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Editorial December 2018
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- Category: NN Editorials
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Spreading the word
Editor, Peter Fellows, explains NABO’s focus on promotion and recruitment
Part of NABO’s raison d'être is to influence navigation authorities and other organisations for the benefit of boaters. Last month, we clocked up our latest influencing success when the changes we sought to the Middle Level Bill were written into the Act, guaranteeing provision of boater services on the Nene-Ouse Link. The issue at hand is how to communicate what NABO does, and seeks to do, targeting boat owners who are not members. Many boaters, especially younger ones, now get the majority of their waterway-related news and views from social media and other on-line sources. So NABO needs to further adapt the way it communicates in order to reach these boaters. If we can get our messages across effectively, we can hopefully convince many of these boaters that NABO membership will benefit both them and the waterways as a whole. To this end, the Council has made a number of changes. Ken Hylins joined the Council to take a lead on promotion and recruitment, in addition to assisting boaters who are having problems staying on the water. Alison Tuck will develop NABO’s social media presence as Media Officer and Mark Tizard has become the General Secretary, while continuing his roles as Communications Officer and moderating NABO’s Facebook page. We are also updating NABO’s publicity material with a new flyer to hand out to boaters. Boater-to-boater recommendation is one of the most effective recruitment tools. If you can help in letting others know about NABO and the benefits of membership, please get in touch.
Faulty CO alarms
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- Category: Boat Safety Scheme
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Following media reports about non-working, imported CO alarms sold on internet shopping sites, the BSS cautioned boaters that choosing the right CO alarm is an especially critical decision, as boats can fill within minutes, sometimes seconds, with lethal levels of the highly toxic gas. The BSS and the Council of Gas Detection and Environment Monitoring (CoGDEM) urge boaters to choose an alarm that has been independently tested and certified by the British Standards Institution (BSI). Look for the Kitemark on the alarm or packaging, or look for the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) Certification Mark. CO alarms certified to BS EN 50291-2 are the best choice for boats, but if you already have a CO alarm that is certified to BS EN 50291, or 50291-1, CoGDEM’s advice is to keep it, test it regularly and choose a unit certified to BS EN 50291-2 when it needs replacing. Some alarms are not recommended for use on boats and a list of recommended alarms that are suitable is available at www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/294453/boat-co-alarms-may-18.pdf
EA Registration Charges Increase...
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- Category: EA and others
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EA Registration Charges Increase...
The EA consultation ran for six weeks in July and August 2018 and the results were published in November. There were 441 responses (from a boating population in excess of 34,000 – a response rate of around 1.3%). Unsurprisingly, 86% of respondents kept their boats on EA waters, with the majority (64%) owning motor cruisers and 17% owning narrowboats.
In the Chair December 2018
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- Category: NN Chairman's Column
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A Challenging Year. Stella Ridgway reviews the last twelve months.
My thanks go to this year’s Council members for their support and especially to Mark, Mike and Paul for attending meetings and covering for me. This year has been challenging for boaters in the North, with the North West being virtually cut off from the system. In July, there were 13 emergency or long-term stoppages due to water shortages, maintenance and pollution incidents. There are a lot of places where the canal bottom seemed too close to the top, either because it hadn’t been dredged or it had not been cleared properly after a stoppage. While most canals are now open, in the Peak District we are not getting the rain required so I anticipate a challenging year ahead. Some maintenance works were done during the stoppages, so the winter closures might not be as long in some areas.