Today I went with Bones to the AGM of NABO, which is surprising because I am a member of RBOA.
Many people think, wrongly, that this organisation is about Narrow Boats. NABO (National Association of Boat Owners) is for all boaters and I think we really all should join. With 1500 or so members they have some clout, but with double that number they would have more clout.
Eugene Baston was there as was Sue B nb Nackered Navvy, Wendy nb Harry every one else I didn't know.
Apart from the usual boring stuff at the beginning the topics included Memebrship, Red Diesel and the condition of the system. When we broke for lunch I left. Those village hall chairs made my bum numb.
I got a paper headed BRITISH WATERWAYS 2008/09 Customer Service Standards. It is supposed to be a 'draft' but nowhere on the page does it say so. Many of the items on the list are what BW should be doing as a matter of course, in that they are charged with management and maintenance in their remit from the government. Many of the items have not been complied with this year, veg pledge etc how they expect to do it next year given that there will be a back log from this year. Some interesting points:- Locks are to have ladders, two in wide locks place at thirds on opposite sides and one in narrow locks placed in the middle. Personally I can't see the point of placing the ladder in the middle of a narrow lock, if you fall in you are hardy likely to fall down the side of the boat. Next point:- There are to be three mooring points on the same side as the ladder in a narrow lock and three mooring points on each side of a double lock. Well at least this will stop people from tying up to the ladder and bending the top rails, but the cost of this will be a bit on the large side.
Many people think, wrongly, that this organisation is about Narrow Boats. NABO (National Association of Boat Owners) is for all boaters and I think we really all should join. With 1500 or so members they have some clout, but with double that number they would have more clout.
Eugene Baston was there as was Sue B nb Nackered Navvy, Wendy nb Harry every one else I didn't know.
Apart from the usual boring stuff at the beginning the topics included Memebrship, Red Diesel and the condition of the system. When we broke for lunch I left. Those village hall chairs made my bum numb.
I got a paper headed BRITISH WATERWAYS 2008/09 Customer Service Standards. It is supposed to be a 'draft' but nowhere on the page does it say so. Many of the items on the list are what BW should be doing as a matter of course, in that they are charged with management and maintenance in their remit from the government. Many of the items have not been complied with this year, veg pledge etc how they expect to do it next year given that there will be a back log from this year. Some interesting points:- Locks are to have ladders, two in wide locks place at thirds on opposite sides and one in narrow locks placed in the middle. Personally I can't see the point of placing the ladder in the middle of a narrow lock, if you fall in you are hardy likely to fall down the side of the boat. Next point:- There are to be three mooring points on the same side as the ladder in a narrow lock and three mooring points on each side of a double lock. Well at least this will stop people from tying up to the ladder and bending the top rails, but the cost of this will be a bit on the large side.
Next:- Commercial and leisure boats are to have separate mooring places on multi-use waterways. I wonder if that means that BW will not be able to moor their maintenance boats for weeks at a time on visitor moorings? The list contains 79 different standards which as far as I know do not meet standards that everybody else in the UK has to meet and according to NABO is not to the level they would wish. I will copy it all here at a later date.
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