Breasting up..???

[Matthew Knowles]

No i want Dave to do it

Hey! I got bagsies first! Well, I didn't say "bagsies".....bagsies me first!

[mayalld]

No i want Dave to do it

 

You want me to attempt to moor alongside you to see if it breaks your boat?

 

Sounds fair enough to me. Just need to check my jabs are up to date before I head for Lincolnshire.

[Matthew Knowles]

You want me to attempt to moor alongside you to see if it breaks your boat?

 

Sounds fair enough to me. Just need to check my jabs are up to date before I head for Lincolnshire.

 

Cue the 'Deliverence' banjo music....

[Naughty Cal]

You want me to attempt to moor alongside you to see if it breaks your boat?

 

Sounds fair enough to me. Just need to check my jabs are up to date before I head for Lincolnshire.

 

Excellent, when are you coming. I have got to witness you navigating first the Trent but secondly the Fossdyke and the cruisers.

[mayalld]

Excellent, when are you coming. I have got to witness you navigating first the Trent but secondly the Fossdyke and the cruisers.

 

When I have the time to get there.

 

Given that I've been off work for 2 months and am still on reduced hours, my employer isn't likely to be over generous with extended annual leave.

 

Hell may freeze over first...

[Naughty Cal]

Hmm.

 

Next year then. Will pencil it in

[mayalld]

Holy crap...!!! 10 years later - and after lots of encounters with some really nice folk and only one with a weirdo - I look at it completely differently.

I dont give a sh*t about "I set off early so I could get here first and get the best spot"...or.."You cant organise your life properly"...WTF is that. !!!!

 

Why do people think that for the sake of arriving 10mins earlier they have the right to be there and you dont. "I dont like my boat being rocked"...."I like to see out my windows"..."You didn't buy the right boat"..."I dont want a piece of plastic in my window". "I cant be arsed to walk my dogs across the back of someones boat"..unbelievable. In other words "I'm a right miserable b*stard and I wish you'd all just go away".

 

well, that's that sorted then.

 

Those who aren't keen on people breasting up to them have politely pointed out why they dislike it.

 

Those who want to breast up to others have aggresively flung abuse and course language.

 

If you and Phylis are typical of the attitude adopted to people who won't let you do what you want by the kind of boater who wants to be allowed to breast up, I really think I've made the right choice in saying no.

[alan_fincher]

Hmm.

 

Next year then. Will pencil it in

I could probably still do it sooner, but that doesn't seem fair to Dave, somehow!

[AlanH]

well, that's that sorted then.

 

Those who aren't keen on people breasting up to them have politely pointed out why they dislike it.

 

Those who want to breast up to others have aggresively flung abuse and course language.

 

If you and Phylis are typical of the attitude adopted to people who won't let you do what you want by the kind of boater who wants to be allowed to breast up, I really think I've made the right choice in saying no.

I have no problem with other boats breasting up to us except that we are early starters and would get seriously frustratesd by having to wait until the occupants of the other boat arose. We have been asked only once by a stranger and we let him in to moor on the towpath and breasted up to him.

[Matthew Knowles]

I have no problem with other boats breasting up to us except that we are early starters and would get seriously frustratesd by having to wait until the occupants of the other boat arose. We have been asked only once by a stranger and we let him in to moor on the towpath and breasted up to him.

Simple. Just don't untie your neighbours and then give them a surprise when they get up!

[Tiny]

I know a lot of moorings where, due to the narrowness of the canal, uncut foliage growing opposite and BWs careful positioning of the 48 hour mooring near a bend that one boat moored reduces the canal to a single lane in the middle and breasting up would make it very much worse.

As we choose to moor in the middle of no-where only once in 35 years have we ever breasted up. On that ocassion the flow on the Severn was such that the next lock would have shut before we reached it one night so we asked the locky, who was closing up, if we could use his lock mooring. As ours was about the only boat through in a number of hours he said OK. Of course just after this another must have arrived so he let it through in the near dark. Seeing us they asked to breast up as they would be no trouble and be off at 8am. We said OK and they were not any trouble expect in the morning when we wanted to be off at 9am and there was no sign of them. We slipped their boat round ours to be moored to the mooring with some effort and no sign of life from them and we left wondering what had happened to the 8am off. In mid afternoon we moored for the night and 4 hours later - again near dark - they raced by. The lady called over saying they had laid in til 12 and when had we gone. We later got to know this couple and found they travelled very quick. (I thought I was quick through Harecastle but he took a thousand yards out of me in the 29 of the tunnel.) Given this we worked out they rose at 12 and left at around 2pm.

[Mrs Tawny Owl]

We don't breast up often, but wouldn't really have a problem if someone wanted to, except that where we travel mostly the canals are quite narrow so the room is restricted.

 

Arriving at Bidford on Avon a few years ago there was no space left so we tried to breast up to a boat outside the pub as there was no other room. He popped out to say he didn't want us to as he was just on the way back from having the boat blacked and didn't want any scrapes so soon. He did shuffle so we could get in next to him, and I felt that was a reasonable reason on his part.

 

I feel those that don't like breasting up would need to be more accommodating on rivers as there are long stretches where you just can't moor. It's one of the reasons I don't like rivers much, great for cruising but stopping is a real nightmare at times, and with the downright unfriendly attitude of some of the landowners you could be really stuck.

 

On canals there is always somewhere else to moor not too far away, so the worst is you have a longer walk to the pub of your choice or the shops. Even those who don't like it might let you if it's for a quick trip to the shops.

 

Not sure about the planning thing though. we tend to cruise most of the day, and end up where we do depending on what's happened during the day. We both still work, and so want to cover some distance during our holidays. We really don't have time to waste 1/2 a day regularly just to get to a mooring before everyone else! Much better things to do with our time, like cruising and enjoying the waterways.

 

Sue

 

No but there would be one hell of an insurance claim.

 

ETA: Can narrowboats moor up with enough pace to hole a cuiser. They always seem to be doing about 0.5mph when they manouvre.

 

Haven't actually tried to but:

 

When leaving a lock on the Avon a couple of years ago there was a very nice new shiny big plastic cruiser waiting to come in. It was moored to the lock landing, and the water coming over the weir was tending to push against the lock landing.

 

As the Lock gate opened and we appeared I have this vision of panic, and the boat disappearing rapidly backwards

It would have been tricky for us to get out without getting near them because of the weir, and they certainly weren't going to wait and find out if 20ton of steal would do any damage.

 

Sue

[Naughty Cal]

I have no problem with other boats breasting up to us except that we are early starters and would get seriously frustratesd by having to wait until the occupants of the other boat arose. We have been asked only once by a stranger and we let him in to moor on the towpath and breasted up to him.

 

You can leave the inside berth without the outside boat leaving. You untie one end, slip out and then secure their lines again. It isnt hard once you have done it, but i agree it makes sense to have the boat leaving first on the outside, although that would mean talking to other boat owners, something some seem to dislike.

[Chris Pink]

Oh dear, we agree again!

 

Other than in a genuine emergency (arriving to find the spot you wanted to moor full is not an emergency), I don't want other boats breasted up to me.

 

This is for a couple of reasons;

• I like watching the scenery, rather than somebody elses kitchen
  
• We tend to go to bed early, and people who breast up inevitably end up rolling in from the pub hours after we have gone to bed, and wake the dogs.
  
• We like to set off at around 7:30 am. I don't want to wait for the other boater to get up, or to bugger about slipping out from the inside.
  

 

Stickers allow those who are unable to organise their lives to work out which boaters are going to prop up their lack of organisation, and avoids putting other boaters in the "do you mind if I smoke" scenario.

 

What you seem to be missing in your entirely self-centred little rant is that the hypothetical person who wants to breast up against you is almost certainly not doing it to annoy you or for fun but because it is the only way to find a mooring.

 

If I turn up with my boats and the only possible mooring is against you then that is what I will do. For courtesy's sake I will ask but I will not take no for an answer because I know that the only possible reason I have for mooring abreast with such an antisocial and grumpy person as yourself is necessity.

 

I have only, in over 20 years of boating found it necessary to breast overnight in a couple of instances but I have frequently, due to the size of my boats, found it necessary to breast up temporarily. I have been fortunate in never encountering someone with your attitude and this leads me to conclude that like other reported instances of grumpy and selfish people on boats you are in a very small minority indeed.

Edited July 14, 2010 by Chris Pink

[Evo]

Mayalld...The network is getting busier and busier, new boats are are being built and imported at an alarming rate, old boats are being restored and pretty soon the whole dammed system is going to jam up with traffic. We moor on the main line and its astonishing how many boats go past in a day. I look into some of the marinas as we go by and do a quick count of the boats and its amazing how many there are.

 

I dont think anyone would breast up in preference to a bankside mooring, but come on your reasons for objecting are a little errm selfish and - OK IMO - trivial dont you think. I know you said in an emergency you would concede - fair enough - but congestion in a popular spot surely counts as being a valid reason. I'm not saying I would like it to happen every night and I certainly wouldn't want to impose myself on others every night, but sometimes - especially on rivers - its totally necessary dont you think..??

 

Adopting your "organise your life better" attitude would surely mean you wouldn't put yourself in a position where it might happen, so you would have no need to worry anyway.

[Keeping Up]

Simple. Just don't untie your neighbours and then give them a surprise when they get up!

We have done exactly that once, although admittedly there was a degree of pre-arrangement. A boat arrived late and asked if they could breast up to us, but said they wouldn't be getting up early in the morning so asked if we could slip away without disturbing them. Jokingly I suggested taking them with us, and they enthusiastically said "Yes please" so we did. I'm pleased to say we had travelled several miles and even passed through two locks before anyone on the other boat woke up.

[koukouvagia]

 

Now that's what I call breasting up

Edited July 14, 2010 by koukouvagia

[cotswoldsman]

Mayalld...The network is getting busier and busier, new boats are are being built and imported at an alarming rate, old boats are being restored and pretty soon the whole dammed system is going to jam up with traffic. We moor on the main line and its astonishing how many boats go past in a day. I look into some of the marinas as we go by and do a quick count of the boats and its amazing how many there are.

 

I dont think anyone would breast up in preference to a bankside mooring, but come on your reasons for objecting are a little errm selfish and - OK IMO - trivial dont you think. I know you said in an emergency you would concede - fair enough - but congestion in a popular spot surely counts as being a valid reason. I'm not saying I would like it to happen every night and I certainly wouldn't want to impose myself on others every night, but sometimes - especially on rivers - its totally necessary dont you think..??

 

Adopting your "organise your life better" attitude would surely mean you wouldn't put yourself in a position where it might happen, so you would have no need to worry anyway.

 

Congestion in a popular spot in my opinion is not a reason to breast up, unless you are going to a event such as Crick Show, Cropredy Festival etc. If there were no moorings at a popular spot I would just carry on until I found a mooring. I think Rivers are a different matter where mooring is very limited the other week I passed through Upton on Severn and had wanted to stop but there were no moorings and as I don't like imposing myself on others I continued to Tewkesbury.

[mayalld]

Mayalld...The network is getting busier and busier, new boats are are being built and imported at an alarming rate, old boats are being restored and pretty soon the whole dammed system is going to jam up with traffic. We moor on the main line and its astonishing how many boats go past in a day. I look into some of the marinas as we go by and do a quick count of the boats and its amazing how many there are.

 

I dont think anyone would breast up in preference to a bankside mooring, but come on your reasons for objecting are a little errm selfish and - OK IMO - trivial dont you think. I know you said in an emergency you would concede - fair enough - but congestion in a popular spot surely counts as being a valid reason.

 

No it doesn't.

 

If a spot is popular, then it is likely that there will be less spaces than people wishing to moor.

 

If mooring at that location is of vital importance to you, you should ensure that you arrive early in the day. If you aren't prepared to do that, then you need to be prepared to move on to a less popular spot.

 

The overwhelming majority of people who find a popular mooring full accept that there isn't room for them. Why should a tiny minority believe that the ordinary conventions of first come first served don't apply to them?

 

 

What you seem to be missing in your entirely self-centred little rant is that the hypothetical person who wants to breast up against you is almost certainly not doing it to annoy you or for fun but because it is the only way to find a mooring.

 

If I turn up with my boats and the only possible mooring is against you then that is what I will do. For courtesy's sake I will ask but I will not take no for an answer because I know that the only possible reason I have for mooring abreast with such an antisocial and grumpy person as yourself is necessity.

 

If it is the ONLY way that you can moor you might be in luck asking. If there are other moorings further on that you could use, then you should move on to them.

 

As far as "I will not take no for an answer", I positively refuse to indulge you in one of your rather silly bouts of willy waving.

[Guest wanted]

To run alongside the stickers inviting people to 'breast up' I see a market for anti-breasting spikes, think Ben Hur chariot stylee!

 

In all seriousness, I don't really have an opinion on this, it's the sort of thing that I find best to deal with as and when it actually happens, I don't think it would bother me, unless a right (edited) decided to keep us awake all night, but then my problem would be with noise and not necessarily in breasting up. I think i'll just wait and see. (I'm sure that little revelation won't make the forums interesting thread awards!)

Edited July 14, 2010 by Liam

[alan_fincher]

...................unless a right (edited) decided to keep us awake all night, but then my problem would be with noise and not necessarily in breasting up.

And when they arrive, breast outside of you, but then ask if you mind them carrying their generator across to the bank, and running the cables over your boat........

 

Edited July 14, 2010 by Liam

[Guest wanted]

And when they arrive, breast outside of you, but then ask if you mind them carrying their generator across to the bank, and running the cables over your boat........

 

 

 

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

 

[mayalld]

Congestion in a popular spot in my opinion is not a reason to breast up, unless you are going to a event such as Crick Show, Cropredy Festival etc. If there were no moorings at a popular spot I would just carry on until I found a mooring. I think Rivers are a different matter where mooring is very limited the other week I passed through Upton on Severn and had wanted to stop but there were no moorings and as I don't like imposing myself on others I continued to Tewkesbury.

 

Which is what the majority would do.

 

Unfortunately, a small minority seem to feel that they ought to be able to do just exactly as they please, and accuse anybody who disagrees with them of being selfish bastards.

[magpie patrick]

I've been told off for this before, but imagine I'm a football ref. Sorry Phylis, yellow card. The waterways you cruise are not typical of the ones most boaters have access to. And Dave, good to see you back, but not all waterways are narrow canals, yellow for you too, albeit you were provoked

 

We have not yet had to breast up on the G and S, but we nearly always have to breast up on the Severn. There is probably less than 500 yards of moorings in 42 miles of river. Dave's "I would rather you didn't" just doesn't wash. I really have no choice, having moored at Upton at 1pm and been the fourth out from the bank. Eight abreast is not unknown.

 

But on the narrow canals leading to the Severn, breasting up is a non-starter. the canals are scarcely wide enough for two boats to pass, a moored boat is a problem never mind mooring abreast (NOT rafting up please) it simply isn't possible. Put the daggers back please.

[steelaway]

Which is what the majority would do.

 

Unfortunately, a small minority seem to feel that they ought to be able to do just exactly as they please, and accuse anybody who disagrees with them of being selfish bastards.

 

 

What a load of tosh

I am now of the opinion now, that you and cotswolds man must live very sad lives.

What ever happend to socialising with your fellow boaters. You should try it!!

For a mariad of reasons people can find them selves in a position of not being able to find a mooring.

I would certainly expect to be able to breast up at Upton on Seven and I am sure 99% of my fellow boaters would be quite happy to allow it.

We would have a chat, a drink and have a thoroughly good time - you're missing out mate.

But if you must - you go and hide away inside - looking out your windows.

 

Alex