In the market for a new boat?

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angelaquayle

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Lots of the boat brokers on the Thames are doing an open week from 11 - 18 may inclusive with lots of special spring offers, including free insurance on any motor boat sold. Between them they've got over 700 new and used boats for sale. Details of who is involved and where to find them etc are on the visitthames website.
 
Look for the one called Shamby at T&K /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Pleeeeze!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Why the hell are you, as a member of the E.A, spending your valuable time (which I and other boaters pay for) promoting commercial companies. They can pay for their own advertising. Please go and sort out the many problems that the E.A. have within their own establishment and just maybe then, people will be encouraged to boat on the Thames.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why the hell are you, as a member of the E.A, spending your valuable time (which I and other boaters pay for) promoting commercial companies. They can pay for their own advertising. Please go and sort out the many problems that the E.A. have within their own establishment and just maybe then, people will be encouraged to boat on the Thames.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tee hee.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why the hell are you, as a member of the E.A, spending your valuable time (which I and other boaters pay for) promoting commercial companies. They can pay for their own advertising. Please go and sort out the many problems that the E.A. have within their own establishment and just maybe then, people will be encouraged to boat on the Thames.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is it with you? So much angst!

1. angelaq is not 'a member' of the EA but an employee.
2. Boaters only contribute about 15% or so of the annual budget for the Thames.
3. The companies being 'promoted' belong to the River Thames Alliance for which they pay a significant membership fee. The primary purpose of the RTA is to coordinate interested parties in a joint approach to improving the river for all users.
4. Rather than promoting any specific company, the post you seem so upset about is actually drawing attention to a promotional event on the Thames. At least one poster here would be delighted if it resulted in his boat being sold.
 
Calm down Beryl, for a second I nearly had the same reaction as you, but if you read the link its a genuine initiative to encourage people to go down the river and play on boats. All the boatyards are doing specials and there are discounts on trip boats etc... I think the EA should do everything it can to support riverside buisness's, especialy in the current economic climate, its not a bad thing in my book.
Angela doesn't run the EA so we can't lay everything at her door.
 
It is about encouraging people to use the Thames as a place to look for their next boat, as the post suggests there are loads of brokers / dealers on the Thames with a very good selection of boats to sell.

I should not really side with anyone on any post but I think this is a good post and I bet it actually draws attention to a website that a lot of folk did not even know existed.

So on this occasion even if it is a litle bit commercial I think its a good post.

Sorry!

Oh and I will declare an interest, I have family and friends who are both brokers AND lock keepers so I am aware of all their difficulties!
 
Totally disagree Chris.

The function of promoting tourism / trade etc on the river should lie with trade associations / chambers of commerce, etc. This applies to the promotion of trade by ANY public body - councils shouldn't be involved in it, either. Such activity will benefit companies by increased profits, and companies should therefore be paying for it.
Would you be happy with publicly funded bodies running the LBS with your cash instead of it being left to the BMIF, etc?
The EA has no business being a navigation authority. The Conservancy and NRA did that perfectly well before the creation of the EA.
Given the current crisis within the EA regarding it's inability to manage flooding, which is (or should be) its core function, anything which distracts it from this should be ditched.
The EA is currently the perfect example of the Jack of all Trades, Master of None saying.
But do agree that this isn't poor Angela's fault, but I do hope she passes our comments up the chain. I doubt it though, they'll rely more on silly loaded-question surveys than real opinion.
 
For heavens sake!

[ QUOTE ]
Why the hell are you, as a member of the E.A, spending your valuable time (which I and other boaters pay for) promoting commercial companies. They can pay for their own advertising. Please go and sort out the many problems that the E.A. have within their own establishment and just maybe then, people will be encouraged to boat on the Thames.

[/ QUOTE ]

Beryl, you've really gone over the top this time.

VisitThames was set up to be (slightly) separate from EA and independent (my assumptions).

EA could have sat on their hands and done done nothing - after all it's not their bag, but sensibly VT was set up to focus attention on the river, whether it be selling food, or boats, fishing, walking - whatever.

To me that was brave (and a bit overdue).

Angela was just trying to wave their flag a little in the hope that folks visiting this forum might also go to VT.

There are lots of things that EA could and should be attacked for but not this one
 
Re: For heavens sake!

I concur.

Although I would be the first in line to hurl a few rotten eggs for the bad things the EA are guilty of, this was a bit of an Olive branch IMHO and should be applauded.

Thanks Angela /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
You are right on that point, but we have to work with what we have got and that unfortunately right now is the EA. The Thames is currently in decline and is in danger of becoming a restoration project in the future if it is not preserved. I don't buy the argument that other rivers have gone the same way and survived, you just can't compare the Medway or Ouse to the Thames.
 
Chris,

You've hit the nail on the head. Cause and effect - the Thames is in decline because we have the EA, not despite the EA's best efforts...
How about seeing if one of the Thames MPs would back a private members' bill to restore the Thames Conservancy - Boris would look a good bet given his interests at both ends of the river!
Yes, we have to work with what we've got at the moment, but that doesn't preclude working to get rid of that at the same time.
 
ISTR there was a move to give all the navigation element to BW and leave EA with other elements but common sense declared that navigation could not be made separate from flood control etc.

EA do get some kudos, not demanding the licence all in one lump anymore, but they still need to grasp the nettle on tenders and make the charge sensibly nominal.
 
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ISTR there was a move to give all the navigation element to BW and leave EA with other elements

[/ QUOTE ]

Heaven save us...in Gloucs, BW staff on quadbikes follow the boats from bridge to bridge to open it for them...at least they did, until someone rode their quad into the canal...

During the floods, the idea was mooted that the lock gates at Gloucs and Sharpness be part opened to shift the water into the estuary - which would probably have lowered the levels on the plain by around 2 feet. BW refused - apparently last time it cost them a few grand in "damage" afterwards, so of course that was more important...

Both as bad as each other really...trouble is, both funded by the Dept for the Eradication of Fun in Rural Areas
 
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