Maiden voyage
Moderators: John@sos, charlesp, Charles uk, RickUK, Petergalileo
Maiden voyage
I have recently inherited an Avon Redcrest inflateable dinghy and a seagull 40 plus engine. I have taken both on thier first outing with me on the local canal and after much trial and error have got the motor to start and run. I am sure that I am breaking all sorts of laws by just taking the boat to the nearest water and using it. Will you please let me know what I have to do to keep legal.
Stumpy
-
upthecreek
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:28 pm
- Location:
Hi, stumpy, I've just joined the forum, so my info may now be a bit late.
Most canals are operated and maintained by the British Waterways Board(BWB) except the Wey Navigation in Surrey and I believe the River Lee in Hertfordshire, which are under The National Trust. Both have web sites. Strictly speaking you should get a waterways licence or National Trust licence before you take any boat on their waters I don't know what they would charge for an inflateable, but a barge licence is about £800 a year on BWB canals. The Natonal trust charges per square metre. (Not much for a 2.5x1.4 Avon then!)
Hope this helps.
upthecreek.
Most canals are operated and maintained by the British Waterways Board(BWB) except the Wey Navigation in Surrey and I believe the River Lee in Hertfordshire, which are under The National Trust. Both have web sites. Strictly speaking you should get a waterways licence or National Trust licence before you take any boat on their waters I don't know what they would charge for an inflateable, but a barge licence is about £800 a year on BWB canals. The Natonal trust charges per square metre. (Not much for a 2.5x1.4 Avon then!)
Hope this helps.
upthecreek.
Being Legal
Don't quote me but, with a small unpowered craft like a canoe or rowing boat BWB will not generally stress about your lack of a licence provided you keep away from locks etc & don't annoy those who have paid for their use of the water.
I must admit I illegally tested my featherweight on the local cut as I sail out of a seriously dangerous estuary & did not fancy the consequences of failure in strong currents. Nobody passed any comment, tho' there were many raised eyebrows at my disturbing a quiet Sunday afternoon with the usual blue cloud & "yapping of the scrapyard dog" as another poster described the noise of an old seagull.
If you are planning regular use & intend covering any significant distance then I suggest you contact BWB. They do have a good web site which should explain it all. It is probable that you will be barred from locks due to the danger from the sluice currents, but it is easy enough to portage around the locks. Enjoy your boat Steve K
I must admit I illegally tested my featherweight on the local cut as I sail out of a seriously dangerous estuary & did not fancy the consequences of failure in strong currents. Nobody passed any comment, tho' there were many raised eyebrows at my disturbing a quiet Sunday afternoon with the usual blue cloud & "yapping of the scrapyard dog" as another poster described the noise of an old seagull.
If you are planning regular use & intend covering any significant distance then I suggest you contact BWB. They do have a good web site which should explain it all. It is probable that you will be barred from locks due to the danger from the sluice currents, but it is easy enough to portage around the locks. Enjoy your boat Steve K
Forty Featherweight, not that old - but sure does look it!
BWB rules
Stumpy,
Check this out;
http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/image ... 006-07.pdf
You made me think about the legallity of what I was doing so I checked! It costs about £10/day or £15/week or £50/month for a short term licence but you must also have insurance for around £5million damage (
I have less than that on the open sea where & could cause a supertanker to run aground!).
Open craft with an outboard only are exempt the safety certificate scheme (unless you fit a camping stove I guess). But like I said,
BWB staff can't be everywhere at once, so keep clear of busy areas and don't draw attention to yourself (eg with a cloud of blue smoke & a loudly yapping seagull!) 
Check this out;
http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/image ... 006-07.pdf
You made me think about the legallity of what I was doing so I checked! It costs about £10/day or £15/week or £50/month for a short term licence but you must also have insurance for around £5million damage (
I have less than that on the open sea where & could cause a supertanker to run aground!). Open craft with an outboard only are exempt the safety certificate scheme (unless you fit a camping stove I guess). But like I said,
BWB staff can't be everywhere at once, so keep clear of busy areas and don't draw attention to yourself (eg with a cloud of blue smoke & a loudly yapping seagull!) Forty Featherweight, not that old - but sure does look it!