A justified moan.....

[Richard Shead]

So I take something large, steel and very expensive down river today, all is well with the world as I know its for a good cause...

A certain well known passenger boat makes a run for it down stream towards Old Windsor Lock leaving 8 boats in its wake, no bother they have to make a living..and to be fair there was little wash.

We get to the lock and he is moored half way along the bank leaving only half the available space for the 8 boats he has just passed...

As I am the lead boat I politely ask for him to move down to which he ignored me, again and louder and he begrudgingly moved.

Once in the lock he then proceeded to tell my wife he has 30 years of experience on the river and I should not be telling him where to moor his craft as he knows best and it was in the interest of safety...

I politely remind him that he may have 30 years of experience but he seems to have forgotten about the 8 boats he left behind with no where to moor in the last 40 mins of his life...

I expected better from this outfit and I am glad the current Mrs S told him not to be so *&^$& patronising...

 

[watson1959]

cruisers

I expected better from this outfit and I am glad the current Mrs S told him not to be so *&^$& patronising...

I think I like the current Mrs S.

 

[vandy]

So I take something large, steel and very expensive down river today, all is well with the world as I know its for a good cause...

A certain well known passenger boat makes a run for it down stream towards Old Windsor Lock leaving 8 boats in its wake, no bother they have to make a living..and to be fair there was little wash.

We get to the lock and he is moored half way along the bank leaving only half the available space for the 8 boats he has just passed...

As I am the lead boat I politely ask for him to move down to which he ignored me, again and louder and he begrudgingly moved.

Once in the lock he then proceeded to tell my wife he has 30 years of experience on the river and I should not be telling him where to moor his craft as he knows best and it was in the interest of safety...

I politely remind him that he may have 30 years of experience but he seems to have forgotten about the 8 boats he left behind with no where to moor in the last 40 mins of his life...

I expected better from this outfit and I am glad the current Mrs S told him not to be so *&^$& patronising...

Had similar experience last year in Teddington Lock with a passenger ferry!

We were on a brand new cruiser bought by one of my friends and the lock keeper instructed us to moore inside the lock with our port side to the wall. He was behind us and being Mr. Rude and Impatient he staretd shouting using his "Microphone and Loud Speakers"!!! He did not enough bo****ks to at least talk to us directly and was complaining to his passengers about us quite loudly inside the lock saying "Look what we ferry captains should put on with everyday in the river with these small boats and their inexperienced skippers!"

Since he was not talking to me I ignored him, but he proved to be an idiot.

Most ferry skippers are nice, helpful and friendly, but you may find some being unreasonable every now and again.

Just ignore them and enjoy your time!

 

[Richard Shead]

I forgot to say I was running on trade plates so it should have been obvious to the 30 years of experience skipper that I was on a delivery and not a nice day out...which is was in the end.

 

[stuartbaggs]

Which passenger boat/company did you have trouble with in Teddington lock? I know the French Bros of Windsor can be a bit iffy.

 

[Portland Billy]

Move along please

I had a strange but similar experience a couple of weeks ago at Cookham.-
A cruiser I had followed up from Boulters moored at the very end of the lay-by, and when I asked if he would please move up, as there were several boats astern, he gave me a load of abuse and accused me of having no manners(??!!).
I eased passed him and moored up close the gates, then went back to explain that it was common courtesy to move up the lock lay-by - only to receive more abuse - and made me rather annoyed !
The lock was on self service , so I walked away and busied myself with the lock - for which he gave me no thanks, of course.
The rest of the boats also eased passed him we all carried on regardless.

When I had earlier followed him into Boulters he came alongside as soon as he entered the lock and bumped along with the lock keeper assisting with the headline, seeming completely oblivious to vessels astern.

It was a blue hulled boat of about 24 feet named (I think) 'Glenmaris' - anyone know him ??

 

[Forbsie]

So I take something large, steel and very expensive down river today, all is well with the world as I know its for a good cause...

I thought you may have been referring to Tigre D'Or but the paint is still curing. £3.5M steel barge in for a tidy up on Eel Pie.

So who was the offending boat then?

 

[Richard Shead]

I thought you may have been referring to Tigre D'Or but the paint is still curing. £3.5M steel barge in for a tidy up on Eel Pie.

So who was the offending boat then?

I wish! same colour though...I have been admiring Tigre D'Or from the safety of the boozer of late....

More the offending skipper than boat, I wont mention the name but lets just say it was in the Windsor area.....

 

[Sulley]

If we are having a moan about lock etiquette, can I have a moan about an incident with a NB this weekend? You can then tell me if I'm being a bit precious!

We were behind a couple of large cruisers and a 60ft odd narrow boat going into Bell Weir lock on Sunday afternoon and they all decided to go on the right hand side. As there was no more space we went on the left and moved up as there was a 40ft odd boat behind us who at the last minute decided not to go in the lock. We were then ahead of the narrow boat and as the lock was emptying we asked them if they would like to go first as they had entered the lock before us and they said "no you go ahead", no problem good lock etiquette.

We then went into Old Windsor lock a few cruisers and the narrow boat behind us now as we entered us on the right, NB on the left it was a busy and full lock. So the lock empties the boats in front of us go and I speak with my crew we let go our lines and go to leave the lock. The other half who is at the front starts getting panicky and starts shouting at me as the NB has let go of their lines and is moving up besides us under very poor control. I manage to get the back line back on and use the bow thruster to keep the boat in and manage a very near miss as the NB carries on seemingly oblivious. We moan to each other as we leave the lock and choose to ignore it as we are having a good day and it's the end of our week holiday.

Next Boveney, we have over taken the NB between the locks and enter the lock before them. We are on the left and the NB on the right of the lock the front of their boat must be a good 8 metres behind the back of ours. Again as we leave the lock the same thing happens only I'm focusing what is in front of me as we have a few hire boats leaving the lock sideways etc. Luckily Boveney lock is wide and we don't hit each other as the NB has dropped his line and is sneaking up on me. This time the other half is mad and says to the guy on the front of the NB that is the second time you have done this, you are supposed to enter the lock as you entered. She also asks do you know how to use locks or perhaps you should ask the lock keeper for an explanation! He says speak to the skipper which she does and the NB seems to see no problem with anything they have done. This was a private NB on a visitors licence not a rental.

I must admit I was getting quite annoyed by this. Am I being a grumpy old git? I thought this was there not just for etiquette but also to stop accidents and a free for all when leaving locks.

A must admit some of the lockkeepers seemed quite distracted by their new volunteers this weekend as well!

Sorry for the long post just wanted to get this off my chest!!!

 

[Sandyman]

''Once in the lock he then proceeded to tell my wife he has 30 years of experience on the river and I should not be telling him where to moor his craft as he knows best and it was in the interest of safety...''

That being the case, why did he then move ???

Pleasure boat skippers think they own the waterways, just as taxi drivers think they own the roads. Its an arrogance brought about by the mistaken belief of superiority.

 

[apollo]

Pleasure boat skippers think they own the waterways, just as taxi drivers think they own the roads. .

..but they obviously dont, the Rowers do!

 

[Richard Shead]

If I am honest it did not bother me as the boat was big (and heavy) enough to sit where it was in fact I only really used the ropes for show....

My moan was he overtook everyone (as expected) and then did not allow any room for the poor folk he overtook!

It was bad form, nothing more, nothing less....

 

[teddington_lock]

Should have just moored in front of him on the layby Rich.

 

[TrueBlue]

I must admit I was getting quite annoyed by this. Am I being a grumpy old git? I thought this was there not just for etiquette but also to stop accidents and a free for all when leaving locks.

Sorry for the long post just wanted to get this off my chest!!!

No you are not a GOG.
It's not only nb's that do this - perhaps it's because they are long that causes irritation (especially as most cruisers will steam past in due course anyway).

I've been told that is is common practice on the southern Grand Union and believe the same on the K&A.

Whatever, it's rude and potentially hazardous to rush out.

Being polite and waiting your turn is all part of the Olde-World-charm of working the river.
A bit of "after you"; "Oh, no; after you Sir" doesn't go amiss, and folks depart with a warm feeling.

Sadly few folks give a jot nowadays; just rushing up to the next watering hole, Innit??

 

[TrueBlue]

If I am honest it did not bother me as the boat was big (and heavy) enough to sit where it was in fact I only really used the ropes for show....

My moan was he overtook everyone (as expected) and then did not allow any room for the poor folk he overtook!

It was bad form, nothing more, nothing less....

I think the management of said outfit take a different view. I had occasion to chat with one of the Brothers whilst he was watering his steamer some time ago, and commented that his firm were not very friendly to which he took a dim view - his stance was that at the management level he wanted his boats and crews to be considerate and friendly to other users.

 

[Richard Shead]

I think the management of said outfit take a different view. I had occasion to chat with one of the Brothers whilst he was watering his steamer some time ago, and commented that his firm were not very friendly to which he took a dim view - his stance was that at the management level he wanted his boats and crews to be considerate and friendly to other users.

Well as it happens I had a phone call today.....the skipper had reported the event to his boss and gave his reasons, I still don't agree with his actions (he states safety) but its his craft and his choice even if it did irritate the other users.

We had a good chat and I have been invited to helm such craft to look at it from the other side in the future should I choose to accept which I thought was a nice gesture.

Thank you for the call.

Cheers

 

[Chris_d]

Well as it happens I had a phone call today.....the skipper had reported the event to his boss and gave his reasons, I still don't agree with his actions (he states safety) but its his craft and his choice even if it did irritate the other users.

We had a good chat and I have been invited to helm such craft to look at it from the other side in the future should I choose to accept which I thought was a nice gesture.

Thank you for the call.

Cheers

Well at least he took note of your comments and has tried to make amends, everybodys first reaction is to be defensive even if they are in the wrong which causes a lot of river rage incidents.

The upstream layby at Old Windsor is very curved I seem to remember and this may make things awkward for a longer craft, certainly if nobody else is behind me there we sit further back to avoid being sat on the apex of the bend.

It would be great if you take him up his offer and report back.

 

[Richard Shead]

Well at least he took note of your comments and has tried to make amends, everybodys first reaction is to be defensive even if they are in the wrong which causes a lot of river rage incidents.

The upstream layby at Old Windsor is very curved I seem to remember and this may make things awkward for a longer craft, certainly if nobody else is behind me there we sit further back to avoid being sat on the apex of the bend.

It is and I was in a 13 / 14 meter boat so nearly as long as his, my point being he overtook all the craft on the way down leaving them all to fend for themselves behind us. As I have said I had no issue as a.) I had a mooring and b.) I had more thrusters than the space shuttle.

He may cite safety and its his call but my point is he should have thought about the craft behind, in my opinion and it is mine he could have moved up another boat length to help those behind.

Anyhow we all got to our destination and all had a nice day and the boat was delivered without a scratch, he just rattled me at the time (particularly his patronising rant in the lock which if you know me is not the best thing to do!)

If you cant have a rant on here where else can you have a rant.....

 

[boatone]

If you cant have a rant on here where else can you have a rant.....

Write a letter to the Editor of MBM?

 

[Chris_d]

If you cant have a rant on here where else can you have a rant.....

No problem please rant away.......