Moving my boat and BSS and licensing query

[TopDonkey]

Does anyone know if i need to license and get my boat BSS compliant and registered to move it from reading on the thames down to the tidal stretch of the thames and round to the south coast ?

I expect it to be ready in the next 2-3 months, but i have noticed my diesel fill hoses arent BS stamped and quite a number of other small bits that would fail a BSS inspection, but would cost lots to rectify

What sort of cost is the BSS inspection and license and the thames license nowdays ?, its 7 years since i had a boat on the thames and the BSS was only just being implemented then

Also, is there a day visiting exemption or anything else that would allow me to cruise my boat down the thames to remove it from the river to the sea ?, and if not, what would the fine likely be for doing this without BSS and a license ?

If we are getting near the £400 mark all in, i might as well just get it moved on the back on a lorry with a hiab as they can normally lift 7.5 tonnes and my boat should only be 3.5-5 tonnes

 

[Dave_Seager]

If you boat is already afloat on the Thames near Reading then officially you need a licence and BSC already.

As far as I know, you do not need a BSC for a visitor's licence. However, you are required to sign a declaration that your boat complies with the requirements of the BSS so if you are honest you would still need to do all the work but could save the cost of the test.

You say your boat displaces 3.5 - 5 tons. That could make it a bit small for the passage round to the South Coast "on your own bottom" anyway so perhaps road transport would be a better choice. On the other hand, many of the changes required for the BSS would improve your boat.

 

[TopDonkey]

Its on the hardstanding in a boatyard in reading at the moment.

I didnt realise that you could get visitors licences, that sounds just the ticket for me !, i can go through the BSS guidelines and do everything that they list, it probably is a good idea, and would allow me to answer yes to is my boat to the BSS standard at least.

I think i will look into the visitors license a bit more as that will be perfect for me

Thanks

 

[TopDonkey]

a 24 sq/m boat (mine) is £21 a day or £80 for 2 weeks for a visitor license, its normally a 2 day trip so i will have to be up at midnight to start cruising to get it out of the non tidal thames within 24 hours.

The charges seem rather steep for a visiting boat, i wonder if that puts people off visiting usually ?

 

[TrueBlue]

AFAIK - and it's open to challenge that a one day licence will actually cover you for two as it runs from midnight to midnight, so that should give you two days cruising.

Recent experience with a visitor from the K&A suggested otherwise, so ,perhaps if T_L sees this he might be prepared to give you chapter and verse.

The form available here is not overly helpful but one lockie said my comments above were correct.

Everywhichway, you might have to go like a bat out of hell / cruise early and late to get from Reading to Teddington.

There is what's known as a S.9 licence allowing you to transit / go to a boatyard, but I don't know how it differs from a day licence.

Apologies for not having chapter and verse.

 

[teddington_lock]

You get two days for the price of one on a one day visitors licence.

However , as you are not visiting the Thames , merely removing your boat from the river , you will need a Section 9 licence , which is chargable at the same rate , but you don't get the second day free ..... it is billable per day.

It's debatable whether the lock staff would sell you a visitors licence if the first lock you come to isn't a 'gateway lock' as the boat seems a little on the large side to be 'visiting' via a slipway.

Anyway , the gist of it is that you will need a Section 9 , and not a visitors licence. Please do not put the lock staff in a position by not telling them the truth and asking for a visitors licence instead.

We sell many hundreds of visitors licences each year at Teddington , and get very few complaints about the cost.

 

[TopDonkey]

thanks, that clears that one up then !, section 9 it is when i am ready to launch, thats if i dont decide to stay on the thames after all !! lol