Enforce what you have

Hope this doesn't break the embargo but I think something needs pointing out to Victor Swift as I feel he has missed the point somewhere, writes Keith Gudgin.

Enforcement is one thing, harassment is another.

As a continuous cruiser I have no problem with enforcement of mooring times as long as they are practical and usable. I like moving around but it is becoming harder and harder.

Discriminatory

We are not objecting to moving over-stayers on. What we don't want is all the 14 day moorings made into 24 hour moorings as these only benefit hire boat companies and are discriminatory to all other boaters.

24 hour mooring is in reality only about 16 hours if you're lucky. You cruise all day turn up at a mooring about 5pm in the afternoon. To stick with the 24 hour rule you have to be away by 5pm the next day. In reality this means that you need to go by about 9am the next morning to get a day's cruising in order to get to your next 24 hour mooring etc.

No time

After you've prepared a meal and settled down for the night there's no time to get a shower, do the laundry, shopping, water, Elsan etc. that most hire boats do not need to do.

Enforce what you have, it is enough as stated in the article viz: 'I know of areas where there has been an active patrol officer, and within months he has had his area cleared-that is all it needs...'

We just see the new rules as draconian and discriminatory to the private boater and especially as harassment against us continuous cruisers. Fairness is all we are asking for.