We recently reported that C&RT were writing to all new boaters who might want to live afloat to make sure they knew about the mooring restrictions that apply if they choose a life as a ‘Continuous Cruiser’ rather than having a ‘home mooring’. Read post.
In a recent report C&RT described contacting over 200 new boaters taking out a licence in the first few months of this year without a home mooring for the first time, advising them of how their movements are monitored and how they will be given feedback regularly during the first year if C&RT believe they are not moving enough to qualify as a continuous cruiser. Their aim is to keep new boaters informed so they are able to meet their cruising requirements.
We have been given permission to reproduce the relevant second section of that letter below.
I see from our records that you don’t have a home mooring for your boat, so you’re registered as a ‘continuous cruiser’. This means that throughout the period of your licence you must ‘bona fide’ navigate and not stay in the same place for more than 14 days. The definition of navigating implies a journey of some length, so you can’t shuffle to and fro in a small area, just because that’s where your work or other commitments are.
As a new continuous cruiser, we want to ensure that you don’t pick up habits that will lead you into difficulty with our local enforcement team. They are responsible for the regular checks to make sure that all boats are paying their fair share through the licence fee, and that continuous cruisers move in line with the legal requirements. We have published guidance which is designed to help you understand these. Just click on the link on http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/mooring/want-to-be-a-continuous-cruiser .
We analyse all continuous cruiser boat movements systematically every month, so to help you avoid problems, we’ll write to you if our sightings of your boat start to suggest that you’re not moving in a way that suggests proper navigation. If we don’t see enough increase in your movement pattern, we’ll continue to send you reminders, but by the time we come to send you your first licence renewal form, if it’s still not adequate, the only basis on which we will issue you with another licence is if you secure a home mooring in the area where you need to stay. I’d ask you to note that this is a recent change to our process so please don’t be confused by other sources which say this is not the case – that will have been based on old information. (See this news report: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/spreading-the-word-about-the-demands-of-living-afloat
You can find information about how to find a home mooring on our website at http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/mooring/finding-a-home-mooring
Thanks to the Canal and River Trust to publish this excerpt from their letter.
