"Julian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > As someone who uses rivers quite a lot these days I seem to be seeing more > and more what I would class as irresponsible attitudes and behaviour. > > Take the first item lifejackets: it seems that more and more people are > venturing out onto tidal rivers without a lifejacket, this to me is > stupid. > It is all too easy to miss your footing when moving around outside the > boat and in you go. In the water without a life jacket in the Pool of > London I wouldn't give much for your chances on a busy day. I have had a > couple of near misses when its been rough only the rails on the outside of > the barge have stopped me going in. > They should be made compulsory on all tidal rivers. > > On to the second VHF: I applaud the PLA for bringing this in,it should > have been above 10m, it's about time. > If the "captain" of the Marchioness had been able to hear his VHF (I > believe it wasn't loud enough to get over the volume of the music) he > would have known that the dredger was departing and could have kept out of > the way. The same goes for any other boat on the tideway, all reporting > vessels have to notify when they leave so if you listen, you know what big > stuff is about and can keep a look out and stay out of their way. > > Licences: It's about time a licence became compulsory with a practical and > theoretical test. Some of the boat handling I have seen on the Thames in > the last couple of weeks has been appalling, people completely unaware of > their surroundings, in a world of their own, not realising that they are > making it very difficult for the boat behind. Before anyone says anything > this has usually been when I have been stopped waiting for boats to come > out of the lock so I have been an observer and not involved. > > And finally CEVNI: when is this country going to stop trying to reinvent > the wheel and adopt the European standard for lights and signs on > waterways, they are just so much better than the ones in use over here. I > am not saying that all canals should have a new proliferation of signs > merely that where they are used they should be the European ones.
I fully agree with all of the above especially the last paragraph. -- Regards Michael Clarke Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://users.skynet.be/sky34301/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
