Alcohol and inland amateur boating

Tim Watts

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Jun 27, 2012, 5:45:02 AM6/27/12

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Just out of interest, did this ever get enacted:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1480083.boat_users_face_new_drinksail_rules/

(Dated 2007)

"Pleasure boat enthusiasts, including narrowboat users on the Leeds-
Liverpool canal, are facing a drink-sail alcohol limit for the first time."

It refers to a proposal to introduce laws in 2008 but I cannot find any
followup...

In short, is there a legal drink-"drive" limit for canal boats (over or
under 23ft) and small vessels under private hire on Engalnd's inland
waterways?

Cheers,

Tim

--
Tim Watts

Ben Harris

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Jun 27, 2012, 2:50:02 PM6/27/12

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In article <d31rb9-...@squidward.local.dionic.net>,

Tim Watts <tw+u...@dionic.net> wrote:
>In short, is there a legal drink-"drive" limit for canal boats (over or
>under 23ft) and small vessels under private hire on Engalnd's inland
>waterways?

The relevant legislation is section 80(3) of the Railways and Transport
Safety Act 2003 <http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2003/20/section/80>.

The MAIB report into the collision between Morfil and Sun Clipper last
year, <http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/SunClipperReport.pdf>, has a
discussion in section 1.9 of the current state of this law. The short
version is that the Government keeps consulting on what the exceptions
should be but hasn't yet actually brought it into force.

Note, though, that local byelaws often have some restriction on
navigating while intoxicated. For instance, from the British Waterways
General Canal Byelaws
<http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/BW_General_Canal_Bye-laws.pdf>:

"44. No person shall navigate any vessel on any canal or take any
part in the navigation, mooring or handling of any vessel on the
canal whilst under the influence of drink to such an extent as to
be incapable of having proper control of the vessel."

That's obviously a much more relaxed standard than the 2003 Act would
apply.

--
Ben Harris

Roland Perry

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Jun 28, 2012, 8:45:20 AM6/28/12

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In message <jsfkht$jpb$1...@soup.linux.pwf.cam.ac.uk>, at 19:50:02 on Wed,
27 Jun 2012, Ben Harris <bj...@cam.ac.uk> remarked:

>Note, though, that local byelaws often have some restriction on
>navigating while intoxicated. For instance, from the British Waterways
>General Canal Byelaws
><http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/media/documents/BW_General_Canal_Bye-laws.pdf>:
>
>"44. No person shall navigate any vessel on any canal or take any
>part in the navigation, mooring or handling of any vessel on the
>canal whilst under the influence of drink to such an extent as to
>be incapable of having proper control of the vessel."

I know plenty of canal holidaymakers who can't do any of that while
sober!
--
Roland Perry

Adam Funk

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Jun 28, 2012, 11:20:01 AM6/28/12

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Can you put "L" plates on a canal boat?

Ophelia

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Jun 28, 2012, 12:05:04 PM6/28/12

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"Adam Funk" <a24...@ducksburg.com> wrote in message
news:5k8ub9x...@news.ducksburg.com...

lol

--
--

http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

R. Mark Clayton

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Jun 28, 2012, 9:35:03 AM6/28/12

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"Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:78S3tNGL...@perry.co.uk...

Some friends of mine went straight on at the junction of the Grand Union and
Coventry canals, damaging the boat.

Apparently someone called Stella was on the bridge...

Tim Watts

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Jun 28, 2012, 1:10:02 PM6/28/12

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That's roughly what I thought... Which seems perfectly reasonable.

When I went canal boating with mates (in early 20's) we did indeed drive
with a beer at the ready - but we were never drunk.

In fact the only problems we had were one of the group was a bit useless at
large vehicle control and bent the rudder shaft slightly due to not
compensating for the backwash from the lock sluice gates and they were stone
cold sober.

We did get a polite call out for going too fast past some moored boats and
causing too much wash - but that was inexperience and we apologied and
slowed down.

I am glad they decided to remain sensible with the law then.

--
Tim Watts

Ian Jackson

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Jun 28, 2012, 1:55:02 PM6/28/12

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In article <C6-dnc5IVODtwHHS...@bt.com>,

R. Mark Clayton <nospam...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>Some friends of mine went straight on at the junction of the Grand Union and
>Coventry canals, damaging the boat.
>
>Apparently someone called Stella was on the bridge...

Quite an achievement, given that it has, as Wikipedia puts it, a
`unique triangular junction':
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.28971&lon=-1.21834&zoom=17

I assume your friends meant Braunston Junction rather than Napton
Junction since if you go straight on at Napton Junction you just end
up in the marina:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.258339&lon=-1.315063&zoom=18

--
Ian Jackson personal email: <ijac...@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
These opinions are my own. http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~ijackson/
PGP2 key 1024R/0x23f5addb, fingerprint 5906F687 BD03ACAD 0D8E602E FCF37657

R. Mark Clayton

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Jun 29, 2012, 11:15:04 AM6/29/12

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"Ian Jackson" <ijac...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote in message
news:Z6u*mA...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk...

> In article <C6-dnc5IVODtwHHS...@bt.com>,
> R. Mark Clayton <nospam...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>Some friends of mine went straight on at the junction of the Grand Union
>>and
>>Coventry canals, damaging the boat.
>>
>>Apparently someone called Stella was on the bridge...
>
> Quite an achievement, given that it has, as Wikipedia puts it, a
> `unique triangular junction':
> http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.28971&lon=-1.21834&zoom=17
>
> I assume your friends meant Braunston Junction rather than Napton
> Junction since if you go straight on at Napton Junction you just end
> up in the marina:
> http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=52.258339&lon=-1.315063&zoom=18
>

Yes indeed Napston, except the marina was not there then so they hit the
bank head on at ~4knots.