Should you need a boat license in the UK?

[Sandyman]

''Apply for a marine licence
Disclaimer: For reasons of public health and protection of the environment tacit authorisation does not apply to this licence application process.

Open the online application system

Payment must be made at the time an application is submitted. We now accept online debit and credit card payments. More information on How to make a payment.''

Say no more. Its all about ways of screwing more money out of peeps.

 

[Laura Nineham]

As a matter of fact, RYA are very much on the ball on current legislative developements. It was they who spotted and stopped the Osborne Bay English Heritage private Conservation Zone while the rest of us were still digesting our christmas dinners, for example.

Their difficulty is, that they have so much of this sort of material going through, none of us would ever bother to read through it.

That and they dont waste our money on PR to keep members informed!

I think you're absolutely right - when I spoke to the RYA yesterday I was very much under the impression that they were cracking on with lobbying the government but hadn't shouted about it to the media

 

[Laura Nineham]

For anyone who hasn't seen it, there's a story on Yachting Monthly about this with a bit more info: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/533013/euro-mp-campaigns-for-compulsory-licences

 

[FWB]

 

[BroadsMike]

I think that you UK guys should do EVERYTHING YOU CAN and then some extra to prevent any kind of licence being introduced. In almost every country where this happened, higher and higher taxes followed. Not to mention the absurd regulations ment to keep afloat certain business, like the ones mentioned by Plomong for Spain.

+ 1


Yes let’s have more of the nanny state; let’s forget our freedoms we have had for centuries and yes let’s have more bureaucracy.

 

[Nicholas123]

I have two minds about the need to have a license in the UK. While Americans have the right to bare arms we in Britain have a right to float a boat. However as a Lifeboat crewman we are called out to a lot of issues that results from a lack of knowledge and understanding of boat handling and basic seamanship.

What do you guys think, should a license be required on UK waters? This could be a Day Skipper/ICC for coastal waters when using yachts and respective power craft or dinghy/keelboat and powerboat level 2 for their respective level.

Try this for size;"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools."
-Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

 

[robertj]

In the cold light of an early morning, reading the original post by 'robertj', I am of the opinion that said 'robertj' is really not considered fit to be a 'lifeboatman' at all.

He would appear to be going along for the (boat) ride, and not for the 'purpose' that the RNLI was (is) formed.

BUT he just might be saying something to be provocative, or produce a response from here, or learning about life on the water?

He might, i'd suggest, even still be in a 'learning' curve about 'life' in general ??
we might well see in due course??

Just seen his personal history, reference to Cornwall, ah well???

What are you going on about?
Get you
facts right.

 

[robertj]

We need to fight this but what is the RYA doing about this? They should be screaming from the rooftops...

Government plans to charge you for fishing in the sea Under new proposals being unveiled it will son be a criminal offence for anyone to cast a fishing line from a boat, beach or pier. Hefty fines will be levied on anyone without a license

That should get a lot of attention, yet I have not heard anything from them on the TV radio..

I agree as this is Tax Tax Tax yet again!

 

[robertj]

+ 1


Yes let’s have more of the nanny state; let’s forget our freedoms we have had for centuries and yes let’s have more bureaucracy.

+1
we need to stop the continual reduction of our common rights and freedoms.

 

[balauru_furios]

Just a question from a foreigner: you curently don't have any kind of licence for pleasure boats, ot it's just optional?

 

[Capt Popeye]

Not at all shure why the RYA or any Boating / Yachty org should get involved in a fight with govt over Anglers / Angling???

Too many fights already with Angling / Anglers over retaining Rights of Passage for Boating etc over Anglers fishing!

Anyways, about time Sea Anglers paid their way in life. Would only be a small licence fee, no doubt?

 

[Capt Popeye]

appologies to 'robertj' I got it a bit mixed up in post 48 - now corrected - memo to self, must actually wake up before running up computer

 

[Tomahawk]

Not at all shure why the RYA or any Boating / Yachty org should get involved in a fight with govt over Anglers / Angling???

Too many fights already with Angling / Anglers over retaining Rights of Passage for Boating etc over Anglers fishing!

Anyways, about time Sea Anglers paid their way in life. Would only be a small licence fee, no doubt?

I would suggest that is exactly the justification the petty jobsworth need to introduce regulations, licensing and costs..

Whilst I have no love or understanding of sea angling.. they go to sea in a boat, so they are very much in the same boat as us if someone introduces licensing, which is justification for the RYA to be involved.. Think on it a bit further.. how do you license fishing from a boat? what is there to stop anyone avoiding a license by fishing from a yacht? So a license for sea anglers would also need the introduction of a license for yachtsmen

As to the argument about rights of way Etc.. again your argument is meat and bread for the introduction of licensing and controls.. It will be resolved by zoning around the coast "this area is allocated for passage,, this area allocated for anchoring for sea fishing... this area allocated for diving.... this area allocated for naturalists to count species.. You will be fined if you stray into an area without an appropriate license.. all this of course backed up by compulsory AIS on even the smallest boat.. Of course that will give the revenue information from which they can calculate how much fuel you have used for motoring as opposed to heating..

Is this really what people want?

 

[jwilson]

I have two minds about the need to have a license in the UK. While Americans have the right to bare arms we in Britain have a right to float a boat. However as a Lifeboat crewman we are called out to a lot of issues that results from a lack of knowledge and understanding of boat handling and basic seamanship.

What do you guys think, should a license be required on UK waters? This could be a Day Skipper/ICC for coastal waters when using yachts and respective power craft or dinghy/keelboat and powerboat level 2 for their respective level.

In Hong Kong I had to get a "local masters" licence and a "local engineers" licence to use a sailing yacht. They gave me a masters licence without examination as I already had the UK Yachtmaster Ocean. I did however have to sit a theory plus oral engineers exam as the boat had an engine, and the Yachtmaster syllabus has nothing about engines in it.

On the whole I don't think official licensing does that much good - people study to the exam, and it doesn't give any practical experience unless you have a really complex and expensive system enforcing practical exams. The standard of skill of the average leisure sailor seemed no better for having the licence.

No I don't think a licence should be required in the UK. All you would be doing is creating another expensive layer of bureaucracy.

 

[Beadle]

Yes absolutely right.

Nothing more than creating jobs in the Civil Service or government "agency" at the expense of destroying jobs and businesses in the private (marine) sector.

What IS the matter with this government? I always thought their principles were to reduce government sector and support the private sector.

Are they blind?

 

[Beadle]

Yes absolutely right.

Nothing more than creating jobs in the Civil Service or government "agency" at the expense of destroying jobs and businesses in the private (marine) sector.

What IS the matter with this government? I always thought their principles were to reduce government sector and support the private sector.

Are they blind?

 

[robertj]

Not at all shure why the RYA or any Boating / Yachty org should get involved in a fight with govt over Anglers / Angling???

Too many fights already with Angling / Anglers over retaining Rights of Passage for Boating etc over Anglers fishing!

Anyways, about time Sea Anglers paid their way in life. Would only be a small licence fee, no doubt?

Trouble is it the anglers paying and the retired gaining don't u feel?

 

[Retired in Crete]

Think on it a bit further.. how do you license fishing from a boat? what is there to stop anyone avoiding a license by fishing from a yacht? So a license for sea anglers would also need the introduction of a license for yachtsmen

Just for the record, here in Greece you can fish from the beach but if you fish from any boat you need a license for each rod and you need a license for the boat to allow fishing from it.

There is a precident in the UK for this. You need a licence for the boat for a VHF and you need an operators license. So expect sea fishing licenses, courtesy of the EU, any day soon!

John

 

[mcframe]

Yesterday's 'voyage' from one end of Chi harbour to the other:

VOYAGE PLANNING
Regulation V/34 ‘Safe Navigation and avoidance of dangerous situations’, is a new regulation. It concerns prior-planning for your boating trip, more commonly known as voyage or passage planning. Voyage planning is basically common sense. As a pleasure boat user, you should particularly take into account the following points when planning a boating trip:
• Weather: before you go boating, check the weather forecast and get regular updates if you are planning to be out for any length of time.

Is it chucking it down or blowing a hoolie?

• Tides: check the tidal predictions for your trip and ensure that they fit with what you are planning to do

Is the boat afloat on its swinging mooring? I find that's a good start - if I can't row out, then that's the first sign I've got it wrong.

•Limitations of the vessel: consider whether your boat is up to the proposed trip and that you have sufficient safety equipment and stores with you.

I'll have you know my collection of Time Expired Fray Bentos can rival the best on this forum - good job it'll soon be Nov 5th and I can dispose of them at the school fireworks party.

• Crew: take into account the experience and physical ability of your crew. Crews suffering from cold, tiredness and seasickness won’t be able to do their job properly and could even result in an overburdened skipper.

Me+boy - as he's only 7 and (to my shame) doesn't do reliable clove hitches, I'll stick the autohelm on for 2 mins to rig fenders - but he is small enough to climb into locker (on top of serviced liferaft) and pass fenders out.

• Navigational dangers: make sure you are familiar with any navigational dangers you may encounter during your boating trip. This generally means checking an up to date chart and a current pilot book or almanac.

Chi harbour, bilge keeler, soft mud - If I run aground, I'll walk ashore; it's winter and there are no national dinghy meetings on.

• Contingency plan: always have a contingency plan should anything go wrong. Before you go, consider bolt holes and places where you can take refuge should conditions deteriorate or if you suffer an incident or injury. Bear in mind that your GPS set is vulnerable and could fail at the most inconvenient time. It is sensible and good practice to make sure you are not over-reliant on your GPS set and that you can navigate yourself to safety without it should it fail you.

Err, N/A.

• Information ashore: make sure that someone ashore knows your plans and knows what to do should they become concerned for your well being. The Coastguard Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme (commonly known as CG66) is also free and easy to join. The scheme aims to help the Coastguard to help you quickly should you get into trouble while boating. It could save your life..

Look, SWIMBO + daughter took a while to drive round and left phone in car, but they *did* meet us at the marina lock and had bought some pain au chocolate on the way.

Only 8 miles and *still* I'm able to comply!

 

[mcframe]

It set up the MMO to control Britains seas, and they have set to work to do just that. The marine plan will, they say affect every body who uses the water, "right through to kitesurfers"

"Will feral immigrant kitesurfers kill Studland's taxpaying seahorses?"

http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/toys/dailymail/