Kayaking

[Jawloms]

Hi all,

 

I have a little birthday money spare and was after something a bit different. Somone has posted on hotukdeals this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AIQ8LGG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3PUOCDC8WPMH4&coliid=I53AYLS502VD5

 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the sort to just go "Wow that looks amazing", buy it and start trying to navigate around England, but I have to say that a little up and down the local river does sound nice. Does anyone do it? Is there a good source of information? I've found something about needing a licence on navigable rivers, but not a lot about what/where navigable rivers are or how you get a licence. I live near the River Waveney, and the Norfolk Broads are not far away (once again; I am not suggesting I will simply jump on the broads without a care in the world either!) Can anyone help?

 

Thank you

 

Stuart

 

P.S. Obviously a life jacket would be purchased too.

[rad]

TBH that is too cheap for being anything decent. That is like the blow up boats you buy for use on the sea.

 

I will provide a more detailed reply later.

[Jawloms]

TBF I'm not after anything very decent, just something I could jump in 5 or 6 times a year if it seemd like a nice day. Just wasn't sure on rules etc.

[Sibrows]

I will admit to not being quite up with the price of inflatables but as a deal it looks ok. I've never liked the idea of gaining a puncture part way out on a trip. And having paddled past a large group, 3 adults with 3 kids, some of whom were wearing buoyancy aids:eek: on my local canal to be fair I was a little put off the idea knowing what could go wrong in that situation:doh:.

 

If you've no experience I would strongly recommend investigating a local club or find a friend who's vaguely competent to accompany you so that you can get half an idea of self rescue etc...

 

After that these should be useful resources; Ok the best place, in my opinion, to find out about river licenses is the UK Rivers Guide book (Home - The UK Rivers Guidebook). If your looking for inspiration of where to paddle I've found is Paddle Points (http://paddlepoints.net).

 

Apologies if it seams like I'm teaching you to suck eggs that wasn't my intention but these things can easily be underestimated!

[elsiegee40]

I'm a retired paddler following back surgery. I used to be a slalomist - pretty good - up the top end of Division 2.

 

My Dad was a Senior Instructor and chair of Yorks & Humberside BCU so I grew up in a boat. I miss my days out on the river.

[elsiegee40]

The big problem is access to rivers in England and Wales. Unless the river is classed as a navigation you have no right to paddle on it. A river is owned to its mid-point by the land owners each side.

 

So to do a river trip from say Masham to West Tanfield on the Ure, all the land owners both sides have to be in agreement.

 

My Dad used to spend a lot of time negotiating access days for canoeists.

 

The law is different in Scotland.

[Seb1780]

TBF I'm not after anything very decent, just something I could jump in 5 or 6 times a year if it seemd like a nice day. Just wasn't sure on rules etc.

 

The big problem is access to rivers in England and Wales. Unless the river is classed as a navigation you have no right to paddle on it. A river is owned to its mid-point by the land owners each side.

 

So to do a river trip from say Masham to West Tanfield on the Ure, all the land owners both sides have to be in agreement.

 

My Dad used to spend a lot of time negotiating access days for canoeists.

 

The law is different in Scotland.

 

If you're lucky and live in East Anglia (which you do) then you can access the whole of the Broads for £32 per year - this includes the Waveney down to Beccles & Bungay

 

Annual toll

 

If you use the kayak for fewer than 28 days per year it could be free (depending on where you live).

Edited May 24, 2016 by Seb1780

[elsiegee40]

Trouble is I was a white water kayaker... never found the flat so interesting

[Jawloms]

If you're lucky and live in East Anglia (which you do) then you can access the whole of the Broads for £32 per year - this includes the Waveney down to Beccles & Bungay

 

Annual toll

 

If you use the kayak for fewer than 28 days per year it could be free (depending on where you live).

 

For me, that implies the £32 is payable if the boat is *kept* in the water for 28 days. It won't be, it'll be deflated and taken home.

 

Thanks to all for your replies. There is a club locally so I think I'll investigate.

[elsiegee40]

For me, that implies the £32 is payable if the boat is *kept* in the water for 28 days. It won't be, it'll be deflated and taken home.

 

Thanks to all for your replies. There is a club locally so I think I'll investigate.

Your logic is flawed @Jawloms - using a waterway without permission is trespass - people can and do get sued. People using waterways without permission and/or the correct licenses cause no end of problems for those who try to things by the board. Sorry if it sounds like I am on my hobby horse, but I have seen my Dad getting the blame from landowners for paddlers using rivers without permission and it got pretty nasty. Contrary to what the landowners and their agents thought, the BCU does not regulate all canoeists and kayakers in the UK.

 

This explains the situation for the navigation inland waterways quite nicely: Where to Kayak

 

Kayaking on Canals

 

There are over 3,000 miles of canal to explore in the UK. These 'water highways' are an ideal environment to learn on and most people will have a canal near them. but you will need a licence.

 

Kayaking on Rivers and Lakes

 

The UK's rivers and lakes provide great kayak opportunities for both recreational and competitive paddlers. Rivers are graded according to an International Grading System 1-6, with grade 1 representing calmer rivers, but not all inland water is open to kayakers, some is privately owned and the law on access/navigation rights is unclear. Before you set off on your trip, please contact The British Canoe Union which has an Access Officer in each region who can advise you about local canoeing waters.

 

Get a Licence

 

You will need a licence to paddle on the inland waterways. These can be purchased as part of British Canoe Union (BCU) membership, or from one of the three organisations which runs Britain's waterways.

 

British Waterways manages most of the canals and rivers including the Severn, Trent and Yorkshire Ouse.

The Environment Agency manages the River Thames, the River Medway, and the rivers of East Anglia.

The Broads Authority manages the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.

[Jawloms]

I don't think my logic is flawed, you don't need a licence to ride a push bike on the roads when everything else on the roads does, and that's not tresspassing. This is simply my ignorance on how these things work so I'm very glad of your input. I want to find out before I do anything so that I'm not breaking any rules.

[elsiegee40]

I don't think my logic is flawed, you don't need a licence to ride a push bike on the roads when everything else on the roads does, and that's not tresspassing. This is simply my ignorance on how these things work so I'm very glad of your input. I want to find out before I do anything so that I'm not breaking any rules.

 

Roads are public highways.

Waterways in England and Wales are not. They're private property.

 

Road and Waterways cannot be compared like that.

 

Your logic is flawed @Jawloms.