paulyana

Just to update: we loaded "Winsome" from Wayford Marine and delivered her safely down to Lymington Yacht Haven. The new owners ferried across from IOW and were sailing her back. Lovely boat!

I assume a lot of stuff came on containers although we used to get a lot of middle eastern drivers/firms over here too and T Forms and clearances through agents were a nightmare being clogged up by these non English speaking drivers whose note's weren't correct. I used to do alot of continental in the late 80''s and understanding the procedure with regards customs clearance was a nightmare when I first started. .....could relive those days now when Brexit happens!

Wow you must have been really unlucky to have been exposed to those types of things so regularly. I've been in transport 35 years now and even in the good old days there were obviously cowboys but not that regularly. Johnny foreigner used to be a bit iffy with the likes of Willi Betz etc but UK hauliers as a rule have always had to run it straight as far as O licences are concerned. What the driver got up to out on the road was another story but that's pretty much been ruled out now with digi tachos etc.

Thank you! I think the introduction of the DCPC has caused general confusion over the difference between that and the traditional CPC. As you said, every HGV licence holder has to attend a classroom for 35 hours over a period of time in order to get their DCPC for attending. In theory they could just do 35 hous doing the same module and still get the DCPC. I've never heard of anyone failing? The CPC is something totally different and is serious stuff. Without it you simply could not be a transport manager who is the nominated person on the operators licence and as said, it covers every aspect of running a business in transport, in depth. The DCPC is just another money spinner by the government costing anything from £350-£500 for attendance. It's a tax on HGV licencing renewable every 5 years. A CPC, once gained is for life unless it's revoked by the traffic commissioner. Not that easy to set up and operate a truck in reality.

Not wishing to contradict, but without a CPC (national or international) an operator simply cannot operate as they wouldn't be able to attain an operators licence. So, for Mr Public to expect to see a copy of your operators licence is really not necessary. To view your correct insurance, then yes. There is no preference to having a national or international CPC as the only difference is that you cannot operate internationally on a national licence. It still requires the same level of competence. Everything is computerised. You have to have a CPC to get an operators licence in order to operate a goods vehicle, from an approved operating centre, and you must comply with the maintenance requirements set out by the traffic commisioner. So its not a case now that someone would be able to buy a lorry and just start operating....especially a top spec Scania like Mr Ponsonby, which probably cost in excess of £100,000 just for the truck. Perhaps some cowboys with a 7.5t vehicle that could be driven on a car licence but not a HGV. As far as flags? They don't use them. Perhaps in the military? His routing would have been authorised when he submitted his notification to all the Police forces and Highways Agencies of the counties he was travelling through. His problem was mirrors and insufficient escort vehicles. An escort car front and rear and he would have been fine. There was another truck pulled the same day near St Olaves. He had a Broom 35 European on. He hadn't notified, he had no escorts, no marker boards or lights etc etc. He is a cowboy and should have the book thrown at him, I won't name him though.

Just to update this old post....We have been contracted to move Winsome down to Lymington Yacht Haven where the new owners will be taking it across to its new home on the IOW.

On our operators licence which is issued by the UK Traffic Commissioner, it states that we are a professional operator. For a more personal reference though, we share a yard with Kingsley Farrington, so I'm sure he could confirm our integrity. We will always try to assist with all enquiries and if we are unable to facilitate, we try to find an alternative solution for the customer. We will certainly offer any NBN member a first class, professional and competitive service. Thanks, Paul

Well said!! It's not a chance it and see game. The fact that you're operating a goods vehicle governed by the legislation relevant to operators licences etc, and what that entails is hard enough. To be able to transport boats safely and remain within the law takes more than most people can imagine. The equipment needs to be specialised and specific for boats. All too often a 6 or 8 wheeled rigid that's fitted with a hiab suddenly becomes a solution to everyone's problems. Think about it though, the boat sits on a flatbed several feet above ground level, thus raising the centre of gravity. These vehicles where designed to carry machinery and such like, not boats. Whereas a bespoke boat trailer where the boat sits low down into the trailer supported along the keel and supported with adjustable supports to suit all types of hulls can only carry boats. As a professional boat haulier our equipment is specifically designed to carry boats so that's what we do. We're not a general haulier who will carry anything, including boats, if we can get away with it.

In what way? Width, height, access?

It's always the way isn't it....I missed the boat....literally

Hi Alan, Unfortunately we don't have hiab or lifting facilities. We run an artic with a 13.6m boat trailer: Paul

Chill Out Solutions Ltd. Based in Norwich (sharing a yard with Kingsley Farrington) transporters of boats up to 43ft in length throughout the UK. www.chilloutsolutions.com

Sorry to ressurect an old post but I just wanted to comment on the failing of the vinyl canopy on the Viking. We recently bought a 3 year old Viking and the canopy roof sections are shot. The front one seems to have lost its coating and is showing signs of being transparent and the rear section has gone black. Both have become brittle too. The back and side panels are fine and still look very nice. We moor in Broadsedge and there are a couple of other "newish" vikings, 2-3 years old who also have discovered that their canopies are failing. I know that both of these boats have been on the broads from new and certainly ours came from the river Ouse in Cambridgeshire, which pretty much rules out the aircraft fuel theory. I think the fundamental problem here is that Viking have tried to cut costs and perhaps have specified inferior material in trying to do so. It is just too coincidental that newish Vikings all seem to be experiencing the same problem. We have only had our boat since July but know that we now need to look into getting a new canopy............ Paul

Martin, I used to live in Harlow!!! moved to Farnham in Stortford and up here about 3 1/2 years ago......fancy that ey?

Hi Jill, thanks for the welcome, we are very nervous about getting the boat. We know absolutely nothing except what we have picked up off forums, although not the same as getting hands on experience. Theres so many questions I want to ask but dont want to be a pain or come across as being "fick" Paul