Canal system unlocked a bit

[TrueBlue]

Just received (10:41) a message from the ditchy bit company -

Quote -
" With the Government announcing a first step in lifting restrictions on outdoor activities, and allowing people to drive to spend time outdoors with members of the same household, from Wednesday, the Trust is lifting any remaining restrictions on boat owners visiting their boats though the Trust advises against travelling long distances unless it is essential to do so.

At this stage we continue to advise that boats should only be used for minimal travel. Angling and watersports (canoeing, Kayaking and SUP), for exercise, can also resume on Wednesday and we are reviewing when we can restore navigation in light of the new government advice."

Perhaps it's time that EA reconsidered their position, though it may take some time before their discussion and decision filters down through their many layers of management and filters down to the Greater Unwashed who are its fee paying boaters......

 

[ianc1200]

..... I wonder how many have actually paid their fees. What with floods then the virus, & 50% of year gone before we can use our boats, I wonder how many have paid so far?

 

[Outinthedinghy]

I've paid my two canal licenses, one gold license and two Thames licenses already. I do this in December before the renewal date.

That's for 5 different vessels. Private non hire.

 

[Old Crusty]

Paid mine too in December, just the 500 quid this year.

 

[normskib]

Still not clear do the new rules mean that it is acceptable to use a boat on the Tidal Thames in this instance For short trips ?
for purely leisure or is it still essential purposes only !!!

 

[DogsBody]

RYA have posted on their website that as they understand it a full return to all forms of boating is ok from Wednesday 13th of May.

I wonder if anyone has told the EA they need to turn the lock power back on and get the multiple river blockages cleared / marked pronto?

 

[Outinthedinghy]

That's interesting.

I can't really see the public power going back on but it would be a Good Thing if it did.

As for the navigation hazards that's another problem isn't it.

Quite a few the first ones come to mind are the submerged steel wide beam canal boat, the tree and the transit van.

Then there will be things like fallen trees and markers moved around by the wet winter. And I would guess that places like above Benson lock may have become shallow again due to water movement.

I think the most likely outcome is public power stays off until these are dealt with and it doesn't seem likely this will be particularly soon.

 

[DogsBody]

I suspect it'll be some time before the EA react with anything close to "business as usual on the river" but at this point I (and I expect most boaters) would be happy just to get to the boat, brush off the cobwebs and go for a quick run up and down their local stretch, just to get out and make sure it all still works.

 

[TrueBlue]

It's all right for you "locals" - but for me it's an 160 mile round trip - not a lot of point if I can only do a 400 yd run between the locks.
More seriously I wouldn't be popular staying overnight - maybe..

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Maybe people will discover how pleasant it is to just glide down the River slowly and back up again.

Harleyford would be a slightly awkward one but then temple and Hurley are on hand wind and quite small locks so not all that arduous.

Mind you with the large diameter collars and not much grease around those gates are quite heavy to open with the wheel.


ETA there is a slight problem about having locks on hand wind which is people tend to only open the gates enough to get their own boat through. Then leave it.

This is bad practice for a number of reasons.

Potential for the ram weak links breaking.

Quite interested to know what boater error caused the failures further up River.

I initially assumed this was someone trying to get the lock keeper power on by messing with the police boxes or maybe it was something as simple as not fully closing gates assuming they would close themselves like canal locks.

The actual result of leaving a gap between gates and allowing water pressure to close them is the gate ram(s) departing from anchor point(s).

If that happens you can't open the affected gate until it is fixed.

You could probably winch it but that would be a bit technical and probably against the byelaws for a boater.

 

[oldgit]

CRT.
Update: Monday 11 May

"Last night the government announced the first steps in lifting restrictions on outdoor activities and is now allowing people to drive to spend time outdoors with members of the same household. Based on this decision, from Wednesday 13 May we are lifting restrictions on boat owners visiting their boats.


At this stage general navigation still isn’t permitted and boats should only be used for minimal travel, for example for essential services or repairs. Where visiting, people should expect to return home the same day. We will be reviewing when we can restore navigation in light of the new government advice. In the meantime, mooring exemptions are extended by a further two weeks until Saturday 23 May."