Increasing Thames moorings......

[boatone]

There has beeen a steady increase in the number of narrowboats using the Thames and in many stopover places their extreme(by motor boat standards) length results in fewer mooring slots (and thats without the idiots who insist on leaving at least 15 feet between boats!).
I have started to counter this trend by asking ditchcrawlers if they would let me raft alongside them and have so far yet to be refused. Its actually rather a good idea....not only does it add a mooring slot but a narrowboat actually makes quite a good pontoon....nice and stable, good long straight sided section and easy to fender. Also, the extra 7 feet or so offf the bank usually means increased water depth and less chance of fouling the outdrives.
I have even taken to giving the ditchcrawler a beer or two when I leave....the look on their face is wonderful!


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[LeytonC]

Same over here

Yeah, we have exactly the same problem on the severn, and most will let us
raft up. The ones that wont are the ones with flower gardens on the roof.

To which i respond 'you are on BW public moorings, if you dont like rafts
please go else where' (or f&$k off, bl%%dy girder, LOL)

BW are taking some steps to stop narrowboats taking all the moorings in gloucester docks by stopping people mooring over step ladders.
Or is it to get more small ones in? All steps are about 45 foot apart thus stopping the largest ones from taking all the moorings.
(Also BW have installed some nice finger moorings that help as well)

The biggest problems are hire (Narrow)boaters who dont understand how staircase locks work, I moor in a canal basin and i caught some trying to drain the basin by opening all the paddles on the locks! Duh!

Still never mind, according to BW, wide beam boats dont exist on inland water ways, just look at their site, all narrowboats!


<hr width=100% size=1>Thanks

Leyton
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