Not slowing down

ANOTHER boater having problems with boats speeding past when his own boat is moored, is Richard Tanner, who writes:

I have to say that I have some sympathy with Peter Ponting. Since leaving the Hemel Hempstead area at the end of March we have progressed as far as the moorings at the bottom of Hurlestone, so I think that we are pretty laid back, and are most definitely taking our time as Martin Howes recommends.

Normal cruising speed

During this time my wife and I have been astonished at the number of boats passing us at normal cruising speeds whilst we are moored. We have a couple of 28" long mooring pins and these are being pulled over, haven't quite managed to get them right out yet, on every occasion we have used them.

I know the ground is very wet but this is the first year this has happened as a matter of course. We have now given up mooring on other than official moorings with bollards or rings. Yesterday a boat came past us at speed and only just missing us causing much lurching about. A little later it came back the other way, at speed, but this time it managed to hit us. Yes, okay, it was a scrape but I would have been happy to have forgone the experience. A little later we had a repeat performance, speed and scrape, by the same boat going back.

Going at speed

Yesterday and today we have been passed by a number of boats travelling on our side of the canal but within 12 to 18 inches and going at speed going in either direction. There were no boats coming the other way so why get so close? The area is being buffeted by strong winds, and so extra speed is justified and sensible, but not so close.

Just before commencing this email I was on the back of the boat when a boat came into sight, trad engine nicely on tick-over and travelling at an angle across the canal because of the wind. It was obvious that he was going to hit us, not a scrape, so I shouted across that a bit more speed would probably help. The reply was that the wind had just blown his sandwich off the plate. He hit us, scraped along the side, hit the boat in front, scraped along that and at this point the other guy on the boat took over and increased the revs. Had he not, I reckon they would have made a spirited attempt to demolish Hurlestone bridge.

I would say that the percentage of private boaters guilty of inconsiderate boating is greater by far than the hire boaters. yes, they may all have been new boaters but I doubt it.