Boating at last

Mark Tizard, general secretary of the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), comments on some more topical issues.

WE HAVE not been to our boat since the weekend before lockdown, more than three months ago; this is the longest period of time that I have not stepped on a boat for more than 30 years. Yet despite this we have decided not to go to the boat immediately the system opens to leisure boaters but will leave it a few days to avoid the queues.

So post-Covid, what will have changed? Well firstly, the virus is still with us so we will be armed with hand sanitiser and gloves. We are likely to be more selfcontained, bringing supplies with us and initially choosing routes to minimise locks and especially gongoozlers.

Being outside cruising or inside relaxing, I believe boating to be a very safe activity, especially when away from inner city areas where the towpaths are busy; but as an older, overweight boater I remain wary!

The Canal & River Trust has been supportive of business boaters by granting licence holidays and to a lesser extent leisure boaters have had a one-month licence extension. Nonetheless, many canalside businesses are in serious financial difficulties.

Despite letters and Zoom meetings, CRT (supported by NABO and the IWA) has been unsuccessful in getting any specific support for the waterways from the Government.

I would urge boaters to do their bit in support. Please remember the coal boats which kept going serving the liveaboard community.

And remember the marinas which continued to serve diesel and gas throughout the crisis; these are the lifeblood of the waterways.

If we don’t support canalside businesses in the next few months of the summer many may not last into the winter.

At the last NABO Council meeting there was a debate about facilities and I personally agree with a member who contacted us to say: “It is essential that CRT continue to provide basic facilities (I regard these as sensibly spaced Elsan disposal, rubbish disposal and waterpoints). I have always regarded those basic facilities as part of what I expect CRT to provide – they (and previously BW) have certainly done so ever since I started boating 40 years ago.”

However the introduction of CRT pump-out machines as opposed to those in marinas is a relatively recent development and these have been shown to be difficult to maintain, resulting in an estimated cost of £100 per operation. Given the capacity of onboard pump-out tanks, a case could be made that CRT pump-out facilities should either be withdrawn or replaced with self pump-out facilities, with the savings being spent on improving the availability of refuse facilities.

I read with interest a recent press release regarding the removal of the HV cables and the relaying/widening of the towpath in central London by National Power. These cables were often highlighted in the past as the reason why mooring has not been allowed on this section of canal. The London mooring strategy document details CRT’s intention to improve mooring in this area. Yet I can find no mention in the press release of mooring rings being installed, despite these towpath works being highlighted as being for the benefit of boaters, among other towpath users.

This not only would have been a cheap option to have included in the approved work scope but also an easy PR win for CRT. Hopefully it’s just an oversight and not another case of the boaters being forgotten.