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Monday 12 March 2018

Observation 4, moorings.

Although there are reportedly about 2000 miles of C&RT waterways to choose from it is always surprising how many people, even outside the busiest parts of the year, want to be in the same place! We all know the honeypot places, and we all like stopping at them at some point in our cruise. It therefore astonishes me that at these spots you are able to watch folk moor up leaving big gaps between boats, effectively reducing the number of boats that could utilise the space. Would it be possible do you think to alter the bye law to say that where ever there is a 24 or 48 hour mooring time limit, boats must be moored so as to leave minimum space between them. (or something similar). I have been very tempted to let  go a boat and move it a few feet so as to be able to slip on to the mooring. If the owner/occupier was not aboard at the time, would you think this was acceptable?

We have used this spot on the Thames a couple of times now. It is just 60' long where you can slip in next to the bank. You have to climb on to the bank from the roof and moor up tied to trees but you aren't going to be plagued by neighbours here!

On the other hand you are out in the wilds with nobody about and miles of empty mooring places in both directions and boat will moor up about 4 feet from your bow and stern! Why on earth do people do that. I've heard of safety in numbers but it has even happened when there hasn't been a road or a house in sight? I have even had it where they then run their engine or generator well after 2000. If I had to do that I would ensure I was as far from others as possible, and it is against the bye laws!

One of our better moorings with a low hedge to the south so sun all the day, very little foot traffic and an uninviting bank for others to stop.!

Miles and miles of on line moorings are a bit sole destroying as you idle past trying to keep your interest and concentration. It is bad enough n a lovely sunny day with no wind, but when the opposite is true it is a real grind. You then get to the old argument about speed past moored boats. When you are inside your boat and see a boat whiz past your window they seem to be always speeding as you see them close up and for a short distance. If you are outside they always, to me seem slower. Personally I do go to my tick over, which is not the same for every engine, or every boat, but I must admit to just pushing her up a notch for long lines of moorings.

I can't really remember where this is but illustrates those lengths of moorings that seem to grind on. (And a boat with her fenders down!).

There are serial Mr. or more normally, I find, Mrs. Grumpy, who shakes her fist at the window as you pass, or hurls themselves out of the hatch to curse and swear at you for speeding past them. Invariably I am doing my tick over (which is actually very slow it seems compared to others) but still their boat is moving laterally along the canal. When you look you see that actually they seem to have no idea about how to tie their boat up and really it is their own fault that it is happening. I used to tell them so, but now I just smile and wave back. As a minimum a bow and stern line should lead well for'd or aft, AND NOT PERPENDICULAR TO THE BOAT!! The other thing that I notice is that what ever knot, or system some people are using to secure the ropes they are pulling out so the rope just gets looser as every boat passes. I very rarely use springs but they are useful in some circumstances as an aid. As we have dollies aft my system is to position the boat alongside, select a ring, length of cladding or place for the pin and place it securely in position. One end of my mooring rope is secured to a dolly. The other end goes through/round and back to the boat. I have an eye in the end of the mooring line and I just 'wrap' the rope round the two dollies in a figure of eight until I can place the eye round one of the dollies so there is as little slack as possible. I will then push, power the boat ahead until it is nice and tight. I will then go to the bow and place the mooring rope through/round the securing ashore and make it up on the 'T' piece on the bow with a locking hitch on the last turn. This is good for just about every situation. If not I secure the stern line with several half hitches round itself between the dollies. These will just pull tighter if there is a surge, but still be easy to let go. There are other knots to do this, but a half hitch is easy.

Ideally the mooring line should lead from the outer dolly to exert the maximum 'pull' into the bank, but the fuel filler would fray the rope there. Maybe you can also see that I have just looped the line round the dollies and placed the eye in the end over one and tightened it by moving the boat ahead if required.

There is the old bug bear of overstaying on moorings I have done it myself, in the middle of nowhere, or for an hour or two. However I feel so guilty and suspect that C&RT will be knocking on my hatch at any time I am much more comfortable moving on. I'm glad that I am in the happy position where I don't have to live on my boat and work, or educate my kids etc. But when you get your licence you sign to agree to the rules and regulations knowingly. I know that some say that those rules and regulations are wishy washy, but that doesn't mean you have to exploit them. I am also a little sceptical of their authority to declare themselves canal people as the majority don't seem to go anywhere. Can owners of a static caravan join the Caravan Club? (That's a genuine question by the way). Should Councils be obliged to provide low cost marina moorings like chalet parks? I'm glad I don't have to sort it out, and I do like the diversity of people on the cut, but there are more boats on the system than there ever has been now.

 No fear of over staying here as I think it was about £70 for the use of the lock and a temporary berth until the next tide. Mind you as we penned up into Portishead Harbour it was pretty surreal as it felt like we had been transported to the Mediterranean after leaving Sharpness and coming down the Severn. We were just waiting for the tide to head into Bristol.

Whilst I'm on about moorings can I make a plea for having a good think about what position you put other boaters in when you moor on lock landings, water points, winding holes, bends and by bridge holes etc. Put yourself in their place and look to move on just a little to make the lot go easier.

The moorings at Droitwich Basin are on pontoons and are secured by a gate. I wish that other towns on the system thought about providing similar moorings as it would certainly encourage boaters to stop and spend their money locally. There are several places on the Wyrley and Essington, Leicester and Star City on the Saltley Cut in Birmingham come to mind.

I must be on a flow now as I have just thought of something else. Music, or even test match special etc. When ever you are moored up why do some see fit to play their radio as loud as they can? Why should others around have to put up with your choice of listening material. Sit inside, sit closer to the radio, or even employ modern technology and use headphones, rather than inflict it on others. I swear on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal heading up to Brum a boat went past with a blaring radio, obviously listening to the football. But no, he was actually watching it on television in a cardboard box with a hood like affair to keep the sun out whilst he was at the tiller!

Despite being in the middle of Birmingham it is surprising how quite it gets in the night.

Oh, something else!! I think we have become addicted to 'Armco' shuttering. It seems that we have become allergic to mooring up to the bank anywhere that does not have it. I understand the soft bank syndrome and those horrid speeding boats, but surely we can still double pin at these moorings. It seems that where there are no rings, 'Armco' etc and people don't moor, and so Fountains don't mow to the edges so it becomes impossible to moor. I think every boat has a gang plank so so long as you can get ashore you should be able to moor. Mind you it may put off that bloke who seeks safety in numbers if he has to use pins and a gangplank to tie up near you!

Very little Armco on the Kennet and Avon and I found that if you could get ashore to take the ropes, that was a good enough mooring spot.

When heading for the Kennet and Avon I would always recommend an extra long plank as they make life a little easier. Ours is extremely heavy but makes finding a mooring for the night much easier.

One last thing, I promise. Can I also make a plea for more moorings where the trees and bushes are reduced in height as more and more people are utilising solar panels and so having to use their engines, generators less, more green etc, but it is not possible if everywhere is shaded. Just a thought.

We have always managed to find a spot to moor just by the flood lock at Ferrybridge on the Aire and Calder, partly because there are not that many boats and partly because it is a bit of a walk to anywhere. When you look down the cut towards the power station they seem to tower over you. I don't think any of them are producing electricity any longer as they were coal fired. A great place to use your solar panels obviously.

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