Insurance and licence questions.

[MrTrendizzle]

Hello.
I've recently bought a Crane Inflatable Sports Boat from aldi (https://www.aldi.co.uk/crane-inflatable-sports-boat/p/094855159155901)
I've spoken to the local canal trust and found i need to buy a licence for £55 but i need 3rd party insurance. The problem is i can't seem to find anyone anywhere to do insurance on such a boat/rib/dinghy whatever the hell this thing is classed as.

Also on the licence form it says i need a boat name? Do i just use any name i wish? Is this just a way to identify the boat?

Could anyone offer some advise on this please as i'd really like to start floating around exploring the river avon (Evesham).

 

[Mr Googler]

Welcome to the forum. You should name your boat “needingalicenceforthisisapisstake”

https://www.newtoncrum.com/Insurance/Powercraft

£22 for 5m cover

It’s ridiculous you need to though

 

[CLB]

Also on the licence form it says i need a boat name? Do i just use any name i wish? Is this just a way to identify the boat?

Farsco has answered the insurance part of your question, so I'll do the bit above:

If your boat is the same as the one pictured in your link, I would call it 'Crossover', or whatever is written on the front. It saves you having to put the name on yourself. Yes, it is just a way to identify the boat.

 

[MrTrendizzle]

Thank you to both of you for answering my question.

It is a bit of a joke that a flimsy rubber toy costing £40 needs insurance. I mean how much damage could i honestly cause with it besides throwing it as someone? The licence i honestly don't mind paying if what it's used for is maintaining the waterways. It's not too costly for a year.

Sorry to ask such questions. Google just comes up dry and i'm sure there's others searching the same thing.

Anyway thank you both for helping me today. I might end up sticking around as looking at a few RIB's has peaked my interest. Gives me something to do at the weekends with my wife or son.

 

[MrB]

Just inflate it, chuck it in, jump in and enjoy yourself*, doubt anyone will question you.

*Disclaimer, wear a life jacket.

 

[Mr Googler]

Just inflate it, chuck it in, jump in and enjoy yourself*, doubt anyone will question you.

*Disclaimer, wear a life jacket.

+1...you can always climb up the bank and walk home with it!

 

[Bigplumbs]

I agree I would just use it a few times first and if you like it buy a better SIB and then get the licence and insurance

 

[BruceK]

Surely that is classed as a toy and not a vessel. I'd be asking the trust if I'd need a license to swim and paddleboard etc. If no, I'd question them again.

 

[mlines]

I would do what most people do with a boat of that size, put it on the water and have fun and claim innocence when asked.

 

[MrTrendizzle]

I would do what most people do with a boat of that size, put it on the water and have fun and claim innocence when asked.

This is what i did last year with a similar inflatable. I tied a rock to some rope, floated in the middle of the river and dumped the rock to hold me steady. Worked great. I had the rowing club come question me (I wasn't causing a problem) they're the ones who first informed me of the licence to use the river this is why i'm asking this year. I want to be 100% legal as to not get disturbed or upset other people on the river.

I took a trip to Avon Navigation Trust offices today, showed them the boat and it indeed does need a licence (£55 a year. 1/2 price if i get one in August) and insurance it's classed as an inflatable dinghy. If i can't find "Inflatable" as it's own boat type then just "Dinghy" which as posted above costs £22 a year.
The lady told me the reason i need to be insured is more the damage caused TO me rather than the damage I can cause. Obviously if a narrow boat runs me over it's going to hurt i'f for whatever reason i stay put and imagine the steam roller scene from Roger Rabbit.

Hopefully anyone else searching for similar results can finally get an answer on this subject here.
Thanks to everyone helping with advise. I fully look forward to a few months of floating around on a bit of rubber before looking at SIB's/RIB's and costs involved.

 

[Mr Googler]

This is what i did last year with a similar inflatable. I tied a rock to some rope, floated in the middle of the river and dumped the rock to hold me steady. Worked great. I had the rowing club come question me (I wasn't causing a problem) they're the ones who first informed me of the licence to use the river this is why i'm asking this year. I want to be 100% legal as to not get disturbed or upset other people on the river.

I took a trip to Avon Navigation Trust offices today, showed them the boat and it indeed does need a licence (£55 a year. 1/2 price if i get one in August) and insurance it's classed as an inflatable dinghy. If i can't find "Inflatable" as it's own boat type then just "Dinghy" which as posted above costs £22 a year.
The lady told me the reason i need to be insured is more the damage caused TO me rather than the damage I can cause. Obviously if a narrow boat runs me over it's going to hurt i'f for whatever reason i stay put and imagine the steam roller scene from Roger Rabbit.

Hopefully anyone else searching for similar results can finally get an answer on this subject here.
Thanks to everyone helping with advise. I fully look forward to a few months of floating around on a bit of rubber before looking at SIB's/RIB's and costs involved.

If she’s saying that....it’s not 3rd party indemnity insurance you need is it! Not much you can do...probably worth £47.50 so you can tell the rowing club to jog on