Jeepers Noel, and there was I sitting quietly in the background, and now I am apparently ramming my periscope up the CCC. Let it be known that the U-41M does not do this, even to CCC members. Anyway on berthing, you should try bringing in a heavy metal to a pretty full harbour with a wind blowing and no bow truster (whatever they are). Makes for interesting times and if I had access to a fast rib, I would send it in first to scout, because heavy metal yokes don't turn too well in tight harbours. But since I don't have a fancy rib I relie on luck and friends.
And on that front I seem to be blessed, I have to say that to date (and that is only 32 years boating on the river), I have never failed to find a spot, mostly due to our friendly fender class either letting me inside, or moving a wee bit, or helping me tie onto posts or whatever. My experience is that the more you move around the more friends you meet and the more willing people are to help the rusty bucket get ashore.
The only one time I had some trouble to start with was with an angry german in a 24ft hire boat hogging one entire finger at Rockingham. He refused point blank to move outside me, but that was resolved by again the White boat men, who told him to move, in no uncertain terms, to the other side of the finger, and in I went. Had a great night with all there in the end and even the german joined in saying he hadn't understood.
As a bargeman, we are so used to anyone tying outside us, I fail to understand why very few don't like it. You always make friends, they come on board, and I have never had a bad experience.
In summary, rafting is cool, great for making friends, and actually nowadays, most of the cruisers are big enough to take half a barge outside, like front end on one cruiser, back end on another, so noone has to move.
Try it guys it makes for good times...


Regards
Les Saunders
Barge 41M.

Hi Les
Jeepers Noel, and there was I sitting quietly in the background ...
No I said if THEY rafted on TOP of you they might get a periscope up their back passage (ie if they sat on top of U-41M). Never said nothing about you doing any kind of ramming Btw, your comments re mooring are on the mark.

Cheers

Friskey Froggie

I can atest to teh fun of being moored outside an M-boat , I vaguely remember the 2nd Harvey wallbanger...... ( its a very sophisicated M boat dont you know!)

Dave

My views on some of this:

There are "No Wake" zones on the Erne, if not on the Shannon.

There are good people and bad people at all levels of boating. For instance PWC people are organising themselves on the North Coast and the Lower Bann. Benone beach requires PWC people to be trained and to have insurance and have 'rules' as to how the craft should be operated, and there is a launching zone. An agreement between the Local Council and the local PWC club polices this. There are also voluntary zones on the Lower Bann. (Waterskiing, PWC, etc.). PWC's are a real pain when they buzz incessently near moored boats amd lakeside residents also must go up the walls.

There are Government sponsored advisory committes for The Lower Bann, Lough Neagh and the Erne on which all users, farmers and local councils, WI and the IWAI are represented. (Members of the IWAI chair 2 of these). They can advise on all aspects of use of the waterways in the broadest sense and are consulted on planning matters. Perhaps you should have something similar for the Shannon.

If people find it hard to move a small boat, I find it harder to move boats when most of them spaces in a harbour are taken up by unoccupied boats. The 5 day rule shoud be abandoned during peak season; it won't be because you guys like it so I have to put up with it.

I have found planing boats on the open lake coming off the plane as they met me so as not to have their wash disturb me. I don't think they need to as if I can't cope with the wake I shouldn't be out there; on the open lake you have to take what comes.

Role on the good weather until you all start annoying me again

Mike Kingston
'Escapade'

As ever, good stuff Mike
My views on some of this:

There are "No Wake" zones on the Erne, if not on the Shannon.

There are good people and bad people at all levels of boating.... snip