The Lake Is Dead.

During the arguments about anchoring in Studland NE etc quoted figures of 300 sizeable boats anchoring there; that was always the most exceptional B.S, 100 would have been a lot, but to even think of suggesting such figures nowadays seems another world; which I'm afraid it was and I'm sad as I used to be part of it.
 
But it will be back to 300 boats on the first glorious summer weekend! In the past it was only that dense in such situations and this colours how certain people choose to see it. Treating what is always an exception as the norm.

BTW I missed anchoring in the grass today. Nice an calm outside the limits. Clean sand in 5m
 
Lakesailor said:
For him maybe.
Just had two people fined for speeding in the local paper.
It seems you get about £10 per mile per hour, plus victim's surcharge, plus costs of about £150
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He is being careful, the boats now rigged for boat surfing. Massive water ballest in the stern and over a metre high wake at 11mph, its not environmentally friendly and Seajet will hate it, but its completely legal.
 
What the hell is ' boat surfing ' ?

" Seajet will hate it but it's completely legal "

To paraphrase a much greater man, ' please let seajet decide, only seajet can decide if he hates it ' !
 
Seajet said:
What the hell is ' boat surfing ' ?

" Seajet will hate it but it's completely legal "

To paraphrase a much greater man, ' please let seajet decide, only seajet can decide if he hates it ' !
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After reading 12000 of your posts, I know you will hate it :eek:

Here you go :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCNCGZKQz_4

Ducklings will drown, rare waters edge species will be flooded and small boats with flappy things will be swamped ;)
 
OK I've decided I do hate it; what's with causing maximum wake to **** up other people and creatures as a laugh ?

I'm sure drilling holes in such wonderful laugh's boats would be equally jolly, maybe something to sort out their engines from unwelcome idiot noise too, coupled with something in the water to prevent further breeding, yours not the wildlife....:)
 
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Seajet said:
OK I've decided I do hate it; what's with causing maximum wake to **** up other people and creatures as a laugh ?

I'm sure drilling holes in such wonderful laugh's boats would be equally jolly, maybe something to sort out their engines from unwelcome idiot noise too, coupled with something in the water to prevent further breeding....:)
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I agree with you, I would much rather be skiing over a tiny wake, but with 1000's of unused ski boats in the North West needs must.

There are about 25 lakes in Cumbria, 24 of them were a haven of peace and tranquility with just a part of Windermere left for fast water sports.

When the LDSPB put the speed limit on Windermere they broke promises, ruined established business, caused redundancies and removed sport and relaxation from 1000's.

We had about 7 miles of unrestricted lake to enjoy with speed limits on the other 100 miles or so.

I don't think it was the fast water sports enthusiasts that were selfish.
 
chanelyacht - you don't think there might be another explanation for the hole in the economy? I've not heard the National Park being blamed for the recession before but I'll be sure to let Mr Peston know.
 
Seajet said:
OK I've decided I do hate it; what's with causing maximum wake to **** up other people and creatures as a laugh ?
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Presumably the idea is that it provides something akin to waterskiing or wakeboarding while remaining under the speed limit. If the powers that be would let them go faster, even in their own cordoned off area, then they would make much less wash.

Pete
 
I was out on the north lake today and it was pretty quiet- saw about a dozen to 20 boats all of which were sail; nice for me but not good for the local economy.

The other indicator of hard times is the state of the various marinas: they're all about 1/3 empty! While I'm not an unmitigated fan of the speed limit I do like the absence of jetskis and the reduction in antisocial behaviour by many mobos. Now if only we could revert to unlimited speed but only for the responsible and considerate - any ideas?
 
True story;

I was on a BAe trial in Scotland, a friend and and I dropped off in Bowness on the way back South, at what seemed a big decent hotel; we were given the crappiest rooms we'd ever seen and met each other walking out in snotty mode to reception, after which we got decent rooms...

Then we tried the nightclub, where the bouncer took exception to my ' snotty southern accent ' ( in fact I have a soft southern / west country accent I'm told ) and asked for my watch to get in !

He got a short sharp reply...

I got the impression ' customer services' all over the Lake District could do with a good sorting out and attitude readjustment.
 
I think what we are seeing is a reflection of the return to a lower standard of income. When I grew up there were only about 4 cars in our street. We did not have a car TV nor telephone, but my parents did own our own home. Standards of living have risen exponentially since the 60's peeking at around 1996/2000. Since then then things levelled out and are now in strong decline. Some time around 2000 young people found that there were just unable to afford to buy property and the private rented sector grew. Since then we have seen a reluctance to lend and the situation has in general got worse. Young people now have not only to contend with higher taxes i.e less disposable income, higher housing costs relative to earnings and shortly they are going to see that they are forced to make contributions into their own pensions, oh and nearly forgot student loan repayments. in addition the government has reduced family allowance and is positively discouraging non-working mums. In short young families are really taking the hit, working longer enjoying a lower standard of living and just don't have the disposable income of previous generations.

There has been a see change in our society, if you look at the 1950's all doctors for example would have been able to send the children to boarding school and probably employ a house keeper. Clearly there has been a widening between the have and the have nots but the spilt is different. in the 1950's I guess that the have were the top 35% i.e the white collar/grammar school set. Today the real haves that can afford boarding school and house keepers are the top 1-2%. To send a child to a boarding school today costs around £33,000 p.a.

Is anyone really surprised that no one is out on the water?
 
we were looking at buying a static to put as an overspill for the kids. we decided totry one out in October last year. we ended up in a site on windy. the lakeside ones were 350 grand for 50 year lease with service charge of about 4g. that included a berthnin the pontooj area or launching and storage fees. a yacht near shepherds seems a bargain, in comparison. there were some hardcore wakeboarders who went out at 7neach night but the park had notices up saying they would dob you in if they saw you honing around after thenrangers had packed up.
 
There's the other side to it; people used to be chuffed to make a Mirror dinghy themselves, get a sense of achievement then go and learn sailing.

Eventually a Leisure 17 was a big step, and people learned a lot of seamanship in the process.

As they did in the next step to a 22 or so or if really keen and affluent a 28' like a Twister on a deep water mooring.

Now Hooray and Heirattiah must have a cabin to themselves with space to practice their cello and trombone while being able to walk ashore in their marina while having power to their laptops / tablets...

Does anyone remember SAILING ?!
 
We have noticed a difference this year. Boats arrived much later than they did previously (ones stored away from the lake i guess) which could either be the weather or cash. Where we are its only a few boats that seem to be used on a regular basis. Some we have never seen anyone visit. Shame really as they seem to be the more expensive ones.
 
Seven Spades said:
I think what we are seeing is a reflection of the return to a lower standard of income. When I grew up there were only about 4 cars in our street. We did not have a car TV nor telephone, but my parents did own our own home. Standards of living have risen exponentially since the 60's peeking at around 1996/2000.
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Yep. The Baby-Boomer 40 or 50 years have come to an end. I heard Mick Jagger in a rare interview on the radio saying just this and that the Stones hit the sweet spot. He suggested that no-one will ever be able to make the big money the big bands were making again.
I think the same can be seen reflected in all walks of life. The post-war situation created this growth. Then it started to get a bit jittery and we are in out 3rd recessionary period now. (meaning early '80s, early '90s and 2008 on).
For many people a boat is part of their discretionary spend, using "spare" money.
 
arto said:
chanelyacht - you don't think there might be another explanation for the hole in the economy? I've not heard the National Park being blamed for the recession before but I'll be sure to let Mr Peston know.
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I'm talking about the ole in the local economy caused (as demonstrated by landlockedpirate) by the national park authorities - the redundancies, the move of power boaters elsewhere, etc.

The LDSPB are a cancer on the Lakes - just ask those trying to create jobs at Honister. A bunch of "pickle it in aspic" Beatrix Potter twee types who think they know best about everything.
 
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