Forsaking CaRT moorings
THE stretches of empty Canal & River Trust winter moorings this year show that boaters are realising the advantages of marina moorings.
Private marinas are offering winter moorings for a lot less than CaRT is asking for online mooring, and this is far more than just a financial advantage, considering all their facilities.
It was James Cookes who wrote in narrowboatworld
"There are a number of marinas that are offering winter moorings for £100 and under per month as they have so many empty berths, especially on the North Oxford."
All facilities
Graham Phillips too has realised the advantage of winter mooring in a marina, telling us:
"We have, for the first time, taken a marina mooring with all facilities, car parking and security which is less than CaRT is demanding for local (Braunston and Crick) online winter moorings with no facilities. (David Hymers' photograph clearly shows the deserted Crick moorings.)
"CaRT believes that moorings will set their own local levels and that they can dictate those levels by inflated costs. However they are being proved wrong and losing a significant amount of income into the bargain."
Graham goes on to state that for the first time market forces are working to the advantage of the boater, and that perhaps CaRT will finally realise that hiking up fees such as mooring and the 4.6% licence hike next year isn't necessarily the most cost effective way of increasing funds or getting boaters on side.
No bargain
Our own Ralph Freeman reminded us that CaRT's winter moorings are no bargain given you get no facilities on most of them, though places like Willington and Fradley are the exception with facilities close to hand, adding:
"Maybe boaters are deciding that for £100 to £200 extra they may as well winter in a marina? With electricity, water, showers, rubbish disposal and water all to hand that's the way I look at it. I'm fortunate in that the extra money is not an issue."
It would certainly explain all those empty berths usually reserved for winter moorers.