Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you're away?

Yet another opportunity for lunacy to obscure reasoned debate?

  • yes

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
C

Coastgal

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Jun 2007
Messages
211
Location
London & Southampton
www.sailblogs.com
Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

On Sat, we were cruising upriver with a couple of friends and wanted to stop for a quick 1/2 hour for a bit of lunch (so the skipper could join us). First we pulled over at the long waiting pontoon at Chertsey Lock which didn't seem too busy. We used the very last mooring so so as not to get in the way, but the lockie moved us on - which was fine, as we knew we prob shouldn't have been there. So we found an empty private mooring just opposite the lock (and can't be seen from the lock!) and pulled in there. Even though we were only going to be 1/2 hour, I walked up to the lockie's office and asked if it was OK to stay there for 1/2 hour. But he said NO as the owners were just away for the day. I explained we'd only be there for 1/2 hr and if they came back it'd take us just 5mins to move. So I left it at that, thinking he'd done his job and gave me the political answer and I'd explained we'd move on quickly if needed. However, 10mins later, he came over to move us on with a brisk <span style="color:red"> I don't want to be a policeman but... </span> , so we were forced to move off.

Maybe I'm being naive, but I really don't think the owner of the mooring would have been unhappy with us using it in his/her absence. Am I wrong?

So please could you let me know where you stand on this one.

Thanks.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Must have been a summer assistant, I'm sure Paul wouldn't have done that, nor the usual relief either.

Chertsey's a bit of a pain as there is a bit of an eddy if one approaches at an angle and the usable space is short. No-one likes to use the lock end as the rubbing strake is low and it's awkward to manoeuvre into the lock.

Of course there could be a general work to rule. Chertsey is one of the locks to be sold off...


If someone's on my mooring when I get back I'd be most unpleased.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Who voted yes?

I'd be interested to know why
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

[ QUOTE ]
Who voted yes?

I'd be interested to know why

[/ QUOTE ]

I voted yes and I wouldn't want a stranger parked up in my driveway at home either. If I am paying for a mooring then it is for me and me alone I am not a charity supplying mooring facilities to all and sundry.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

I also voted yes, no problem for me if I am asked and my fellow moorers don't object. We have had people known to us or fellow moorers, moor for lunch and even overnight on our mooring with permission but we have always asked and been asked if we object.

Maybe I should change my user name to grumpy this morning lol
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

OK - thanks for your honesty Byron & Nickcred. Even though 65% were OK with other boaters using their moorings, I guess we'll always try to find a public mooring for lunch in future, as we certainly wouldn't want to p**s off other boaters.

Up in Putney, we have very few public moorings (or even reachable banks to stick in stakes), so we don't mind responsible boaters using our mooring when we're away, as long as they move off quickly when we return.

Many thanks to all those who took the time to respond. Much appreciated.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

No problem, and if you do ever get up towards Windsor you are more than welcome to stop for lunch and drink at our mooring, will even make the lunch /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

I voted No, but only if I was asked permission.

If I returned and found another boat moored in my paid for space, I would expect a pretty good excuse.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

The River is bit a different to the coast where it is normal to pickup vacant moorings. On the river a lack of a safe haven or unsafe anchorage is not really relavent, think of it more like someone parking on your driveway at home, fine if you know them but not otherwise.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

So let me get this straight you parked on the tail layby at Chertsey Lock, which has a sign stating that strickly NO MOORING without proir arrangement and was signaled to move on by the Lock-keeper. SO you then moored your vessel at the back of Chertsey Lock on the PRIVATE CONTRACT E.A MOORINGS which are clearly signed posted NO MOORING WITHOUT LOCK-KEEPERS PREMISSION, you then went up and asked the duty Lock-keeper would it be OK to moor up for 1/2 hour, so he told you NO (i guess that this is only because this mooring are private and costs over £1000.00 a year for the priviage that i now off tec etc ). Havent been told NO by the lock-keeper like i have been told in the past by Paul the resident lock-keeper who is off on long term ill health, then you then went back to you vessel having been told NO you havent got permission even for 1/2 hour you still continued to stay on the mooring and have your 1/2 lunch anyway. So was it at this point that the Lock-keeper had to come down to you on the PRIVATE E.A MOORINGS and explain to you in a "As a policeman" that you cannot stay here, did he not offer you a overnight mooring for a fee if one was available. It seems to me that you have taken no notice of the Lock-keepers instructions so let me get the facts straight to how i am thinking (1) moored on a tail layby where there is a sign telling you not to, so you where moved on (2) then you then decided to go onto someone contract mooring at the back of Chertsey Lock where it is clearly sign as permission of the Lock-keeper and was explained unfortunatley NO. (3) but you continued to have your 1/2 hour break never the less and the Lock-keeper had to tell you again for the 3rd time to move on "As a Policeman". surely there should be a law to the lock-keeper to protect them against boaters like you who ignore the signs and bylaws and even verbal instructions.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Thamesriversup..............new user no biog.............not the lockie concerned where you?
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Do you think it takes the brains of a Lock-keeper to work out the someones not telling the full story.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Please don't answer a question with a question...........
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Havent read this e-mail today and a regular user of the forum i just felt that I had to invent a login, as i didnt want to come across and a brown noser to the EA and there Lock-keepers at this present time with all that going on. But I just thought it about time some of us geninuing boaters are glad that they are people willing to try to lay down some of the basic laws and ediquate of boating. Have you spent your Bank Holiday Monday standing out in todays weather, while so called boaters ignore any instructions you tried to give them....I DONT THINK SO.............
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

I will take that as a yes then. Thank you for providing a balanced view. If I am right I am sure you would have got more sympathy just putting the other side of the story and declaring your interest.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

I doubt that , the lock keeper concerned was on the phone to me at the time of the post asking why someone had complained online when they where told three times NO and pointed out there is a pub on the other side of the river with public mooring rings .
If pre arranged i have no problem with people using my mooring ( If thats ok with the owner of my mooring ) and the lock keeper that told you to move three times also has no problem with pre arranged mooring .
I know him rather well as he is my bestist drinking buddy and a 100% boater .
Seems your little moan has come back to bite you in the ass /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Top tip for next time though .... sit at the water filling point and pretend you are filling your tanks if you cant be arsed to go across river to the public moorings /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Don\'t,

[ QUOTE ]
Top tip for next time though .... sit at the water filling point and pretend you are filling your tanks if you cant be arsed to go across river to the public moorings /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't encourage him - even as a joke.

Top of my list of pet hates are those sitting on a water point (but not actually filling up) when ME, I, MYSELF /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif want to fill up and those who moor up in the "middle" of a lock layby at lunchtime and the lock is unattended.

There is no absolute right to moor anywhere on the Thames; both banks are owned by somebody, who is entitled to say 'Go Forth'.

Your EA license / registration only entitles you put your boat on the water, probably not even to Navigate without hindrance.

Treat everything as a Privilege, and be thankful that you (we) can still boat up and down, for that may well soon change.....

As an aside, I was looking at the river Nene navigation recently and noted that EA state The Nene is primarily a DRAIN. Shades of what may happen to the Thames??
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

ThamesRiverUp - Thanks for your very thorough response. Yes, we were offered an overnight mooring for £8 (sorry, not sure on the amount), but we were only going to be for 1/2 hr, so I felt this was unnecessary. Plus I truly felt the owners wouldn't have minded as we weren't using an elec, water etc, just a place to stop. However, as it costs £6 for a few hours at Chiswick Pier, perhaps this would have been money well spent.

The lockie was very helpful in suggesting the mooring up a creek beside the pub, but he didn't know if it was deep enough (we had checked out this mooring briefly as we approached lock but it had seemed too shallow - we draw 1m)

I guess perhaps we'll stay downriver in future, as I guess I've now made an extremely bad name for myself.

Apologies for enraging some, it really wasn't my intention.
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Hi, Don't stay down river, honestly we are a friendly lot. My invite stands anytiime if you see us

Thamesriverup I dont think you should ever have to invent a username to state your opinion, otherwise it just negates the value of the opinion being expressed, in my humble opinion.

The guy just asked our thoughts and seems he got them with both barrels in some cases. All good debate and learning.

Off to my boat tomorrow, wonder if anyone will have rafted up to me /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Would you mind another boat using your mooring whilst you\'re away?

Hey , my name is mud but i still enjoy the river /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I wouldnt worry about anything . /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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