BSS Boat Owners’ Survey – Last Chance to Take Part

The BSS Boat Owners’ Survey closes this week -  Friday April 9^th.  If you have already completed the survey, thanks for taking part. If you haven’t yet participated in the survey, this is your last opportunity.It should take about 5-10 minutes to complete. 

You can do this on any device, but our recommendation is to use a laptop or PC rather than a smartphone or tablet. Here’s the secure link to the survey.
http://bit.ly/BSSB2021

If you have any problems completing the survey, please email the project manager at the market research company who are helping the BSS with the survey  -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mike Rodd

Electric boats and mooring congestion

Mike Rodd describes just two of the issues facing NABO.

I hope that some of you might be able to get out on your boats soon – it has been so frustrating and worrying, especially if your boat is not safe in a well-managed marina. I had to handle a report last week of a boat close to us on the K&A, slowly sinking – all we could do was to inform CRT, as nobody knew who the boat owner was.

With so many boater consultations presently under way, I suspect we are all getting bored with answering them, so I am sorry if we have made thing worse by asking you to respond to the one on aspects of the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS). We do need, however, to ensure that we are aware of any concerns you have, or improvements that might need to be made. We have always actively supported the BSS, and are involved in most of its committees and advisory groups, but we are very aware that changes are continually required to deal with technical developments. For example, we will increasingly need to focus on electrical issues. In fact, many boaters in the London area will simply have to become more electric-based, given what is happening there with the creation of so-called ‘eco-moorings’. These have electrical supply points made available (if booked and the electricity is paid for!) and the accompanying gradual banning of both running diesel engines and burning cheaper coal and wood. (Of course, these moorings also go a long way to keep the complaining residents of the very expensive canalside homes happy!)

Paper or electronic NABO News?

At its last meeting, NABO Council discussed the cost of printing and posting NABO News and a possible electronic version of the magazine. This would have a ‘page-flip’ feature so that it can be easily read on a computer or tablet screen. Opinions were divided between keeping the current printed format on the grounds that members wanted to have physical copies to read and share with colleagues, and those who felt that we should move towards an electronic version that was easy to read and distribute and would result in substantial cost savings. The Council decided to seek the views of members before discussing it again.

I would be grateful if you could email or write to me (details on inside front cover) to let me know what you think. The two options are:

1. I would like to continue to receive printed issues of NABO News through the post;
2. I would prefer to change and receive electronic issues, sent to me by email.

I’d be grateful if you could let me know before April 24^th so that the Council can discuss the results at its next meeting. Thank you for your help.
Peter Fellows