sure they would want to know about this incident?

Has Lisa left BW?

[c c]

Just to say thanks to all of you for bothering to respond and if there are any developments, we will let you know.

[Artimis]

As the "Considerate Boater" website is a seriously flawed product of someone with apparent delusions of grandeur it doesn't surprise me that he is wandeing round in a plastic policeman's uniform, sticking his oar in, where he shouldn't.

 

 

Ha, made me laugh cos it reminded me of a story I heard on the radio about a guy in a central african country who got his hands on a California Highway Patrol motorcycle cop uniform and set himself the task of turning up everyday at his local airport and standing at the side of the main runway to direct taxiing aircraft.

 

Plastic policemans uniform or plastic flasher mac, the guy is obviously a proper helmet head.

[RLWP]

Ha, made me laugh cos it reminded me of a story I heard on the radio about a guy in a central african country who got his hands on a California Highway Patrol motorcycle cop uniform and set himself the task of turning up everyday at his local airport and standing at the side of the main runway to direct taxiing aircraft.

 

Plastic policemans uniform or plastic flasher mac, the guy is obviously a proper helmet head.

 

I wonder if the name on his badge is his own. It would be easy to fake a card with someone else's name on it

 

Richard

[carlt]

I wonder if the name on his badge is his own. It would be easy to fake a card with someone else's name on it

 

Richard

Reading the content of the Considerate Boating website, it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't prance around, in a fake uniform, fantasising about being important.

[c c]

I wonder if the name on his badge is his own. It would be easy to fake a card with someone else's name on it

 

Richard

 

Originally, I had a similar thought, but the face on his website is definately the one I was dealing with.

[Guest wanted]

Power's a funny thing, people presume it comes from wearing a visivest and a badge. You are the one with the power, Knowledge.

Oh and wouldn't somebody who was on the care in the community program not have a project or establishment to come from? Being 'in' the community.

[DHutch]

Ha, made me laugh cos it reminded me of a story I heard on the radio about a guy in a central african country who got his hands on a California Highway Patrol motorcycle cop uniform and set himself the task of turning up everyday at his local airport and standing at the side of the main runway to direct taxiing aircraft.

 

Plastic policemans uniform or plastic flasher mac, the guy is obviously a proper helmet head.

Like the self appointed parking warden.