Anyone that's got any experience knows you start in reverse in those situations, as otherwise the stern just bashes against the pontoon. Either that, or it's that farmer having a bit of R&R before the court case.
That company charge a £45 non-refundable insurance charge. I've used them twice and had no incidents, as do most, so they'll still be in front.
If it's only 45 quid hardly worth the time and effort shunting back and forth to get out cleanly, just push the power lever and go for it.
Having seen some of the nutters on the Norfolk Broads* last month that wouldn't surprise me whatsoever. *Innuendo optional.
Always found it a bit odd that you can take a boat pretty much anywhere, sea or river, without any license, certification or experience whatsoever! Summat with GB being a seafaring nation or what?
Thats not the case overseas or if you moor in a decent marina here, you need insurance & to demonstrate competence through a RYC course. overseas the min entry courses are much higher. Personally I’ve got my yacht master cert
You can in a river, but you need a license to go to sea don't you? That's what I was told, it was one of the reasons I didn't buy the floating caravan, that and the fact I was told it wasn't actually big enough to go to sea in.
Overseas I don't know. Over here you clearly know more about reqts than I but I do know that my pal had a 40ft'er moored in a decent Poole marina, he had insurance but no other bits of paper at all and nobody bothered him, he just sailed. Another pal had a 17ft-er with a retractable keel, he'd just tow it to a slipway and bugger off! In terms of river boating I've rented cruisers and narrow boats and nobody expects any evidence of competence, thankfully... I'm not condoning it, I think it's wrong but it's where we are.
We're okay here, as the nice men from the RNLI will bring you back, and if you're really lucky they'll save your life in the process. You don't have to look far to see even on a gentle inland waterway at 4mph, the unwary can get into difficulties, so I made sure I got the appropriate training and paperwork from the RYA before venturing out into the sea, just for my own peace of mind. As you mentioned, I really don't fathom[sic] anyone who is stupid enough to think it's not needed.