Will object to simplistic approach

INCONVENIENT as it may be for Maffi Oxford to have to consider the relevance of bow design, swim length and canal width/depth, the majority of experienced and considerate boaters will strongly object to a 'speed is everything' simplistic approach to wash generation, writes David Lyneham Brown.

Furthermore, I suggest you do not wilfully misrepresent other people's considered observations. Who are you framing when you talk about "a group of people telling the 'whingers' to 'tie up your boat properly so I can flaunt the rules and hammer along the canal like I own it". What a remarkable statement about an indefensible practice and never made, to my knowledge, by anyone of consequence.

Penalize

So you wish to penalize the majority of skilled boaters for the sake of an ignorant few? Are you a politician? They are notorious for penalizing the majority to get at the few by taking the lazy way out.

As for the universal application of 'Always slow down (presumably on tickover) when passing moored boats". So I am going across Tixall Wide on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal past a row of moored boats at a distance of 10/ 12 metres—I have to slow down to tickover?

Tickover is variable

Your problem is that tickover is also a variable. Engine, gearing and prop design combinations can lead to significant variations in speed generated by tickover. How are you going to deal with that? Tickover in a crosswind? Passing an oncoming boat? Love the idea of the explanation "but I was on tickover" as you smack into a moored boat or get drawn into the oncoming boat when judicious use of appropriate speed would have prevented both.

Speeding (partial cause) in this context is defined by the creation of excessive wash (effect) exceeding the pace dictated by the conditions created by bow design, swim length, canal width/depth, cross-winds, other moving boats etc (sorry, di dah) which experienced boaters will recognise and allow for in their speed of progress.

Take a hammering

Napton Narrowboats, owners of Grace, in acknowledging excess speed by their client, state that the waves created will vary with the depth of water, not just the speed. Correct. Also, the stern swim of the boat is probably short, common in boats built for hiring out, which exaggerates the wash. What few have commented on is the destructive power of the stern wave in the picture (more than 'quite' large, Mr Davies)—the canal banks take a hammering, are degraded and the need for dredging is accelerated.

So if I may correct your statement "we cannot escape the fact that people are getting hurt as a direct result of speeding boats" to "people are getting hurt as a direct result of a few inexperienced and/or totally inconsiderate boaters not using speed appropriate to the conditions, the impact of which they should be monitoring and then managing the wash generated."

That I completely agree with. Are you with me?