Of course there are Continuous Cruisers

Having read the email All Should Obey, I think you should have labelled this article 'What an Idiot' too, writes John Howard.

The email started out quite well (were we supposed to be impressed that an email could be sent from France?) by stating that everyone should obey the rules. Hear Hear! Says I. But then the second bottle of Beaujolais must have been opened!

 

'There are no Continuous Cruisers'?

I know many many genuine Continuous Cruisers. Please let's not get back on that old hobby horse of tarring everyone with the same brush just because we seem to have to put up with what seems like a small (albeit seemingly growing) bunch of Continuous Moorers, who CaRT seem to either lack the will or are incapable of tackling.

Let's bash the Continuous Moorers, and turn up the heat under CaRT to use the powers that they already have at their disposal to get these boats off the waterways. I for one am fed up with reporting unlicenced boats that have sat in the same spots for more than a year. With CaRT apparently doing nothing to oust them.

We pay

And finally let's stop this clap trap that genuine Continuous Cruisers are somehow getting a free ride. We pay our waterway licence, our insurance and keep our boat safety cert up to date. We choose not to sit in a marina looking across three feet of pontoon at the next boat.

We choose not to invest our money in online electric and water points. We choose to look out at the magnificent countryside and wildlife and cruise as widely as we can. If we were encamped in a marina claiming squatters rights you would be well justified in complaining that we were getting something for nothing, but we are not and I wish that the arrogant, self important few who keep spouting this drivel would sell their boats and join the Caravan Club or similar.

All licenced and insured boaters should be pulling together to get CaRT to fulfil its obligations in keeping the waterways open and safe for those who have paid them for the privilege, and oust the rest as swiftly as the legal process allows.

Now I need a drink!