The Boat Behind You.......

[KJT]

a bit like asking a petrol tanker to drive with particular courtesy to crawling holiday drivers in Devon while he is trying to make several deliveries during the day while keeping within his working time limits.

Do you buy your petrol from the tanker driver then?

[NB Lola]

I can remember a similar issue toward Rugeley with a fuel boat too. The boat stopped in Rugeley, giving me the space I wanted. I don't dawdle either.

[Joe the plumber]

They should overtake on the left.

 

It is actually easier for everyone if the boat in front goes over to the bank and stops completely for the few seconds which it takes for the one behind to get past.

 

Great, thank you.

[alan_fincher]

I think the point is that you have given your version of events, the other chap isn't in a position to do likewise, and things are often different according to the perspective.

 

Well actually, if it was one of the regular fuel boats on the stretch described, I suspect the operator of that boat probably is a member on here, although I'm not sure how regularly these days.

 

It would be interesting what they say, but I simply can't believe the story as written, I'm afraid.

 

If a fuel boat has a queue of people to serve as you pass them, then that is going to take may, many minutes, even if they don't serve others subsequently.

 

In that considerable time, I would then expect you to be so far ahead, that they are never going to come close to catching up if you keep going at an even half way reasonable speed. They will struggle to better 4mph, whatever they do, frankly.

 

If they did catch you again quite soon, something you are telling us doesn't stand scrutiny.

 

These guys are very experienced, and it is not in their interest to upset potential punters - the ones I know, (and I know a lot of them personally), seem to be to be the model of good behaviour. - it is in their very strong interest not to acquire a negative reputation.

 

I hope the operator of which ever boat it was does post here, and set the record straight.

[Wanderer Vagabond]

Whether of not the account given by the OP is the full facts, one point does come to my mind and that is if you are trying to force the hand of the boat in front of you to let you past by 'tailgating' him surely the ultimate efffect will be for him to travel even slower since, if you are only a boat length behind, you are taking water from him and could bring him to an almost complete stop. I had a muppet do this to me across the Pontcysyllte aquaduct and he couldn't seem to get it through his thick head that if he got close up behind me neither of us were going anywhere unless he could fit wings to his boat

[Murflynn]

Do you buy your petrol from the tanker driver then?

do you not understand supply chains then?

 

if the tanker has SHELL written large, would a 'discourteous' driver put you off buying their fuel, if there was no other petrol station for miles? similar to buying from a fuel boat in the middle of nowhere.

[LEO]

a bit like asking a petrol tanker to drive with particular courtesy to crawling holiday drivers in Devon while he is trying to make several deliveries during the day while keeping within his working time limits.

 

Not the tanker drivers I know - any complaints about their attitude or driving and the driver is investigated by their employers, safety is paramount.

 

I buy fuel from fuel boats , great all round service 12 months of the year.

[Chertsey]

Some people are arses and some people do go faster than others, maybe even too fast. But the OP notes that he slowed down for a bend, and this was the cause of the boat behind shouting at him - and in that aspect at least I have some sympathy for the fuel boat. A loaded boat can't slow down as quickly as a little leisure boat, and, more importantly, wouldn't want to slow down for a bend as a. they would already have planned in their head how to take it at their current speed (and would have little margin for error) and b. would want to keep up the speed in order to steer more effectively and actually get round the bend. By 'tailgating' he probably was indicating his readiness to come by - if he'd stayed well back the other boat would never have known and yes, if you have a big prop it can be hard to go as slowly as some people like to. It is just as much a matter of courtesy to let a faster boat by as it is not to intimidate a slower one.

[Guest]

Some people are arses and some people do go faster than others, maybe even too fast. But the OP notes that he slowed down for a bend, and this was the cause of the boat behind shouting at him - and in that aspect at least I have some sympathy for the fuel boat. A loaded boat can't slow down as quickly as a little leisure boat, and, more importantly, wouldn't want to slow down for a bend as a. they would already have planned in their head how to take it at their current speed (and would have little margin for error) and b. would want to keep up the speed in order to steer more effectively and actually get round the bend. By 'tailgating' he probably was indicating his readiness to come by - if he'd stayed well back the other boat would never have known and yes, if you have a big prop it can be hard to go as slowly as some people like to. It is just as much a matter of courtesy to let a faster boat by as it is not to intimidate a slower one.

Does this mean then that the fuel boat has no consideration for any other boat and just motored at his full speed to get round the bend? And to hell with anyone else 'so that's OK then is it? It seems clear he was intimidating the OP and should be reported, maybe his attitude to leisure boaters needs addressing.

[David Mack]

Does this mean then that the fuel boat has no consideration for any other boat and just motored at his full speed to get round the bend? And to hell with anyone else 'so that's OK then is it? It seems clear he was intimidating the OP and should be reported, maybe his attitude to leisure boaters needs addressing.

Or does this mean then that the OP has no consideration for any other boat and just reduced his speed to to a snail's pace to annoy the boat behind? And to hell with anyone else 'so that's OK then is it? It seems clear he was deliberately antagonising the fuel boat and should be reported, maybe his attitude to other boaters needs addressing.

 

As has been said, we have only heard one side of this story.

[valrene9600]

A boat comes up behind I move over let him pass.

I catch a boat up and if he fails to invite me to pass I will if frustrated (rare) stop and put the kettle on or just reduce speed.

What a fuss this all is. Life's to short folks it really is.

[Guest]

yawnnn..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Just to add, you weren't there - so being quite so judgemental without being in possession of all the facts has no value at all. Thanks for your contribution! Oh, and it wasn't just us, as the boat in front of me had the same issue!

Just thought I say hello by the way. My third post on here..... , and not quite the response I was expecting!!!

Well over many years on here I have seen numerous tails of discourteous treatment by other boaters and (quite rightly) people point out that there is often another side to the story. If the fuel boat skipper is not a member here they will be unable to give their version of events, if he his they will.

 

That is why I was encouraging you to name the boat as I am sure somebody will not only know who they are and if they are members. If they are members it would be good to hear what they have to say, in the interests of fairness.

[Tuscan]

The OP states he slowed down for a bend and still overlooked it - this mistake alone I'm sure will have caused a following boat to close rapidly. If once past the working boat sped into the distance so I'm guessing the OP was going fairly slowly as if loaded I doubt many would outpace a newish semi trad on a shallow canal. I've seen some arrogance by empty 'show' working boats in leaving gates open when your the following boat etc etc . However those that work for a living are in my experience not only very competent boatmen but also behave reasonably.

[alan_fincher]

I am told the person who's boat it was is aware of the thread, so it is up to them if they wish to give their version of events.

Now I have re-read the detail, I would agree with a comment made to me elsewhere that it would be a rare achievement to be able to make 4mph in the Rugely area on an historic boat!

[Guest]

I am told the person who's boat it was is aware of the thread, so it is up to them if they wish to give their version of events.

Now I have re-read the detail, I would agree with a comment made to me elsewhere that it would be a rare achievement to be able to make 4mph in the Rugely area on an historic boat!

The trouble now of course is we will now all be speculating about which fuel boat skipper/member it is?

[alan_fincher]

The trouble now of course is we will now all be speculating about which fuel boat skipper/member it is?

Not if they choose to post a response!

[Guest]

Not if they choose to post a response!

Well yes, but until then the wheels of the CWDF speculation machine will be grinding away....

 

Ed, but clearly not for long!!

Edited July 18, 2016 by MJG

[mykaskin]

I was 'that boat behind' and perhaps the original poster won't see this as he obviously has some problems with a serious and sedate conversation due to the daily problems of boating.

 

First off, I'd like to set some truths in the situations and locations. I first met the boat in question while I was waiting for my delivery next to the water point near the Ash Tree. If I saw him the previous day, I don't recall. He went past the water point, and then decided to reverse back to it (bumping my boat and causing a following boat to stop after coming around the bend from the bridge). Eventually my gas turned up, loaded, and as I went to pay the calorman the OP decided to set off again.

 

By the time I dropped my lines I could see I was going to catch them up shortly, and did so as I passed the Plum Tree. The tunnel/narrows there isn't a first come first served tunnel, if there is a boat in it coming the opposite direction you let it through, but even though there was a boat waiting at the other end (didn't know that BTW, you can't see) I continued to follow the OP into the narrows as normal operation dictates.

 

The OP had several places he could have pulled into the bank safely and easily but decided not to do so. I followed at about 70-90 foot, about my stopping distance at tick-over but we were going faster, maybe about 3.4 mph. A boat came the other direction in the narrow section before the sharp turn before Armitage Shanks, and the OP went to close to the bank hitting the bottom. He slammed it in reverse, and not having the space to maneuver due to the oncoming boat shouted for him to keep going. It's hard to communicate verbally over distance without it sounding angry, but if I swore I didn't mean too, and at worse would have been a 'bloody' just to push home how important it was otherwise I'd bump the boat up the backside. He obviously heard, and started moving forwards again.

 

I wasn't expecting to be able to overtake until reaching the deeper and wider bit near Shank's, so hung back. However the OP cut the corning into the bridge, and went straight on. I couldn't see that he hadn't made the corner, and again he was in reverse. Again I shouted, probably very likely with swear words this time, as I was already committed to going around the outside of the bend, and going astern would beach me on the shallow hard bottom on the outside of the bend. I continued my corner, and the OP put power on to complete the turn and move out of my way.

 

He pulled over once through the bridge, and I shouted (as it's all you can do to communicate over engines) that none of this would have happened if he'd let me in front when he first noticed me, and not to bloody cut corners especially into blind bridge holes (as seems to be the want these days).

 

People, please line up for bridges as soon as possible to make it far easier to get through, and even more important to get a good sightline!

 

I stopped to do diesel to a boat at Kings Bromley, and the OP passed again. I caught him back up at Wood End, as there is a paddle out queues were building quickly. I had lunch while waiting, but it seemed like there was no rush from anyone and went back to the lock to get it ready for myself. The OP left the lock, and I lifted the single gate paddle expecting the people from that boat to pull the gates shut. I had walked down to the other end of the lock before they made a move, but were quite happy to shout and scream that this CRT lady was counting boats for water usage, I explained that water was quite happily running down the bywash, and it would speed things up as the queue was now 4 boats, with room for two on the moorings as someone else decided it would be a good place to moor up. The gates did not bang about as the flow was not great, though appeared impressive from the gate.

 

Again, if I swore I apologise, but you really didn't help matters at all.

 

Mike

[Athy]

A boat comes up behind I move over let him pass.

I catch a boat up and if he fails to invite me to pass I will if frustrated (rare) stop and put the kettle on or just reduce speed.

What a fuss this all is. Life's to short folks it really is.

A greeno for sanity.

[Guest]

A boat comes up behind I move over let him pass.

I catch a boat up and if he fails to invite me to pass I will if frustrated (rare) stop and put the kettle on or just reduce speed.

What a fuss this all is. Life's to short folks it really is.

I guess stopping for a cuppa works when you only boat for leisure....

 

but as I understand it fuel boats have a schedule to keep, at least to some degree so if you lose time and potentially let people down your reputation suffers as a result.

[Rob-M]

I think efficient boating techniques are seen as being in an impatient rush these days.

As Mike states if more boaters took a good line through bridges there would be less horn blasting and bashing of boats as well.

[mark99]

To the OP. What happened re the police incident?

[nomad - tuttle hill]

Mike , you top boater and hat off to you for coming on this and saying what happen. you always a gent and no different . May this person like to attend Alvecote this year and try to turn your boat outside the Pub?

 

I have to bring my chalk and in the middle of the night write " jaws" on your boat

[stagedamager]

'you're gonna need a bigger boat'..............

[dogless]

Move on please, nothing to see here.

 

Thanks to Victoria for the response, but even without it I consider Valeries response was accurate.

 

If any boat is catching up with you, let it pass. Saves a stiff neck from constantly trying to monitor it.

 

And to the op. It's a mistake to assume what response your post will elicit. Be careful, you may not get the answer you hoped for because sometimes we can all be in the wrong. Don't give up, this is a good place, but we don't always think the same as you.

(Or me )

 

Rog