when is a boat too small to need a license

[ProDave]

It's always been the case that you need a licence on the thames for a "non powered pleasure craft"

Years ago we hired a punt, and having got bored of punting up the same stretch of the Cherwell time and again, went the other way and took the punt out onto the Thames and up through Osney Lock.

Shortly after we emerged from the Cherwell onto the Thames, a guy from the boat yard came frantically after us in a row boat with a thames licence to stick on the side of the punt.

I guess not all their punts are licenced, they just keep a few licences for occasions like this.

You don't need a licence up here for Loch Ness for instance, but you do when you go on the canalised sections of the Calley Canal.

 

[Searush]

Ice on the bottom of the boat!

I can't even begin to find an explanation for that! But they do say that a tiny layer of water "sticks" to the surface of the hull as you move thro the water. Maybe that's how it was able to lose enough heat to the air thro the wooden hull to freeze - and then the next few molecules stick as a layer & freeze etc. Fascinating.

If your son borrows the punt, may I suggest he borrows some ID too?

BTW, people keep referring to BWB as a Quango, well that may be strictly true at present but it is about to be off-loaded as a Charity is it not? So most of the people employed "at the coal face" will probably be replaced by unpaid volunteers. No doubt "Der Management" will arrange to stay on with full pay though.

So in addition to demanding fees, they may well be rattling collection boxes at you too.

 

[dylanwinter]

can anyone suggest

can anyone suggest a good canoe forum

I have finiished a film about mondays exploits - uploading it now

weds will be cold but clear - should be great

Dylan

 

[Little Rascal]

I quite like www.songofthepaddle.co.uk...