Please be nice to hire boaters

[Water Rat.]

Coming up the Stoke Bruerne flight today we has the pleasure of sharing the locks with two delightful gentlemen. They are brothers and have been hiring boats together for over thirty years. They just love boating and the canals and have seen far, far more than I have. One of them plans to buy his own boat next year.

 

While chatting they were telling me tales of far flung bits of the system, but, the one blot on the landscape was that they have frequently been treated like idiots because they are in a hire boat. Someone even came out of a cottage at Stoke Bruerne telling them that they should open all the paddles when they were the only boat and choosing to take their time. When they pointed this out apparently the person huffed off and slammed their front door!

 

So folks, lets all be nice to hire boaters, not jump to conclusions and offer help when needed.

[Traveller]

Works for me

[patty-ann]

I spent this pm at Foxton locks where a delightful trio of American ladies tackled the stairway with zero knowledge, the volunteer lock keepers talked them through and escorted them every inch of the way. A crowd congregated and all were listening intently to the teaching session. All in all a pleasant afternoon.

[Guest]

Coming up the Stoke Bruerne flight today we has the pleasure of sharing the locks with two delightful gentlemen. They are brothers and have been hiring boats together for over thirty years. They just love boating and the canals and have seen far, far more than I have. One of them plans to buy his own boat next year.

 

While chatting they were telling me tales of far flung bits of the system, but, the one blot on the landscape was that they have frequently been treated like idiots because they are in a hire boat. Someone even came out of a cottage at Stoke Bruerne telling them that they should open all the paddles when they were the only boat and choosing to take their time. When they pointed this out apparently the person huffed off and slammed their front door!

 

So folks, lets all be nice to hire boaters, not jump to conclusions and offer help when needed.

Spot on.

 

One thing I really miss up here is the hire boaters, they are rare and many more would welcome.

 

When in the midlands we saw many more and enjoyed helping those who needed it.

[Janet S]

I'm a hire boater as well as borrowing friend's boats occasionally and I'm happy to say we've only come across that sort of attitude on a very few occasions.

 

I've also done a couple of seasons working for a hire boat company doing handovers for new guests, so I've seen both sides.

 

Apart from one occasion with a crew who just didn't want to listen, nearly all our guests were well prepared, well read and bursting with enthusiasm. They soaked up all the information, asked questions constantly and it was a pleasure to meet them. I rather miss my handover job! It's the only job I've had that never felt like work!

 

So sad when someone treats hire boaters like that. As Water Rat said...they've been hiring for thirty years...they've probably travelled more than most owner boaters. We've only been hiring for twelve years or so, but we've put an awful lot of miles under our belt in that time, including a month long cruise from the Midlands to the Thames and back and a fabulous trip on the Ribble Link from the Lancaster Canal to the Leeds and Liverpool.

 

In my opinion and experience, hire boaters are desperate to get it right. They've paid a small fortune for their week or two and they want to get the most out of it without appearing like amateurs. They are also usually willing to listen and take advice - a far cry from some boat owners I've come across! Luckily the crotchety types are few and far between...most boaters simply want to enjoy the waterways and pass on their knowledge and enthusiasm.

 

I'm proud to be a hire boater...I doubt we would have covered half the mileage we have if we'd had our own boat!

 

Lovely to hear about the day at Foxton, but it begs the question why did they have zero knowledge? Did they not have some tuition before they took the boat? Saying that, I wouldn't like to tackle Foxton without a bit of knowledge!

 

Janet

[Tuscan]

 

Lovely to hear about the day at Foxton, but it begs the question why did they have zero knowledge? Did they not have some tuition before they took the boat? Saying that, I wouldn't like to tackle Foxton without a bit of knowledge!

 

Janet

Pretty sure that these were canal time hirers coming out of Market Harborough, they are a lot of overseas hirers and I think they get told the volunteers will talk them through it. I have no issues with sharing locks with hire boats and have had as many bad experiences with private boaters as those that hire over the years

[John V]

............... have had as many bad experiences with private boaters as those that hire over the years

 

Seconded

[David Mack]

While chatting they were telling me tales of far flung bits of the system, but, the one blot on the landscape was that they have frequently been treated like idiots because they are in a hire boat.

At one time the standard retort to this sort of behaviour was that we all started out as hirers once. But there seem to be an increasing number of people who just turn up and buy a boat without any previous knowledge or experience, and no real idea of what to expect. The more thoughtful of them come onto forums (fora?) such as this and ask questions. Others seem content not to learn but just to trot out their preconceptions to whoever is passing.

Edited May 23, 2014 by David Mack

[Ssscrudddy]

I dont quite understand all this crap about, ooh he's a hire boater, ooh he's a private boater, ooh he's a liveaboard, ooh he's a CCer, ooh he's a marina dweller.

Loads of people are too quick with their labels. An arsehole is an arsehole, simple as that.

[waterdog]

As a previous serial hirer and now on a share boat that doesn't look like a shared boat the difference in some peoples attitude is amazing.

When following a clearly new hirer past some moored boats near braunston recently the comment from a moorer was "I hope your not in a hurry, they are all over the place"

 

Then on a hire boat a couple of years back "madam" on a private boat was clearly in a state of panic as I was about to join them in a wide lock. She was jumping up and down and waving her arms about trying to direct us in, the look on her face when we got in without touching their boat or the lock wall was priceless

[David Schweizer]

We always chat to hirers and find the majority to be very friendly, dare I say, far lot friendlier than quite few private boaters. Some are newcomers and seem to welcome a bit of helpful assistance, and some are very experienced but seem to appreciate the friendly chat, possibly because some private boaters are not prepared to engage with them.

 

The hirers we really like are young families with small children, who are always keen to help and keen to learn. Ok Jan was a Primary School Teacher, so she is used to that age range, but they are usually a delight.

[MHS]

I've always been nice to hire boaters.

 

Let's remember that's how most of us started.

[Phil Ambrose]

I enjoy hirers with the obvious exceptions of some Stag and some Hen parties.

 

Phil

[Slim]

As a single hander in his mid (well, later) 60's I welcome the sight of and company of hirers. In almost all cases their discovery that I'm on my own is immediatly followed by the offer of assistance and a bit of banter. OK, sometimes the Stag or Hen parties are a little OTT but haven't we all been at some time?

 

I still remember the Hen party of topless sunbathers last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MHS]

 

I still remember the Hen party of topless sunbathers last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you notice if they had their fenders down?

[John V]

Did you notice if they had their fenders down?

[Grace and Favour]

I dont quite understand all this crap about, ooh he's a hire boater, ooh he's a private boater, ooh he's a liveaboard, ooh he's a CCer, ooh he's a marina dweller.

 

Loads of people are too quick with their labels. An arsehole is an arsehole, simple as that.

'Tis a good job you don't label people then.

[JamesWoolcock]

Coming up the Stoke Bruerne flight today we has the pleasure of sharing the locks with two delightful gentlemen. They are brothers and have been hiring boats together for over thirty years. They just love boating and the canals and have seen far, far more than I have. One of them plans to buy his own boat next year.

 

While chatting they were telling me tales of far flung bits of the system, but, the one blot on the landscape was that they have frequently been treated like idiots because they are in a hire boat. Someone even came out of a cottage at Stoke Bruerne telling them that they should open all the paddles when they were the only boat and choosing to take their time. When they pointed this out apparently the person huffed off and slammed their front door!

 

So folks, lets all be nice to hire boaters, not jump to conclusions and offer help when needed.

And don't ruin their holiday!

James

[StarUKKiwi]

'Tis a good job you don't label people then.

All people.on canals are there to enjoy themselves, I (to my shame) once said something to a day boat when they shut a swing bridge on us and it wasn't their fault, as we were following another day boat who hadn't a clue! Most hirers are on a schedule and so they work really hard, especially if there are loads of locks - without hire companies and hire boaters, canals would be less used IMHO

[patty-ann]

"Lovely to hear about the day at Foxton, but it begs the question why did they have zero knowledge? Did they not have some tuition before they took the boat? Saying that, I wouldn't like to tackle Foxton without a bit of knowledge!Lovely to hear about the day at Foxton, but it begs the question why did they have zero knowledge? Did they not have some tuition before they took the boat? Saying that, I wouldn't like to tackle Foxton without a bit of knowledge!"

 

I do not think they had any teaching. It was fairly obvious to all that they hadn't a clue, 2 beer swiggers outside pub stepped in when it appeared that their directional force post swing bridge would see them up on the bank! That disaster avoided the lock keepers swiftly zoned in. Lovely ladies, not fazed at all. Beer drinkers had a bit to say, fortunately not to the trio as it could have put a dampener on their trip. Funny thing was they hadn't been told about lack of shops for provisions from top of locks! One wonders if any forward planning went into this holiday.

[John V]

sorry slightly off topic but triggered by earlier post

 

Foxton was part of the canal system I was looking forward to, on my "Bucket list" tour.....unfortunately it was a lovely sunny warm weekend.

 

Single handing up, although assisted for the first couple of locks by a volunteer lockie, turned into a major effort. Trying to fend off, politely "assistance" by hoards of willing youngsters, trying to answer questions both sensible and just plain daft, trying to remember what you had been doing before answering for the hundredth time "yes I do have a toilet/cooker/television" .

 

I arrived at the top in a muck and sweat just grateful that I had made it without a cockup.

 

If I ever do it again I will try and plan for the earliest start possible on a wet weekday during term time !

 

 

 

 

fat figgner edit

Edited May 24, 2014 by John V

[blackrose]

So folks, lets all be nice to hire boaters, not jump to conclusions and offer help when needed.

I've never not been nice to hire boaters nor jumped to any conclusions about them.

[Pykebird]

As I am also singlehanded, I love to share locks, especially with hirers. They always talk about the boat, dogs living aboard etc. In fact by the time we have left the lock I am aways reminded just how lucky I am to be living on my boat

[David Schweizer]

sorry slightly off topic but triggered by earlier post

 

Foxton was part of the canal system I was looking forward to, on my "Bucket list" tour.....unfortunately it was a lovely sunny warm weekend.

 

Single handing up, although assisted for the first couple of locks by a volunteer lockie, turned into a major effort. Trying to fend off, politely "assistance" by hoards of willing youngsters, trying to answer questions both sensible and just plain daft, trying to remember what you had been doing before answering for the hundredth time "yes I do have a toilet/cooker/television" .

 

I arrived at the top in a muck and sweat just grateful that I had made it without a cockup.

 

If I ever do it again I will try and plan for the earliest start possible on a wet weekday during term time !

 

 

 

 

fat figgner edit

 

When that sort of situation arises, Jan and I fall back into our pre-retirement careers as Teacher and Youth Worker, respectively, and harness their enthusiasm to our advantage. From my observations, very few "older" boaters engage with young people, rather seeing them as a threat. In doing so they may well be missing the opportunity for both interesting dialogue. and positive assistance.

Edited May 24, 2014 by David Schweizer

[John V]

 

When that sort of situation arises, Jan and I fall back into our pre-retirement careers as Teacher and Youth Worker, respectively, and harness their enthusiasm to our advantage. From my observations, very few "older" boaters engage with young people, rather seeing them as a threat. In doing so they may well be missing the opportunity for both interesting dialogue. and positive assistance.

 

Trouble is, if you are not used to dealing with either youngsters or side ponds (not common where most of my canal boating done) it's easier to do things yourself, as you get a rhythm going which aids remembering everything!