Chris_d
Well-known member
Last time I did it its was about £500 each way in fuel to Poole, so yes not much in it, but mind red was only 80ppl then :-(
So who else is leaving the Thames?
- Thread starter boatone
- Start date
Actionmat
Well-known member
Not for the majority of boats that aren't in marinas.
Chris_d
Well-known member
+1. Better compared to the fuel costs I think, my license is £500 which is twice what I spend on fuel in a year when on the river, however at sea thats 3 days cruising
boatone
Well-known member
Regardless of how one compares the licence fee to other related boating costs, the question remains as to what we should be entitled to expect in return by way of maintenance and services.+1. Better compared to the fuel costs I think, my license is £500 which is twice what I spend on fuel in a year when on the river, however at sea thats 3 days cruising
thejonesey
Active member
For what it is worth, I am only going to get 50% of this year's licence back so I am still paying for the next three months even though I don't have a boat on the Thames....now that's a rip off! (A £250 quid rip off!)
Transporting and lifts work out about the same as motoring round as I have done both in the last three years!
Transporting and lifts work out about the same as motoring round as I have done both in the last three years!
tamarix
Member
They can't actually stop you just because the river is a bit higher than usual and put out red boards but the lock being shut does
thejonesey
Active member
We are moving for many reasons but some of them include:
1. Mooring at the Hamble is cheaper than the marina fee at (T and K) and boat licence combined. (T and K was the best value in the area by far too.)
2. Lack of use in winter due to flooding and lock closures.
3. Lack of moorings last summer. We thought that boating on the Thames would be very relaxed but most trips required careful planning so that we could be at the key mooring point early and then circle around forever waiting for someone to go. I will admit that our boat does mean that we have limited access to moorings because of her draught but I remember one sunny day last year when we planned to moor at Marlow and couldn't find a free mooring until Maidenhead, by which time the kids were climbing the walls.
So yes the license fee did have an effect but lock closures, red boards/flooding and a lack of moorings were a bigger influence. If we come back to the Thames I suspect it will be in a smaller boat and when the kids have grown up.
1. Mooring at the Hamble is cheaper than the marina fee at (T and K) and boat licence combined. (T and K was the best value in the area by far too.)
2. Lack of use in winter due to flooding and lock closures.
3. Lack of moorings last summer. We thought that boating on the Thames would be very relaxed but most trips required careful planning so that we could be at the key mooring point early and then circle around forever waiting for someone to go. I will admit that our boat does mean that we have limited access to moorings because of her draught but I remember one sunny day last year when we planned to moor at Marlow and couldn't find a free mooring until Maidenhead, by which time the kids were climbing the walls.
So yes the license fee did have an effect but lock closures, red boards/flooding and a lack of moorings were a bigger influence. If we come back to the Thames I suspect it will be in a smaller boat and when the kids have grown up.
bumperdump
N/A
some insurance providers will not pay out if you are out on red boards, and have a bump.
boatone
Well-known member
I was aware that the EA would give a refund for a boat removed from the waterway but I hadn't realised just how mean it is ! You are right, to only give a 50% refund within the first 3 months is something of a rip off particularly where the first three months of the year are unavailable for boating, you were aware that you would be moving the boat, and there is no option available for you to buy a short term licence to cover the period before your intended move.
I suppose we should commend you for your honesty in re-registering - I wonder how many others would have done so in similar circumstances?
A £250 charge for zero use seems excessive - a £50 admin fee would be reasonable. I hope you are intending to make an issue of this?
Fot those unaware the refund procedure is here: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/145976.aspx
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No Regrets
Active member
While I will happily go out on Red boards, you're ignoring several other factors which make your personal choice irrelevant in the case of other peoples boats...
One example would be that increased river levels often make certain bridges impassable due to restricted headroom. While our boat fits under Windsor bridge and Cookham pedestrian bridge, there's not a huge amount of clearance, and many of our friends boats simply wouldn't fit!
Most insurers will pull the 'Red board' card if anything happens (Regardless how skilful you are as a Skipper, if your engine fails/prop gets fouled and your anchor doesn't stop you smashing into something hard or expensive...) which would leave you looking like a right **** wouldn't it?
Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valour my friend...
alanch
Member
My insurance providers stated they had no problem with me going out on red boards. But that was for a previous boat. The one I have now only does 6 knots, so now I don't.
tamarix
Member
Same here I asked my insururers ( navigators and general ) and they have no problem with it either , but obviously each insurance policy is different. It's not much difference going though London on a brisk spring tide. But as I said regardless of bridge heights or insurance policies if the lock is shut, the lock is shut you have no choice.
bumperdump
N/A
good to know was out last day of the fishing season on reds, nice esox was hooked..............
No Regrets
Active member
I'm insured with NavGen, nice people IMHO.
But, smash your boat up while the River is on Red boards, and try to claim at your peril!
They will mention the clause about 'Responsibility' when it comes to a claim.
If you don't believe this, you should not really be commenting to others about this subject!!
They're an insurance company, not a charity...
But, smash your boat up while the River is on Red boards, and try to claim at your peril!
They will mention the clause about 'Responsibility' when it comes to a claim.
If you don't believe this, you should not really be commenting to others about this subject!!
They're an insurance company, not a charity...
