Time for BOA?

WELL done our boating organisations in ensuring boaters' voices are heard by government (Associations want representation at inquiry), writes Allan Richards.

However, is it not time that boating associations and groups formed an umbrella organisation to represent them?

The big three

The big three boating organisations are the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), the Residential Boat Owners Association (RBOA) and the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs (AWCC). However, many other groups exist including the Association of Continuous Cruisers (ACC), Roving Canal Traders Association (RCTA), Dutch Barge Association (DBA), Historic Narrow Boat Club and National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA)—the list goes on and on.

IWA corporate membership

In the past, many boating organisations have looked to the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) to represent them via corporate membership.

Indeed, two of the ‘big three' are currently corporate members of IWA!

Do AWCC and RBOA really feel that IWA represents them and that incorporation of EA waterways should form part of government's investigation into the performance of Canal & River Trust (CaRT) over the last two years?

More important matters

.... or are there more important matters to discuss such as CaRT's pathetic attempts to hide the falling number of boats on its waterways, and its inability to attract visitors or to recruit Friends. Perhaps, most important of all, boating organisations need to speak out saying CaRT has no creditable long term plan to maintain its waterways fit for navigation.

BOA

So how about it? Is it not time that boating organisations formed an umbrella group, a Boat Owners Association (BOA), if they are not happy that IWA represents their members?
Alternatively, should one of the organisations with a wide boating remit provide group membership for others?