Hi, Your comments are always most welcome
Hi sue/vic
left comment after lucy had her op but it doesn`t seem to have posted.
I would like to come and pop by for half-hour as i live in luton and would like to say hello.
les
Sue - Is there something funny happening to your comments?
I sent you one after last Friday's piece about the licence increases. It showed on the system for a while but now it's gorn! Would you like me to send again!
Les,
Bit late I am here.. but I really enjoyed meeting you.. hopefully we will meet again. 
David,
Yes this comment system does sometimes go on the blink.. I should recieve an email when a comment is made, but that has been a bit hit and miss lately..
I didn't see what your comment was the other day, it must have been gone before I got here
What I said in my earlier comment was - re "There are arguments going on all over the internet on newsgroups and websites, I am not one for expressing an opinion then get abused so I won’t be joining in.." - It's shame that the voice of decent, law-abiding folks like you and Vic is not getting heard in the row over higher BW licence fees. My own view is that instead of squeezing genuine CC'ers like yourselves, BW should better expend resource in recovering money from the lawless, unlicensed, un-insured, canal "squatters". If they don't pay then remove them from the system, leaving more room for real boaters. Then, and only then, would they have just reason to review the charges for the rest of us.
Rant over!
Hello Sue here ar my figures they dont stack up as well as yours but still show a lower negative impact for CCer's
A CCer has only to cruise for two hours every 14 days to keep within the rules. That’s 52 hours a year A Part Time Boater will cruise for 56 days 6-8 hours a day. The impact of that is 6-8 times that of the CCer. Assuming that a CCer cruises 2 - 3 hours every day for 177 days of the year. That adds up to only between 354 – 531 (avg 442.4) hours. A Part Time Boater cruising for 56 days of the year at 6-8 hours a day crusises for between 336 hours and 448 hours (avg 392). A hirer boat cruising for 130-150 days of the year at 6-8 hours a day will cruise for between 780 – 1040 (avg 910) and 900 – 1200 (avg 1050) respectively. This is from your figures.
If you factor in the experience level of the different groups the CCer probably has no more impact on the system than the Part Time Boater, (or maybe less see below) and between 1/3 and ¼ the impact of the Hirer.
CCer’s total 588,000 hours pa X 3mph = 1,764,000 / 1,500 CCer's = 1,176 hour/miles.
PTB total 9,996,000 hours pa X 4mph = 39984000 / 25500 PTB = 1,568 hour/miles
Depending on your perspective the CCer has less impact than the other groups. Your document fails to come to the correct conclution where as my conclusion proves that CCer’s have a significantly less negative impact by a factor of 393 (25%).
PS the two equations work on the basis of total hours pa by all CCer's and PTB's
David,
Yes exactly how I feel too, you could not have put it better.
I guess by the time next April comes along there will be NO continuous cruisers on the system.. getting a cheap mooring somewhere for the year will work out cheaper than paying extra for the licence to continuous cruise!
I'm not saying that we wouldn't use it though 
But moorings are in short supply for those definitely needing them. In future there will be less moorings for those people.
I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for the use of the services, fair enough I use them 365 days of the year.. well not literally, but you know what I mean!
We can't afford the new higher rate licence anyway. We are already putting our pennies away to try to help with the extra 300% rise in diesel in the future.. We didn't work out our retirement budget on such a rise in licence fees.
Maffi,
"This is from your figures."
I didn't say that so I am presuming that what you have said is something you have sent to BW?
Well you certainly have had the calculator out!
Yes, it is very difficult for BW and I do feel somewhat sorry for them trying to set a new pricing structure that is fair to all.
Having said that, it will cause a huge problem for us.
I didn't send my letter off yet. I am still thinking about solutions.
I think BW need constructive ideas from boats of all types.. I would hate to think that BW are putting a wedge in here.
I e-mailed BW telling them what I thought of the consultation proposals but haven't had any reply, not suprisingly!
Does The Continuous Cruisers Action Group have a web site? As we get our mail sent on to us about 3 times a year we would like to join a group of "true" continuous cruisers willing to stand up to BW. Also, does BW have the authority to raise the cost of a 12 month licence by so much without offering a better service? 
Yes they do have a website now William and Pam..
http://continuouscruising.atspace.com/
They also ask that you text them on 07985 055478 with your name and the boat name.
They have put information about letters etc on their website now.
NABO are looking into the legal aspect of this.. they are not too happy with it all.. well we are not happy either!!
Sue
