Canal permits

lightning · 18 July 2013, 09:33

I sometimes take my SIB on the canal.

When I bought the boat in 2009 I also bought a "30 day explorer licence" for the canal which cost £80.
It comes with 30 "day passes" which you are supposed to date and stick on the boat each time you go out.
I have done this, and have used about twelve of them.

I now realise the pass expired after 12 months, so it is going to cost another £80 for maybe four trips on the canal.

Nobody has ever questioned or checked my permit. Even the Marina I bought it from said "Oh, that is the first one we have sold this year" (it was June)

So.....do I pay the £80 or just chance it, at least until I have used my 30 "day passes" and claim ignorance of the expiry date on the licence if I am stopped? (well, carry on chancing it as I just realised the pass expired in 2010)

What's the penalty if caught? I've never seen any officials in four years.

willk · 18 July 2013, 15:31

I'd keep sticking on the remaining "expired" passes. You paid for them and they've had yer money. If challenged, say "They expire???"

Sunstreaker · 18 July 2013, 18:24

You might get chased by a 72ft narrow boat doing 3knots

biffer · 18 July 2013, 18:54

You won't believe this so I took a pic

Martini Henry · 22 July 2013, 22:35

Unfortunately the 30 day licence is no longer £80, it's now £98.01. Like yourself, I only used about 15 days last year. Trouble is my local canal has many manned bridges on it and you're expected to hold up your number as you pass. Whether they ever check it's validity I couldn't say.

Rich.

paddlers · 22 July 2013, 23:24

It's got beyond silly, as a lad you just put your craft in the river/canal and had a blast around for a few hours then put it away !! Water skied at Ullswater for free, launched for free & other than fuel had a cheap day out every weekend !!!

Soon you'll need permission & a permit to flush your toilet ! It's not my idea of progress....

ShinyShoe · 22 July 2013, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddlers

Soon you'll need permission & a permit to flush your toilet ! It's not my idea of progress....

Are you trying to say you don't bother getting a permit to flush your toilet?

mister p · 22 July 2013, 23:52

I had a 57ft steel narrowboat a few years back. 3 actually and the moorings on the Thames stung like a hornet. £4k a year in Teddington with power only.
The hassle is that, like on the road, you pay for what you pay for what you pay for.
I'd bought the boat, an ex demo, with a kitchen and bathroom to dream for.....marble here, power there, infra this, wrap around that. VAT on top, unrecoverable of course. Duty is added onto diesel same year. Have to register vessel at a cost. Have to pay to lock in and out of home mooring lock.
So for what I (in my dreams) was expecting to be a dream of serenity bumbling up and down the Thames, turned into a financial vortex of epic proportions.
RIBS are cheap by comparison, believe me.
Ex demo meant that it was tarted up and not steel prepped, simply gladded up to woo. I trusted that it was specced to the hilt, it was, just not finished...........made to last a few summer shows ( a few shows in one summer), then moved on to yours truly.
In summary, if you can avoid it, don't go into any water that demands payment unless you can't avoid it. You're paying for it already. They just want it twice. Stand up for yourself and stick all your stickers on. Chances are they cancelled the dues and you're owed money. So act as if they owe you.
:-)

kerny · 23 July 2013, 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddlers

It's got beyond silly, as a lad you just put your craft in the river/canal and had a blast around for a few hours then put it away !! Water skied at Ullswater for free, launched for free & other than fuel had a cheap day out every weekend !!!

Soon you'll need permission & a permit to flush your toilet ! It's not my idea of progress....

Agreed.

Glow · 23 July 2013, 08:29

I grew up with a small boat canal as my parent property backs onto the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, in all my time on their I have never once been challenged and asked for a permit.

If I am ever asked, I will plead ignorance and refuse to give details.

I have been asked to slow down a few times in my younger days...

lightning · 23 July 2013, 21:24

I'll carry on putting the stickers on!

When I have used all thirty I will feel that I have got my £80 worth. At the rate I am going it will be another five years.

If I get challenged I will just hold up my day pass sticker. Not that I ever have been.