Narrowboats.

[cheb]

If you do go for a spare engine make sure it can actually move the boat in anything other than flat calm conditions.

It was amusing to see a bunch of divers from an army club trying to use paddles to get their 6m RIB back to the jetty when the 75hp motor failed.

 

[TEO]

International Certificate of Competence (ICC). RYA Day Skipper or higher. So in real terms fairly low.

I think Day skipper gives you equivalence for the ICC ticket but neither are necessary cruising around the UK

 

[ajlelectronics]

I think Day skipper gives you equivalence for the ICC ticket but neither are necessary cruising around the UK

Indeed, it surprised me that someone (like me) with little relevant experience is allowed to take a two ton craft down the waterway with gay abandon. I am currently trying to book a Powerboat level two course with Bristol, which is apparently the RYA course that I would benefit from. £330 each, but what price competence? I will also take the SRC exam for which I don't have to do the course, but of course "many people decide to regardless". I have the Aviation RT licence which gives me an exemption. As it is £110 I might just skip it as it is really just 'rules and procedure'.

 

[premmington]

Indeed, it surprised me that someone (like me) with little relevant experience is allowed to take a two ton craft down the waterway with gay abandon. I am currently trying to book a Powerboat level two course with Bristol, which is apparently the RYA course that I would benefit from. £330 each, but what price competence? I will also take the SRC exam for which I don't have to do the course, but of course "many people decide to regardless". I have the Aviation RT licence which gives me an exemption. As it is £110 I might just skip it as it is really just 'rules and procedure'.

Cource would be "a day out" - part of your "new hobby" - I approve....

 

[TEO]

Indeed, it surprised me that someone (like me) with little relevant experience is allowed to take a two ton craft down the waterway with gay abandon. I am currently trying to book a Powerboat level two course with Bristol, which is apparently the RYA course that I would benefit from. £330 each, but what price competence? I will also take the SRC exam for which I don't have to do the course, but of course "many people decide to regardless". I have the Aviation RT licence which gives me an exemption. As it is £110 I might just skip it as it is really just 'rules and procedure'.

I know what you mean about competence and there are many many boat owners who don't seem to be interested in becoming competent. However, I fully support the ethos of self regulation & the fact that boating in UK in whatever form does not require expensive qualifications and licences to participate. I've always assumed that this is a historical hangover & suspect that given half a chance the potentates at the RYA would insist on further regulation & more money.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Just read this thread, interesting...
French attitude to licences: If sails are the primary source of power, then no licence, even if you have a big donk as auxilary. If motor and over 6hp, then yes and they do check. Boats must be registered and insured for 3rd party min.
Allowed to self build up to 24mtr (!) but cannot sell under five years from first launch. I asked about that when reging my little DIY faering. Well, said the bloke, it's your neck. Likely if it lasts five years, then it is OK.
Just registering my latest little cruiser. Bit more complicated and several safety items reqired. But no inspection, they take your word for it.
I do keep my boats trailerable, so no marina fees. Though I have a free mooring up one of the local estuarys.

Way back in the 60s cousin of some friends started the narrowboat rental idea. Did quite well and ran a small fleet.
Still, I can remember the horse drawn ones on the Lee by us on the Herts/Essex border.


Good read:
'Narrow Dog to Carcassonne.' About taking a boat cross channel and down the canals._

 

[addjunkie]

I agree, I like unregulated….in the boat owning world, they are two types those who learn and those who will never learn. Learning is all part of any hobby. In the modern world you buy yacht, buy gps and head off…little experience building, before GPS it took time to learn and build competence.

I know what you mean about competence and there are many many boat owners who don't seem to be interested in becoming competent. However, I fully support the ethos of self regulation & the fact that boating in UK in whatever form does not require expensive qualifications and licences to participate. I've always assumed that this is a historical hangover & suspect that given half a chance the potentates at the RYA would insist on further regulation & more money.

Sadly its those who will never learn that area good advert for regulator types.

 

[Robotstar5]

....... I will also take the SRC exam for which I don't have to do the course, but of course "many people decide to regardless". I have the Aviation RT licence which gives me an exemption. As it is £110 I might just skip it as it is really just 'rules and procedure'.

You could probably wideband one of your 2m radios but it would probably fall foul of some licensing conditions forcing you to buy a dedicated marine band radio.

 

[TEO]

Just read this thread, interesting...
French attitude to licences: If sails are the primary source of power, then no licence, even if you have a big donk as auxilary. If motor and over 6hp, then yes and they do check.

That's interesting, good to know

Boats must be registered and insured for 3rd party min.

Do you mean in Fr. waters or UK? Or specific areas in the UK? I'm not aware of any inland waterways or marinas that don't insist on min 3rd party but wasn't aware that insurance was mandatory in UK waters? Inland waterways also require boat safety certificate for many craft, I'm not sure if it's just craft over 13' or craft with a cabin

Allowed to self build up to 24mtr (!) but cannot sell under five years from first launch. I asked about that when reging my little DIY faering. Well, said the bloke, it's your neck. Likely if it lasts five years, then it is OK.
Just registering my latest little cruiser. Bit more complicated and several safety items reqired. But no inspection, they take your word for it.
I do keep my boats trailerable, so no marina fees. Though I have a free mooring up one of the local estuarys.

Is that Fr.? Does every vessel have to be registered or is this the SRS in the UK?

Way back in the 60s cousin of some friends started the narrowboat rental idea. Did quite well and ran a small fleet.
Still, I can remember the horse drawn ones on the Lee by us on the Herts/Essex border.

That'd be a sight to behold

 

[TEO]

Just read this thread, interesting...
French attitude to licences: If sails are the primary source of power, then no licence, even if you have a big donk as auxilary. If motor and over 6hp, then yes and they do check. Boats must be registered and insured for 3rd party min.
Allowed to self build up to 24mtr (!) but cannot sell under five years from first launch. I asked about that when reging my little DIY faering. Well, said the bloke, it's your neck. Likely if it lasts five years, then it is OK.
Just registering my latest little cruiser. Bit more complicated and several safety items reqired. But no inspection, they take your word for it.
I do keep my boats trailerable, so no marina fees. Though I have a free mooring up one of the local estuarys.

Way back in the 60s cousin of some friends started the narrowboat rental idea. Did quite well and ran a small fleet.
Still, I can remember the horse drawn ones on the Lee by us on the Herts/Essex border.


Good read:
'Narrow Dog to Carcassonne.' About taking a boat cross channel and down the canals._

Btw, hats off - not one but two self builds!

 

[KemppiFrog]

You could probably wideband one of your 2m radios but it would probably fall foul of some licensing conditions forcing you to buy a dedicated marine band radio.

Handheld 5 watt radios are considered a safety item in France, don't require a licence. Fixed 25watt do. Flares are mandatory, along with a horn.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Btw, hats off - not one but two self builds!

Actually four...
In was talking about regs in France in the previous post.

The SSR in UK is for UK residents, but used to get abused by non residents. They have policed it a bit more tightly recently.

I was looking at a 40ft ketch in Rochefort a few years ago, noticed it was on the SSR... Talked to the owner and he was escorting a bunch of smaller boats to UK South Coast. He asked me if they check as he was French.... Apparently he used his daughter's UK address to register it to avoid the regs the French impose. He didn't even speak english! I thought it unlikely then that he would be quizzed. Now, very likely, as people smugglers are using yachts.

 

[Seadog]

I know what you mean about competence and there are many many boat owners who don't seem to be interested in becoming competent. However, I fully support the ethos of self regulation & the fact that boating in UK in whatever form does not require expensive qualifications and licences to participate. I've always assumed that this is a historical hangover & suspect that given half a chance the potentates at the RYA would insist on further regulation & more money.

The RYA are very much against proscribed qualifications. Their feeling is that self-regulation is better.

 

[TEO]

The RYA are very much against proscribed qualifications. Their feeling is that self-regulation is better.

Good to hear, maybe my take on them is jaundiced by mixed experience with the training providers, some of whom are truly dreadful- ticking boxes rather than building skills & competence

 

[ajlelectronics]

You could probably wideband one of your 2m radios but it would probably fall foul of some licensing conditions forcing you to buy a dedicated marine band radio.

I have one that will do it on the bench, however it seems that the spec. has been tightened up. Athough a 'legacy' FM radio could be used, they now require Selcall and a digital ID MMSSI or some such. When you transmit, that data is transmitted for ID purposes. It is also interesting that type approved sets have GPS and if you press the "Distress" key, it will transmit all data including the location. Clever stuff, so I splashed out on an Icom IC-M330G at £239 and a 5/8 aerial.

Icom IC-M330GE - VHF/DSC Marine Transceiver (Gps Receiver)

Waters & Stanton began in 1973 as a partnership between Peter Waters & Jeff Stanton. From a small lock-up shop in those early days, they grew to become one of the largest retailers & distributors of radio communications and accessories.

www.hamradiostore.co.uk

 

[ajlelectronics]

Good to hear, maybe my take on them is jaundiced by mixed experience with the training providers, some of whom are truly dreadful- ticking boxes rather than building skills & competence

On that note, I tried our local training place (Frampton on Severn) and also the Severn Area Rescue Association, listed as another training centre. Neither picked up the telephone and neither responded to a polite email enquiry. Finaly I got a helpful and welcoming email back from Bristol and I hope to be making a booking. They tell me that there may be a delay due to lock closure with no confirmed date to re-open. Never rains eh?

 

[Robotstar5]

On that note, I tried our local training place (Frampton on Severn) and also the Severn Area Rescue Association, listed as another training centre. Neither picked up the telephone and neither responded to a polite email enquiry. Finaly I got a helpful and welcoming email back from Bristol and I hope to be making a booking. They tell me that there may be a delay due to lock closure with no confirmed date to re-open. Never rains eh?

I snapped a couple of their vehicles a few years ago...

 

[Farside]

I know what you mean about competence and there are many many boat owners who don't seem to be interested in becoming competent. However, I fully support the ethos of self regulation & the fact that boating in UK in whatever form does not require expensive qualifications and licences to participate. I've always assumed that this is a historical hangover & suspect that given half a chance the potentates at the RYA would insist on further regulation & more money.

"We have the right to bear arms."
"Pshaw, we have the right to sink our boats."

 

[ajlelectronics]

Powerboat course booked at Portishead 21st and 22nd of July. SRC course 12th, so it's all go!

 

[Keith 66]

Good to hear, maybe my take on them is jaundiced by mixed experience with the training providers, some of whom are truly dreadful- ticking boxes rather than building skills & competence

The Rya are interested in one thing only & that is winning medals at the olympics. My wife & i have been heavily involved & still are with our local yacht club, its run totally by volunteers (she is secretary) The Rya are sadly absent from most grass roots clubs unless it is to heap beaurocracy upon them.
The most highly qualified sailor i ever knew was a lovely bloke, sailing instructor, senior sailing instructor, yachtmaster offshore & ocean, powerboat 1,2,3 & instrucrtor etc. Hugely qualified.
Yet put him in any boat & he was totally clueless, i mean to the point of being dangerous, honestly disaster followed him closer than Jonah himself.
We helped run our clubs cadet week for nearly 30 years & it has succeded despite the Rya not because of them.