Leaving the waterways

THERE is little doubt that what Mick Fitzgibbons writes about older people on the waterways is very true, as over the past two months of extensive cruising the vast majority of boaters I have seen are obviously retired, writes James Henry.

And like many others I too have noticed that there are nowhere near the number of boats that there used to be cruising the waterways, for in the past the places we have revisited and queued we have been able to get through with no delay, which points to the fact that many of those cruising in the past have now retired from the waterways.

Age and the lack of maintenance

As to the reason, speaking to others, they think the same as I that it is the combination of age and the lack of maintenance that is making cruising so much harder as we get older, exactly as Mick points out.  I know many people complain about the cost, but they should realise that boating is a costly business, and perhaps don't allow for the 'extras' that need paying for so often as a boat and its owner get older.  Many like myself realised the cost, so it does not enter the equation.

What does however is the terrible lack of maintenance, and I have just noticed that another lock beam has fallen off; something I have never heard about during my over 20 years of boating until recently.  Lock gates and their paddles are so much harder as you age, as Mick points out, but coupled with the lack of maintenance this increases the problem, which is why I just have to keep away from broad lock waterways though the northern ones are my favourite.

Beginning of the end?

Like many others, before too long it will all be too much, so it will be back to the 'shore', but who will take our places?  Youngsters have no interest in boating as the many bored faces at the moment only too well testify, so is it really the beginning of the end?

It most certainly seems to be going that way.