The National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) is disappointed to learn that yet another attempt is being made to victimise the bona-fide continuous cruiser. The attempt takes the form of a divisive 'petition', issued under the banner of an otherwise respected trade body (APCO), calling for all private boat owners without a permanent mooring to be charged the equivalent of a full mooring rental.
The document, recognisable from its American spelling of the noun 'licence', claims this measure would be a fairer solution to BW's funding needs than the proposals currently under formal consultation. Unfortunately it grossly over-estimates the number of boats without a permanent mooring and multiplies this by an unrealistic level of charging, so such a claim has little chance of being achieved and can only be seen as a means of swaying the opinions of the less well informed.
More importantly, it fails to make the distinction between 'Continual Cruisers' and Continuous Moorers.
Boater owners, who purchase a licence under the auspices of the 1995 BW Act (in particular section 17 (3) c. ii ), do not to have to satisfy BW that they have 'a mooring or place where the vessel can reasonably be kept and may lawfully be left', provided they 'bona-fide' navigate and do not remain in one place for more than 14 days. This right exists by statute law, and licence holders also have the right under the terms and conditions to use the waterways throughout the full period of their licence and to moor alongside BW property 'ancillary to cruising'. NABO defends these rights.
NABO does not, however, condone the abuse of these rights and urges all parties to abide by and enforce the laws and bylaws. It also fears that the proposals made in the petition could be seen to legalise the anti-social mooring that the legislation is designed to outlaw, thereby negating the effect the petition is trying to achieve.
NABO urges that the contents of the document, and any conclusions drawn from it, be treated with extreme caution.
Stuart Sampson, Chairman