19/06/2026
Over the past couple of weeks I've asked a couple of boating questions, genuinely because I was curious to hear people's opinions.
The topics were:
Mooring on lock landings.
Using lock gates as brakes.
The reactions were mixed, but the majority agreed that you shouldn't moor on lock landings and you definitely shouldn't be hitting lock gates.
Then yesterday we heard that yet another lock gate has been damaged by a boat, and it got me thinking about personal responsibility.
And the amount of times we've been hit since being here at Hillmorton is scary, we're singled out so no reason for it unless the person isn't concentrating!
I absolutely love this lifestyle that we CHOOSE to live. I'm also well aware of the fragile state our canal network is in, and I try to do my bit to help:
I volunteer when I can.
I pick up litter.
I cut the grass where we moor.
We do our very best not to hit lock gates.
We abide by the terms and conditions of our licence.
I'm sure many of you do exactly the same.
But over the last few years, something seems to have changed.
Some people don't seem interested in how fast they're travelling or the impact that speed has on the canal banks, moored boats and wildlife.
Some don't seem to think about the damage caused when they hit lock gates or scrape along the banks.
Others don't think about what they're putting down their toilets and don't seem to care when an Elsan point gets blocked.
At the same time, a lot of people are quick to blame CRT for not getting repairs done quickly enough.
But if more people took responsibility for their own actions, maybe—just maybe—CRT wouldn't have to spend so much time and money repairing avoidable damage.
And it raises another question...
if CRT were able to recover the cost of damage directly from a boater's insurance when negligence is involved, would that make people think twice before taking unnecessary risks?
This lifestyle depends on all of us doing our bit. We can't expect a charitable trust to continually pick up the pieces when the damage could have been avoided in the first place.
If we don't start looking after the waterways ourselves, we risk losing the very lifestyle we've chosen.
So I'm interested to hear your thoughts.
Should CRT be allowed to claim against a boater's insurance when they cause damage?
And perhaps the bigger question is...
Why are some people choosing this lifestyle but not willing to help support and protect it?
Thanks for reading,....
