boatone
Well-known member
A little while ago we had a thread discussing the whys and wherefores of what constituted use of a boat and whether a licence was needed.
An aquaintance of mine with connections has been kind enough to pursue the matter and has received the following statement which I believe comes from what is , in the vernacular, referred to as "a reliable source"
"This relates to the issue of defining 'use'. Basically, if you're on
your boat at all - making tea or sitting on it enjoying the view, you
need a licence. The only thing that you can currently be aboard for
without a licence is maintenance - and if there is any evidence of
occupation whilst undertaking maintanance or refit, that is regarded as
use. If our patrols catch people using a boat that is moored at the
bottom of a garden that isn't registered, they will be booked
unregistered. I believe this will change when the harmonised charging
is introduced when every vessel in the water will need to be licensed,
whether it is in use or not".
An aquaintance of mine with connections has been kind enough to pursue the matter and has received the following statement which I believe comes from what is , in the vernacular, referred to as "a reliable source"
"This relates to the issue of defining 'use'. Basically, if you're on
your boat at all - making tea or sitting on it enjoying the view, you
need a licence. The only thing that you can currently be aboard for
without a licence is maintenance - and if there is any evidence of
occupation whilst undertaking maintanance or refit, that is regarded as
use. If our patrols catch people using a boat that is moored at the
bottom of a garden that isn't registered, they will be booked
unregistered. I believe this will change when the harmonised charging
is introduced when every vessel in the water will need to be licensed,
whether it is in use or not".
