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Its an old tradition, they used to be written in Old Norse with a crossed out horned helmet symbol..
Must confess on our first visit to the non tidal Thames we did wonder if the local GDP was entirely based on the production and installation of PRIVATE and NO MOORING signs.
From the right Royal "We had a special law passed to keep "subjects " orf our front lawn .... to ....."We have owned this bit of land since William the 1 ST nicked it off the local Saxons .
Please keep moving and "Go Away ! "
Ironically, the bigger boats such as Dutch barges get a favourable discount on the registration fees thanks to the lobbying of the Dutch Barge Association.I think we need an EA ruling banning any future registration or licensing of craft over 45 ft and a co-ordinated mooring payment system for temporary moorings limiting to 24/48 hours.
Someone needs to take charge or I see utter chaos not far away.
Yes and the Gold License is an attractive option I was told recently by someone with a 70x12 wide beam that it is cheaper than a Thames license.Ironically, the bigger boats such as Dutch barges get a favourable discount on the registration fees thanks to the lobbying of the Dutch Barge Association.
To be fair they can get onto the K&A and go as far as Bristol and they can also go on the Grand Union as far as Birmingham. Well they could in theory of the locks weren't falling over like dominoes.The problem seems increasingly to be the modern custom built widebeam boats built obviously as primarily 365 days a year livaboards.
Designed for Thames use, not one of which could squeeze on to the canals proper in million years or go anywhere else for that matter.
So they remain firmly on the Thames.
They do tend to congregate in certain areas. Lady Lyndsies being one.
Just my opinion and others will differ I'm sure, but these wide beams are being built at such a rate that its unsustainable on the river, everyday I seem to see a new one and most are the driveaway half fitted out type. In a few years the river will be full and a very different place, there are simply too many and they are too big.Are people, living on a "new widebeam", growled at anywhere upstream of Reading then?
I only ask because this is our plan, all be it in its early stages, and fitting it with other river users is quite high up on our list of "must haves" for our new life.
Cheers, Robin
Just my opinion and others will differ I'm sure, but these wide beams are being built at such a rate that its unsustainable on the river, everyday I seem to see a new one and most are the driveaway half fitted out type. In a few years the river will be full and a very different place, there are simply too many and they are too big.
We used to think grp boats were getting too big, but they rarely exceed 45ft and are mostly used for short weekends holidays and then live in marinas. Wide beams are build to live on 365 days a year and a small one starts at 50ft, most are over 60ft, they tend to stay at moorings for extended periods and fill the smaller locks.
I hate to deride anybody's choice of boat, but these really are going to cause a big problem, the Great Canal Journeys, 3 Go barging etc... have made it all very fashionable but it doesn't last, some come up for sale after only a couple of years as they exhaust the Thames and realise its a much harder exsistance than they thought.
If it was me I'd buy a Narrowboat around 45-50ft and have the whole UK canal system to cruise.
Well I certainly wouldn't worry too much what anybody else thinks, if the you like the boat and it suits your needs go for it.Understand what you are saying and understand your concerns.
Personally speaking, I'm a qualified boatbuilder and I've lived on or near the Thames all of my life. My plan has always been to live on a "houseboat" of some sort, at some point before I got too old and, after a couple of years of looking at the options and at what is available, the "sailaway" 60' x 12'6" suits us in every way.
If this means that we'll be looked at or treated differently, this will definitely have an impact on our decision, as that's the last thing we want.
Bear in mind that there are very few “Residential Moorings” on the Thames and many riverbank moorings are paid for and time limited - eg Henley 2 weeks, EA probably up to 72 hours. You also need to give a “base mooring” on your licence application. Some marinas specifically exclude live aboards.Understand what you are saying and understand your concerns.
Personally speaking, I'm a qualified boatbuilder and I've lived on or near the Thames all of my life. My plan has always been to live on a "houseboat" of some sort, at some point before I got too old and, after a couple of years of looking at the options and at what is available, the "sailaway" 60' x 12'6" suits us in every way.
If this means that we'll be looked at or treated differently, this will definitely have an impact on our decision, as that's the last thing we want.