Unlicenced Boats...

[Golden Time]

Having just received our brand new boat licences and holders from C&RT we were looking around at the boats near us at the marina and noticed many without licences on show. SWMBO looked up about 6 of the boats adjacent to us on the online boat checker and only found that 1 of them is licenced. C&RT say that our marina is "online" and so a licence is needed even if the boat doesn't leave the mooring because it is still on C&RT controlled water. The boat next to us is displaying a licence that's over 3 years old.

Is this normal that so many people don't bother to licence their boats? What is C&RT doing about it? C&RT are regularly occupying a pop up tent on the side of where the Brayford Pool enters the channel to the Glory Hole, but they don't seem to be checking the boats going through or enforcing any rules. The only place I have seen where your licence seems to be checked is at manned locks where the rule "no licence, no passage" is displayed.

Do boaters regularly report unlicenced boats using the online checker? I didn't let SWMBO report them at the time because I thought it was poor boatsmanship (if that's even a word), but now I'm a bit annoyed that I'm shelling out on a monthly basis for something that others are shunning.

 

[Lakesailor]

Ask the C&RT directly.

 

[nedmin]

I dont think CART will bother the latest thing is to get prices for carving the balance beams on lock gates to make them look pretty!! The government gave them millions when they took over from B.W. What have they done with it? New branding ,new uniforms,must have cost a fortune.Regarding Burton Waters its been common knowledge for some time that many boats are not licenced altho. they should be.

 

[boatone]

This sort of thread topic is the stuff of life over on the Thames Forum - mainly EnVAg but also C&RT.

 

[Golden Time]

The government gave them millions when they took over from B.W. What have they done with it?

They bought a pop up tent and spend their time trying to get passing shoppers (who are probably not that interested in the murky, rubbish strewn piece of water they are passing by) to part with their estate when they die and leave it to C&RT as a donation.

Whilst numerous people sail by only a few feet away dodging what really should be bringing in the bread and butter money of C&RT.

Now I've read more about it, there seems to be less and less incentive to pay your licence. If you ever get found out, they will impose a £150 "late payment" fee on your years licence and if you still dont pay... one day... just maybe... they will have your boat lifted from the water?!?!

 

[Momac]

The C&RT should take action against the owners of unlicensed boats. Not just imposing a late payment penalty but seeking costs and a fine. If license evaders see this happening perhaps there will be a rush of new license applications.
In reality I expect much of the problem for the C&RT lies with identifying and locating the boat owners.

Here on the Trent our license is checked each time we go through a lock that is manned. But I believe unlicensed boats are allowed through. What can a lock keeper do once the boat is in the lock? They can't ask for a reverse out in case it results in an accident. Nor can they hold a boat in the lock.

Dont be critical of the people collecting donations. They may well know nothing about boat licensing.

 

[boatone]

From the C&RT Frequently asked questions:
Q...I’ve seen some unlicensed boat whilst cruising and would like to report them, who should I speak to?

A...You can use our online boat checker to log any boats you see which aren't displaying valid licence discs. The boat checker will let you know whether the boat you’ve seen has a valid licence and each fully completed form will be logged in our 'sightings' database and sent to the local enforcement team. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything we can do without the index number.

Also see THIS PAGE on the C&RT website re Licence It or Lose It.

BW recently claimed they had achieved 95% licensed craft and were continuing to pursue unlicensed boats.

The EA Thames region are carrying out a systematic purge of enforcement against unlicensed boats on the non-tidal Thames - including those in marinas - and there have been several successful prosecutions this year.