boatone
Well-Known Member
1. Marlow charging £10 a night to moor up from £6 last year.
2. People who throw large plastic sheets and other rubbish into the river that foul my prop and cost me to resolve.
3. Boaters who won't move up at lock waiting areas or stop in the middle of the lock instead of moving up as far as possible.
4. Fishermen who insist on hiding behind bushes,casting well out into the river and hurling obscenities at you when you catch their lines (which could b*gg*r my cutlass bearing and cost me).
5. Bankside moorings where we have to pay but where they do no dredging or maintenance - especially Marlow, Henley and Wallingford but also both EA and National Trust at Runnymede - they can hardly expect to make money from me if I can't get alongside).
6. Trip boats that exceed the speed limit with apparent impunity and create objectionable wash - particularly at Hampton Court (had instance this year where cleats ripped out of decks and other minor damage which costs me).
7. Other boaters that exceed the speed limit and create objectionable wash when there's no Inspector around to catch 'em. Especially those that ignore screams from bankside to 'slow down' (they make people think all mobos are prats).
8. Generators being run ad nauseum..come on guys, learn about battery capacities and efficient electrics).
9. Rowers that think they own the river and everyone else should put up with them as they are (probably a lost cause but I live in perpetual hope).
10.Boaters who moor with at least ten feet spare at either/both ends and won't shift up even when asked nicely.
11. Narrow boats who moor end to end at busy locations when they could easily raft up to each other (yes I could raft up to a narrowboat, but have you ever tried getting across to the bank from a cruiser via a NB?) At least the EA are now publicly encouraging rafting which is a step forward.
12. Small boat hirers who behave stupidly to the risk of themselves and others.
13. Bray and Boveney Locks which are far too small resulting in long queues at busy periods. Come on EA...do something about this one and you really will get Thames boaters on your side.
14. People who telephone Byron to tell him I've left my Red Ensign up overnight.
15. Anyone using the river I enjoy that exhibits arrogance, intolerance or rudeness to river users.
BOUQUETS TO:
1.The Environment Agency for major improvements to lock areas during the last year or so.
2.Ditto the EA for extending times for publicly available electrics at locks to 10pm during summer months.
3.Hampton Court Palace for replacing mooring rings and providing rubbish bins (sorry guys, nice try but the bins are few and far too small).
4.Henley town council for listening to the gripes at increasing mooring charge to £10 and reducing them back to £8 this year (are you listening, Marlow???).
5.All the lock keepers for being a fine collection of Mr. Nice Guy's and doing a difficult job with more than a reasonable amount of kindnness and consideration even when most normal people would blow a gasket.
6. All the friendly and considerate boaters that contribute to our enjoyment of the river - and that includes Forbsie, SeasprayIII, Apollo, Dogsbody, Byron, and others too numerous to mention including thousands of gongoozlers watching at locks to keep me on my boathandling toes!
2. People who throw large plastic sheets and other rubbish into the river that foul my prop and cost me to resolve.
3. Boaters who won't move up at lock waiting areas or stop in the middle of the lock instead of moving up as far as possible.
4. Fishermen who insist on hiding behind bushes,casting well out into the river and hurling obscenities at you when you catch their lines (which could b*gg*r my cutlass bearing and cost me).
5. Bankside moorings where we have to pay but where they do no dredging or maintenance - especially Marlow, Henley and Wallingford but also both EA and National Trust at Runnymede - they can hardly expect to make money from me if I can't get alongside).
6. Trip boats that exceed the speed limit with apparent impunity and create objectionable wash - particularly at Hampton Court (had instance this year where cleats ripped out of decks and other minor damage which costs me).
7. Other boaters that exceed the speed limit and create objectionable wash when there's no Inspector around to catch 'em. Especially those that ignore screams from bankside to 'slow down' (they make people think all mobos are prats).
8. Generators being run ad nauseum..come on guys, learn about battery capacities and efficient electrics).
9. Rowers that think they own the river and everyone else should put up with them as they are (probably a lost cause but I live in perpetual hope).
10.Boaters who moor with at least ten feet spare at either/both ends and won't shift up even when asked nicely.
11. Narrow boats who moor end to end at busy locations when they could easily raft up to each other (yes I could raft up to a narrowboat, but have you ever tried getting across to the bank from a cruiser via a NB?) At least the EA are now publicly encouraging rafting which is a step forward.
12. Small boat hirers who behave stupidly to the risk of themselves and others.
13. Bray and Boveney Locks which are far too small resulting in long queues at busy periods. Come on EA...do something about this one and you really will get Thames boaters on your side.
14. People who telephone Byron to tell him I've left my Red Ensign up overnight.
15. Anyone using the river I enjoy that exhibits arrogance, intolerance or rudeness to river users.
BOUQUETS TO:
1.The Environment Agency for major improvements to lock areas during the last year or so.
2.Ditto the EA for extending times for publicly available electrics at locks to 10pm during summer months.
3.Hampton Court Palace for replacing mooring rings and providing rubbish bins (sorry guys, nice try but the bins are few and far too small).
4.Henley town council for listening to the gripes at increasing mooring charge to £10 and reducing them back to £8 this year (are you listening, Marlow???).
5.All the lock keepers for being a fine collection of Mr. Nice Guy's and doing a difficult job with more than a reasonable amount of kindnness and consideration even when most normal people would blow a gasket.
6. All the friendly and considerate boaters that contribute to our enjoyment of the river - and that includes Forbsie, SeasprayIII, Apollo, Dogsbody, Byron, and others too numerous to mention including thousands of gongoozlers watching at locks to keep me on my boathandling toes!
