River license

[Fishcake]

Do I need a license for a 2.7 meter sib with a 3.5 hp motor to go on navigable rivers? If so any idea of the cost?

[Fenlander]

Depends where you live... what would be your area to use it?

[Fishcake]

Hi short trips along stretches of for instance.. River Dee, Trent, avon etc

[Fenlander]

I looked into the Dee recently which is council controlled and the by the book needs were...

You need insurance to apply, initial registration is £72 then its £122 a year or £20 a day. Daily licences sold by the Riverside Café CH1 1SD.

But when it was last discussed some thought you didn't need the initial registration.

The Trent & Avon come under the Canal & Rivers Trust and I think you can buy daily licences for £9 to go on the river... £15 if you want to go on the canals too.

You could phone or mail both and tell them your boat details for an accurate up to date situation.

[Fishcake]

Thanks for the info... Sounds like daily licenses would suit me... In reality, do people actually get one? Or just launch and hope nobody bothers them?

[Fenlander]

Despite trying to get away with it being treated as a game by some boaters it can result in criminal prosecution. They had a purge round here the other year and these were the sort of fines slapped on folks...

fined £60, ordered to pay costs of £150, court charge of £150 and victim surcharge of £20.

fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £250, court charge of £150 and victim surcharge of £100.

fined £550 and ordered to pay costs of £250, court charge of £150 and victim surcharge of £55.

fined £350 and ordered to pay costs £250, court charge of £150, victim surcharge of £35.

fined £450 and ordered to pay costs of £250, court charge of £150, victim surcharge of £45.

And they all had to pay the licence fees they'd skipped.
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Sorry if it sounds holier than thou but I'm happy to pay my dues in life and don't want the chance of being caught out spoiling a day out so don't go on the river unless a licence is in force.

[Fishcake]

Will check out these daily licenses... Cheers for all of your help

[Fishcake]

Just registered and checked out the prices for weekly and daily licenses... Very cheap and easy to use... Fantastic... Thank you so much fenlander.

[Katie.harker]

We are new to sibs and the Dee is the local river for us. 4 trips so far and we were stopped and asked for docs 2/3 trips. The 4th was late afternoon, after 5pm and we were only out an out, testing the new motor.
Best not risk it.

[Fishcake]

Originally Posted by Katie.harker

We are new to sibs and the Dee is the local river for us. 4 trips so far and we were stopped and asked for docs 2/3 trips. The 4th was late afternoon, after 5pm and we were only out an out, testing the new motor.
Best not risk it.

How much did you pay for the Dee Katie?

[Katie.harker]

192 for Registration and 1 year licence, plus insurance which was needed to to register.

[Mikefule]

I often go on the Trent and pay for a day ticket via the Canal and River Trust website. Quick and easy and not too expensive. When I have been down on the Ouse near Huntingdon, I have paid over the counter at a marina.

Over a 20+ year period, I have never once been asked to preset a licence. I know the penalties are severe. That aside, I think it is only fair to pay because most of the rivers in this country are carefully managed with weirs and sluices to keep the water the right depth, locks to bypass shallows and rapids, and slips and moorings available for boaters. I don't mind paying my part of that.

[Fishcake]

Hoping to get over to the Trent next week and will happily get the license now that I know how easy it is...

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by Fishcake

Hoping to get over to the Trent next week and will happily get the license now that I know how easy it is...

Whereabouts are you intending to go?

[Fishcake]

Originally Posted by Mikefule

Whereabouts are you intending to go?

I'm open to suggestions to be honest... Somewhere picturesque with maybe a riverside pub to stop at.. Any ideas?

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by Fishcake

I'm open to suggestions to be honest... Somewhere picturesque with maybe a riverside pub to stop at.. Any ideas?

Depends where you are, of course. I'm between Newark and Grantham so my nearest slip is at Farndon, a couple of miles outside Newark on Trent. The slip is free with easy access and parking, but you need a key to the padlock on the gate if you are launching from a trailer. I always assemble my boat on the slip and don't need a key. I have seen groups bypass the gates with iight boats.

Down river gets you to Newark on Trent with an option to chug slowly up the River Devon (I can get a couple of miles up there in by 310). Up river gets you to the Bromley Arms, Fiskerton: a riverside pub with it's own pontoon landing stage. Further up river is a weir, lock and island.

If you have a lock key and the time, patience and energy, you can get further.

River speed limits apply, but if there are no fishermen and you're not interfering with other water users, you can get away with planing for stretches. the Trent is wide enough that when I am on the plane, my wake doesn't break on the banks. Pat of the river is legitimately used by a water ski club anyway!

On trips from this slipway I have seen plenty of wildlife including good close up sightings of kingfishers.

I am sure there is nothing "special" about my local stretch of Trent (other than the access to the Devon) and you will find similar areas up and down the river. The nearer you get to Gainsborough and further on down to the Humber. the more it becomes tidal with muddy banks.

Have a look for other launch sites on boatlaunch.co.uk

[Fishcake]

Originally Posted by Mikefule

Depends where you are, of course. I'm between Newark and Grantham so my nearest slip is at Farndon, a couple of miles outside Newark on Trent. The slip is free with easy access and parking, but you need a key to the padlock on the gate if you are launching from a trailer. I always assemble my boat on the slip and don't need a key. I have seen groups bypass the gates with iight boats.

Down river gets you to Newark on Trent with an option to chug slowly up the River Devon (I can get a couple of miles up there in by 310). Up river gets you to the Bromley Arms, Fiskerton: a riverside pub with it's own pontoon landing stage. Further up river is a weir, lock and island.

If you have a lock key and the time, patience and energy, you can get further.

River speed limits apply, but if there are no fishermen and you're not interfering with other water users, you can get away with planing for stretches. the Trent is wide enough that when I am on the plane, my wake doesn't break on the banks. Pat of the river is legitimately used by a water ski club anyway!

On trips from this slipway I have seen plenty of wildlife including good close up sightings of kingfishers.

I am sure there is nothing "special" about my local stretch of Trent (other than the access to the Devon) and you will find similar areas up and down the river. The nearer you get to Gainsborough and further on down to the Humber. the more it becomes tidal with muddy banks.

Have a look for other launch sites on boatlaunch.co.uk

I'm heading over from Stockport. I have a campervan and will be touring around for a few days. Thanks to you Mike, I now have a plan [emoji2]. Really great help from everyone who has replied so far

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by Fishcake

I'm heading over from Stockport. I have a campervan and will be touring around for a few days. Thanks to you Mike, I now have a plan [emoji2]. Really great help from everyone who has replied so far

If your plan includes the area I described, the access to the River Devon is through the second (further downstream) marina that you get to. Creep quietly through the marina and under the road bridge.

[Fishcake]

Originally Posted by Mikefule

If your plan includes the area I described, the access to the River Devon is through the second (further downstream) marina that you get to. Creep quietly through the marina and under the road bridge.

Nice one, thanks for the advice. I'll be following your advice and can't wait

[rossymtb]

This was a few weeks back on the river Dee.

Obviously have to have insurance.
But I pay the £20 daily launch fee. And literally within 2 minutes the warden comes asking for document. Although he's a fairly nice chap.