Old boat dumping problems

[jac]

That's legal weaselling to avoid responsibility if they get it wrong - just like my car registration says it isn't proof of ownership, though AIUI, there's no legal requirement to inform SSR if you sell your boat.

For it to be a "proper" registration system, registration would have to last indefinitely, with a requirement to inform SSR of changes. As for smaller boats, I think they're less of a problem - a few GRP munchers scattered around the coast could deal with them.

If we have to have a registration system to deal with derelicts, I'd apply it to all vessels over, say 6m, plus those originally fitted with an inboard engine, as that seems to me about the point at which they're going to have to be taken apart properly because of fuel, oil, etc.

If starting scratch then that could possibly work if done properly.

the problem starting from now is all the semi derelict boats. the ones stuck in the corner of a cheap boatyard or creek with an owner who will never see them again but who can't face up to reality and sell so just pays a couple of hundred a year to keep the rose tinted dream alive. Those boats are the ones that will never be registered and are probably only a missed cheque from counting as derelict. Whatever happens needs to proivde a solution to remove those boats.

 

[oldharry]

Registration wont solve the problem of unclaimed derelicts, but the Official mind will see that registration works well enough to control disposal of unwanted unroadworthy cars, so why not with boats?

With cars, disposal is firmly the responsibility of the current registered owner. The difference is of course that cars have some scrap value unless the scrap metal market is throwing one of its periodic wobblies. GRP boats do not, so that the last registered owner is likely to be landed with a significant bill for disposal. That never worried the law-makers but it would likely kill off most of the 'doer-upper' chancers though.

 

[Stemar]

Actually, I think registration is a bit of a red herring as far as disposal of derelicts boats is concerned - too many missing or unknown owners. Either local authorities - harbour, river or whatever take responsibility, which could see mooring fees through the roof, or we pay a levy on new or imported boats to cover disposal, but running that won't be cheap, and won't solve the immediate issue. as there are far to many wrecks for the number of new boats

 

[jac]

Actually, I think registration is a bit of a red herring as far as disposal of derelicts boats is concerned - too many missing or unknown owners. Either local authorities - harbour, river or whatever take responsibility, which could see mooring fees through the roof, or we pay a levy on new or imported boats to cover disposal, but running that won't be cheap, and won't solve the immediate issue. as there are far to many wrecks for the number of new boats

Agree - which is why i think we need a small levy on existing fees. 1% on existing fees is nothing for mooring holders to find ( in the grand scheme of things) Yes it means that those in £15k p.a. marina berths pay more than the old guy on a £100 p.a. drying mooring but a flat charge will just lead to small registered boats being abandoned and making the problem worse. You could make it simpler by charging it from mooring operators / marinas / harbour authorities in the same way that harbour dues are collected then have some form of simple system where local authorities / harbours/ clubs etc bid from the central fund to pay to clean up particular stretches of the coast. That way well off areas ( e.g. Hamble or Lymington ) can pay to clear up the areas that have no real large scale harbour authority themselves but have lots of wrecks

 

[Capt Popeye]

Humm ,yea , whan is a Wreck not a Wreck , then?

What no doubt some would class as a wreck , others just might see as their 'pride n joy !

To some an abandoned Boat just needs to be goton rid of , to others its a welcome gift

Perhaps we should not be to quick to make decisions and judgements upon some elses boats

Some one refered to the local river Exe on these pages with a somewhat desparaging comment , re abandoned boats ; well there is a Harbour at Cockwood , where the annual fees are about what some on here might pay for a Junch , these boats give pride n joy for their owners , for a while ; after the while these (boats) are left unattended , show signs of decay starting in , the Green Stuff wrapping itselt around the above water parts ; these boats are certainly much cheaper for the owners to just keep paying the Annual fee , then maybe sell them (aledgedly) in a Pub and the boats then become the responsibility of the Harbour Committee to deal with ; in the mean time these boats draw the admiration (scenic) of local Pub Goers

 

[Stemar]

Humm ,yea , whan is a Wreck not a Wreck , then?

What no doubt some would class as a wreck , others just might see as their 'pride n joy !

To some an abandoned Boat just needs to be goton rid of , to others its a welcome gift

Perhaps we should not be to quick to make decisions and judgements upon some elses boats

Some one refered to the local river Exe on these pages with a somewhat desparaging comment , re abandoned boats ; well there is a Harbour at Cockwood , where the annual fees are about what some on here might pay for a Junch , these boats give pride n joy for their owners , for a while ; after the while these (boats) are left unattended , show signs of decay starting in , the Green Stuff wrapping itselt around the above water parts ; these boats are certainly much cheaper for the owners to just keep paying the Annual fee , then maybe sell them (aledgedly) in a Pub and the boats then become the responsibility of the Harbour Committee to deal with ; in the mean time these boats draw the admiration (scenic) of local Pub Goers

Maybe this is why registration is needed. Old clunker out there? Unregistered? - it's a wreck. Registered? Contact the owner, who can say if it's a work in progress or he'd be glad to see the back of it.