"Julian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I think that there may well be very few boat builders left by 2012 not to >mention no boaters.
BW has to optimise its income. It has no choice, because at present its revenue is less than it needs to run its waterways. In light of under-support by the government, it therefore has to maximise its income from boaters. If it raises the level of its charges to boaters too much, it surely will pass the point of diminishing returns. However, the fact that the number of boats continue to increase shows that at present that level is (probably quite a bit) below that point. Which means, like it or not, that BW is extremely likely to raise its charges, and to keep on doing so. However, I think it is unfair to characterise this as "thieving". I'm afraid it is actually "surviving". As others have noted, this aactually won't mean a decrease in the number of boats on the waterways (and thus, not of boatbuilders either). However, it is likely to mean that some now boating will leave (to be replaced by others). That's a very different topic, though. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
