Do you leave Git Gaps?

IN MY travels around the BCN this 'summer', I have noticed the number of moored boats on bollards and rings but not sharing a ring for no obvious reason, writes Kevin McNiff.

Places like the Black Country Living Museum have very limited mooring space and it is galling to see the inconsideration of boaters, mainly private, who do not share a ring or bollard. Even in Birmingham mooring space is not abundant. Out on the Shroppie, mooring is only possible at listed sites maintained by CaRT or the Shropshire Union Canal Society.

The 'Considerate Boater' stickers supplied by Willow Wren Training could maybe supplemented by an 'I Don't Leave Git Gaps". [Kevin's picture shows a typical 'Git Gap' where the boaters hasn't even moored on the end bollard to allow moor space, whilst the picture below shows how it should be done.]

Move Up!

I also recommend that when boats move off, those remaining could shuffle up to make space available. While protocol says that we shouldn't move another's boat but when you want to fit a 70 footer into a 60ft space with 30ft at the other end of a boat, I see no reason why it should not be done with care and consideration. Again, maybe like 'Welcome Moor Alongside' we could have 'Shuffle with Care to make space'!!

Ultimately if boaters want to be on their own then move off visitor moorings.