Boat Safety Scheme - not required for boat transiting between coasts?

[Reptile Smile]

Hi all,

I'm moving a boat from east coast to west coast along the Kennet and Avon, through London. I've done this once before, in 2012, and while I did it, I was told (though can't remember by who) that the BSS was not required by C&RT for a boat that was moving from coast to coast.

Can anyone confirm or deny this? What exactly are the requirements as I pass through Teddington?

Cheers

 

[Bru]

Hi all,

I'm moving a boat from east coast to west coast along the Kennet and Avon, through London. I've done this once before, in 2012, and while I did it, I was told (though can't remember by who) that the BSS was not required by C&RT for a boat that was moving from coast to coast.

Can anyone confirm or deny this? What exactly are the requirements as I pass through Teddington?

Cheers

Passing through Teddington puts you on EA waters, not C&RT! It's when you turn left at Reading onto the K&A that you encounter C&RT

C&RT will issue you with a 30 day visitor licence on completion of a self certification form (the "Boat Condition Declaration") which can be found at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/library/1196.pdf

Be warned that it isn't a good idea to tell porkies on the form.

You have a maximum of 56 days on C&RT waters in any one year without requiring a BSS Certificate

I think, but you'd have to check, that if you've got a RCD Compliance Certificate (relatively modern boat) you are exempt from the above requirements

 

[Reptile Smile]

Thanks Erbas - most helpful. It must be old age, forgetting about EA rather than C&RT!

So - as long as there are no LPG cylinders, and petrol is in appropriate tanks, I don't need BSS? Or I don't need BSS at all regardless as long as it's less than 56 days?

Also, does anyone know what are the requirements of the EA regarding BSS?

Thanks

 

[Bru]

Thanks Erbas - most helpful. It must be old age, forgetting about EA rather than C&RT!

So - as long as there are no LPG cylinders, and petrol is in appropriate tanks, I don't need BSS? Or I don't need BSS at all regardless as long as it's less than 56 days?

Also, does anyone know what are the requirements of the EA regarding BSS?

Thanks

Go through the declaration form. If you can tick all the relevant boxes and avoid the ones that say (basically) "begone, thou danger unto all concerned" you're good to go

(I'm very reluctant to say an outright yes or no 'cos it could have legal implications. Yeah, I know, tiresome and tedious but that's the world in which we live today)

Much the same goes for EA as C&RT. You have to declare on the short term licence application that the boat complies with either BSS or RCD but (as far as I'm aware) you don't need a certificate unless you stay on EA waters beyond 30 days

I do recall somebody some time back removing their gas bottles for a passage up the Thames as it avoided any issues with the self declaration

 

[Reptile Smile]

Go through the declaration form. If you can tick all the relevant boxes and avoid the ones that say (basically) "begone, thou danger unto all concerned" you're good to go

(I'm very reluctant to say an outright yes or no 'cos it could have legal implications. Yeah, I know, tiresome and tedious but that's the world in which we live today)

Much the same goes for EA as C&RT. You have to declare on the short term licence application that the boat complies with either BSS or RCD but (as far as I'm aware) you don't need a certificate unless you stay on EA waters beyond 30 days

I do recall somebody some time back removing their gas bottles for a passage up the Thames as it avoided any issues with the self declaration

Brilliant. Thanks for this. Much appreciated.

(Sorry about this. My ignorance knows no bounds... Wouldn't believe I've actually done this trip once..!)

Am I right in saying I have no option but to get the C&RT licence in advance by post - that is, I can't buy it on the way? But that I buy the EA licence as I pass through Teddington?

 

[Bru]

Brilliant. Thanks for this. Much appreciated.

(Sorry about this. My ignorance knows no bounds... Wouldn't believe I've actually done this trip once..!)

Am I right in saying I have no option but to get the C&RT licence in advance by post - that is, I can't buy it on the way? But that I buy the EA licence as I pass through Teddington?

AFAIK, that is indeed the case. The difference being that EA have lock keepers at Teddington who will shake you down for some money and hand you a piece of paper (and some nice big white stickers I believe) whereas C&RT don't have staff manning the locks (Blakes used to have a full time keeper once upon a happy time, but that was long long ago, in a time of milk and honey and kaftans and free love ... oh, sorry, wrong forum ...). Be wise to double check though 'cos my memory may be at fault (probably failing due to all the spliffs and free love and ... oops, wrong forum again)

 

[Reptile Smile]

LOL! Thanks