[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > --- In [email protected], Tony Bowyer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Yes - I believe the VHF regs are now in force - however you can get=20 > hold=20 > > of/ borrow/ hire/ some portable kit fairly economically I have heard - > =20 > > contact St Pancras Cruising Club - as per website below for more info=20 > on=20 > > this. > >=20 > > For more info on navigating on the tidal Thames try this:=20=20 > > http://www.stpancrascc.co.uk/ and click the 'Cruising Guides' link on=20 > > the left side > >=20 > > Good luck > >=20 > > Tony > > The requirement for boats to have VHF radio on the tidal Thames has=20 > been in force for a number of years but until revently pleasure bots=20 > under 20m were exempt which meant that most canal craft did not require=20 > it. Unfortunately the PLA have changed the qualifying length to 13.7m=20 > which means that most canal craft are now covered by the regulation.
When the 20m limit was brought in, London IWA et al asked if it could possibly be amended to 22m or so, to include in the exemption the small proportion of narrow boats over about 67ft long. We were told by PLA that this was impossible as 20m was an internationally recognised standard length of craft. Then 15 years later they reduced the limit to 45ft... > You not only need the kit but need someone on board qualified/licensed=20 > to use it - normally a one day course. > As noted above SPOCC are the experts at Thames tidal cruising a =3Dnd an=20 > invaluable source of material. They will be organising a cruise from Limehouse to Brentford / Teddington on Saturday 24th May. Everyone is welcome on these trips, whether or not they are members of SPCC or any other club. There is no requirement for VHF as you will be in close convoy, with the lead boat and tail boat VHF-equipped (you will need to be in contact with these boats, ie to have a mobile phone and have each other's numbers to hand - the cruise organisers usualy print and encapsulate a list and hand a copy to each skipper). These trips are an excellent way of doing the Thames tideway for the first time. If you do decide to go it alone, check your insurance - ours only covers us for the Thames below Brentford if we are accompanied by another boat. In fact, check it anyway even if you're going in convoy. Martin L
